Proverbs 13

Notes

Ver. 1. Wise children will reverently receive, obey, and submit to their parents' instructions, advices, and corrections; but there is no hope of him who laughs and scoffs when he is admonished or chidden for his faults. 2. He who lays himself out in instructing, advising, and comforting others, or in other edifying discourse, shall be regarded by men and rewarded by God: but evil speakers shall be forced to endure those miseries which they brought upon others. 3. He that carefully bridles his tongue, thinks well before he speaks, and takes heed to utter nothing improper or unseasonable, preserves himself from much trouble and danger: but he who is extremely talkative, throwing out everything that comes into his head, is in the ready way to be ruined, both by God and by man. 4. Nothing, neither riches, nor learning, nor honour, nor happiness, is to be gotten by mere sluggish desires, without diligent endeavours; but they who, in a dependence upon God, industriously use proper means, shall have sufficiency of outward things, and abundant comforts in Christ, both here and hereafter. 5. A righteous man not only carefully avoids, but hates, all manner of falsehood in heart, word, and deed; but a wicked man continues to impose upon others, till his detected falsehoods and villanies render him evidently odious to God and detested by men, as a stinking carcass; and so contemptible that he dare not show his face for shame. 6. They who have Jesus' sacrificial life in them, and his grace accepted by them, and who study uprightness and equity in their whole conduct, shall be preserved sound in the faith, steadfast in the obedience of the gospel, unmoved by Satan's temptations or the world's frowns or smiles; but the wicked man, and all his wicked contrivances, shall be overthrown by their own iniquity. 7. Some, in their pride and vanity, make a great show of wealth, wisdom, or grace, when they are worth nothing: while others, by their garb or their speeches, conceal their abundant riches, knowledge, or grace. 8. Riches are so far from rendering men truly happy, that they tempt others to rob or accuse them, that their lives may be saved by huge sums of money; whereas the poor is reckoned so inconsiderable, that nobody thinks it worth while to rob, accuse, or even rebuke him. 9. The holiness, comfort, and prosperity of the righteous continues in its brightness and glory: but the small appearance of comfort and happiness which the wicked enjoy in this world will quickly be extinguished in endless misery. 10. Pride is the principal, and often the sole, cause of quarrels and contentions, and of the continuance of them: the opinionated cannot bear contradiction; the aspiring, a rival; the self- willed, opposition: but they who piously consult their God and their Bible, and prudently advise with their discreet neighbours, transact things in quietness and peace. 11. Wealth gotten by fraud, gaming, theft, oppression, or the like, having the curse of God upon it, shall quickly be wasted: but that which is gotten by honest industry and diligence shall continue and increase. 12. The delay of that which a man eagerly expects renders his mind very uneasy; but when he enjoys what he long desired and looked for, it is sweet, satisfactory, and reviving. 13. He who despises God's word, or the advices of his faithful friends, shall quickly be ruined: but he who reverently submits himself to and obeys God's commandments shall be rewarded. 14. The instructions of a good man, and much more the doctrines of God's Word, refresh, comfort, and enliven the soul, and preserve from those pernicious principles and destructive practices by which many are insnared. 15. A prudent, pious, and regular behaviour is most amiable and acceptable to all men: but the behaviour of lawless and wicked persons, like a rough way, is very ruinous to themselves, and offensive to God and good men. 16. Prudent persons undertake nothing but with due deliberation, and what they understand: and manage their affairs with knowledge and discretion: but fools discover their weakness, by rashly meddling with matters out of their reach. 17. Unfaithfulness in discharging his trust, or delivering his message, will bring a wicked servant, ambassador, or minister into shame, condemnation, and misery: but he who acts faithfully procures safety and advantage both to his master and himself. 19. It is a high satisfaction to enjoy what we desire, especially spiritual blessings and comforts: but foolish sinners hate to forsake their lusts and sinful practices, even as means of receiving the choicest benefits. 22. By gaining his estate in a just and upright manner, and by doing good with it while he lives, and by earnest instruction of and fervent prayers for his family, a good man takes the surest course to fix his estate upon them for many generations: but the sinner leaves a curse entailed upon his wealth: and, by the righteous providence of God, it is quickly transferred from his family to one that is truly pious and virtuous. 23. Poor men, by their diligent labour and industry, many times abundantly provide for themselves and family, and even grow rich; while others, who are rich, are reduced to poverty, through their ignorance, rashness, injustice, oppression, deceit, &c. 24. That fond affection which restrains parents from duly correcting their children when they do amiss, is a real and ruinous hatred, a sinful withholding from them a mean, appointed by God, for their amendment and happiness: but parents who truly love their children will study, by early and Christian corrections, to prevent their fixing in evil habits or customs. 25. A righteous man never wants satisfaction, because his desires are moderate, and he lives in a temperate use of God's blessings; God gives him a competency, a heart to use it, and contentment in it: but wicked men, insatiable in their desires, and extravagant in the abuse of their plenty, shall be indigent in the midst of abundance, or reduced to the distresses of poverty.

Ver. 3. As a little helm governs the largest ship, so does the tongue govern the man; and as he that governs the helm guides the ship, he that can govern the tongue can command the man—and in doing so, he 'keepeth his life' —his life of faith in Jesus, of peace with God, and of joy in the Holy Ghost, and hope of glory. C.

Ver. 6. Righteousness. Not his own righteousness, for that has no existence beyond the name, Ro. 3. 10; but the 'righteousness of God which is, by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all them that believe,' Ro. 3. 22. C.

Ver. 7. Maketh himself poor. A man may, in the natural sense, 'make himself poor,' as in educating and providing for his family, and thereby he is made truly rich. He may also make himself comparatively poor by deeds of beneficence, and be in the sight of God 'rich in good works,' 1 Ti. 6. 18. But, in the spiritual sense, the passage is most completely verified; for the man that, by grace, 'maketh himself poor in spirit,' is, in return, enriched with possession of the kingdom of heaven, Mat. 5. 2. C.

Ver. 8. The poor heareth not rebuke. The poor in the world, and the poor in spirit, are like some humble plant, in a valley far below the storms of the higher regions: they hear them not. The one might be happy, if he valued the peace of his station: the other is really so, for he enjoys the peace of God. C.

Ver. 14. The law—the word and doctrine of the wise—which teaches to depart from the ways of sin and death, is a fountain of spiritual comfort and peace, springing up to life eternal, Jn. 4. 14. C.

Ver. 15. A man of 'good understanding' will do a favour when in his power; but the way of transgressors is hard; that is, unkind, offensive, violent. C.

Ver. 19. He that would accomplish good, must often pass 'through bad report,' and labour after his object with much selfdenial—but Providence will repay him in the end with the sweet satisfaction of good attained, as well as intended. But fools will never sacrifice present indulgence for future hopes; self-denial, repentance, and godliness are their 'abomination'—'their god is their belly—their end is destruction,' Phi. 3. 19. C.

Ver. 24. Let parents beware of misunderstanding this precept. 'The rod' does not signify merely the 'rod' of punishment, but also the 'rod' of a dignified authority; of a habitual, temperate, and chastened restraint. C.