Proverbs 29

Notes

Ver. 2, 4. Where justice is impartially executed, and liberty and property secured, the nation grows great and happy; but bribery and oppressive taxes ruin a state. 5. Flatterers artfully draw men into wickedness and ruin. 6. In the wicked course of sinners, one sin draws on another and its attendant plagues; but the godly, by walking in Christ, obtain solid and lasting joy and comfort.—8. Obstinate sinners and scornful men, by laughing at all things serious, sacred, or civil, throw nations and cities into the most ruinous disorder; but pious and prudent rulers, by their prayers and piety, avert the deserved judgment of God, and by their wise conduct divert the fury of men. 9. It is to no purpose to spend reasonings or reproofs upon incorrigible fools; for in whatever manner they appear to take them, they will still persist in their folly and wickedness. 10. Bloodthirsty men direct their murderous malice especially against godly magistrates or other valuable persons; but such as are truly virtuous labour to defend and promote the welfare of such. 11. Fools inconsiderately speak out whatever comes into their head; but wise men think well before they speak, and only utter what they know and as the opportunity requires. 12. If a ruler hearken to lies, flatteries, or false accusations, his whole court will quickly become so wicked, that it will be hard to find an honest man in office. 13. Poor men who want estates, and rich men who get or increase their estates by fraud, are connected together in this world, and the Lord, without distinction, allows to both his light of nature, or revelation, and blessings of providence, as is good in his sight. 14. Kings who faithfully administer justice to their subjects, and set themselves to protect and help the poor, take the most proper course to gain their subjects' affection, and to continue their kingdom to many generations. 15. Careful instructions and reproofs, and prudent corrections, are of great use to render children wise, prudent, and pious: but children left to follow their own inclinations prove a disgrace and plague to parents, particularly to their indulgent mothers. 16. When wicked men are increased in number and advanced in dignity, presumptuous wickedness abounds more and more: but the righteous ought not to be discouraged, as they shall quickly see their downfall. 17. Children carefully brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, bid fair to be a help and comfort to their parents. 18. Where men want the oracles of God and ordinances of the gospel, they cannot but live wickedly on earth and be miserable in eternity: but great is the present and future happiness of such as, renewed by his grace, strictly observe his laws. 19. No persuasion, reproofs, or threatenings will avail with some refractory and slavish-minded servants; nothing but blows will make them regard what is said or attend to their duty. 20. It is more easy to instruct and reform the most weak and ignorant, than to rectify what is amiss in a rash, heady, and self-conceited manager of his affairs. 21. If servants, who continue long in a family, be too much indulged or favoured, they are apt to behave with as much boldness and freedom as if they were children; or even to domineer over them, and labour to disinherit them. 22. Passionate persons are apt to quarrel and contend about trifles, and to fall into a multitude of sins, in word or deed, both against God and men. 23. Proud, saucy, and ambitious behaviour renders men contemned, hated, and miserable; but meekness and humility procure useful and lasting honours. 24. Partnership with thieves or fraudulent persons, endangers both soul and body, and is apt to involve men in perjury. 25. An immoderate fear of men ensnares us into much guilt and mischief: but he that puts his whole confidence in God shall be preserved from them. 26. Multitudes court the favour of princes and other great men: but it is God alone who determines the lots of men here and hereafter. 27. There is a stated antipathy between the righteous and wicked; their natures, tempers, counsels, and ends being the very reverse of each other.

Ver. 1. Hardeneth himself by seeking excuses or palliations for his sin; or even false interpretations and doctrines to defend his evil courses. He 'shall fall without remedy,' as the carcasses of the unbelievers fell in the wilderness, to whom God sware in his wrath, they should not enter into his rest, He. 3. 11. C.

Ver. 4. He that receiveth gifts. According to the margin, 'a man of oblations.' The true meaning seems to be: a king who supports justice and equity in the fear of God, establishes his kingdom; but he who substitutes for these 'weightier matters of the law,' mere 'legal oblations,' ceremonial observances, overthrows it. This was literally exemplified and fulfilled by the rulers of the Jews in the days of our Lord. See Mat. 23. 23, 38. C.

Ver. 12. The ruler that 'hearkens to lies,' is either he that will bear nothing but flattery, or he that will credulously receive false accusations, and will indolently neglect to judge for himself. All his servants will soon be wicked: for godly men will fly from him; and wicked men will gather around him, as vultures to the carcass of the dead. C.

Ver. 13. The deceitful man, who overreached him, oppressed him, and made him poor.—The Lord lighteneth both their eyes. The enriched to see, if he would, better riches than he has gained; the poor, to seek better than he has lost. C.

Ver. 19. Even 'a servant' will not be corrected by (mere hasty) words, see ver. 20; example, authority, and religious principle must all be brought to bear upon him. C.

Ver. 24. That the Jewish judges adjured the accused is evident from the case of our Lord, Mat. 26. 62-64. The verse accordingly means, that the 'partner' (the accomplice) of the thief hears such an adjuration; yet, bound by a false and diabolical principle, misnamed honour, 'bewrayeth not the matter,' and is thereby guilty of perjury, to the ruin of his soul. C.