14:19 evil will bow. The ancient custom was for the inferior to prostrate himself before the superior or wait humbly before the great one’s gate seeking favor. Good will humble evil.
14:20 This sad-but-true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact.
14:24 foolishness of fools is folly. This is emphatic language, playing on the word “fool” and showing that the only reward for fools is more folly.
14:25 The truth produces justice, on which the lives of people may depend.
14:26 fear of the LORD. See note on 1:7.
14:27 fountain of life. See note on 10:11.
14:28 multitude of people. This is a truism stating that a king’s honor comes from the support of his people as they increase and prosper (cf. 30:29–31).
14:29 Cf. v. 17.
14:30 sound heart…body. A healthy mind filled with wisdom is associated with a healthy body (cf. 3:5–8; 17:22). rottenness to the bones. See note on 12:4.
14:31 oppresses the poor…Maker. It offends the Creator when one neglects the poor, who are part of His creation (cf. 14:21; 17:5; 19:17; 21:13; 22:2, 7; 28:8; 29:13).
14:32 righteous…death. Cf. 23:18. Hope in death for the righteous is a central OT theme (cf. Job 19:25, 26; Pss. 31:5; 49:14, 15; 73:24; Eccl. 11:9; Is. 26:19; Dan. 12:1, 2).
14:33 is made known. Wisdom is quietly preserved in the heart of the wise for the time of proper use, while fools are eager to blurt out their folly (cf. 12:23; 13:16; 15:2, 14).
14:34 exalts. While just principles and actions preserve and even exalt a society, their absence shames a society (cf. 11:11).
14:35 causes shame. Cf. 10:5; 12:4.
Proverbs 15
15:2 See note on 14:33.
15:3 eyes of the LORD. Cf. 5:21. This refers to God’s omniscience. Cf. 1 Sam 16:7; 2 Chr. 16:9; Job 24:23; Pss. 33:13–15; 139:1–16; Jer. 17:10.
15:4 tree of life. See note on 3:18. breaks the spirit. To crush or wound, thus to destroy one’s morale (cf. Is. 65:14).
15:8 External acts of worship, though according to biblical prescription, are repulsive to God when the heart of the worshiper is wicked (cf. Is. 1:12–15; Amos 5:21; Mal. 1:11–14; Heb. 11:4, 6).
15:10 the way. The way of truth and righteousness (see 2:13; 10:17).
15:11 Hell and Destruction. Cf. 27:20. Hell or Sheol is the place of the dead (see note on 1:12). “Destruction” refers to the experience of external punishment. Cf. Job 26:6.
15:13 Cf. v. 4.
15:15 continual feast. The joyous, inward condition of the wise man’s heart (14:21) is described as a perpetual feast. Real happiness is always determined by the state of the heart (cf. Hab. 3:17, 18; 1 Tim. 4:6–8).
15:16, 17 See note on 12:9 for other “better…than” references.
15:16 fear of the LORD. See note on 1:7.
15:17 dinner of herbs. Vegetables are in view, the typical dinner of the poor.
15:18 “Hotheads” are contrasted with “peacemakers” (cf. 14:17, 29; 15:1; 28:25; 29:11, 22).
15:19 thorns. He is too lazy to remove them. See notes on 6:6, 11.
15:22 See note on 11:14.
15:24 hell below. See note on 1:12.
15:25 When evil men try to take the property of widows, God will intervene (cf. 22:28; 23:10, 11). The most desolate (widows) who have God’s help possess a more permanent dwelling place than the prosperous and self-reliant sinners.
15:27 bribes. Cf. 18:5; 24:23; 29:4; Ex. 23:8; Deut. 16:19; Ecc. 7:7; Is. 1:23.
15:28 mouth…wicked pours forth. Wicked people don’t guard their words. See note on 12:23; cf. Eph. 4:29.
15:30 light of the eyes. This is a comparison, so that the “good report” defines this term. Whatever is good, sound truth and wisdom stirs the heart by relieving anxiety and producing a cheerful face (cf. 14:30; 15:13; 17:22).
15:31 ear that hears…wise. The acquiring of wisdom demands a teachable spirit.
15:33 fear of the LORD. See note on 1:7.
Proverbs 16
16:1 preparations…answer. Human responsibility is always subject to God’s absolute sovereignty (cf. 3:6; 16:2, 9, 33; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1, 30, 31).
16:2 spirits. While man can be self-deceived, God determines his true motives (cf. 21:2; 24:12; 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Cor. 4:4).
16:3 Commit. Lit. “roll upon” in the sense of both total trust (3:5–6) and submission to the will of God (Pss. 22:8; 37:5; 119:133); He will fulfill your righteous plans.
16:4 The wicked will bring glory to God in the day of their judgment and eternal punishment. See notes on Rom. 9:17–23.
