The fear - The terror which the wrath of a king causes.
Meddling - Is always ready to begin strife, and obstinate in the continuance of it.
Counsel - Designs of doing something of moment. Deep water - Is secret and hard to be discovered.
His eyes - With his very looks, or by his diligent inspection into affairs.
Divers - One greater for shew and one lesser for use.
Is known - The future disposition of a man may be probably conjectured from his childish manners.
Open - Shake off sloth and betake thyself to thy employment with diligence and vigour.
The lips - But wise speeches are of far greater worth.
Take - As a pledge, without which he ought not to be trusted. Of him - That is surety.
Established - The way to bring our purposes to good effect is to manage them with serious consideration.
Lamp - His name and memory shall utterly perish.
His way - What the issue of his designs will be.
A snare - It brings guilt upon him. After - After a man has made vows to enquire for ways to break them.
The wheel - As the cart - wheel was anciently turned over the sheaves to beat the corn out of them. He punishes them as their offences deserve.
The spirit - The reasonable soul. The candle - Is a clear and glorious light set up in man for his information and direction. Of the Lord - So called because it comes from God in a more immediate manner than the body, Eccles 12:7, and because it is in God's stead, to observe and judge all our actions. Searching - Discerning not only his outward actions, which are visible to others, but his most inward thoughts and affections. The belly is here put for the heart, as it is frequently.
The blueness - Grievous wounds, which make men black and blue; or severe punishments. Cleanseth - Are the means to reclaim a wicked man, and to purge out his corruption. The belly - Of the heart. Grievous wounds or stripes cleanse not only the outward man by keeping it from evil actions, but even the inward man, by expelling or subduing vile affections: which is a great and blessed benefit of afflictions.
The kings - He names kings not to exclude other men, but because they are more arbitrary and uncontrollable than others. As rivers - Which husband - men draw by little channels into the adjacent grounds as they please.
The plowing - Even their civil or natural actions, which in themselves are lawful, are made sinful as they are managed by ungodly men, without any regard to the glory of God, which ought to be the end of all our actions.
Hasty - Who manages his affairs rashly.
Lying tongue - By any false or deceitful words or actions. Is tossed - Is like the chaff or smoak driven away by the wind. Of them - That take those courses which will bring destruction upon them.
The way - Of every man by nature. Strange - Estranged from God. Right - But he whose heart is pure, his conversation is agreeable to it.
Desireth - To do mischief. No favour - He spares neither friend nor foe.
The wise - The simple learn wisdom, both from the punishment of wicked men, and from the prosperity of good men.
Considereth - He looks through its present glory to that ruin for which it is designed.
In secret - Which makes it more acceptable. In the bosom - Secretly conveyed into the bosom.
Shall remain - Shall, without repentance, be condemned to eternal death.
Wine and oil - Delicious fare and luxurious feasting. Wine and oil were much used in feasts in those parts.
A ransom - The wicked shall be brought into those troubles, which were designed by wicked men for the righteous: thus Haman was a ransom for Mordecai.
The wise - Wise men lay up desirable treasures for their own use, and for their families. Oil is particularly mentioned, because that was a considerable part of their wealth and treasures in those countries.
The strength - The strongest sorts to which the citizens trust.
Killeth - Torments him to death, while he passionately desires what he sees, he shall not enjoy, and will not take pains to procure.
Coveteth - Spends his whole time in vain and lazy desires. Giveth - By God's blessing upon his industry he procures enough, not only for his own support, but for the relief of others.
The sacrifice - All the most costly services which they offer to God. Because - As all the ancient translators render it, the Hebrew particle, aph, being expletive: or, even because; so the following clause gives the reason. A wicked mind - Not in obedience to God's command, but either to cover, or countenance, or promote some wicked design.
Heareth - He witnesses nothing but what he has heard or seen. Constantly - Always affirms the same thing.
Hardeneth - Continues in evil with obstinacy and impudence. Directs - He orders his steps aright.
The horse - Under which all war - like provisions are comprehended.
Favour - A good report among men, especially good men, and that hearty kindness which attends it.
Meet - They live together, and need one another. The maker - Not only as they are men, but as they are poor or rich, which difference comes from God's providence. They have one common creator, and Lord, and judge, and the one cannot despise nor grudge at the other without reflecting upon God.
The evil - The judgment of God threatened, and approaching. Hideth - Retires to his strong tower, by prayer and repentance, puts himself under the protection of the almighty. Pass on - Carefully and securely.
Depart - Not easily and ordinarily.
Is servant - Is at his mercy, and forced to comply with his pleasure.
The rod - That power which he used with fury shall be taken from him.
He - Who looks upon the wants and miseries of others with compassion.
Preserve - God by the watchful eye of his providence maintains and defends. Knowledge - Men of knowledge, knowing and good men. The matters - All his hopes, enterprizes, and concerns.
The mouth - Her fair and flattering speeches.