1 The wicked H7563 flee H5127 when no man pursueth: H7291 but the righteous H6662 are bold H982 as a lion. H3715
2 For the transgression H6588 of a land H776 many H7227 are the princes H8269 thereof: but by a man H120 of understanding H995 and knowledge H3045 the state H3651 thereof shall be prolonged. H748
3 A poor H7326 man H1397 that oppresseth H6231 the poor H1800 is like a sweeping H5502 rain H4306 which leaveth no food. H3899
4 They that forsake H5800 the law H8451 praise H1984 the wicked: H7563 but such as keep H8104 the law H8451 contend H1624 with them.
5 Evil H7451 men H582 understand H995 not judgment: H4941 but they that seek H1245 the LORD H3068 understand H995 all things.
6 Better H2896 is the poor H7326 that walketh H1980 in his uprightness, H8537 than he that is perverse H6141 in his ways, H1870 though he be rich. H6223
7 Whoso keepeth H5341 the law H8451 is a wise H995 son: H1121 but he that is a companion H7462 of riotous H2151 men shameth H3637 his father. H1
8 He that by usury H5392 and unjust gain H8636 increaseth H7235 his substance, H1952 he shall gather H6908 it for him that will pity H2603 the poor. H1800
9 He that turneth away H5493 his ear H241 from hearing H8085 the law, H8451 even his prayer H8605 shall be abomination. H8441
10 Whoso causeth the righteous H3477 to go astray H7686 in an evil H7451 way, H1870 he shall fall H5307 himself into his own pit: H7816 but the upright H8549 shall have good H2896 things in possession. H5157
11 The rich H6223 man H376 is wise H2450 in his own conceit; H5869 but the poor H1800 that hath understanding H995 searcheth him out. H2713
12 When righteous H6662 men do rejoice, H5970 there is great H7227 glory: H8597 but when the wicked H7563 rise, H6965 a man H120 is hidden. H2664
13 He that covereth H3680 his sins H6588 shall not prosper: H6743 but whoso confesseth H3034 and forsaketh H5800 them shall have mercy. H7355
14 Happy H835 is the man H120 that feareth H6342 alway: H8548 but he that hardeneth H7185 his heart H3820 shall fall H5307 into mischief. H7451
15 As a roaring H5098 lion, H738 and a ranging H8264 bear; H1677 so is a wicked H7563 ruler H4910 over the poor H1800 people. H5971
16 The prince H5057 that wanteth H2638 understanding H8394 is also a great H7227 oppressor: H4642 but he that hateth H8130 covetousness H1215 shall prolong H748 his days. H3117
17 A man H120 that doeth violence H6231 to the blood H1818 of any person H5315 shall flee H5127 to the pit; H953 let no man stay H8551 him.
18 Whoso walketh H1980 uprightly H8549 shall be saved: H3467 but he that is perverse H6140 in his ways H1870 shall fall H5307 at once. H259
19 He that tilleth H5647 his land H127 shall have plenty H7646 of bread: H3899 but he that followeth H7291 after vain H7386 persons shall have poverty enough. H7389
20 A faithful H530 man H376 shall abound H7227 with blessings: H1293 but he that maketh haste H213 to be rich H6238 shall not be innocent. H5352
21 To have respect H5234 of persons H6440 is not good: H2896 for for a piece H6595 of bread H3899 that man H1397 will transgress. H6586
22 He H376 that hasteth H926 to be rich H1952 hath an evil H7451 eye, H5869 and considereth H3045 not that poverty H2639 shall come H935 upon him.
23 He that rebuketh H3198 a man H120 afterwards H310 shall find H4672 more favour H2580 than he that flattereth H2505 with the tongue. H3956
24 Whoso robbeth H1497 his father H1 or his mother, H517 and saith, H559 It is no transgression; H6588 the same is the companion H2270 of a destroyer. H376 H7843
25 He that is of a proud H7342 heart H5315 stirreth up H1624 strife: H4066 but he that putteth his trust H982 in the LORD H3068 shall be made fat. H1878
26 He that trusteth H982 in his own heart H3820 is a fool: H3684 but whoso walketh H1980 wisely, H2451 he shall be delivered. H4422
27 He that giveth H5414 unto the poor H7326 shall not lack: H4270 but he that hideth H5956 his eyes H5869 shall have many H7227 a curse. H3994
28 When the wicked H7563 rise, H6965 men H120 hide H5641 themselves: but when they perish, H6 the righteous H6662 increase. H7235
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 28
Commentary on Proverbs 28 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 28
Pr 28:1-28.
