8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Jehovah is far from the wicked; but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
And I know, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart have I willingly offered all these things; and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, offer willingly to thee.
To what purpose should there come to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing unto me.
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
Hear the word of Jehovah, rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, people of Gomorrah! To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith Jehovah. I am sated with burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and in the blood of bullocks, and of lambs, and of he-goats I take no pleasure. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this from your hand -- to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations! Incense is an abomination unto me, -- new moon and sabbath, the calling of convocations -- wickedness and the solemn meeting I cannot bear. Your new moons and your set feasts my soul hateth: they are a burden to me; I am wearied of bearing [them]. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
For I, Jehovah, love judgment, I hate robbery with wrong; and I will give their recompence in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Add your burnt-offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. For I spoke not unto your fathers, nor commanded them concerning burnt-offerings and sacrifices, in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt; but I commanded them this thing, saying, Hearken unto my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.
{A Prayer of David.} Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, which is not out of feigned lips.
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and draw near to hear, rather than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.
He that slaughtereth an ox, smiteth a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, breaketh a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, [it is as] swine's blood; he that presenteth a memorial of incense, [is as] he that blesseth an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations,
My dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the covert of the precipice, Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 15
Commentary on Proverbs 15 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 15
Pro 15:1
Solomon, as conservator of the public peace, here tells us,
Pro 15:2
Note,
Pro 15:3
The great truths of divinity are of great use to enforce the precepts of morality, and none more than this-That the eye of God is always upon the children of men.
Pro 15:4
Note,
Pro 15:5
Hence,
Pro 15:6
Note,
Pro 15:7
This is to the same purport with v. 2, and shows what a blessing a wise man is and what a burden a fool is to those about him. Only here observe further,
Pro 15:8
Note,
Pro 15:9
This is a reason of what was said in the foregoing verse.
Pro 15:10
This shows that those who cannot bear to be corrected must expect to be destroyed.
Pro 15:11
This confirms what was said (v. 3) concerning God's omnipresence, in order to his judging of evil and good.
Pro 15:12
A scorner is one that not only makes a jest of God and religion, but bids defiance to the methods employed for his conviction and reformation, and, as an evidence of that,
Pro 15:13
Here,
Pro 15:14
Here are two things to be wondered at:-
Pro 15:15
See here what a great difference there is between the condition and temper of some and others of the children of men.
Pro 15:16-17
Solomon had said in the foregoing verse that he who has not a large estate, or a great income, but a cheerful spirit, has a continual feast; Christian contentment, and joy in God, make the life easy and pleasant; now here he tells us what is necessary to that cheerfulness of spirit which will furnish a man with a continual feast, though he has but little in the world-holiness and love.
Pro 15:18
Here is,
Pro 15:19
See here,
Pro 15:20
Observe here,
Pro 15:21
Note,
Pro 15:22
See here,
Pro 15:23
Note,
Pro 15:24
The way of wisdom and holiness is here recommended to us,
Pro 15:25
Note,
Pro 15:26
The former part of this verse speaks of thoughts, the latter of words, but they come all to one; for thoughts are words to God, and words are judged of by the thoughts from which they proceed, so that,
Pro 15:27
Note,
Pro 15:28
Here is,
Pro 15:29
Note,
Pro 15:30
Two things are here pronounced pleasant:-
Pro 15:31
Note,
Pro 15:32
See here,
Pro 15:33
See here how much it is our interest, as well as duty,