20 The underworld and Abaddon are never full, and the eyes of man have never enough.
All things are full of weariness; man may not give their story: the eye has never enough of its seeing, or the ear of its hearing.
The night-spirit has two daughters, Give, give. There are three things which are never full, even four which never say, Enough: The underworld, and the woman without a child; the earth which never has enough water, and the fire which never says, Enough.
And nothing which was desired by my eyes did I keep from them; I did not keep any joy from my heart, because my heart took pleasure in all my work, and this was my reward. Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
All the work of man is for his mouth, and still he has a desire for food.
Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men!
Are your eyes lifted up to it? it is gone: for wealth takes to itself wings, like an eagle in flight up to heaven.
It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.
When goods are increased, the number of those who take of them is increased; and what profit has the owner but to see them? The sleep of a working man is sweet, if he has little food or much; but to him who is full, sleep will not come.
But your eyes and your heart are fixed only on profit for yourself, on causing the death of him who has done no wrong, and on violent and cruel acts.
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,