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Texts -- Proverbs 25:1--29:27 (NET)

Context
Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah
25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon , which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied : 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter , and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter . 25:3 As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable . 25:4 Remove the dross from the silver , and material for the silversmith will emerge ; 25:5 remove the wicked from before the king , and his throne will be established in righteousness . 25:6 Do not honor yourself before the king , and do not stand in the place of great men; 25:7 for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here ,” than to put you lower before a prince , whom your eyes have seen . 25:8 Do not go out hastily to litigation , or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame ? 25:9 When you argue a case with your neighbor , do not reveal the secret of another person, 25:10 lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away . 25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver , so is a word skillfully spoken . 25:12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold , so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens . 25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest , so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the heart of his masters . 25:14 Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain , so is the one who boasts of a gift not given . 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded , and a soft tongue can break a bone . 25:16 When you find honey , eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up . 25:17 Don’t set foot too frequently in your neighbor’s house , lest he become weary of you and hate you. 25:18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow , so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness . 25:19 Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint , so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble . 25:20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day , or like vinegar poured on soda , so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart . 25:21 If your enemy is hungry , give him food to eat , and if he is thirsty , give him water to drink , 25:22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head , and the Lord will reward you. 25:23 The north wind brings forth rain , and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look . 25:24 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife . 25:25 Like cold water to a weary person , so is good news from a distant land . 25:26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well , so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked . 25:27 It is not good to eat too much honey , nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory . 25:28 Like a city that is broken down and without a wall , so is a person who cannot control his temper . 26:1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest , so honor is not fitting for a fool . 26:2 Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow , so a curse without cause does not come to rest. 26:3 A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey , and a rod for the backs of fools ! 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly , lest you yourself also be like him. 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly , lest he be wise in his own estimation . 26:6 Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence , so is sending a message by the hand of a fool . 26:7 Like legs that hang limp from the lame , so is a proverb in the mouth of fools . 26:8 Like tying a stone in a sling , so is giving honor to a fool . 26:9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard , so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool . 26:10 Like an archer who wounds at random , so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by . 26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit , so a fool repeats his folly . 26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes ? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 26:13 The sluggard says , “There is a lion in the road ! A lion in the streets !” 26:14 Like a door that turns on its hinges , so a sluggard turns on his bed . 26:15 The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish ; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth . 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation than seven people who respond with good sense . 26:17 Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears , so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own. 26:18 Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows , 26:19 so is a person who deceives his neighbor , and says , “Was I not only joking ?” 26:20 Where there is no wood , a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip , contention ceases . 26:21 Like charcoal is to burning coals , and wood to fire , so is a contentious person to kindle strife . 26:22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels ; they go down into a person’s innermost being . 26:23 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart . 26:24 The one who hates others disguises it with his lips , but he stores up deceit within him. 26:25 When he speaks graciously , do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him. 26:26 Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit , his evil will be uncovered in the assembly . 26:27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone – it will come back on him. 26:28 A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin . 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow ; for you do not know what a day may bring forth . 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth ; someone else , and not your own lips . 27:3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty , but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them. 27:4 Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming , but who can stand before jealousy ? 27:5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love . 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend , but the kisses of an enemy are excessive . 27:7 The one whose appetite is satisfied loathes honey , but to the hungry mouth every bitter thing is sweet . 27:8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest , so is a person who wanders from his home . 27:9 Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice , likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel . 27:10 Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend , and do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your disaster ; a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away . 27:11 Be wise , my son , and make my heart glad , so that I may answer anyone who taunts me. 27:12 A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it. 27:13 Take a man’s garment when he has given security for a stranger , and when he gives surety for a stranger , hold him in pledge . 27:14 If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning , it will be counted as a curse to him. 27:15 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike . 