1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, And loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh Is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: Whoever guards his soul stays from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, And the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed; For he shares his food with the poor.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; Yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully Is the king's friend.
12 The eyes of Yahweh watch over knowledge; But he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!"
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: He who is under Yahweh's wrath will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: The rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, Both come to poverty.
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, If all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach you today, even you.
20 Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things Of counsel and knowledge,
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, To give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Don't exploit the poor, because he is poor; And don't crush the needy in court;
23 For Yahweh will plead their case, And plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Don't befriend a hot-tempered man, And don't associate with one who harbors anger:
25 Lest you learn his ways, And ensnare your soul.
26 Don't you be one of those who strike hands, Of those who are collateral for debts.
27 If you don't have means to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Don't move the ancient boundary stone, Which your fathers have set up.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings; He won't serve obscure men.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 22
Commentary on Proverbs 22 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 22
Pro 22:1
Here are two things which are more valuable and which we should covet more than great riches:-
Pro 22:2
Note,
Pro 22:3
See here,
Pro 22:4
See here,
Pro 22:5
Note
Pro 22:6
Here is,
Pro 22:7
He had said (v. 2.), Rich and poor meet together; but here he finds, here he shows, that, as to the things of this life, there is a great difference; for,
Pro 22:8
Note
Pro 22:9
Here is,
Pro 22:10
See here,
Pro 22:11
Here is,
Pro 22:12
Here is,
Pro 22:13
Note,
Pro 22:14
This is designed to warn all young men against the lusts of uncleanness. As they regard the welfare of their souls, let them take heed of strange women, lewd women, whom they ought to be strange to, of the mouth of strange women, of the kisses of their lips (ch. 7:13), of the words of their lips, their charms and enticements. Dread them; have nothing to do with them; for,
Pro 22:15
We have here two very sad considerations:-
Pro 22:16
This shows what evil courses rich men sometimes take, by which, in the end, they will impoverish themselves and provoke God, notwithstanding their abundance, to bring them to want; they oppress the poor and give to the rich.
Pro 22:17-21
Solomon here changes his style and manner of speaking. Hitherto, for the most part, since the beginning of ch. 10, he had laid down doctrinal truths, and but now and then dropped a word of exhortation, leaving us to make the application as we went along; but here, to the end of ch. 24, he directs his speech to his son, his pupil, his reader, his hearer, speaking as to a particular person. Hitherto, for the most part, his sense was comprised in one verse, but here usually it is drawn out further. See how Wisdom tries variety of methods with us, lest we should be cloyed with any one. To awaken attention and to assist our application the method of direct address is here adopted. Ministers must not think it enough to preach before their hearers, but must preach to them, nor enough to preach to them all in general, but should address themselves to particular persons, as here: Do thou do so and so. Here is,
Pro 22:22-23
After this solemn preface, one would have expected something new and surprising; but no; here is a plain and common, but very needful caution against the barbarous and inhuman practices of oppressing poor people. Observe,
Pro 22:24-25
Here is,
Pro 22:26-27
We have here, as often before, a caution against suretiship, as a thing both imprudent and unjust.
Pro 22:28
Pro 22:29
Here is,