16:6 By God’s “mercy and truth,” He affects the “atonement” or covering of sin, which for the believing sinner inclines him to depart from evil. See notes on Lev. 16:1–34; 17:11 for explanation of atonement. fear of the LORD. See note on 1:7.
16:7 This general rule does not preclude persecution from some. See note on 2 Tim. 3:12.
16:8 righteousness…justice. These words are synonyms here.
16:9 See notes on vv. 1, 2. Sovereign God overrules the plans of men to fulfill His purposes. See Gen. 50:20; 1 Kin. 12:15; Ps. 119:133; Jer. 10:23; Dan. 5:23–30; 1 Cor. 3:19, 20.
16:10 Divination. This does not imply any occultic practice forbidden in Lev. 19:26, but is literally a decision from divine wisdom, in the words of the king who represented God. The king was under mandate (Deut. 17:18–20) to seek out and speak God’s wisdom (cf. David in 2 Sam. 14:17–20; Solomon in 1 Kin. 3:9–12; and Christ as King in Is. 11:2).
16:11 See note on 11:1.
16:12 See note on 14:34.
16:14 This points to the king’s power of “life or death,” which can be abused (cf. 1 Sam. 22:16–18; Esth. 7–10; Dan. 2:5) or used for good (cf. 2 Sam. 1:1–16; 4:5–12).
16:15 cloud of the latter rain. The late spring rain, which matured the crop, fell before the harvest (cf. 2 Sam. 23:3, 4; Ps. 72:6) and is here compared to the king’s power to grace his subjects with encouragement.
16:16 better. Cf. 3:13–16; 8:10, 11, 18, 19.
16:17 A plain road represents the habitual course of the righteous in departing from evil. As long as he stays on it, he is safe.
16:19 The proud are those who have plundered the poor.
16:21 sweetness of the lips. “Honeyed words,” which reflect intelligence, judiciousness, and discernment in speech. This refers to eloquent discourse from the wise (cf. v. 24).
16:22 wellspring of life. See note on 10:11. The advice of the understanding person brings blessing, while the correction offered by a fool is useless.
16:23 heart. See note on 4:21–23.
16:24 Pleasant words. See note on v. 21; cf. 24:13, 14; Ps. 19:10.
16:25 way of death. Cf. 14:12.
16:26 labors for himself. Labor is hard and often grievous, but necessary, even for the lazy (cf. Eccl. 6:7; Eph. 4:28; 6:7; 2 Thess. 3:10–12).
16:27 ungodly man. See note on 6:12. He literally digs a pit for his neighbor as a hunter would for prey (cf. Pss. 7:15; 62:6), and his speech is incendiary (cf. James 3:6).
16:28 sows. The same root word is used for the release of flaming foxes in the grain fields of the Philistines (Judg. 15:4, 5; cf. 17:9). whisperer. A slanderer or gossip. See note on 6:14; cf. 8:8; 26:20, 22 for the same Heb. term.
16:30 purses. The idea of winking or squinting the eyes and compressing one’s lips was to express the posture connoting deep thought and determined purpose.
16:31 This calls for respecting elders. Cf. 20:29.
16:32 slow to anger. See notes on 14:17; 25:28. Cf. Eccl. 9:17, 18; James 1:19, 20.
16:33 lot. See note on 16:1. Casting lots was a method often used to reveal God’s purposes in a matter (cf. Josh. 14:1, 2; 1 Sam. 14:38–43; 1 Chr. 25:8–31; Jon. 1:7; Acts 1:26). The High-Priest may have carried lots in his sacred vest, along with the Urim and Thummim (see note on Ex. 28:30).
Proverbs 17
17:1 Cf. 15:17.
17:2 wise servant…inheritance. A faithful servant will ris
e above an unworthy son and receive an inheritance (cf. 11:29; 1 Kin. 11:26, 28–38; Matt. 8:11, 12).
17:3 refining pot. This was a heated crucible used to test and refine precious metal. Cf. Ps. 66:10; Is. 1:25; 48:10; Jer. 6:29; Ezek. 22:17–22; Dan 12:10; Mal. 3:3.
17:5 Cf. 14:21, 31.
17:6 Children’s children. Godly influence generates mutual love and respect in a family, which extends from generation to generation (cf. Ps. 90 with Ex. 20:12).
17:8 present. This refers to a bribe that brings prosperity to its recipient (v. 23; 15:27).
17:9 Cf. 16:28; 18:8.
17:10 For the theme of a teachable spirit, cf. 9:7, 8; 15:31–33.
17:11 Just retribution comes against people who rebel, and thus the king’s messenger will have no mercy (cf. 16:14; 2 Sam. 20:1–22; 1 Kin. 2:25, 29, 34, 46).
17:12 Fools are less rational in anger than wild bears.
