6 Many entreat the face of the noble, And all have made friendship to a man of gifts.
A stone of grace `is' the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger, And a bribe in the bosom strong fury.
and ye have said also, Lo, thy servant Jacob `is' behind us;' for he said, `I pacify his face with the present which is going before me, and afterwards I see his face; it may be he lifteth up my face;'
And the men take this present, double money also they have taken in their hand, and Benjamin; and they rise, and go down to Egypt, and stand before Joseph;
and saith unto the king, `Let not my lord impute to me iniquity; neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely in the day that my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, -- for the king to set `it' unto his heart; for thy servant hath known that I have sinned; and lo, I have come to-day, first of all the house of Joseph, to go down to meet my lord the king.' And Abishai son of Zeruiah answereth and saith, `For this is not Shimei put to death -- because he reviled the anointed of Jehovah?' And David saith, `What -- to me and to you, O sons of Zeruiah, that ye are to me to-day for an adversary? to-day is any man put to death in Israel? for have I not known that to-day I `am' king over Israel?' And the king saith unto Shimei, `Thou dost not die;' and the king sweareth to him. And Mephibosheth son of Saul hath come down to meet the king -- and he prepared not his feet, nor did he prepare his upper lip, yea, his garments he washed not, even from the day of the going away of the king, till the day that he came in peace -- and it cometh to pass, when he hath come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king saith to him, `Why didst thou not go with me, Mephibosheth?' And he saith, `My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for thy servant said, I saddle for me the ass, and ride on it, and go with the king, for thy servant `is' lame; and he uttereth slander against thy servant unto my lord the king, and my lord the king `is' as a messenger of God; and do thou that which is good in thine eyes, for all the house of my father have been nothing except men of death before my lord the king, and thou dost set thy servant among those eating at thy table, and what right have I any more -- even to cry any more unto the king?' And the king saith to him, `Why dost thou speak any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba -- share ye the field.' And Mephibosheth saith unto the king, `Yea, the whole let him take, after that my lord the king hath come in peace unto his house.' And Barzillai the Gileadite hath gone down from Rogelim, and passeth over the Jordan with the king, to send him away over the Jordan; and Barzillai `is' very aged, a son of eighty years, and he hath sustained the king in his abiding in Mahanaim, for he `is' a very great man; and the king saith unto Barzillai, `Pass thou over with me, and I have sustained thee with me in Jerusalem.' And Barzillai saith unto the king, `How many `are' the days of the years of my life, that I go up with the king to Jerusalem? A son of eighty years I `am' to-day; do I know between good and evil? doth thy servant taste that which I am eating, and that which I drink? do I hearken any more to the voice of singers and songstresses? and why is thy servant any more for a burden unto my lord the king? As a little thing, thy servant doth pass over the Jordan with the king, and why doth the king recompense me this recompense? Let, I pray thee, thy servant turn back again, and I die in mine own city, near the burying-place of my father and of my mother, -- and lo, thy servant Chimham, let him pass over with my lord the king, and do thou to him that which `is' good in thine eyes.' And the king saith, `With me doth Chimham go over, and I do to him that which `is' good in thine eyes, yea, all that thou dost fix on me I do to thee.' And all the people pass over the Jordan, and the king hath passed over, and the king giveth a kiss to Barzillai, and blesseth him, and he turneth back to his place.
And the daughter of Tyre with a present, The rich of the people do appease thy face.
In the light of a king's face `is' life, And his good-will `is' as a cloud of the latter rain.
and having come to the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and having fallen down they bowed to him, and having opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh,
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 19
Commentary on Proverbs 19 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 19
Pr 19:1-29.
1. (Compare Pr 28:6). "Rich" for fool here. Integrity is better than riches (Pr 15:16, 17; 16:8).
2. The last illustrates the first clause. Rashness, the result of ignorance, brings trouble.
3. perverteth … way—turns him back from right (Pr 13:6; Jas 1:13); and he blames God for his failures.
4. (Compare Pr 14:20). Such facts are often adduced with implied disapprobation.
5. Compare Pr 19:9, where perish explains not escape here (compare Ps 88:9, 10).
8. (Compare Margin; Pr 15:32).
loveth … soul—or, "himself," which he evinces by regarding his best interests.
keepeth—or, "regards."
10. (Compare Pr 17:7). The fool is incapable of properly using pleasure as knowledge, yet for him to have it is less incongruous than the undue elevation of servants. Let each abide in his calling (1Co 7:20).
11. (Compare Pr 14:29; 16:32). This inculcation of a forgiving spirit shows that true religion is always the same (Mt 5:22-24).
12. (Compare Pr 16:14, 15; 20:2). A motive to submission to lawful authority.
13. calamity—literally, "calamities," varied and many.
continual dropping—a perpetual annoyance, wearing out patience.
14. A contrast of men's gifts and God's, who, though author of both blessings, confers the latter by His more special providence.
and—or, "but," implying that the evils of Pr 19:13 are only avoided by His care.
15. a deep sleep—a state of utter indifference.
idle soul—or, "person" (compare Pr 10:4; 12:24).
16. (Compare Pr 10:17; 13:13).
despiseth … ways—opposed to keeping or observing, neglects (Pr 16:17) (as unworthy of regard) his moral conduct.
17. (Compare Pr 14:21; Ps 37:26).
hath pity—shown by acts (compare Margin).
18. (Compare Pr 13:24; 23:13).
let not … spare—literally, "do not lift up thy soul" (Ps 24:4; 25:1), that is, do not desire to his death; a caution to passionate parents against angry chastisement.
19. Repeated efforts of kindness are lost on ill-natured persons.
20. (Compare Pr 13:18-20).
latter end—(Pr 5:11). In youth prepare for age.
21. (Compare Pr 16:1, 9; Ps 33:10, 11). The failure of man's devices is implied.
22. desire—that is, to do good, indicates a kind disposition (Pr 11:23); and the poor thus affected are better than liars, who say and do not.
23. The fear … life—(Compare Pr 3:2).
abide—or, "remain contented" (1Ti 4:8).
not visited with evil—(Pr 10:3; Ps 37:25), as a judgment, in which sense visit is often used (Ps 89:32; Jer 6:15).
24. bosom—literally, a wide dish in which the hand was plunged in eating (Mt 26:23). Compare Pr 26:15, the sentiment expressed with equal irony and less exaggeration.
25. Such is the benefit of reproof; even the simple profit, much more the wise.
26. Unfilial conduct often condemned (Pr 17:21-25; 20:20; De 21:18, 21).
27. Avoid whatever leads from truth.
28. ungodly witness—(Compare Margin), one false by bad principles (compare Pr 6:12).
scorneth judgment—sets at naught the dictates of justice.
devoureth—literally, "swalloweth," as something delightful.
29. Their punishment is sure, fixed, and ready (compare Pr 3:34; 10:13).