The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  And profane the name of my God.

  10Do not malign a servant to his master,

  Lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

  11There is a generation that curses its jfather,

  And does not bless its mother.

  12There is a generation kthat is pure in its own eyes,

  Yet is not washed from its filthiness.

  13There is a generation—oh, how llofty are their eyes!

  And their eyelids are 2lifted up.

  14m There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,

  And whose fangs are like knives,

  n To devour the poor from off the earth,

  And the needy from among men.

  15The leech has two daughters—

  Give and Give!

  There are three things that are never satisfied,

  Four never say, “Enough!”:

  16o The3 grave,

  The barren womb,

  The earth that is not satisfied with water—

  And the fire never says, “Enough!”

  17p The eye that mocks his father,

  And scorns obedience to his mother,

  The ravens of the valley will pick it out,

  And the young eagles will eat it.

  18There are three things which are too wonderful for me,

  Yes, four which I do not understand:

  19The way of an eagle in the air,

  The way of a serpent on a rock,

  The way of a ship in the 4midst of the sea,

  And the way of a man with a virgin.

  20This is the way of an adulterous woman:

  She eats and wipes her mouth,

  And says, “I have done no wickedness.”

  21For three things the earth is perturbed,

  Yes, for four it cannot bear up:

  22q For a servant when he reigns,

  A fool when he is filled with food,

  23A 5hateful woman when she is married,

  And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.

  24There are four things which are little on the earth,

  But they are exceedingly wise:

  25r The ants are a people not strong,

  Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

  26s The 6rock badgers are a feeble folk,

  Yet they make their homes in the crags;

  27The locusts have no king,

  Yet they all advance in ranks;

  28The 7spider skillfully grasps with its hands,

  And it is in kings’ palaces.

  29There are three things which are majestic in pace,

  Yes, four which are stately in walk:

  30A lion, which is mighty among beasts

  And does not turn away from any;

  31A 8greyhound,

  A male goat also,

  And 9a king whose troops are with him.

  32If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,

  Or if you have devised evil, tput your hand on your mouth.

  33For as the churning of milk produces butter,

  And wringing the nose produces blood,

  So the forcing of wrath produces strife.

  Proverbs 31

  The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother

  1The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

  2What, my son?

  And what, son of my womb?

  And what, ason of my vows?

  3b Do not give your strength to women,

  Nor your ways cto that which destroys kings.

  4d It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

  It is not for kings to drink wine,

  Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

  5e Lest they drink and forget the law,

  And pervert the justice of all 1the afflicted.

  6f Give strong drink to him who is perishing,

  And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

  7Let him drink and forget his poverty,

  And remember his misery no more.

  8g Open your mouth for the speechless,

  In the cause of all who are 2appointed to die.

  9Open your mouth, hjudge righteously,

  And iplead the cause of the poor and needy.

  The Virtuous Wife

  10j Who3 can find a 4virtuous wife?

  For her worth is far above rubies.

  11The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

  So he will have no lack of gain.

  12She does him good and not evil

  All the days of her life.

  13She seeks wool and flax,

  And willingly works with her hands.

  14She is like the merchant ships,

  She brings her food from afar.

  15k She also rises while it is yet night,

  And lprovides food for her household,

  And a portion for her maidservants.

  16She considers a field and buys it;

  From 5her profits she plants a vineyard.

  17She girds herself with strength,

  And strengthens her arms.

  18She perceives that her merchandise is good,

  And her lamp does not go out by night.

  19She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

  And her hand holds the spindle.

  20m She extends her hand to the poor,

  Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

  21She is not afraid of snow for her household,

  For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

  22She makes tapestry for herself;

  Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

  23n Her husband is known in the gates,

  When he sits among the elders of the land.

  24She makes linen garments and sells them,

  And supplies sashes for the merchants.

  25Strength and honor are her clothing;

  She shall rejoice in time to come.

  26She opens her mouth with wisdom,

  And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

  27She watches over the ways of her household,

  And does not eat the bread of idleness.

  28Her children rise up and call her blessed;

  Her husband also, and he praises her:

  29“Many daughters have done well,

  But you excel them all.”

