21 To show partiality is not good; Yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, Nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; neither shall you testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice;
You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the words of the righteous.
Thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; for those who feed their teeth, they proclaim, "Peace!" and whoever doesn't provide for their mouths, they prepare war against him:
Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; And the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 28
Commentary on Proverbs 28 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 28
Pro 28:1
See here,
Pro 28:2
Note,
Pro 28:3
See here,
Pro 28:4
Note,
Pro 28:5
Note,
Pro 28:6
Here,
Pro 28:7
Note,
Pro 28:8
Note,
Pro 28:9
Note,
Pro 28:10
Here is,
Pro 28:11
Note,
Pro 28:12
Note,
Pro 28:13
Here is,
Pro 28:14
Here is,
Pro 28:15
It is written indeed, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people; but if he be a wicked ruler, that oppresses the people, especially the poor people, robbing them of the little they have and making a prey of them, whatever we may call him, this scripture calls him a roaring lion and a ranging bear.
Pro 28:16
Two things are here intimated to be the causes of the mal-administration of princes:-
Pro 28:17
This agrees with that ancient law, Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed (Gen. 9:6), and proclaims,
Pro 28:18
Note,
Pro 28:19
Note,
Pro 28:20
Here,
Pro 28:21
Note,
Pro 28:22
Here again Solomon shows the sin and folly of those that will be rich; they are resolved that they will be so, per fas, per nefas-right or wrong; they will be so with all speed; they are getting hastily an estate.
Pro 28:23
Note,
Pro 28:24
As Christ shows the absurdity and wickedness of those children who think it is no duty, in some cases, to maintain their parents (Mt. 15:5), so Solomon here shows the absurdity and wickedness of those who think it is no sin to rob their parents, either by force or secretly, by wheedling them or threatening them, or by wasting what they have, and (which is no better than robbing them) running into debt and leaving them to pay it. Now,
Pro 28:25
Note,
Pro 28:26
Here is,
Pro 28:27
Here is,
Pro 28:28
This is to the same purport with what we had, v. 12.