27:16 Whoever hides her hides the wind or grasps oil with his right hand . 27:17 As iron sharpens iron , so a person sharpens his friend . 27:18 The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit , and whoever takes care of his master will be honored . 27:19 As in water the face is reflected as a face , so a person’s heart reflects the person . 27:20 As Death and Destruction are never satisfied , so the eyes of a person are never satisfied . 27:21 As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold , so a person is proved by the praise he receives. 27:22 If you should pound the fool in the mortar among the grain with the pestle , his foolishness would not depart from him. 27:23 Pay careful attention to the condition of your flocks , give careful attention to your herds , 27:24 for riches do not last forever , nor does a crown last from generation to generation . 27:25 When the hay is removed and new grass appears , and the grass from the hills is gathered in, 27:26 the lambs will be for your clothing , and the goats will be for the price of a field . 27:27 And there will be enough goat’s milk for your food , for the food of your household , and for the sustenance of your servant girls . 28:1 The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing , but the righteous person is as confident as a lion . 28:2 When a country is rebellious it has many princes , but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained . 28:3 A poor person who oppresses the weak is like a driving rain without food . 28:4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked , but those who keep the law contend with them. 28:5 Evil people do not understand justice , but those who seek the Lord understand it all . 28:6 A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich . 28:7 The one who keeps the law is a discerning child , but a companion of gluttons brings shame to his parents . 28:8 The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy . 28:9 The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law , even his prayer is an abomination . 28:10 The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way will himself fall into his own pit , but the blameless will inherit what is good . 28:11 A rich person is wise in his own eyes , but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly . 28:12 When the righteous rejoice , great is the glory , but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out . 28:13 The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper , but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy . 28:14 Blessed is the one who is always cautious , but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil . 28:15 Like a roaring lion or a roving bear , so is a wicked ruler over a poor people . 28:16 The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom , but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days . 28:17 The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit ; let no one support him. 28:18 The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered , but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall at once . 28:19 The one who works his land will be satisfied with food , but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty . 28:20 A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings , but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished . 28:21 To show partiality is terrible , for a person will transgress over the smallest piece of bread . 28:22 The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him. 28:23 The one who reproves another will in the end find more favor than the one who flatters with the tongue . 28:24 The one who robs his father and mother and says , “There is no transgression ,” is a companion to the one who destroys . 28:25 The greedy person stirs up dissension , but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper . 28:26 The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool , but the one who walks in wisdom will escape . 28:27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack , but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses . 28:28 When the wicked gain control , people hide themselves, but when they perish , the righteous increase . 29:1 The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy . 29:2 When the righteous become numerous , the people rejoice ; when the wicked rule , the people groan . 29:3 The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father , but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth . 29:4 A king brings stability to a land by justice , but one who exacts tribute tears it down . 29:5 The one who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his steps . 29:6 In the transgression of an evil person there is a snare , but a righteous person can sing and rejoice . 29:7 The righteous person cares for the legal rights of the poor ; the wicked does not understand such knowledge . 29:8 Scornful people inflame a city , but those who are wise turn away wrath . 29:9 If a wise person goes to court with a foolish person , there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs . 29:10 Bloodthirsty people hate someone with integrity ; as for the upright , they seek his life . 29:11 A fool lets fly with all his temper , but a wise person keeps it back . 29:12 If a ruler listens to lies , all his ministers will be wicked . 29:13 The poor person and the oppressor have this in common : the Lord gives light to the eyes of them both . 29:14 If a king judges the poor in truth , his throne will be established forever . 29:15 A rod and reproof impart wisdom , but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother . 29:16 When the wicked increase , transgression increases , but the righteous will see their downfall . 29:17 Discipline your child , and he will give you rest ; he will bring you happiness . 29:18 When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint , but the one who keeps the law , blessed is he! 29:19 A servant cannot be corrected by words , for although he understands , there is no answer . 29:20 Do you see someone who is hasty in his words ? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 29:21 If someone pampers his servant from youth , he will be a weakling in the end . 29:22 An angry person stirs up dissension , and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression . 29:23 A person’s pride will bring him low , but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor . 29:24 Whoever shares with a thief is his own enemy ; he hears the oath to testify, but does not talk . 29:25 The fear of people becomes a snare , but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high . 29:26 Many people seek the face of a ruler , but it is from the Lord that one receives justice . 29:27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous , and the one who lives an upright life is an abomination to the wicked .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • PROVERBS, THE BOOK OF

    [isbe] PROVERBS, THE BOOK OF - prov'-erbz: I. THE BOOK'S ACCOUNT OF ITSELF 1. Title and Headings 2. Authorship or Literary Species? II. THE SUCCESSIVE COMPILATIONS 1. The Introductory Section 2. The Classic Nucleus 3. A Body of Sol...

