1 My son, H1121 forget H7911 not my law; H8451 but let thine heart H3820 keep H5341 my commandments: H4687
2 For length H753 of days, H3117 and long H8141 life, H2416 and peace, H7965 shall they add H3254 to thee.
3 Let not mercy H2617 and truth H571 forsake H5800 thee: bind H7194 them about thy neck; H1621 write H3789 them upon the table H3871 of thine heart: H3820
4 So shalt thou find H4672 favour H2580 and good H2896 understanding H7922 in the sight H5869 of God H430 and man. H120
5 Trust H982 in the LORD H3068 with all thine heart; H3820 and lean H8172 not unto thine own understanding. H998
6 In all thy ways H1870 acknowledge H3045 him, and he shall direct H3474 thy paths. H734
7 Be not wise H2450 in thine own eyes: H5869 fear H3372 the LORD, H3068 and depart H5493 from evil. H7451
8 It shall be health H7500 to thy navel, H8270 and marrow H8250 to thy bones. H6106
9 Honour H3513 the LORD H3068 with thy substance, H1952 and with the firstfruits H7225 of all thine increase: H8393
10 So shall thy barns H618 be filled H4390 with plenty, H7647 and thy presses H3342 shall burst out H6555 with new wine. H8492
11 My son, H1121 despise H3988 not the chastening H4148 of the LORD; H3068 neither be weary H6973 of his correction: H8433
12 For whom the LORD H3068 loveth H157 he correcteth; H3198 even as a father H1 the son H1121 in whom he delighteth. H7521
13 Happy H835 is the man H120 that findeth H4672 wisdom, H2451 and the man H120 that getteth H6329 understanding. H8394
14 For the merchandise H5504 of it is better H2896 than the merchandise H5505 of silver, H3701 and the gain H8393 thereof than fine gold. H2742
15 She is more precious H3368 than rubies: H6443 and all the things thou canst desire H2656 are not to be compared H7737 unto her.
16 Length H753 of days H3117 is in her right hand; H3225 and in her left hand H8040 riches H6239 and honour. H3519
17 Her ways H1870 are ways H1870 of pleasantness, H5278 and all her paths H5410 are peace. H7965
18 She is a tree H6086 of life H2416 to them that lay hold H2388 upon her: and happy H833 is every one that retaineth H8551 her.
19 The LORD H3068 by wisdom H2451 hath founded H3245 the earth; H776 by understanding H8394 hath he established H3559 the heavens. H8064
20 By his knowledge H1847 the depths H8415 are broken up, H1234 and the clouds H7834 drop down H7491 the dew. H2919
21 My son, H1121 let not them depart H3868 from thine eyes: H5869 keep H5341 sound wisdom H8454 and discretion: H4209
22 So shall they be life H2416 unto thy soul, H5315 and grace H2580 to thy neck. H1621
23 Then shalt thou walk H3212 in thy way H1870 safely, H983 and thy foot H7272 shall not stumble. H5062
24 When thou liest down, H7901 thou shalt not be afraid: H6342 yea, thou shalt lie down, H7901 and thy sleep H8142 shall be sweet. H6149
25 Be not afraid H3372 of sudden H6597 fear, H6343 neither of the desolation H7722 of the wicked, H7563 when it cometh. H935
26 For the LORD H3068 shall be thy confidence, H3689 and shall keep H8104 thy foot H7272 from being taken. H3921
27 Withhold H4513 not good H2896 from them to whom it is due, H1167 when it is in the power H410 of thine hand H3027 to do H6213 it.
28 Say H559 not unto thy neighbour, H7453 Go, H3212 and come again, H7725 and to morrow H4279 I will give; H5414 when thou hast H3426 it by thee.
29 Devise H2790 not evil H7451 against thy neighbour, H7453 seeing he dwelleth H3427 securely H983 by thee.
30 Strive H7378 not with a man H120 without cause, H2600 if he have done H1580 thee no harm. H7451
31 Envy H7065 thou not the oppressor, H376 H2555 and choose H977 none of his ways. H1870
32 For the froward H3868 is abomination H8441 to the LORD: H3068 but his secret H5475 is with the righteous. H3477
33 The curse H3994 of the LORD H3068 is in the house H1004 of the wicked: H7563 but he blesseth H1288 the habitation H5116 of the just. H6662
34 Surely he scorneth H3887 the scorners: H3887 but he giveth H5414 grace H2580 unto the lowly. H6035 H6041
35 The wise H2450 shall inherit H5157 glory: H3519 but shame H7036 shall be the promotion H7311 of fools. H3684
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 3
Commentary on Proverbs 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Pr 3:1-35. The study of truth commended. God must be feared, honored, and trusted, and filial submission, under chastisement, exhibited. The excellence of wisdom urged and illustrated by its place in the divine counsels. Piety enforced by a contrast of the destiny of the righteous and the wicked.
