31 An oppressor of the poor reproacheth his Maker, And whoso is honouring Him Is favouring the needy.
If I despise the cause of my man-servant, And of my handmaid, In their contending with me, Then what do I do when God ariseth? And when He doth inspect, What do I answer Him? Did not He that made me in the womb make him? Yea, prepare us in the womb doth One. If I withhold from pleasure the poor, And the eyes of the widow do consume,
Rob not the poor because he `is' poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate. For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
`And the king answering, shall say to them, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye did `it' to one of these my brethren -- the least -- to me ye did `it'. Then shall he say also to those on the left hand, Go ye from me, the cursed, to the fire, the age-during, that hath been prepared for the Devil and his messengers; for I did hunger, and ye gave me not to eat; I did thirst, and ye gave me not to drink; a stranger I was, and ye did not receive me; naked, and ye put not around me; infirm, and in prison, and ye did not look after me. `Then shall they answer, they also, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or infirm, or in prison, and we did not minister to thee? `Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye did `it' not to one of these, the least, ye did `it' not to me. And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during.'
but even as in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace ye may abound; not according to command do I speak, but because of the diligence of others, and of your love proving the genuineness, for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you he became poor -- being rich, that ye by that poverty may become rich.
and whoever may have the goods of the world, and may view his brother having need, and may shut up his bowels from him -- how doth the love of God remain in him? My little children, may we not love in word nor in tongue, but in word and in truth! and in this we know that of the truth we are, and before Him we shall assure our hearts, because if our heart may condemn -- because greater is God than our heart, and He doth know all things. Beloved, if our heart may not condemn us, we have boldness toward God,
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 14
Commentary on Proverbs 14 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 14
Pro 14:1
Note,
Pro 14:2
Here are,
Pro 14:3
See here,
Pro 14:4
Note,
Pro 14:5
In the administration of justice much depends upon the witnesses, and therefore it is necessary to the common good that witnesses be principled as they ought to be; for,
Pro 14:6
Note,
Pro 14:7
See here,
Pro 14:8
See here,
Pro 14:9
See here,
Pro 14:10
This agrees with 1 Co. 2:11, What man knows the things of a man, and the changes of his temper, save the spirit of a man?
Pro 14:11
Note,
Pro 14:12
We have here an account of the way and end of a great many self-deluded souls.
Pro 14:13
This shows the vanity of carnal mirth, and proves what Solomon said of laughter, that it is mad; for,
Pro 14:14
Note,
Pro 14:15
Note,
Pro 14:16
Note,
Pro 14:17
Note,
Pro 14:18
Note,
Pro 14:19
That is,
Pro 14:20
This shows, not what should be, but what is the common way of the world-to be shy of the poor and fond of the rich.
Pro 14:21
See here how men's character and condition are measured and judged of by their conduct towards their poor neighbours.
Pro 14:22
See here,
Pro 14:23
Note,
Pro 14:24
Observe,
Pro 14:25
See here,
Pro 14:26-27
In these two verses we are invited and encouraged to live in the fear of God by the advantages which attend a religious life. The fear of the Lord is here put for all gracious principles, producing gracious practices.
Pro 14:28
Here are two maxims in politics, which carry their own evidence with them:-
Pro 14:29
Note,
Pro 14:30
The foregoing verse showed how much our reputation, this how much our health, depends on the good government of our passions and the preserving of the temper of the mind.
Pro 14:31
God is here pleased to interest himself more than one would imagine in the treatment given to the poor.
Pro 14:32
Here is,
Pro 14:33
Observe,
Pro 14:34
Note,
Pro 14:35
This shows that in a well-ordered court and government smiles and favours are dispensed among those that are employed in public trusts according to their merits; Solomon lets them know he will go by that rule,