  • HEZEKIAH (2)

    [isbe] HEZEKIAH (2) - (chizqiyah, "Yahweh has strengthened"; also written chizqiyahu, "Yah has strengthened him"; Hezekias): One of the greatest of the kings of Judah; reigned (according to the most self-consistent chronology) from...

  • Speaking

    [nave] SPEAKING. Evil Ex. 22:28; Job 19:18; Psa. 10:7, 8; Psa. 12:3, 4; Psa. 34:13; Psa. 35:21; Psa. 41:5-9; Psa. 52:2-4; Psa. 59:12; Psa. 64:2-5; Psa. 69:12, 26; Psa. 70:3; Psa. 102:8; Psa. 106:33; Psa. 119:23; Psa. 120:1-7; Psa...

  • Wicked

    [nave] WICKED Compared with: Abominable branches, Isa. 14:19; ashes under the feet, Mal. 4:3; bad fishes, Matt. 13:48; beasts, Psa. 49:12; 2 Pet. 2:12; the blind, Zeph. 1:17; Matt. 15:14; bronze and iron, Jer. 6:28; Ezek. 22:18; br...

  • Poor

    [isbe] POOR - poor ('ebhyon, dal, `ani, rush; ptochos): I. In the Old Testament. The poor have great prominence in the Bible; it is said, indeed, that there should be no poor among the Hebrews because Yahweh should so greatly bless...
    [nave] POOR Atonement money of, uniform with that of the rich, Ex. 30:15. Inexpensive offerings of the poor, Lev. 5:7; 12:8; 14:21, 22. See: Beneficence; Giving; Liberality; Orphans; Poverty; Widow. Also See: Rich; Riches. Uncl...

  • Wisdom

    [isbe] WISDOM - wiz'-dum: 1. Linguistic 2. History 3. Religious Basis 4. Ideals 5. Teaching of Christ 6. Remainder of the New Testament (1) James (2) Paul 7. Hypostasis LITERATURE 1. Linguistic: In the Revised Version (British and ...
    [nave] WISDOM Of Joseph, Gen. 41:16, 25-39; Acts 7:10. Of Moses, Acts 7:22. Of Bezaleel, Ex. 31:3-5; 35:31-35; 36:1. Of Aholiab, Ex. 31:6; 35:34, 35; 36:1; of other skilled artisans, Ex. 36:2; of women, Ex. 35:26. Of Hiram, 1 K...

  • Fool

    [nave] FOOL: Psa. 5:5; Psa. 14:1 Psa. 53:1. Psa. 74:18, 22; Psa. 107:17; Prov. 1:7, 22; Prov. 3:35; Prov. 9:6-8, 13-17; Prov. 10:1, 8 v. 10.13,14,18,23Prov. 14:1, 7-9, 15; Prov. 15:7, 20, 21; Prov. 17:24, 25; Prov. 18:2, 6, 7; Pro...

  • Rulers

    [nave] RULERS Appointed and removed by God. See: Government, God in. Chastised, Dan. 4. See: Nation. Monarchical, See: Kings. Patriarchal, Gen. 27:29, 37. Instances of Nimrod, Gen. 10:8-10. Abraham, Gen. 14:13-24; 17:6; 21:2...

  • Pride

    [nave] PRIDE. Ex. 18:10, 11; Lev. 26:19; Deut. 8:11-14, 17-20; Judg. 9:14, 15; 1 Sam. 2:3-5; 1 Kin. 20:11; 2 Kin. 14:9, 10 2 Chr. 25:18, 19. Job 11:12; Job 12:2, 3; Job 13:2, 5; Job 15:1-13; Job 18:3, 4; Job 21:31, 32; Job 32:9-13...