  30Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

  But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

  31Give her of the fruit of her hands,

  And let her own works praise her in the gates.

  Proverbs Commentaries

  Proverbs 1

  1:1–7 These verses form the Prologue, where the reader is called to serious study for his own benefit. In a few brief words, he is introduced to: 1) the genre of this literature (v. 1); 2) a clear two-fold purpose (vv. 2–6); and 3) an all-important motto (v. 7).

  1:1 proverbs. See Introduction: Title. The proverbs are short, pithy sayings which express timeless truth and wisdom. They arrest one’s thoughts, causing the reader to reflect on how one might apply divine principles to life situations (e.g., 2:12). Proverbs contains insights both in poetry and prose; yet, at the same time, it includes commands to be obeyed. God’s proverbs are not limited to this book alone (see Gen. 10:9; 1 Sam. 10:12; 24:13; Jer. 31:29; Ezek. 12:22; 18:2). Solomon. See Introduction: Author and Date. As Solomon became king of Israel, he sought and received wisdom and knowledge from the Lord (2 Chr 1:7–12), which led him to wealth, honor, and fame.

  1:2–6 The two-fold purpose of the book is 1) to produce the skill of godly living by wisdom and instruction (v. 2a; expanded in vv. 3, 4), and 2) to develop discernment (v. 2b, expanded in v. 5).

  1:2 wisdom. See Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes. To the Hebrew mind, wisdom was not knowledge alone, but the skill of living a godly life as God intended man to live (cf. Deut. 4:5–8). instruction. This refers to the discipline of the moral nature. understanding. This word looks at the mental discipline which matures
one for spiritual discernment.

  1:3 wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. Expanding the purpose and terms of v. 2a, Proverbs engages in a process of schooling a son in the disciplines of: 1) wisdom (a different Heb. word from that in v. 2) which means discreet counsel or the ability to govern oneself by choice; 2) justice, the ability to conform to the will and standard of God; a practical righteousness that matches one’s positional righteousness; 3) judgment, the application of true righteousness in dealing with others; and 4) equity, the living of life in a fair, pleasing way.

  1:4 prudence…simple. The purpose is to impart discernment to the naive and the ignorant. The root of “simple” is a word meaning “an open door,” an apt description of the undiscerning, who do not know what to keep in or out of their minds. young…knowledge and discretion. To make one ponder before sinning, thus to make a responsible choice.

  1:5 counsel. The wise believer will have the ability to guide or govern others with truth.

  1:6 understand a proverb…enigma. Proverbs seeks to sharpen the mind by schooling one in “parabolic speech” and “dark sayings” that need reflection and interpretation. riddles. Study of the Scriptures is sufficient to provide the wisdom for the perplexities of life.

  1:7 The fear of the LORD. The overarching theme of this book and particularly the first 9 chapters is introduced—reverence for God (see v. 29; 2:5; 3:7; 8:13; 9:10; 14:26, 27; cf. also Job 28:28; Ps. 34:11; Acts 9:31). See Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes. This reverential awe and admiring, submissive fear is foundational for all spiritual knowledge and wisdom (cf. 2:4–6; 9:10; 15:33; Job 28:28; Ps. 111:10; Eccl. 12:13). While the unbeliever may make statements about life and truth, he does not have true or ultimate knowledge until he is in a redemptive relationship of reverential awe with God. Note the progression here: 1) teaching about God; 2) learning about God; 3) fearing God; 4) knowing God; and 5) imitating God’s wisdom. The fear of the Lord is a state of mind in which one’s own attitudes, will, feelings, deeds, and goals are exchanged for God’s (cf. Ps. 42:1).

  1:8—9:18 This lengthy section features parental praise of wisdom in the form of didactic addresses. These chapters prepare the reader for the actual proverbs that begin in 10:1ff.

  1:10–19 Here is a warning against enticement by sinners who will succeed if his son fails to embrace wisdom (v. 8).

  1:10 sinners. This term is reserved in Scripture to describe unbelievers for whom sin is continual and who endeavor to persuade even believers to sin with them (see note on James 4:8). The sins of murder and robbery are used as illustrations of such folly.