17:13 evil for good. Solomon knew this proverb well since his father mistreated Uriah (cf. 2 Sam. 12:10–31). Contrast this with the man who repays evil with good (cf. 20:22; Matt. 5:43–48; 1 Pet. 3:9).
17:14 releasing water. The smallest break in the dam sets loose an uncontrollable flood force.
17:15 The unjust judge is controlled by his pride, prejudice, bribes, and passions. See note on 24:23b–25; cf. Ex. 23:7; Is. 5:23.
17:16 Even wealth cannot buy wisdom for those who do not love it. Cf. 4:7.
17:17 The difference between a friend and brother is noted here. A true friend is a constant source of love, while a brother in one’s family may not be close, but is drawn near to help in trouble. Friends are closer than brothers because they are available all the time, not just in the crisis. Cf. 18:24.
17:18 See notes on 6:1, 2–4.
17:19 exalts his gate. The image here is of the proud who flaunts his wealth with a huge house having a large front door and who thus invites death (cf. Jer. 22:13–19).
17:20 perverse. Cf. 10:31.
17:21 Cf. 10:1; 15:20; 17:25; 19:26.
17:22 Cf. 14:30; 15:13, 30; 16:14; Job 29:24.
17:23 See note on v. 8.
17:24 ends of the earth. This refers to the fool’s roving fixations in the absence of wisdom.
17:25 Cf. v. 21.
17:26 punish…strike. Here is a clear statement on political and religious injustice, focusing on the equally bad mistreatment of the innocent and the noble.
17:27 spares. Cf. 10:19; 14:29; 15:18; 16:27, 32; 29:20.
17:28 fool is counted wise. This is not saying that fools show wisdom in their silence, but that silence conceals their folly.
Proverbs 18
18:1 isolates himself. This man seeks selfish gratification and accepts advice from no one.
18:2 Cf. Eccl. 10:12–14.
18:3 Sin and punishment are inseparably connected, as evil produces both the feeling of contempt in others and its manifestation, reproach.
18:4 words…deep waters. Wise speech is like a deep, inexhaustible stream of blessing.
18:5 Cf. 17:26; 28:21.
18:6, 7 The fool self-destructs. Cf. 12:13; 17:14, 19, 28; 19:29; 20:3.
18:8 tasty trifles. This comes from a Heb. word, meaning “to swallow greedily.” The proverb is repeated in 26:22.
18:9 slothful…destroyer. To leave a work half done or poorly done is to destroy it. See notes on 6:1, 11.
18:10 The name of the LORD. This expression, found only here in Proverbs, stands for the manifest perfections of God such as faithfulness, power, mercy, and wisdom, on which the righteous rely for security (cf. Ex. 3:15; 15:1–3; Ps. 27:4, 5)
18:11 This proverb repeats 10:15 and contrasts with v. 10.
18:12 Cf. 16:18.
18:14 broken spirit. Cf. 12:25; 15:13. When the spirit is broken, people lose hope.
18:16 man’s gift. This is not the word for a bribe (cf. 17:23), but rather the word for a present given to someone (cf. Jacob’s gift, Gen. 32:20, 21; Joseph’s gift, Gen. 43:11; David’s gift, 1 Sam. 17:17, 18; and Abigail’s gift, 1 Sam. 25:27).
18:17 See v. 13. Cross-examination avoids hasty judgment.
18:18 lots. See note on 16:33.
18:19 There are no feuds as difficult to resolve as those with relatives; no barriers are so hard to bring down. Hence, great care should be taken to avoid such conflicts. bars of a castle. Cf. Judg. 16:3; 1 Kin. 4:13; Neh. 3:3; Is. 45:2.
18:20 the produce of his lips. See notes on 12:14; 13:2, 3. The consequences of one’s words should produce satisfaction and fulfillment.
18:21 Death and life. The greatest good and the greatest harm are in the power of the tongue (cf. James 3:6–10).
18:22 Cf. 12:4; 19:14; 31:10–31.
18:23 The rich do not need favors from others, so they do not care how they treat people.
18:24 must himself be friendly. The best text says “may come to ruin” (see margin) and warns that the person who makes friends too easily and indiscriminately does so to his own destruction. On the other hand, a friend chosen wisely is more loyal than a brother. friend. This is a strong word meaning “one who loves” and was used of Abraham, God’s friend (2 Chr. 20:7; Is. 41:8; cf. 1 Sam. 18:1; 2 Sam. 1:26).
Proverbs 19
19:1 Integrity is better than wealth. Cf. 15:16, 17; 16:8.
19:2 sins. Lit. “to miss the mark.” hastens with his feet. Rashness, the result of ignorance, brings trouble.
19:3 his heart frets. The fool blames God for his troubles and failures (cf. Gen. 4:5; Is. 8:21; Lam. 3:39–41).