  • God

    [nave] GOD. List of Sub-Topics Miscellany; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Access to; Compassion of; Creator; Creator of Mankind; Eternity of; Faithfulness of; Fatherhood of; Favor of; Foreknowledge of; Glory of; Goodness of...

  • PROVERB

    [isbe] PROVERB - prov'-erb (mashal, chidhah; parabole (Lk 4:23), paroimia (Jn 16:25,29)): I. FOLK MEANING AND USE 1. The Primitive Sense 2. The Communal Origin 3. Animus of Proverbs II. LITERARY DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROVERB 1. Discov...

  • Friendship

    [nave] FRIENDSHIP. Deut. 13:6-9; Job 6:14, 15; Job 16:2, 20; Job 19:13-22; Psa. 35:13, 14; Psa. 41:9; Psa. 55:12-14; Psa. 88:8, 18; Prov. 11:13; Prov. 17:9, 17; Prov. 18:24; Prov. 22:24-27; Prov. 25:17, 19; Prov. 27:6, 9, 10, 14, ...

  • Prudence

    [nave] PRUDENCE. Job 34:3, 4; Psa. 39:1; Psa. 112:5; Prov. 6:1, 2; Prov. 8:12; Prov. 11:13, 15, 29; Prov. 12:8, 23; Prov. 13:16; Prov. 14:8, 15, 16, 18; Prov. 15:5, 22; Prov. 16:20, 21; Prov. 17:2, 18; Prov. 18:15, 16; Prov. 19:2;...

  • Lies and Deceits

    [nave] LIES AND DECEITS Ex. 23:1; Lev. 6:2-7; Lev. 19:11, 12, 16 Ex. 20:16. Job 13:4; Job 21:34; Job 27:4; Job 31:5, 6, 33; Job 36:4; Psa. 5:6, 9; Psa. 10:7; Psa. 12:2, 3; Psa. 28:3; Psa. 31:18; Psa. 34:13 1 Pet. 3:10. Psa. 36:3; P...

  • Strife

    [nave] STRIFE. Gen. 13:8; Gen. 45:24; Deut. 1:12; Psa. 31:20; Psa. 55:9; Psa. 80:6; Prov. 3:30; Prov. 6:12-14, 16-19; Prov. 10:12; Prov. 13:10; Prov. 15:18; Prov. 16:28; Prov. 17:1, 14, 19; Prov. 18:6, 19; Prov. 19:13; Prov. 20:3;...

  • Hypocrisy

    [nave] HYPOCRISY. Job 8:13-15; Job 13:16; Job 15:31, 33, 34; Job 17:8; Job 20:4, 5 vs. 6-18.; Job 27:8-10 vs. 13-18.; Job 31:33, 34; Job 34:30; Job 36:13, 14; Psa. 5:9; Psa. 50:16, 17; Psa. 52:4; Psa. 55:12-14, 20, 21, 23; Psa. 78...

  • Conceit

    [isbe] CONCEIT - kon-set': An idiomatic rendering of a phrase, phronimoi en heautois, in Rom 11:25; 12:16; meaning literally, "wise with one's self," i.e. "in one's own opinion," or, as in parallel Old Testament passages (Prov 26:5...
    [nave] CONCEIT. Prov. 3:5, 7; Prov. 12:15; Prov. 23:4; Prov. 26:5, 12, 16; Prov. 28:11, 26; Isa. 5:21; Jer. 9:23; Luke 18:11, 12; Rom. 1:22; Rom. 11:25; Rom. 12:16 See: Hypocrisy; Pride.

  • King

    [nave] KING Called King of kings, Ezra 7:12; Ezek. 26:7; Dan. 2:37. Divinely authorized, Deut. 17:15; 1 Sam. 9:16, 17; 16:12; 1 Chr. 22:10; 2 Chr. 2:11, 12; Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2:21, 37; 4:17; 5:20; Hos. 8:4; 13:11. How chosen: By d...