  1:11 Come with us. The intimidating force of peer pressure is often the way to entice those who lack wisdom.

  1:12 swallow. The wicked devise a plot of deception in which the innocent are captured and victimized like one who is taken by death itself—as with Joseph (Gen. 37:20ff.), Jeremiah (Jer. 38:6–13), and Daniel (Dan. 6:16, 17). “Sheol” is the place of death. For the wicked it is a place of no return (Job 7:9), darkness (Ps. 143:3), and torment (Is. 14:11).

  1:13 We…spoil. This is the enlisting of the innocent without full disclosure of intent. Abundant spoil is promised by this outright robbery, which is made to appear easy and safe for the thieves and murderers.

  1:15 do not walk. This directly confronts the invitation of v. 11. Sin must be rejected at the first temptation (cf. Ps. 119:114, 115; James 1:15) by refusing even the association that can lead to sin (cf. Ps. 1:1–6). Avoid the beginnings of sin (see 4:14).

  1:17 the net is spread. It would be ineffective to set up a net for catching a bird in full view of the bird. Taken with v. 18, this analogy means that the sinner sets up his trap for the innocent in secret, but in the end the trap is sprung on him (v. 19). This greed entraps him (cf. 1 Tim. 6:9–11). Stupid sinners rush to their own ruin.

  1:20–33 In this section, wisdom is personified and speaks in the first person, emphasizing the serious consequences that come to those who reject it. Similar personifications of wisdom occur in 3:14–18; 8:1–36; 9:1–12.

  1:21 cries out…in the city. While enticement is covert and secret (v. 10), wisdom, with nothing to hide, is available to everyone, being found in the most prominent of public places.

  1:22 How long. Three questions reveal 3 classes of those needing wisdom, and the downward progression of sin: 1) the simple or naive, who are ignorant; 2) scorners or mockers, who commit more serious, determined acts; and 3) fools or obstinate unbelievers, who will not listen to the truth. Proverbs aims its wisdom primarily at the first group.

  1:23 rebuke. God’s wisdom brings to bear against the sinner indictments for sin that demand repentance. To the one who does repent, God promises the spirit or essence of true wisdom linked to divine revelation.

  1:24–26 Sinners who respond with indifference and mockery at God’s indictments increase their guilt (cf. Rom. 2:5) and bring upon themselves the wrath of God’s mockery and indifference (vv. 26, 27). Some wait to seek God until it is too late. See Deut. 1:45; 1 Sam. 28:6; Ps. 18:41.

  1:26, 27 calamity…terror…destruction…distress and anguish. All these terms describe the severe troubles of divine judgment. When sinners who have rejected wisdom call on God in the day of judgment, God will respond to their distress with derision.

  1:28–32 God’s rejection of sinners is carefully detailed. This is the aspect of God’s wrath expressed in His abandonment of sinners. See notes on Rom. 1:24–28. No prayers or diligent seeking will help them (cf. 8:17).

  1:28–30 I will not answer. God will withdraw His invitation to sinners because they have rejected Him. Note the rejection of wisdom (v. 7), knowledge (v. 22), reproof (vv. 23, 24), and counsel (v. 25).

  1:31 eat the fruit of their own way. The ultimate punishment is God’s giving a people up to the result of their wickedness. Cf. Rom. 1:24–28.

  1:32 complacency. Willful carelessness or lack of appropriate care is intended.

  Proverbs 2

  2:1 my words. Solomon has taken God’s law and made it his own by faith and obedience, as well as teaching. The wisdom of these words is available to those who, first of all, understand the rich value (“treasure”) that wisdom possesses. Appropriating wisdom begins when one values it above all else.

  2:2 ear…heart. See note on 4:21–23. Once wisdom is properly valued, both the ear and mind are captivated by it.

  2:3 cry out for discernment. This shows the passionate pleading of one who is desperate to know and apply the truth of God. The least bit of indifference will leave one bereft of the fullness of wisdom.

  2:4 seek…search. A desiring search, the most intensive of a lifetime. Cf. Job 28:1–28 for a parallel.

