21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth; but he that is gracious to the afflicted, happy is he.
Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
But whoso may have the world's substance, and see his brother having need, and shut up his bowels from him, how abides the love of God in him? Children, let us not love with word, nor with tongue, but in deed and in truth. And hereby we shall know that we are of the truth, and shall persuade our hearts before him -- that if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness towards God, and whatsoever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and practise the things which are pleasing in his sight.
What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him? Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what [is] the profit?
Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him? But *ye* have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] *they* drag you before [the] tribunals?
To every one that asks of thee, give; and from him that takes away what is thine, ask it not back. And as ye wish that men should do to you, do *ye* also to them in like manner. And if ye love those that love you, what thank is it to you? for even sinners love those that love them. And if ye do good to those that do good to you, what thank is it to you? for even sinners do the same. And if ye lend to those from whom ye hope to receive, what thank is it to you? [for] even sinners lend to sinners that they may receive the like. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of [the] Highest; for *he* is good to the unthankful and wicked. Be ye therefore merciful, even as your Father also is merciful.
Then shall the King say to those on his right hand, Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from [the] world's foundation: for I hungered, and ye gave me to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was ill, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came to me. Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungering, and nourished thee; or thirsting, and gave thee to drink? and when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in; or naked, and clothed thee? and when saw we thee ill, or in prison, and came to thee? And the King answering shall say to them, Verily, I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me. Then shall he say also to those on the left, Go from me, cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I hungered, and ye gave me not to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave me not to drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye did not clothe me; ill, and in prison, and ye did not visit me. Then shall *they* also answer saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and have not ministered to thee? Then shall he answer them saying, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have not done it to one of these least, neither have ye done it to me. And these shall go away into eternal punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring to thy house the needy wanderers; when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the dawn, and thy health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of Jehovah shall be thy rearguard. Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger and the unjust speech, and thou proffer thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in the darkness, and thine obscurity be as midday; and Jehovah will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and strengthen thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a water-spring, whose waters deceive not. And they [that come] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations [that have remained] from generation to generation; and thou shalt be called, Repairer of the breaches, restorer of frequented paths.
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is right, but [it tendeth] only to want. The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
{To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.} Blessed is he that understandeth the poor: Jehovah will deliver him in the day of evil. Jehovah will preserve him, and keep him alive; he shall be made happy in the land; and thou wilt not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
Look unto the heavens and see; and survey the skies: they are higher than thou. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? If thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me, What then should I do when ùGod riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him? Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 14
Commentary on Proverbs 14 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 14
Pro 14:1
Note,
Pro 14:2
Here are,
Pro 14:3
See here,
Pro 14:4
Note,
Pro 14:5
In the administration of justice much depends upon the witnesses, and therefore it is necessary to the common good that witnesses be principled as they ought to be; for,
Pro 14:6
Note,
Pro 14:7
See here,
Pro 14:8
See here,
Pro 14:9
See here,
Pro 14:10
This agrees with 1 Co. 2:11, What man knows the things of a man, and the changes of his temper, save the spirit of a man?
Pro 14:11
Note,
Pro 14:12
We have here an account of the way and end of a great many self-deluded souls.
Pro 14:13
This shows the vanity of carnal mirth, and proves what Solomon said of laughter, that it is mad; for,
Pro 14:14
Note,
Pro 14:15
Note,
Pro 14:16
Note,
Pro 14:17
Note,
Pro 14:18
Note,
Pro 14:19
That is,
Pro 14:20
This shows, not what should be, but what is the common way of the world-to be shy of the poor and fond of the rich.
Pro 14:21
See here how men's character and condition are measured and judged of by their conduct towards their poor neighbours.
Pro 14:22
See here,
Pro 14:23
Note,
Pro 14:24
Observe,
Pro 14:25
See here,
Pro 14:26-27
In these two verses we are invited and encouraged to live in the fear of God by the advantages which attend a religious life. The fear of the Lord is here put for all gracious principles, producing gracious practices.
Pro 14:28
Here are two maxims in politics, which carry their own evidence with them:-
Pro 14:29
Note,
Pro 14:30
The foregoing verse showed how much our reputation, this how much our health, depends on the good government of our passions and the preserving of the temper of the mind.
Pro 14:31
God is here pleased to interest himself more than one would imagine in the treatment given to the poor.
Pro 14:32
Here is,
Pro 14:33
Observe,
Pro 14:34
Note,
Pro 14:35
This shows that in a well-ordered court and government smiles and favours are dispensed among those that are employed in public trusts according to their merits; Solomon lets them know he will go by that rule,