  • Self-righteousness

    [nave] SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. Num. 16:3; Deut. 9:4-6; 1 Sam. 2:9; Job 6:13; Job 11:4-6; Job 12:2; Job 13:3, 13, 15, 19; Job 16:17, 18; Job 18:2-4; Job 21:27-29; Job 22:2, 3; Job 32:1, 2; Job 33:8, 9; Job 35:2, 7, 8; Psa. 10:5, 6; Pro...

  • Children

    [nave] CHILDREN In answer to prayer: To Abraham, Gen. 15:2-5, with Gen. 21:1, 2; Isaac, Gen. 25:21; Leah, Gen. 30:17-22; Rachel, Gen. 30:22-24; Haah, 1 Sam. 1:9-20; Zacharias, Luke 1:13. Treatment of, at birth, Ezek. 16:4-6; Luke ...
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Arts

Hymns

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  • [Pro 27:8] Return, O Wanderer, To Thy Home
  • [Pro 28:14] Thrice Happy Souls

Questions

Sermon Illustrations

Ephesians 6:4; Qualities Needed in Parenting; 1 Thessalonians 2:2; Proverbs 29:25; Parenting; Proverbs 29:1; James 4:13-14; Frivolity; Heart; Ezekiel 7:8-9; Communication in Marriage

