1. Through desire ... seeketh--that is, seeks selfish gratification.
intermeddleth ... wisdom--or, "rushes on" ([Pr 17:14]) against all wisdom, or what is valuable ([Pr 2:7]).
2. that his heart ... itself--that is, takes pleasure in revealing his folly ([Pr 12:23]; ).
3. So surely are sin and punishment connected ([Pr 16:4]).
wicked, for "wickedness," answers to
ignominy, or the state of such; and
contempt, the feeling of others to them; and to
reproach, a manifestation of contempt.
4. Wise speech is like an exhaustless stream of benefit.
5. accept the person--(Compare [Psa 82:2]). "It is not good" is to be supplied before "to overthrow."
6-7. The quarrelsome bring trouble on themselves. Their rash language ensnares them ([Pr 6:2]).
8. (Compare [Pr 16:28]).
as wounds--not sustained by the Hebrew; better, as "sweet morsels," which men gladly swallow.
innermost ... belly--the mind, or heart (compare [Pr 20:27-30]; [Psa 22:14]).
9. One by failing to get, the other by wasting wealth, grows poor.
waster--literally, "master of washing," a prodigal.
10. name of the Lord--manifested perfections ([Psa 8:1]; ), as faithfulness, power, mercy, &c., on which men rely.
is safe--literally, "set on high, out of danger" ([Psa 18:2]; ).
11. contrasts with [Pr 18:10] (compare [Pr 10:15]). Such is a vain trust (compare [Psa 73:6]).
12. (Compare [Pr 15:33]; ).
13. Hasty speech evinces self-conceit, and ensures shame ([Pr 26:12]).
14. infirmity--bodily sickness, or outward evil. The spirit, which sustains, being wounded, no support is left, except, as implied, in God.
15. (Compare [Pr 1:5], [15, 31]).
16. (Compare [Pr 17:8], ). Disapproval of the fact stated is implied.
17. One-sided statements are not reliable.
searcheth--thoroughly ([Pr 17:9], ).
18. The lot--whose disposal is of God ([Pr 16:13]), may, properly used, be a right mode of settling disputes.
19. No feuds so difficult of adjustment as those of relatives; hence great care should be used to avoid them.
20. (Compare [Pr 12:14]; ). Men's words are the fruit, or, increase of his lips, and when good, benefit them.
satisfied with--(Compare [Pr 1:31]; ).
21. Death and life--or, the greatest evil and good.
that love it--that is, the tongue, or its use for good or evil.
eat ... fruit--(Compare [Pr 18:19]; [Jas 1:19]).
22. The old versions supply "good" before the "wife," as the last clause and [Pr 19:14] imply (compare [Pr 31:10]).
23. the rich ... roughly--He is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by wealth is wrong.
24. A man ... friendly--better, "A man ... (is) to, or, may triumph ([Psa 108:9]), or, shout for joy ([Psa 5:11]), that is, may congratulate himself." Indeed, there is a Friend who is better than a brother; such is the "Friend of sinners" [Mt 11:19; Lu 7:34], who may have been before the writer's mind.
Chapter 19
[Pr 19:1-29].
1. (Compare [Pr 28:6]). "Rich" for fool here. Integrity is better than riches ([Pr 15:16], ; ).
2. The last illustrates the first clause. Rashness, the result of ignorance, brings trouble.
3. perverteth ... way--turns him back from right ([Pr 13:6]; [Jas 1:13]); and he blames God for his failures.
4. (Compare [Pr 14:20]). Such facts are often adduced with implied disapprobation.
5. Compare [Pr 19:9], where perish explains not escape here (compare [Psa 88:9], ).
8. (Compare Margin; [Pr 15:32]).
loveth ... soul--or, "himself," which he evinces by regarding his best interests.