7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.
The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me: One that ruleth over men righteously, That ruleth in the fear of God,
Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
I will set no base thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; It shall not cleave unto me. A perverse heart shall depart from me: I will know no evil thing. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I destroy: Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will I not suffer.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment. A just balance and scales are Jehovah's; All the weights of the bag are his work. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.
The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, All his servants are wicked.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 17
Commentary on Proverbs 17 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 17
Pro 17:1
These words recommend family-love and peace, as conducing very much to the comfort of human life.
Pro 17:2
Note,
Pro 17:3
Note,
Pro 17:4
Note,
Pro 17:5
See here,
Pro 17:6
They are so, that is, they should be so, and, if they conduct themselves worthily, they are so.
Pro 17:7
Two things are here represented as very absurd:
Pro 17:8
The design of this observation is to show,
Pro 17:9
Note,
Pro 17:10
Note,
Pro 17:11
Here is the sin and punishment of an evil man.
Pro 17:12
Note,
Pro 17:13
A malicious mischievous man is here represented,
Pro 17:14
Here is,
Pro 17:15
This shows what an offence it is to God,
Pro 17:16
Two things are here spoken of with astonishment:-
Pro 17:17
This intimates the strength of those bonds by which we are bound to each other and which we ought to be sensible of.
Pro 17:18
Though Solomon had commended friendship in adversity (v. 17), yet let not any, under pretence of being generous to their friends, be unjust to their families and wrong them; one part of our duty must be made to consist with another. Note,
Pro 17:19
Note,
Pro 17:20
Note,
Pro 17:21
This expresses that very emphatically which many wise and good men feel very sensibly, what a grievous vexatious thing it is to have a foolish wicked child. See here,
Pro 17:22
Note,
Pro 17:23
See here,
Pro 17:24
Note,
Pro 17:25
Observe,
Pro 17:26
In differences that happen between magistrates and subjects, and such differences often arise,
Pro 17:27-28
Two ways a man may show himself to be a wise man:-