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Joseph's brothers met his second recorded visit to them with great antagonism. They plotted to kill him and so render his dreams impossible to fulfill. For practical reasons they decided to sell him and to deceive Jacob into ...
  • Pharaoh's invitation was as generous as it was because Pharaoh held Joseph in high regard. It was an invitation, not a command. Pharaoh had no authority to command Jacob to move into Egypt. Jacob was free to accept or reject ...
  • The high priest also wore this garment. It was his basic garment over which he put the ephod. It covered him completely so his natural nakedness did not appear (cf. Gen. 3:21).God may have intended the pomegranates and bells ...
  • Coveting means inordinately desiring to possess what belongs to another person. This commandment deals with motivation rather than deed, with attitude rather than action. It gets at the spirit that often leads to the sins for...
  • "Saul's rise to kingship over Israel took place in three distinct stages: He was (1) anointed by Samuel (9:1-10:16), (2) chosen by lot (10:17-27), and (3) confirmed by public acclamation (11:1-15).112Saul's anointing had been...
  • "In the short pericope 13:7b-15a obedience was the stone on which Saul stumbled; here it is the rock that crushes him."147Chapter 15 records one of the battles Saul had with the Amalekites, Israel's enemy to the south (cf. 14...
  • Second Kings is a sequel to 1 Kings. First Kings covers about one and a half centuries and 2 Kings about three centuries. In both books the two thrones are in view: the earthly and the heavenly.First Kings emphasizes the fact...
  • The events of this book took place between those recorded in Ezra 6 and 7. They have nothing to do with the people who returned from exile in Babylon. They deal with those who remained behind. Remember the dates of the three ...
  • "Chapter 26 is one of the grandest recitals in the whole book. It is excelled only by the Lord's speeches, as is fitting. It sounds well in Job's mouth, and ends the dialogue, like the first movement of a symphony, with great...
  • As the three friends, Elihu believed God was acting perfectly justly in allowing Job to suffer and that Job was insolent to accuse God of being unjust (v. 10). He then reviewed God's character to illustrate His justice (vv. 1...
  • The texts of the individual psalms do not usually indicate who wrote them.1However some of the titles of the individual psalms do contain information about the writers.2This is the only really reliable information we have as ...
  • The title of this book in the Hebrew Bible is "The Proverbs of Solomon, the Son of David, King in Israel"(cf. 1:1). The Greek Septuagint called this book "Proverbs of Solomon."The Latin Vulgate named it "The Book of Proverbs....
  • Proverbs claims to be a compendium of the wise sayings of several different individuals.4Solomon originated some of them (10:1-22:16 and chs. 25-29 definitely, and probably chs. 1-9 as well).5Unnamed wise men (sages) wrote ot...
  • The Book of Proverbs contains no history. It is purely didactic. It is a book of explicit instruction. Like the other Old Testament wisdom books, Job and Ecclesiastes, it does not contain references to Israel's laws, rituals,...
  • I. Discourses on wisdom chs. 1-9A. Introduction to the book 1:1-71. The title of the book 1:12. The purpose of the book 1:2-63. The thesis of the book 1:7B. Instruction for young people 1:8-7:271. Warning against consorting w...
  • Verse one introduces both the book as a whole and chapters 1-9 in particular. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of at least five separate groups of proverbs. There are those that Solomon spoke and or wrote (possibly chs. 1...
  • The trust of the wise son (vv. 5-6) comes from heeding sound teaching (vv. 1-4), and it leads to confident obedience (vv. 7-9)."Teaching"(v. 1, Heb. torah) means "law"or, more fundamentally, "direction."Here the context sugge...
  • 11:19 The full quality of life is in view (cf. John 10:10), not just the possession of life."Since life and death result from moral choices, righteousness must be pursued. . . . Life' and death' describe the vicissitudes of t...
  • These proverbs are more difficult to group together under a general heading because there are fewer common ideas that tie them together.14:1 This verse makes better sense if for "house"we read "household."14:3 The antecedent ...
  • 17:8 The owner of the bribe is the person who gives it. A bribe is an effective tool. It works like a charm. This proverb is not advocating bribery, only acknowledging that money talks. God's view of bribery becomes clear in ...
  • As was true in the chapter 10-15 section, this one (16:1-22:16) also becomes more difficult to outline as it ends because there are fewer groupings of proverbs.19:7 The first part of this verse is hyperbole (overstatement to ...
  • A third major section of the Book of Proverbs begins with 22:17. This is clear from several indicators. The proverbs lengthen out again from the typical one verse couplet that characterizes 10:1-26:16 (cf. chs. 1-9). The phra...
  • We return now to the proverbs of Solomon (cf. 1:1-22:16). Chapters 25-26 contain proverbs that are mainly comparisons. The key words in these chapters are "like . . . so."Chapter 27 is a mixture of comparative and antithetica...
  • 25:1 A group of scholars who served during King Hezekiah's reign (715-686 B.C.) added more of Solomon's 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32) to the former collection (1:1-22:16). These men lived about 250 years after Solomon. Solomo...
  • The analogies in chapter 25 dealt with both wise and foolish conduct, but those in chapter 26 deal mainly with fools and folly.26:2 If someone curses another person who does not deserve it, the curse will not be effective (cf...
  • Many of the analogies in this pericope deal with virtues and vices that are characteristic of the wise and the foolish.27:7 The point of this proverb seems to be that the quantity of a person's material possessions affects hi...
  • Most of the proverbs in this section are couplets, and most of them set forth a truth by means of a contrast.28:2 When wickedness abounds in a land there is usually a high rate of turnover in the leadership (v. 2a). The North...
