16 The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor: he that hateth covetousness shall prolong [his] days.
[As for] my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people! they that guide thee mislead [thee], and destroy the way of thy paths.
But do thou provide among all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [them] over them, chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens,
And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him saying, Thus shalt thou say to this people that have spoken to thee saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and lighten thou it for us, -- thus shalt thou say to them: My little [finger] is thicker than my father's loins;
and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but *I* will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but *I* will chastise you with scorpions.
But the former governors that were before me had been chargeable to the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver: even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not so, because of the fear of God.
-- He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from taking hold of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil: he shall dwell on high, the fortresses of the rocks shall be his high retreat; bread shall be given him, his water shall be sure.
Shalt thou reign, because thou viest with the cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this to know me? saith Jehovah. But thine eyes and thy heart are only on thine extortion, and on the blood of the innocent, to shed it, and on oppression and on violence, to do it.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 28
Commentary on Proverbs 28 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 28
Pro 28:1
See here,
Pro 28:2
Note,
Pro 28:3
See here,
Pro 28:4
Note,
Pro 28:5
Note,
Pro 28:6
Here,
Pro 28:7
Note,
Pro 28:8
Note,
Pro 28:9
Note,
Pro 28:10
Here is,
Pro 28:11
Note,
Pro 28:12
Note,
Pro 28:13
Here is,
Pro 28:14
Here is,
Pro 28:15
It is written indeed, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people; but if he be a wicked ruler, that oppresses the people, especially the poor people, robbing them of the little they have and making a prey of them, whatever we may call him, this scripture calls him a roaring lion and a ranging bear.
Pro 28:16
Two things are here intimated to be the causes of the mal-administration of princes:-
Pro 28:17
This agrees with that ancient law, Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed (Gen. 9:6), and proclaims,
Pro 28:18
Note,
Pro 28:19
Note,
Pro 28:20
Here,
Pro 28:21
Note,
Pro 28:22
Here again Solomon shows the sin and folly of those that will be rich; they are resolved that they will be so, per fas, per nefas-right or wrong; they will be so with all speed; they are getting hastily an estate.
Pro 28:23
Note,
Pro 28:24
As Christ shows the absurdity and wickedness of those children who think it is no duty, in some cases, to maintain their parents (Mt. 15:5), so Solomon here shows the absurdity and wickedness of those who think it is no sin to rob their parents, either by force or secretly, by wheedling them or threatening them, or by wasting what they have, and (which is no better than robbing them) running into debt and leaving them to pay it. Now,
Pro 28:25
Note,
Pro 28:26
Here is,
Pro 28:27
Here is,
Pro 28:28
This is to the same purport with what we had, v. 12.