Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Proverbs
Book: Proverbs
Chapter: 10
Overview:
Through the whole of the
Proverbs, we are to look for somewhat
Beyond the first sense the
Passage may imply, and this we shall
find to be
Christ. He is the
Wisdom So often spoken of in this
Book.
1 The comfort of parents much depends
On their children; and
this suggests to both, motives to their duties. 2,3. Though
the righteous may be
Poor, the
Lord will not suffer him to want
what is needful for spiritual
Life. 4. Those who are fervent
in
Spirit, serving the
Lord, are likely to be rich in
Faith, and
rich in good
Works. 5. Here is just blame of those who trifle
away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter. 6.
Abundance of blessings shall abide
On good men; real blessings.
7. Both the just and the wicked must die; but between their
souls there is a vast difference. 8. The
Wise in
Heart puts
his knowledge in practice. 9. Dissemblers, after all their
shuffling, will be exposed. 10. Trick and artifice will be
No
excuse for iniquity. 11. The good
Man's mouth is always open
to teach, comfort, and correct others. 12. Where there is
Hatred, every thing stirs up strife.
By bearing with each other,
peace and harmony are preserved. 13. Those that foolishly go
On in wicked ways, prepare rods for themselves. 14. Whatever
knowledge may be useful, we must lay it up, that it may not be
to seek when we want it. The
Wise gain this
Wisdom By reading,
By hearing the
Word,
By meditation,
By Prayer,
By Faith in
Christ, who is made of
God unto us
Wisdom. 15. This refers to
the common mistakes both of rich and
Poor, as to their outward
condition. Rich people's wealth exposes them to many dangers;
while a
Poor Man may live comfortably, if he is content, keeps a
good
Conscience, and lives
By Faith. 16. Perhaps a righteous
Man has
No more than what he
Works hard for, but that labour
tends to
Life. 17. The traveller that has missed his way, and
cannot
Bear to be told of it, and to be shown the right way,
must err still. 18. He is especially a fool who thinks to hide
anything from
God; and malice is
No better. 19. Those that
speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a
Wise
Man, and therein consults his own peace. 20,21. The tongue of
the just is sincere, freed from the
Dross of guile and evil
design. Pious discourse is spiritual
Food to the needy. Fools
die for want of a
Heart,
So the
Word is; for want of thought.
22. That wealth which is truly desirable, has
No vexation of
Spirit in the enjoyment;
No grief for the loss;
No guilt
By the
abuse of it. What comes from the
Love of
God, has the
Grace of
God for its companion. 23. Only foolish and wicked men divert
themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to
Sin. 24.
The largest desire of eternal blessings the righteous can form,
will be granted. 25. The course of prosperous sinners is like
a whirlwind, which soon spends itself, and is gone. 26. As
Vinegar sets the teeth
On edge, and as the smoke causes the eyes
to smart,
So the sluggard vexes his employer. 27,28. What
Man
is he that loves
Life? Let him fear
God, and that will secure to
him
Life enough in this world, and eternal
Life in the other.
29. The believer grows stronger in
Faith, and obeys with
increased delight. 30. The wicked would be glad to have this
Earth their home for ever, but it cannot be
So. They must die
and leave all their idols behind. 31,32. A good
Man discourses
wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the
Sin, and will be
the ruin of a wicked
Man, that he speaks what is displeasing to
God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is
kept
By the power of
God; and nothing shall be able to separate
him from the
Love of
God which is in
Christ Jesus.