1. law [and] commandments—all divine instructions (see on Ps 119:1 and Ps 119:4).
let thine heart keep—or sincerely observe (Pr 4:13; 5:2).
2. length … life—often promised as blessings (Ps 21:4; 91:16).
peace—includes prosperity (Ps 125:5).
add—abound to thee.
3. mercy and truth—God's faithfulness to His promises is often expressed by these terms (Ps 25:10; 57:3). As attributes of men, they express integrity in a wide sense (Pr 16:6; 20:28).
bind … write … heart—outwardly adorn and inwardly govern motives.
4. favour—grace, amiability (Pr 22:11; Ps 45:2); united with this,
a good understanding—(Compare Margin), a discrimination, which secures success.
in the sight … man—such as God and man approve.
5. Trust … heart—This is the center and marrow of true wisdom (Pr 22:19; 28:25). The positive duty has its corresponding negation in the admonition against self-confidence.
6. ways—(Ps 1:1).
acknowledge—by seeking His wise aid (Pr 16:3; Ps 37:5; Jer 9:23, 24).
direct—literally, "make plain" (compare Heb 12:13).
7. (Compare Pr 27:2; Ro 12:16).
fear … evil—reverentially regarding His law.
8. It—This conduct.
health—(Compare Margin).
to thy navel—for all the organs of nourishment.
marrow—(Compare Margin).
bones—frame of body. True piety promotes bodily health.
9, 10. (Compare Pr 11:25; Ex 23:19; De 18:4; Isa 32:8; 2Co 9:13).
10. presses—or wine fats (Joe 2:24; 3:13).
11, 12. The true intent of afflictions considered; they do not contradict the assertion of the blessed state of the pious (Job 5:17; Heb 12:5, 6).
12. he delighteth—or receiveth as denoting reconciliation regarding the offense which produced chastisement.
13. findeth—literally, "reaches," or "obtains by seeking."
getteth—literally, "draws out," as metals by digging.
14, 15. The figure of Pr 3:13 carried out.
it—that is, wisdom.
merchandise of silver—acquisition by trading.
fine gold—dug gold, solid as a nugget.
15. rubies—gems, or pearls.
16, 17. Wisdom personified as bringing the best blessings (compare Mt 6:33; 1Ti 4:8).
17. Her ways—such as she directs us to take.
18. Wisdom allegorized as
a tree of life—(Ge 2:9; 3:22) whose fruit preserves life, gives all that makes living a blessing.
19, 20. The place of wisdom in the economy of creation and providence commends it to men, who, in proportion to their finite powers, may possess this invaluable attribute, and are thus encouraged by the divine example of its use to seek its possession.
21. sound wisdom—(compare Pr 2:7).
let … eyes—that is, these words of instruction.
22-24. assign reasons in their value for happiness and ornament, guidance and support in dangers, both when waking and sleeping.
25. Be not—or, "You shall not be."
sudden fear—what causes it (Pr 1:27), any unlooked-for evil (Ps 46:3; 91:12; 1Pe 3:14).
desolation—(Pr 1:27).
26. The reason; such as are objects of God's favor.
be thy confidence—literally, "in thy confidence," in the source of thy strength (compare Na 3:9, for the same construction, Hebrew).
27, 28. Promptly fulfil all obligations both of justice and charity (compare Jas 2:15, 16).
29, 30. Do not abuse confidence and avoid litigation.
31. oppressor—or man of mischief. The destiny of successful evildoers warns against desiring their lot (Ps 37:1, 2, 35, 36).
32-35. Reasons for the warning.
froward—(Pr 2:15).
secret … righteous—in their communion (Am 3:7).
33. curse … wicked—It abides with them, and will be manifested.
34. The retribution of sinners, as in Ps 18:26.
35. inherit—as a portion.
shame—or disgrace, as opposed to honor.
promotion—(Compare Margin); as honor for well-doing makes men conspicuous, so fools are signalized by disgrace.