Proverbs 28

Notes

Ver. 1. Guilt makes men cowards but conscious integrity makes men courageous, and proceed with undaunted resolution in the most hazardous undertakings. 2. To punish the wickedness of nations, God permits them to fall into factions or murder their sovereigns; but a prince of remarkable piety and prudence is extremely useful for settling or preserving a state. 3. A needy man placed in power, and squeezing from the poor that little which they have, is a most ruinous scourge to a nation. 4. Apostates from the ways of God are the most forward in encouraging men in wickedness, and commending them for it: but they who resolutely observe God's law, do what they can to reform or punish them. 5. Unregenerate men have no solid or experimental knowledge of what is right or wrong: but they who study God's Word, and depend on his instructions, understand whatever is necessary to salvation. 6. A poor man, who acts honestly and uprightly in all he does, is far happier, and more useful and commendable, than a rich pretender to virtue, who obstinately and craftily practises vice. 7. He is an honour to his parents, as well as to himself, who studies the law of God, and observes the rules of piety and sobriety there prescribed: but he that associates himself with rakes, drunkards, and gluttons, and spends his time and money in sensual pleasures, is a shame and vexation to them. 8. God often translates the wealth, gotten by covetousness and oppression, from the gatherers into the hands of such as are merciful and benevolent. 9. The very prayers and other religious services of them who obstinately live in their sins are, in God's view, an abominable and hypocritical prostitution of his ordinances, since it appears as if they thus intended to make him a partner in their wickedness. 10. They who by their persuasion, example, or cunning contrivances seduce upright men into sinful and dangerous practices, shall themselves irrecoverably fall into that very mischief which they intended for others: but they who live in simplicity and godly sincerity shall enjoy the blessings of grace here and of glory hereafter. 11. Rich men, being courted and complimented by every one, are apt to imagine themselves extremely wise: but sensible and religious persons, however poor, quickly discern their emptiness and ignorance. 12. It is an honour and happiness for a nation when pious and prudent men are advanced to places of power and trust: but when the wicked are exalted, the persons, lives, and estates, especially of good men, are in danger, and they are obliged to conceal them. 13. He that conceals, extenuates, or defends his sins, exposes himself to severe punishments: but he who through faith in Christ confesses and forsakes them, shall be graciously blessed by God and honoured by men. 14. Happy is he who lives under the constant awe of God's perfections, and under a jealousy of his own evil heart and a fear to do evil: but he that obstinately and presumptuously goes on in his sinful courses shall irrecoverably and eternally perish. 15. How cruel and terrible a plague is a tyrannical ruler! His subjects, unable to resist, are harassed by oppression, and terrified with fears of still greater evils.—17. Murderers shall never be able to escape the judgment of God; but shall hurry themselves into sudden and irretrievable destruction, without any one to help or pity them. 18. Real godliness, strict honesty and integrity, are the sure road to safety, honour, and happiness: but fraudulent sinners, obstinate in their wickedness, shall quickly involve themselves in the depths of misery. 19, 20. They who believe in Christ, and act with diligence, fidelity, and candour in their dealings, shall have abundant blessings from God and honours from men: but they who hasten to be rich, render themselves execrable by their base and fraudulent methods. 21. When judges have accustomed themselves to respect persons in judgment, the most insignificant bribe will make them disregard both law and equity, and favour an unrighteous cause. 22. He that hastens to be rich envies everybody who has more than himself, covets whatever he sees, and grudges to part with the most necessary expense or alms; and never seriously thinks how quickly God may take him from his wealth, or it become a curse to him, so that through his money he corrupts himself. 23. They who in an honest and friendly manner reprove a man for his faults, will afterwards have much more of his favour and regard than they who flatter him in his sins. 24. They who snatch all that they can from their parents are as bad as common robbers, and are in a fair way to associate themselves with such. 25. A man of a proud, insolent, and ambitious spirit involves himself in perpetual quarrels, and has no satisfaction in what he enjoys; nay, many times wastes his estate in contentions: but he who, trusting in the Lord to redress his grievances, patiently bears injuries, lives comfortably and happy. 26. Nothing is more foolish than to rely wholly on our own wisdom and ability, or to trust in our own heart, which is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: but he who walks according to the counsels of wise men, and the directions of God, shall escape, or be delivered out of, manifold dangers and troubles. 27. He who kindly and cheerfully relieves such as are in want shall thereby increase his own estate: but he that avoids taking notice of their miseries draws upon himself the curse of God and of men. 28. When wicked men are increased in number, and advanced in authority, good men are obliged to hide themselves from their tyranny and persecution: but when God casts down the wicked, the righteous take courage, and openly show themselves; and their numbers are increased under pious and prudent governors.

Ver. 5. They that seek the Lord understand all things. They know more about all things, than worldly men know about any one thing: for they 'know that all things work together for good to them that love God.' C.

Ver. 7. Shameth his father. Shames him for neglecting his education—for not restraining him in time—or, notwithstanding all his care, breaks his heart by his incorrigible follies. C.

Ver. 11. It is the special duty of the rich to give their children a good education, both in secular and religious knowledge; for if the well-educated poor once discover any inferiority in the rich, contempt for their ignorance, and the disorganization of society, is sure to follow.—Note, A true religious education can alone teach the rich kindness and the poor gratitude. C.

Ver. 17. The murderer shall flee in terror of conscience till the grave receives him: let no man stay him in this flight by hiding him from deserved justice, Ge. 9. 6. C.

Ver. 22. An evil eye never means, as the ignorant and superstitious imagine, an eye that can inflict evil according to the malignity of its owner; but an eye that cannot see aright, because of some obstruction in its organization. In this verse, temporal riches form the obstruction that will not permit the hastener to see things that are 'not seen and eternal,' 2 Co. 4. 18. C.