4 A king, by right rule, makes the land safe; but one full of desires makes it a waste.
The king who is a true judge in the cause of the poor, will be safe for ever on the seat of his power.
And Samuel said to Saul, You have done a foolish thing: you have not kept the rules which the Lord your God gave you; it was the purpose of the Lord to make your authority over Israel safe for ever.
And Solomon took his place on the seat of David his father, and his kingdom was made safe and strong.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not keep himself from the sin which Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, did and made Israel do. In his day, Pul, the king of Assyria, came up against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver so that he might let him keep the kingdom. And Menahem got the money from Israel, from all the men of wealth, fifty silver shekels from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria went back without stopping in the land.
Praise be to the Lord your God whose pleasure it was to put you on the seat of his kingdom to be king for the Lord your God: because, in his love for Israel, it was the purpose of your God to make them strong for ever, he made you king over them, to be their judge in righteousness.
The seat of your kingdom is resting on righteousness and right judging: mercy and good faith come before your face.
The king's power is used for righteousness; you give true decisions, judging rightly in the land of Jacob.
Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
This is the word of the Lord: I have given ear to you at a good time, and I have been your helper in a day of salvation: and I will keep you safe, and will make you a glory for the people, putting the land in order, and giving them the heritages which now are waste;
A curse is on him who is building his house by wrongdoing, and his rooms by doing what is not right; who makes use of his neighbour without payment, and gives him nothing for his work; Who says, I will make a wide house for myself, and rooms of great size, and has windows cut out, and has it roofed with cedar and painted with bright red. Are you to be a king because you make more use of cedar than your father? did not your father take food and drink and do right, judging in righteousness, and then it was well for him? He was judge in the cause of the poor and those in need; then it was well. Was not this to have knowledge of me? says the Lord. 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 29
Commentary on Proverbs 29 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 29
Pro 29:1
Here,
Pro 29:2
This is what was said before, ch. 28:12, 28.
Pro 29:3
Both the parts of this verse repeat what has been often said, but, on comparing them together, the sense of them will be enlarged from each other.
Pro 29:4
Here is,
Pro 29:5
Those may be said to flatter their neighbours who commend and applaud that good in them (the good they do or the good they have) which really either is not or is not such as they represent it, and who profess that esteem and that affection for them which really they have not; these spread a net for their feet.
Pro 29:6
Here is,
Pro 29:7
It is a pity but that every one who sues sub formâ pauperis-as a pauper, should have an honest cause (they are of all others inexcusable if they have not), because the scripture has so well provided that it should have a fair hearing, and that the judge himself should be of counsel, as for the prisoner, so for the pauper.
Pro 29:8
See here,
Pro 29:9
A wise man is here advised not to set his wit to a fool's, not to dispute with him, or by contending with him to think either of fastening reason upon him or gaining right from him: If a wise man contend with a wise man, he may hope to be understood, and, as far as he has reason and equity on his side, to carry his point, at least to bring the controversy to a head and make it issue amicably; but, if he contend with a foolish man, there is no rest; he will see no end of it, nor will he have any satisfaction in it, but must expect to be always uneasy.
Pro 29:10
Note,
Pro 29:11
Note,
Pro 29:12
Note,
Pro 29:13
This shows how wisely the great God serves the designs of his providence by persons of very different tempers, capacities, and conditions in the world, even,
Pro 29:14
Here is,
Pro 29:15
Parents, in educating their children, must consider,
Pro 29:16
Note,
Pro 29:17
Note,
Pro 29:18
See here,
Pro 29:19
Here is the description of an unprofitable, slothful, wicked servant, a slave that serves not from conscience, or love, but purely from fear. Let those that have such servants put on patience to bear the vexation and not disturb themselves at it. See their character.
Pro 29:20
Solomon here shows that there is little hope of bringing a man to wisdom that is hasty either,
Pro 29:21
Note,
Pro 29:22
See here the mischief that flows from an angry, passionate, furious disposition.
Pro 29:23
This agrees with what Christ said more than once,
Pro 29:24
See here what sin and ruin those involve themselves in who are drawn away by the enticement of sinners.
Pro 29:25
Here,
Pro 29:26
See here,
Pro 29:27
This expresses not only the innate contrariety that there is between virtue and vice, as between light and darkness, fire and water, but the old enmity that has always been between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, Gen. 3:15.