1. soft--tender or gentle.
turneth . . . wrath--from any one.
stir up--as a smouldering fire is excited.
2. useth . . . aright--commends knowledge by its proper use.
poureth out--utters abundantly
(Pr 12:23),
and so disgusts others.
3. beholding--watching (compare Pr 5:21; Ps 66:7).
4. A wholesome tongue--(Compare Margin), pacifying and soothing
language.
tree of life--
(Pr 3:18; 11:30).
perverseness therein--cross, ill-natured language.
breach . . . spirit--(compare
Isa 65:14,
Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasing.
5. (Compare
Pr 4:1; 10:17; 13:1-18).
is prudent--acts discreetly.
6. treasure--implying utility.
trouble--vexation and affliction.
7. (Compare
Pr 10:20, 21).
heart . . . not so--not right, or vain.
8, 9. The sacrifice [and] prayer--are acts of worship.
way . . . followeth . . . righteousness--denote conduct. God's regard
for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so
stated in
Ps 50:17;
Isa 1:11.
10. (Compare
Pr 10:17).
the way--that in which God would have him to go
(Pr 2:13;
Ps 119:1).
11. Hell--
(Ps 16:10).
destruction--or, "Abaddon," the place of the destroyer. All the unseen
world is open to God, much more men's hearts.
12. (Compare
Pr 9:8).
go unto the wise--to be instructed.
13. maketh . . . countenance--or, "benefits the countenance."
spirit is broken--and so the countenance is sad.
14. (Compare Pr 10:21, 22). The wise grow wiser, the fools more foolish (Pr 9:9).
15. The state of the heart governs the outward condition.
evil--sad, contrasted with the cheerfulness of a feast.
16. trouble--agitation, implying the anxieties and perplexities attending wealth held by worldlings (Pr 16:18; 1Ti 6:6).
17. dinner--or, "allowance"
(2Ki 25:30)
--
of herbs--and that the plainest.
and hatred--(compare
Pr 10:12, 18).
18. (Compare Pr 14:29; 16:32).
19. The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy;
the righteous find a
plain [and open] way--literally, "a highway," by diligence
(1Sa 10:7;
Ps 1:3).
20. (Compare Pr 10:1).
21. walketh uprightly--and so finds his joy (Pr 3:6; 10:23).
22. Without counsel--or, "deliberation," implying a wise deference to the opinions of the wise and good, contrasted with rashness.
23. Good advice blesses the giver and receiver.
24. (Compare Col 3:2). Holy purposes prevent sinning, and so its evils.
25. The most desolate who have God's aid have more permanent good than
the self-reliant sinner
(Pr 2:22; 12:7).
border--or, "boundary for possessions"
(Ps 78:54).
26. are pleasant words--that is, pleasing to God (Pr 8:8, 9).
27. (Compare
Pr 11:17).
Avarice brings trouble to him and his.
hateth gifts--or, "bribes"
(Ex 23:8;
Ps 15:5),
and is not avaricious.
28. (Compare Pr 15:14; 10:11). Caution is the fruit of wisdom; rashness of folly.
29. far . . . wicked--in His love and favor (Ps 22:11; 119:155).
30. light of the eyes--
(Pr 13:9).
What gives light rejoiceth the heart, by relieving from anxiety as to
our course; so
good report--or, "doctrine"
(Isa 28:9; 53:1),
maketh . . . fat--or, "gives prosperity"
(Pr 3:13-17; 9:11).
The last clause is illustrated by the first.
31, 32. (Compare
Pr 10:17).
reproof of life--which leads to life.
abideth . . . wise--is numbered among them.
32. refuseth--or, "neglects," "passes by"
(Pr 1:25; 4:15).
despiseth . . . soul--so acts as if esteeming its interests of no
value.
33. The fear . . . wisdom--Wisdom instructs in true piety.
before . . . humility--(compare
Lu 24:26;
1Pe 1:11);
opposite (compare
Pr 16:18).