  • Chapters 30 and 31 form a distinct section in Proverbs because neither Solomon (1:1-22:16; chs. 25-29) nor the unnamed sages (22:17-24:34) wrote them. Two other wise men whose names the text records did. Some expositors specu...
  • Some commentators have regarded only the first nine verses of this chapter as Lemuel's writing. One reason for this is that the Septuagint translators separated verses 1-9 from verse 10-31 by five chapters (chs. 25-29). Howev...
  • We have read much in Proverbs already about unwise women. Solomon personified both wisdom and folly as women (chs. 8-9). Perhaps God wanted us to finish reading this book assured that women are not essentially evil or foolish...
  • The quality of wisdom that Proverbs presents is much more than the ability to apply knowledge to various situations in life effectively. It also involves submission to the way of God that is the order of life God has revealed...
  • Isaiah continued the sheep metaphor but applied it to the Servant to contrast sinful people and their innocent substitute. Here it is not the sheep's tendency to get lost but its nondefensive nature that is the characteristic...
  • There were three aspects to Judah's failure: the people's perversity (vv. 20-25), their injustice (vv. 26-29), and their leaders (vv. 30-31).143"Jeremiah rebukes the Judeans as a whole for their utter stupidity and lack of mo...
  • This is another section that contains one of Jeremiah's "confessions."Evidently there were several separate plots against the prophet's life (cf. 11:18-23; 12:1-6). People hated him because he brought bad news and called them...
  • 3:19 The determination of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to withhold the form of allegiance that Nebuchadnezzar required made the king as angry as he could be. He apparently ordered the furnace heated to seven times its nor...
  • This pericope describes the character of the kingdom's subjects and their rewards in the kingdom.236"Looked at as a whole . . . the Beatitudes become a moral sketch of the type of person who is ready to possess, or rule over,...
  • 6:19-21 In view of the imminence of the kingdom, Jesus' disciples should "stop laying up treasures on earth."329Jesus called for a break with their former practice. Clearly money is not evil. The wise person works hard and ma...
  • This section of verses brings the main body of the Sermon to a climactic conclusion.7:7-8 In view of such hard opposition Jesus' disciples need to pray for God's help. He will always respond positively to their words, though ...
  • Matthew recorded nine beatitudes, but Luke included only four. Matthew gave no woes, but Luke recorded four. The four beatitudes precede the four woes, and the beatitudes parallel the woes in thought. The beatitudes are posit...
  • Jesus next gave the assembled guests a lesson on the importance of humility. By identifying this teaching as a parable (v. 7) Luke informed his readers that the lesson has importance in people's relationship to God, not just ...
  • 22:47-48 All the synoptic evangelists noted the close connection between Jesus' praying and the arrival of the soldiers. It was very important that Jesus pray. Judas preceded the arresting mob (Gr. ochlos, crowd) as Jesus had...
  • The Pharisees, who considered themselves enlightened, now tried to badger the formerly blind man into denying that he saw the light.9:24 The Pharisees now questioned the healed man again. They had already decided that Jesus w...
  • "John is interested in the way the coming of Jesus divides people."3479:35 The healed man had responded positively and courageously to the light that he had so far, but he did not have much light. Therefore Jesus took the ini...
  • To answer his critics and prove the extent of his own service and sufferings for Christ, Paul related many of his painful experiences as an apostle.11:16 Paul apologized again for having to resort to mentioning these experien...
  • Paul proceeded to deal with a significant group of antagonists that the Philippians faced.3:2 Jesus and other prophets used the term "dogs"to refer to opponents of God's truth (Matt. 7:6; cf. Deut. 23:18; 1 Sam. 17:43; 24:14;...
  • Paul now gave stronger commands (cf. v. 12). Not only the leaders but all the believers were responsible to minister to one another. Those who neglected their daily duties needed stirring up to action. Those who were timid or...
  • The Ephesian church already had elders long before Paul wrote this letter (Acts 20:17-35)."If our identification of the false teachers as elders is correct, then Paul's reason for this set of instructions is that Timothy must...
  • 1:19 James' readers already knew what he had just reminded them of in the preceding verses (vv. 17-18; cf. Prov. 10:19; 13:3; 14:29; 15:1; 17:27-28; 29:11, 20; Eccles. 7:9). Nevertheless they needed to act in harmony with thi...
  • Having established the believer's basic adequacy through God's power in him and God's promises to him, Peter next reminded his readers of their responsibility to cultivate their own Christian growth. He did so to correct any ...
  • Peter focused his discussion next on the false teachers' final doom to warn his readers of the serious results of following their instruction.2:20 To whom does "they"refer? Some interpreters believe the antecedent is the new ...
  • v. 10 The things the false teachers did not understand but reviled probably refer to aspects of God's revealed will that they chose to reject (cf. 1 Cor. 2:7-16)."Jude, like his brother James, denounces the sins of the tongue...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • He that hath no rule over his oven spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.'--Proverbs 25:28.THE text gives us a picture of a state of society when an unwalled city is no place for men to dwell in. In the...
  • The sand is weighty.'--Proverbs. 27:3.THIS Book of Proverbs has a very wholesome horror of the character which it calls a feel'; meaning thereby, not so much intellectual feebleness as moral and religious obliquity, which are...
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