12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, And brings the wicked to ruin.
I have seen the wicked in great power, Spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. But he passed away, and, behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Righteousness guards the way of integrity, But wickedness overthrows the sinner.
For if God didn't spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus{Tartarus is another name for Hell}, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved to judgment; and didn't spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds): the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment;
However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil! You have devised shame to your house, by cutting off many peoples, and have sinned against your soul. For the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it. Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity!
"I have overthrown some of you, As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a burning stick plucked out of the fire; Yet you haven't returned to me," says Yahweh.
Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, And the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.
The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish.
It happened, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them. Riches don't profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.
God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, And root you out of the land of the living. Selah.
"This is the portion of a wicked man with God, The heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty. If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. Those who remain of him shall be buried in death. His widows shall make no lamentation. Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare clothing as the clay; He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver. He builds his house as the moth, As a booth which the watchman makes. He lies down rich, but he shall not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not. Terrors overtake him like waters; A tempest steals him away in the night. The east wind carries him away, and he departs; It sweeps him out of his place. For it hurls at him, and does not spare, As he flees away from his hand. Men shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place.
For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?' Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Don't you know their evidences, That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
He shall be rooted out of his tent where he trusts. He shall be brought to the king of terrors. There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Sulfur shall be scattered on his habitation. His roots shall be dried up beneath, Above shall his branch be cut off. His memory shall perish from the earth. He shall have no name in the street. He shall be driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world. He shall have neither son nor grandson among his people, Nor any remaining where he sojourned. Those who come after shall be astonished at his day, As those who went before were frightened. Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, This is the place of him who doesn't know God."
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 21
Commentary on Proverbs 21 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 21
Pr 21:1-31.
1. rivers—irrigating channels (Ps 1:3), whose course was easily turned (compare De 11:10). God disposes even kings as He pleases (Pr 16:9; Ps 33:15).
2. (Compare Pr 14:2; 16:2-25).
3. (Compare Ps 50:7-15; Isa 1:11, 17).
4. high look—(Compare Margin; Ps 131:1).
proud heart—or, "heart of breadth," one that is swollen (compare Ps 101:5).
ploughing—better "lamp," a frequent figure for prosperity (Pr 20:20); hence joy or delight.
5. The contrast is between steady industry and rashness (compare Pr 19:2).
6. The getting—or, "what is obtained" (compare Job 7:2; Jer 22:13, Hebrew).
vanity … to and fro—as fleeting as chaff or stubble in the wind (compare Pr 20:17-21; Ps 62:10). Such gettings are unsatisfactory.
them … death—act as if they did (Pr 8:36; 17:19).
7. robbery—or, "destruction," especially oppression, of which they are authors.
shall destroy—literally, "cut with a saw" (1Ki 7:9), that is, utterly ruin them. Their sins shall be visited on them in kind.
to do judgment—what is just and right.
8. of man—any one; his way is opposed to truth, and also estranged from it. The pure proves himself such by his right conduct.
9. corner—a turret or arbor on the roof.
brawling—or contentious.
wide house—literally, "house of fellowship," large enough for several families.
10. So strongly does he desire to do evil (Ps 10:3; Ec 8:11), that he will not even spare his friend if in his way.
11. (Compare Pr 19:25). That which the simple learn by the terrors of punishment, the wise learn by teaching.
12. (Compare Ps 37:35-38; 73:17, 20).
house—family or interests.
overthroweth—either supply "God" (compare Pr 10:24), or the word is used impersonally.
13. The principles of retribution, often taught (compare Ps 18:26; Mt 7:1-12).
14. The effect of bribery (Pr 17:23) is enhanced by secrecy, as the bribed person does not wish his motives made known.
15. But the just love right and need no bribes. The wicked at last meet destruction, though for a time happy in concealing corruption.
16. the way of understanding—(Compare Pr 12:26; 14:22).
remain—that is, rest as at a journey's end; death will be his unchanging home.
17. Costly luxuries impoverish.
18. (Compare Pr 11:8). By suffering what they had devised for the righteous, or brought on them, the wicked became their ransom, in the usual sense of substitutes (compare Jos 7:26; Es 7:9).
19. (Compare Pr 21:9).
wilderness—pasture, though uninhabitable ground (Ps 65:12).
20. The wise, by diligence and care, lay up and increase wealth, while fools
spend—literally, "swallow it up," greedily.
21. He who tries to act justly and kindly (Ps 34:14) will prosper and obtain justice and honor.
22. "Wisdom is better than strength" (Ec 7:19; 9:15).
strength … thereof—that in which they confide.
23. (Compare Pr 13:2, 3; Jas 3:6-10).
24. The reproachful name is deserved by those who treat others with anger and contempt.
25. desire—that is, of ease and idleness brings him to starvation.
26. The sin of covetousness marks the sluggard, as the virtue of benevolence the righteous.
27. God regards the heart, and hypocrisy is more odious than open inconsistency.
wicked mind—or, "design" (Pr 1:4).
28. (Compare Pr 19:5).
that heareth—or heeds instruction, and so grows wise.
speaketh constantly—or sincerely (compare Hab 1:5), and hence is believed (Pr 12:19; Jas 1:19).
29. hardeneth his face—is obstinate.
directeth … way—considers it, and acts advisedly.
30, 31. Men's best devices and reliances are vain compared with God's, or without His aid (Pr 19:21; Ps 20:7; 33:17).