13 Who give up the way of righteousness, to go by dark roads;
And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil. The light is hated by everyone whose acts are evil and he does not come to the light for fear that his acts will be seen.
The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.
Jesus said to them, For a little time longer the light will be among you; while you have the light go on walking in it, so that the dark may not overtake you: one walking in the dark has no knowledge of where he is going.
They went out from us but they were not of us; if they had been of us they would still be with us: but they went out from us so that it might be made clear that they were not of us.
For if, after they have got free from the unclean things of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again taken in the net and overcome, their last condition is worse than their first. For it would have been better for them to have had no knowledge of the way of righteousness, than to go back again from the holy law which was given to them, after having knowledge of it. They are an example of that true saying, The dog has gone back to the food it had put out, and the pig which had been washed to its rolling in the dirty earth.
As for those who at one time saw the light, tasting the good things from heaven, and having their part in the Holy Spirit, With knowledge of the good word of God, and of the powers of the coming time, And then let themselves be turned away, it is not possible for their hearts to be made new a second time; because they themselves put the Son of God on the cross again, openly shaming him.
For Demas has gone away from me, for love of this present life, and has gone to Thessalonica: Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
For you are all sons of light and of the day: we are not of the night or of the dark. So then, let us not take our rest as the others do, but let us be self-controlled and awake. For those who are sleeping do so in the night; and those who are the worse for drink are so in the night;
Because, having the knowledge of God, they did not give glory to God as God, and did not give praise, but their minds were full of foolish things, and their hearts, being without sense, were made dark.
Then there are those who are haters of the light, who have no knowledge of its ways, and do not go in them. He who is purposing death gets up before day, so that he may put to death the poor and those in need. And the man whose desire is for the wife of another is waiting for the evening, saying, No eye will see me; and he puts a cover on his face. And in the night the thief goes about; In the dark he makes holes in the walls of houses: in the daytime they are shutting themselves up, they have no knowledge of the light.
After tasting the water which had now become wine, the master of the feast (having no idea where it came from, though it was clear to the servants who took the water out) sent for the newly-married man, And said to him, Every man first puts out his best wine and when all have had enough he puts out what is not so good; but you have kept the good wine till now. This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and let his glory be seen openly; and his disciples put their faith in him.
But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of a man, goes through dry places looking for rest, and getting it not. Then he says, I will go back into my house from which I came out; and when he comes, he sees that there is no one in it, but that it has been made fair and clean. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits worse than himself, and they go in and make it their living-place: and the last condition of that man is worse than the first. Even so will it be with this evil generation.
And you, son of man, say to the children of your people, The righteousness of the upright man will not make him safe in the day when he does wrong; and the evil-doing of the evil man will not be the cause of his fall in the day when he is turned from his evil-doing; and the upright man will not have life because of his righteousness in the day when he does evil. When I say to the upright that life will certainly be his; if he puts his faith in his righteousness and does evil, not one of his upright acts will be kept in memory; but in the evil he has done, death will overtake him.
When the upright man, turning away from his righteousness, does evil, death will overtake him; in the evil which he has done death will overtake him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 2
Commentary on Proverbs 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
Pr 2:1-22. Men are invited to seek wisdom because it teaches those principles by which they may obtain God's guidance and avoid the society and influence of the wicked, whose pernicious courses are described.
1-5. Diligence in hearing and praying for instruction must be used to secure the great principle of godliness, the fear of God.
hide … with thee—lay up in store (compare Pr 7:1).
2. Listen attentively and reflect seriously (Pr 1:24; Ps 130:2).
understanding—right perception of truth.
3. Yea, if—literally, "When if," that is, in such a case.
knowledge—or, "discrimination."
understanding—as in Pr 2:2.
4. There must be earnest prayer and effort.
5. understand—or, "perceive intelligently."
find—obtain.
6. For—God is ready (Jas 1:5; 4:8).
out of his mouth—by revelation from Him.
7. sound wisdom—literally, "substance," opposed to what is fictitious. According to the context, this may be assistance, as here corresponding with
buckler—or safety, or wisdom, which procures it (compare Pr 3:21; 8:14; 18:1; Job 6:13; 12:13).
layeth up—provides, ever ready.
8. keepeth … way—God defends the right way, and those in it.
saints—objects of favor (compare Ps 4:3, &c.). He guides and guards them.
9. Then—emphatic, in such a case.
righteousness … path—all parts of duty to God and man.
10, 11. Idea of Pr 2:9, amplified; on terms, compare Pr 2:2 and Pr 2:4.
12-15. To deliver—as from great danger (Pr 6:5).
way … man—(Ps 1:1).
froward things—perversity (Pr 6:14; 23:23), what is opposed to truth.
13. paths of uprightness—or, "plainness."
walk—habitually act;
14. and that with pleasure, in ignorance of good and pursuit of evil.
frowardness—Not only their own perversity, but that of others is their delight. They love most the worst things.
15. crooked—tortuous, unprincipled.
froward—literally, (they) are going back, not only aside from right, but opposite to it.
16-19. Deliverance from another danger.
the strange woman—This term is often used for harlot, or loose woman (Jud 11:1, 2), married (Pr 7:5, 19) or not (1Ki 11:1), so called, because such were, perhaps at first, foreigners, though "strange" may also denote whatever is opposed to right or proper, as "strange fire" (Nu 3:4); "strange incense" (Ex 30:9).
flattereth—literally, "smooths."
her words—(Ps 5:9).
17. guide … youth—lawful husband (Jer 3:4).
covenant … God—of marriage made in God's name.
18. inclineth—sinks down (compare Nu 13:31).
the dead—or shades of the departed (Ps 88:10).
19. that is, such as remain impenitent (compare Ec 7:26).
paths of life—(Ps 16:11), opposed to paths unto the dead.
20. That … way of good—that is, Such is the object of these warnings.
21, 22. (Compare Ps 37:3, 9, 22, 27).
22. transgressors—or impious rebels (compare Jer 9:2).
rooted out—utterly destroyed, as trees plucked up by the roots.