No reward - All his happiness shall quickly and eternally perish. The candle - All their comfort and glory shall cease.
To change - That are unstable in their obedience to God or to the king.
Who knoweth - Who can conceive how sore and sudden will be the ruin of them that fear not God, and the king.
These - The counsels following, to the end of the chapter, no less than those hitherto mentioned, are worthy of their consideration.
Rebuke - That publickly and judicially rebuke and condemn the wicked. Delight - The peace of a good conscience.
Shall kiss - Shall respect him. A right answer - That speaks pertinently and plainly, and truly.
Received - I learned wisdom by his folly.
These - Which are contained in this and the following chapters. The men - Certain persons appointed by Hezekiah for that work. Many of them are political precepts, and such as in a special manner concerned Hezekiah, and other princes, for the conduct of their house and kingdom. Copied - Out of the historical records which were then extant.
The glory - It is agreeable to the nature of God; it is a testimony of his infinite wisdom, and of his absolute power and sovereignty. To conceal - To keep his counsels, and the reasons of his actions in his own breast. Search out - To communicate their counsels to others, that so they may search and find out the right way.
The heart - Though wise kings will search out other men, yet their inward thoughts and purposes are hardly discoverable.
Take away - Then, and not 'till then it is fit for that use.
Stand not - Do not affect frequent and familiar society with greater persons than thyself.
Debate - If thou hast any quarrel with him, first try to compose it by private discourse with him. Discover not - Let not heat of contention provoke thee to divulge any of his secrets committed to thy trust.
Lest he - Reproach thee for thy gross violation of the laws of prudence, justice and friendship.
Of silver - Which it seems was usual in those times, and was grateful to the eye for the beauty and variety both of the colours and figures, the golden apples appearing through net - work of silver.
Cold of snow - As drink cooled with ice or snow, as is usual in hot countries.
Boasteth - Promising what he never intends to give. Is like - Like empty clouds carried about with wind, and not affording that rain which they promise.
Forbearing - By patient submission and expectation. Breaketh - Softens the hardest heart.
Honey - By honey he understands, not only all delicious meats, but all worldly delights, which we are here taught to use with moderation.
Withdraw - Visit him not too frequently.
A sword - Is as cruel and pernicious as any instrument of death.
As vinegar - Which dissolves the nitre, and makes it useless and ineffectual.
Bread - By bread and water he understands all things necessary for his subsistence.
For - In so doing, which words are expressed Rom 12:20, where this text is quoted. Thou shalt melt him into repentance, and love.
So - Because it comes more rarely and difficultly, after it hath been long expected.
Falling - When righteous men are oppressed by the wicked, the state of that common - wealth is as deplorable, as if the publick fountains were corrupted.
Not good - For health. To search - Industriously to seek for applause. Is not - Is not only sinful, but shameful also.
By flying - Secures itself from the fowler. Not come - Upon the innocent person, but he shall escape from it like a bird.
According - So as to imitate his folly, by passionate or reproachful speeches.
According - So as his folly needs and requires, convincing him strongly, reproving him sharply, and exposing him to just shame.
Cutteth off the feet - Of his messenger; bids one go that wants legs. Drinketh - Drinking, in scripture, frequently denotes the plentiful doing or receiving of any thing.
The legs - Heb. the legs of the lame are lifted up, in going, or in dancing, which is done with great inequality and uncomeliness. So - No less incident are wise and pious speeches from a foolish and ungodly man.
Bindeth - Whereby he hinders his own design of throwing the stone out of it. So - No less absurd is he that giveth to a fool that honour which he is not capable of using aright.
A thorn - As a thorn is in a drunkard's hand, which he cannot manage cautiously, but employs to his own and others hurt. So - As unprofitable, and, by accident, hurtful to himself and others.
Rewardeth - Will certainly give that recompence which is deserved by fools and transgressors, by such as sin either thro' ignorance, or wilfully.
Turneth - Moving hither and thither upon it, but not removing from its place.
A reason - A satisfactory reason of ail their actions.
He - Who is going upon the way. With strife - In which he is not concerned, nor any way obliged to meddle. That taketh - Exposes himself to needless hazard.
And death - Any instruments of death.
Burning - With malice or hatred: A slanderous or evil tongue. Dross - Such a tongue and heart are of no real worth, although sometimes they make a shew of it, as dross does of silver.
Deceit - With false professions of love.
Rolleth - Up the hill with design to do mischief to some person.
Boast not - Of any good thing which thou purposeth to do, or hopest to receive tomorrow, or hereafter. Knowest not - What may happen in the space of one day. The day is said to bring forth, what God by his almighty power either causes or suffers to be brought forth or done in it.
Heavier - More grievous, being without cause, without measure, and without end.
Open - When it is needful, in which case, though it put a man to some shame yet it doth him good. Better - More desirable and beneficial. Secret love - Which does not shew itself by friendly actions, and particularly by free and faithful reproof.