11 My son, be wise and make my heart glad, so that I may give back an answer to him who puts me to shame.
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
So that I may have an answer for the man who would put me to shame; for I have faith in your word.
Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young. Happy is the man who has a good store of them; he will not be put to shame, but his cause will be supported by them against his haters.
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother.
A man who is a lover of wisdom is a joy to his father: but he who goes in the company of loose women is a waster of wealth.
Hate had I for all my work which I had done, because the man who comes after me will have its fruits. And who is to say if that man will be wise or foolish? But he will have power over all my work which I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This again is to no purpose. So my mind was turned to grief for all the trouble I had taken and all my wisdom under the sun. Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand; but one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This again is to no purpose and a great evil.
I, Paul, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life. So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 27
Commentary on Proverbs 27 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 27
Pro 27:1
Here is,
Pro 27:2
Note,
Pro 27:3-4
These two verses show the intolerable mischief,
Pro 27:5-6
Note,
Pro 27:7
Solomon here, as often in this book, shows that the poor have in some respects the advantage of the rich; for,
Pro 27:8
Note,
Pro 27:9-10
Here is,
Pro 27:11
Children are here exhorted to be wise and good,
Pro 27:12
This we had before, ch. 22:3. Note,
Pro 27:13
This also we had before, ch. 20:16.
Pro 27:14
Note,
Pro 27:15-16
Here, as before, Solomon laments the case of him that has a peevish passionate wife, that is continually chiding, and making herself and all about her uneasy.
Pro 27:17
This intimates both the pleasure and the advantage of conversation. One man is nobody; nor will poring upon a book in a corner accomplish a man as the reading and studying of men will. Wise and profitable discourse sharpens men's wits; and those that have ever so much knowledge may by conference have something added to them. It sharpens men's looks, and, by cheering the spirits, puts a briskness and liveliness into the countenance, and gives a man such an air as shows he is pleased himself and makes him pleasing to those about him. Good men's graces are sharpened by converse with those that are good, and bad men's lusts and passions are sharpened by converse with those that are bad, as iron is sharpened by its like, especially by the file. Men are filed, made smooth, and bright, and fit for business (who were rough, and dull, and inactive), by conversation. This is designed,
Pro 27:18
This is designed to encourage diligence, faithfulness, and constancy, even in mean employments. Though the calling be laborious and despicable, yet those who keep to it will find there is something to be got by it.
Pro 27:19
This shows us that there is a way,
Pro 27:20
Two things are here said to be insatiable, and they are two things near of kin-death and sin.
Pro 27:21
This gives us a touchstone by which we may try ourselves. Silver and gold are tried by putting them into the furnace and fining-pot; so is man tried by praising him. Let him be extolled and preferred, and then he will show himself what he is.
Pro 27:22
Solomon had said (ch. 22:15), The foolishness which is bound in the heart of a child may be driven out by the rod of correction, for then the mind is to be moulded, the vicious habits not having taken root; but here he shows that, if it be not done then, it will be next to impossible to do it afterwards; if the disease be inveterate, there is a danger of its being incurable. Can the Ethiopian change his skin? Observe,
Pro 27:23-27
Here is,