  2:6 His mouth. The words of His mouth are contained in Scripture. It is there that God speaks (cf. Heb. 1:1, 2; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21). Wisdom comes only by revelation.

  2:7, 8 the upright. This identifies those who are true believers, who seek to know, love, and obey God and to live righteously. These covenant keepers alone can know wisdom and experience God’s protection.

  2:9 righteousness…justice, equity. The ethical triad of 1:3.

  2:10 wisdom enters your heart. See note on 4:21–23.

  2:11 Discretion…understanding. Truth is the protector from all evil (see Ps. 119:11, 97–104).

  2:12 speaks perverse things. Twisted speech is typical of those who reject wisdom (cf. Prov. 8:13; 10:31, 32).

  2:14 Fools love most what is worst.

  2:16 immoral woman. She is the harlot repeatedly condemned in Proverbs (cf. 5:1–23; 6:20–29; 7:1–27; 22:14; 23:27), as in the rest of Scripture (Ex. 20:14; Lev. 20:10). Lit. she is “foreign” or “strange” because such women were at first from outside Israel, but came to include any prostitute or adulteress. Her words are the flattering or smooth words of Prov. 17:14–20.

  2:17 forsakes the companion. She leaves the guidance and friendship of her husband (cf. 16:28; 17:9). forgets the covenant. In a wide sense this could be the covenant of Sinai (Ex 20:14), but specifically l
ooks to the marriage covenant of Gen. 2:24, with its commitment to fidelity.

  2:18 leads down to death. The destructive nature of this blinding sin leads one to walk alongside death (see vv. 8, 9, 12, 15). Death in Proverbs is presented as both a gradual descent (5:23) and a sudden end (29:1).

  2:19 None who go…return. The irreversible nature of continuing in this sin points to its devastating consequences. It leads to physical death, as expressed in the Heb. euphemisms of v. 22 (“cut off” and “uprooted”). After that comes the reality of eternal death.

  2:21 dwell in the land…remain. Exactly opposite to those who live in sexual sin and are headed for death, those who belong to the LORD will live. See note on 8:18–21.

  Proverbs 3

  3:1–35 Here the study of truth leading to wisdom is commended to all. This is enforced by a contrast of the destinies of the wise and wicked.

  3:1–20 Solomon instructs that wisdom is: 1) rooted in sound teaching (vv. 1–4); 2) rests in trust in God (vv. 5, 6), and 3) rewards those who obey (vv. 7–10). While wisdom demands chastening, it brings profound benefits (vv. 13–18), and its importance is clear since it undergirded God’s creation (vv. 19, 20).

  3:1 my law. Heb. “Torah,” from the verb “to throw, distribute, or teach,” hence “teachings.” It is used of God’s law (29:18), but here, as in 2:1, it is used of the commands and principles that God gave through Solomon. heart. See note on 4:21–23.

  3:3 neck…heart. The virtues of mercy (the Heb. word for lovingkindness and loyal love) and truth that come from God are to become part of us—outwardly in our behavior for all to see as an adornment of spiritual beauty, and inwardly as the subject of our meditation (cf. Deut. 6:4–9). Such inward and outward mercy and truth is evidence of New Covenant salvation (cf. Jer. 31:33, 34).

  3:4 God and man. Cf. Christ in Luke 2:52.

  3:7 This is alluded to by Paul in Rom. 12:16.

  3:8 health…strength. The strength here is in the marrow, the inner parts (Job 21:24). God is promising physical well-being for those who live wisely according to His will. Such physical well-being is what David forfeited before he confessed that he had sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah (see Pss. 32:3, 4; 51:8).

  3:9, 10 Honor the LORD…possessions. A biblical view of possessions demands using them for honoring God. This is accomplished by trusting God (v. 5); by giving the first and best to God (“firstfruits”; cf. Ex. 22:29; 23:19; Deut. 18:4); by being fair (vv. 27, 28); by giving generously (11:25); and by expressing gratitude for all He gives (Deut. 6:9–11). The result of such faithfulness to honor Him is prosperity and satisfaction.