19:4 Wealth makes. Cf. v. 7; 14:20. Lit. wealth adds new friends while poverty alienates existing friends who grow weary of the demands of the poor.
19:5, 9 For the sin of perjury, cf. 6:19; 12:17; 14:5, 25; 19:9; Deut. 19:18–21.
19:6 Generosity or bribery could be the issue.
19:7 See note on v. 4.
19:10 Neither are suited for possessions or responsibilities beyond their capabilities of managing wisely (cf. 30:21–23).
19:11 slow to anger. See note on 14:17.
19:12 This is a call to submit to governmental authority. Cf. Rom. 13:1–4; 1 Pet. 2:13–17.
19:13 continual dripping. An obstinate, argumentative woman is literally like a leak so unrelenting that one has to run from it or go mad. Here are two ways to devastate a man: an ungodly son and an irritating wife.
19:14 One receives inheritance as a family blessing (a result of human birth), but a wise wife (cf. 31:10–31) is a result of divine blessing. Cf. 12:4; 18:22; 31:10–31.
19:15 See notes on 6:6, 11.
19:16 commandment. Wisdom is equated with God’s commandments. In a sense, Proverbs contain the applications and implications of all that is in God’s moral law.
19:17 See note on 14:31.
19:18 Chasten. See notes on 3:11, 12; 13:24; 22:6.
19:19 Repeated acts of kindness are wasted on ill-natured people.
19:21 See note on 16:1.
19:22 Rich liars are not kind since their lies bring harm; a kind poor man is more desirable.
19:23 fear of the LORD. See note on 1:7.
19:24 The lazy man’s lack of action to move his hand from the flat, metal food saucer up to his mouth is because he is too lazy, as explained in 26:15.
19:25 scoffer…simple…understanding. Three classes of people are noted: 1) scoffers are rebuked for learning nothing; 2) simpletons are warned by observing the rebuke of the scoffer; and 3) the understanding deepen their wisdom from any reproof.
19:26 mistreats. Cf. 10:1; 15:20; 17:21, 25; 28:24. The son appears to come into possession of his father’s property during his parents’ lifetime, but rather than caring for them, he drives them out (cf. Ex. 20:12; 21:15, 17).
19:28 disreputable witness. See note on 12:17.
19:29 See note on 10:13.
Proverbs 20
20:1 Wine…strong drink. This begins a new theme of temperance (see 23:20, 21, 29–35; 31:4, 5). Wine was grape juice mixed with water to dilute it, but strong drink was unmixed (see note on Eph. 5:18).
While the use of these beverages is not specifically condemned (Deut. 14:26), being intoxicated always is (Is. 28:7). Rulers were not to drink, so their judgment would not be clouded nor their behavior less than exemplary (see 31:4, 5). See note on 1 Tim 3:3. mocker…brawler. “Mocker” is the same word as “scoffer” in 19:25, 29; a brawler is violent, loud, and uncontrolled. Both words describe the personality of the drunkard.
20:2 See notes on 16:14; 19:12. Men who resist governmental authority injure themselves. See notes on Rom. 13:1–5.
20:3 Cf. 15:18; 17:14; 19:11.
20:4 lazy man. See notes on 6:6, 11.
20:5 deep water. The wise man has keen discernment reaching to the deepest intentions of the heart to grasp wise counsel (cf. 18:4; Heb. 4:12).
20:6 There are a lot more people who are eager to brag about themselves than there are those who are truly faithful to testify of God’s goodness.
20:7 integrity. See note on 10:9.
20:8 scatters. The king as judge lit. “winnows” or “sifts” (as in v. 26) data as he discerns evil and good (cf. Is. 11:3, 4).
20:9 No one can make himself sinless. Cf. Job 14:4; Rom. 3:10, 23; 1 John 1:8. Those whose sin has been forgiven are pure before God (Ps. 51:1, 2, 9, 10).
20:10 See note on 11:1; cf. 20:23.
20:12 Because God has given man the ability to hear and see, it should be obvious that He hears and sees everything (see Ps. 94:9).
20:13 See notes on 6:6, 11.
20:14 The buyer purposely undervalues the thing he is negotiating to purchase, in order to bring down the price. Afterward, he brags about his cleverness.
20:15 Wealth is a blessing when honestly gained, but wisdom is more desirable. See notes on 3:14, 15; 8:10, 11, 18–21; 16:16.
20:16 See note on 6:1. Garments were common security for a loan but they always had to be returned by sundown (Ex. 22:26, 27; Deut. 24:10–13). “Seductress” is more likely “foreigner.” Anyone who foolishly has taken on the responsibility for the debt of a stranger or an immoral woman will likely never be paid back, so he will never pay his creditor unless his own garment is taken as security.
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 305