To depart - To preserve men from destructive courses.
Exalteth - Heb. lifteth up, like a banner, makes it known and visible to all men.
A sound heart - Free from envy and inordinate passions. Is life - Procures and maintains the health and vigour of the body.
His maker - Whose image the poor man bears, by whose providence he is made poor, and who hath declared himself to be their protector and avenger.
Driven away - In his death, from God's favour and presence. Death - In his greatest dangers and distresses, yea even in death itself.
Resteth - Is laid up and hid there. In the midst - In the heart. Made known - They will publish in all times and companies.
Shame - Both to himself, by his foolish management of the king's affairs, and to the king who made so foolish a choice of a servant.
Aright - Expressing what he knows prudently and gracefully. Poureth out - Plentifully, continually, and vehemently, as a fountain does waters.
Wholesome - Which utters sound and useful counsels. Tree of life - Is greatly useful to preserve the present life, and to promote the spiritual and eternal life, both of the speaker and hearers. Perverseness - False or corrupt speeches. A breach - Disturbs and wounds the spirits, both of the speaker and hearers.
Revenues - Though he may obtain great revenues, yet they are attended with much trouble.
Disperse - Freely communicate to others what they know.
Sacrifice - All the religious services, yea, the most costly; one kind being put for all the rest. Prayer - The cheapest and meanest services.
Destruction - The place of destruction, of which men know nothing but by Divine revelation.
Foolishness - Wickedness is meat and drink to them.
Afflicted - Of the troubled in mind. Evil - Tedious and uncomfortable. Chearful - Heb. of a good heart.
Trouble - Tumultuous lusts and passions, vexatious cares, and horrors of conscience.
An hedge - As a way hedged up with thorns, troublesome, perplexed, and full of difficulties. Plain - Is easy and pleasant to him, notwithstanding all its difficulties.
Counsel - When men do not seek, or will not receive advice from others.
The answer - By a wise, or good and seasonable answer.
The way - The way a wise man takes to obtain life, is to place his heart, and treasure, and conversation on things above.
The proud - Of the mighty oppressors. The border - The estate, the border being often used, for the land within the borders.
Pleasant - Acceptable to God.
Troubleth - Brings God's curse upon himself and family. Gifts - Bribes given to corrupt judgment. Live - Shall preserve himself and family from ruin.
Studieth - He speaks considerately. The mouth - Not the heart; for he rashly speaks what comes into his mouth, without the direction of his heart or conscience.
A good report - A good name. Fat - Not only chears a man for the present, but gives him such stable comfort as revives his soul, and gives vigour to his body.
The ear - The man that hearkens to that reproof which leads to life, seeks and delights in the company of the wise.
The instruction - Doth instruct men in true wisdom.
From the Lord - Men can neither think nor speak wisely and well without Divine assistance.
Weigheth - Exactly knows as men do the things which they weigh. Spirits - The hearts of men.
Commit - Refer all thy actions and concerns to God, as the end of them, and depend upon God's providence for success. Established - Thy designs shall be brought to an happy issue.
Doth work - He orders or disposes. For - For his own glory; for the discovery of his wisdom, power, goodness, truth, justice. The wicked - Wilful and impenitent sinners. Men make themselves wicked, and God therefore makes them miserable.
By mercy - By a merciful and just and faithful frame of heart and course of life. Is purged - As they qualify a man to offer up acceptable prayers to God for the pardon of his sins. By fear - By a filial reverence unto God. Depart - They are kept from abusing pardoning mercy, and from returning to folly or wickedness.
Deviseth - Proposes what he will do. Directeth - Over - rules and disposes all his designs and actions.
A divine sentence - Great sagacity and piercing judgment. Of the king - Of wise kings; who only are worthy of that name and office.
The Lord's - Are made by his direction and appointment, so that no man can alter them without violating God's rights and authority.
A cloud - As acceptable as those clouds which bring the latter rain, whereby the fruits are filled and ripened a little before the harvest.
The high - way - Their common road, in which they walk, tho' through frailty or temptation they slip into the bypath of sin. From evil - From the evil of sin, and consequently from the evil of punishment. Keepeth - That takes heed to walk in that high - way.
Good - He who orders his affairs with discretion.
The wise - He who is truly wise, shall be so accounted by others. Sweetness - Eloquence added to wisdom. Increaseth - Both in himself, for while a man teaches others, he improves himself; and others, who by this means are induced to hear and receive his instructions.
The instruction - Their most grave and serious counsels are foolish.
Teacheth - Directs him what to speak, and keeps him from speaking foolishly. Addeth - Enables him to speak learnedly and wisely.
Diggeth up - Prosecutes his evil designs with great industry. His lips - His tongue is set on fire of hell.
Shutteth - That his thoughts may be more intent. Moving - Which is the gesture of one whose thoughts are deeply engaged.
Is better - Of a more gallant and generous spirit, and more valiant and victorious.
The lot - As the ancient practice was in deciding doubtful things. The event of which though casual to men, is directed by God's providence.