Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Proverbs
Book: Proverbs
Chapter: 21
Overview:
1 The believer, perceiving that the
Lord rules every
Heart as
he sees fit, like the
Husbandman who turns the water through his
grounds as he pleases, seeks to have his own
Heart, and the
hearts of others, directed in his
Faith, fear, and
Love. 2. We
are partial in judging ourselves and our actions. 3. Many
deceive themselves with a conceit that outward devotions will
excuse unrighteousness. 4.
Sin is the pride, the ambition, the
Glory, the joy, and the business of wicked men. 5. The really
diligent employ foresight as
Well as labour. 6. While men seek
wealth
By unlawful practices, they seek
Death. 7. Injustice
will return upon the sinner, and will destroy him here and for
ever. 8. The way of mankind
By nature is froward and strange.
9. It is best to shun
Bitter contention
By pouring out the
Heart before
God. For
By prudence and patience, with constant
Prayer, the
Cross may be removed. 10. The evil desires of a
wicked
Man's
Heart, lead to baseness in his conduct. 11. The
simple may be made
Wise By punishments
On the wicked, and
By
instructions to those who are willing to be taught. 12. Good
men envy not the prosperity of evil-doers; they see there is a
Curse On them. 13. Such as oppress the
Poor By beating down
Wages, such as will not relieve according to their ability those
in distress, and those in authority who neglect to do
Justice,
stop their ears at the cry of the
Poor. But doubtless care is to
be used in the
Exercise of
Charity. 14. If
Money can conquer
the
Fury of the passions, shall reason, the fear of
God, and the
command of
Christ, be too weak to
Bridle them? 15. There is
true pleasure only in the practice of religion. 16. Of all
wanderers in the ways of
Sin, those are in the most dangerous
condition who turn aside into the ways of
Darkness. Yet there is
Hope even for them in the all-sufficient
Saviour; but let them
flee to him without delay. 17. A
Life of worldly pleasure
brings ruin
On men. 18. The righteous is often delivered out
of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead, and
So seems as a
Ransom for him. 19. Unbridled passions spoil the comfort of
all relations. 20. The plenty obtained
By prudence, industry,
and frugality, is desirable. But the foolish misspend what they
have upon their lusts. 21. True
Repentance and
Faith will lead
him that relies
On the
Mercy of
God in
Christ, to follow after
Righteousness and
Mercy in his own conduct. 22. Those that
have
Wisdom, often do great things, even against those confident
of their strength. 23. It is our great concern to keep our
souls from being entangled and disquieted. 24. Pride and
haughtiness make men passionate; such continually
Deal in wrath,
as if it were their trade to be angry. 25,26. Here is the
misery of the slothful; their hands refuse to labour in an
honest
Calling,
By which they might get an honest livelihood;
yet their hearts cease not to covet riches, pleasures, and
honours, which cannot be obtained without labour. But the
righteous and industrious have their desires satisfied. 27.
When
Holiness is pretended, but wickedness intended, that
especially is an
Abomination. 28. The doom of a false
Witness
is certain. 29. A wicked
Man bids defiance to the terrors of
the
Law and the rebukes of
Providence. But a good
Man asks, What
does
God require of me? 30,31. Means are to be used, but,
after all, our safety and
Salvation are only of the
Lord. In our
spiritual warfare we must
Arm ourselves with the whole
Armour of
God; but our strength must be in the
Lord, and in the power of
his might.