1. A bad conscience makes men timid; the righteous are alone truly bold (Pr 14:26; Ps 27:1).
2. Anarchy producing contending rulers shortens the reign of each.
but by a man … prolonged—or, "by a man of understanding—that is, a good ruler—he who knows or regards the right, that is, a good citizen, shall prolong (his days)." Good rulers are a blessing to the people. Bad government as a punishment for evil is contrasted with good as blessing to the good.
3. A poor man, &c.—Such, in power, exact more severely, and so leave subjects bare.
4. They that forsake … wicked—Wrongdoers encourage one another.
5. (Compare Joh 7:17). Ignorance of moral truth is due to unwillingness to know it.
6. (Compare Pr 10:6). Riches cannot compensate for sin, nor the want of them affect integrity.
7. (Compare Pr 17:25).
riotous men—or, "gluttons" (Pr 23:20, 21).
8. usury … unjust gain—(Compare Margin). The two terms, meaning nearly the same, may denote excessive interest. God's providence directs the proper use of wealth.
9. (Compare Pr 15:8; 21:27).
hearing—that is, obeying. God requires sincere worshippers (Ps 66:18; Joh 4:24).
10. (Compare Pr 26:27).
11. A poor but wise man can discover (and expose) the rich and self-conceited.
12. great glory—or, cause for it to a people, for the righteous rejoice in good, and righteousness exalts a nation (Pr 14:34).
a man … hidden—that is, the good retire, or all kinds try to escape a wicked rule.
13. (Compare Ps 32:3-5). Concealment of sin delivers none from God's wrath, but He shows mercy to the humble penitent (Ps 51:4).
14. feareth—that is, God, and so repents.
hardeneth his heart—makes himself insensible to sin, and so will not repent (Pr 14:16; 29:1).
15. The rapacity and cruelty of such beasts well represent some wicked men (compare Ps 7:2; 17:12).
16. The prince … understanding—that is, He does not perceive that oppression jeopards his success. Covetousness often produces oppression, hence the contrast.
17. doeth violence … blood, &c.—or, that is oppressed by the blood of life (Ge 9:6), which he has taken.
to the pit—the grave or destruction (Pr 1:12; Job 33:18-24; Ps 143:7).
stay him—sustain or deliver him.
18. (Compare Pr 10:9; 17:20). Double dealing is eventually fatal.
19. (Compare Pr 10:4; 20:4).
vain persons—idle, useless drones, implying that they are also wicked (Pr 12:11; Ps 26:4).
20. maketh haste … rich—implying deceit or fraud (Pr 20:21), and so opposed to "faithful" or reliable.
21. respect of persons—(Pr 24:23). Such are led to evil by the slightest motive.
22. (Compare Pr 28:20).
evil eye—in the general sense of Pr 23:6, here more specific for covetousness (compare Pr 22:9; Mt 20:15).
poverty … him—by God's providence.
23. (Compare Pr 9:8, 9; 27:5). Those benefited by reproof will love their monitors.
24. (Compare Mt 15:4-6). Such, though heirs, are virtually thieves, to be ranked with highwaymen.
25. of a proud heart—literally, "puffed up of soul"—that is, self-confident, and hence overbearing and litigious.
made fat—or, "prosperous" (Pr 11:25; 16:20).
26. (Compare Pr 3:6-8).
walketh wisely—that is, trusting in God (Pr 22:17-19).
27. (Compare Pr 11:24-26).
hideth his eyes—as the face (Ps 27:9; 69:17), denotes inattention.
28. The elevation of the wicked to power drives men to seek refuge from tyranny (compare Pr 28:12; 11:10; Ps 12:8).