18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, If all of them are ready on your lips.
For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
The lips of the righteous feed many, But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water."
For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Hosts.
A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
My son, eat honey, for it is good; The droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste: So you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; If you have found it, then there will be a reward, Your hope will not be cut off.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; Not so with the heart of fools.
For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me. Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; Like new wineskins it is ready to burst.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
I rejoice at your word, As one who finds great spoil.
I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, For they are the joy of my heart.
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,