5 Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway.
We are certain that one who is a child of God will do no sin, but the Son of God keeps him so that he is not touched by the Evil One.
Then you may be certain that the Lord your God will not go on driving these nations out from before you; but they will become a danger and a cause of sin to you, a whip for your sides and thorns in your eyes, till you are cut off from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.
His feet take him into the net, and he goes walking into the cords.
On the evil-doer he will send down fire and flames, and a burning wind; with these will their cup be full.
Happy is he whose resting-place is in the secret of the Lord, and under the shade of the wings of the Most High;
He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.
The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 22
Commentary on Proverbs 22 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 22
Pro 22:1
Here are two things which are more valuable and which we should covet more than great riches:-
Pro 22:2
Note,
Pro 22:3
See here,
Pro 22:4
See here,
Pro 22:5
Note
Pro 22:6
Here is,
Pro 22:7
He had said (v. 2.), Rich and poor meet together; but here he finds, here he shows, that, as to the things of this life, there is a great difference; for,
Pro 22:8
Note
Pro 22:9
Here is,
Pro 22:10
See here,
Pro 22:11
Here is,
Pro 22:12
Here is,
Pro 22:13
Note,
Pro 22:14
This is designed to warn all young men against the lusts of uncleanness. As they regard the welfare of their souls, let them take heed of strange women, lewd women, whom they ought to be strange to, of the mouth of strange women, of the kisses of their lips (ch. 7:13), of the words of their lips, their charms and enticements. Dread them; have nothing to do with them; for,
Pro 22:15
We have here two very sad considerations:-
Pro 22:16
This shows what evil courses rich men sometimes take, by which, in the end, they will impoverish themselves and provoke God, notwithstanding their abundance, to bring them to want; they oppress the poor and give to the rich.
Pro 22:17-21
Solomon here changes his style and manner of speaking. Hitherto, for the most part, since the beginning of ch. 10, he had laid down doctrinal truths, and but now and then dropped a word of exhortation, leaving us to make the application as we went along; but here, to the end of ch. 24, he directs his speech to his son, his pupil, his reader, his hearer, speaking as to a particular person. Hitherto, for the most part, his sense was comprised in one verse, but here usually it is drawn out further. See how Wisdom tries variety of methods with us, lest we should be cloyed with any one. To awaken attention and to assist our application the method of direct address is here adopted. Ministers must not think it enough to preach before their hearers, but must preach to them, nor enough to preach to them all in general, but should address themselves to particular persons, as here: Do thou do so and so. Here is,
Pro 22:22-23
After this solemn preface, one would have expected something new and surprising; but no; here is a plain and common, but very needful caution against the barbarous and inhuman practices of oppressing poor people. Observe,
Pro 22:24-25
Here is,
Pro 22:26-27
We have here, as often before, a caution against suretiship, as a thing both imprudent and unjust.
Pro 22:28
Pro 22:29
Here is,