Proverbs 13:18

13:14. The rule by which the wise regulate their conduct, is a fountain yielding life and happiness. 15. The way of sinners is hard upon others, and hard to the sinner himself. The service of sin is slavery; the road to hell is strewed with the thorns and thistles that followed the curse. 16. It is folly to talk of things of which we know nothing, and to undertake what we are no way fit for. 17. Those that are wicked, and false to Christ and to the souls of men, do mischief, and fall into mischief; but those that are faithful, find sound words healing to others and to themselves. 18. He that scorns to be taught, will certainly be brought down. 19. There are in man strong desires after happiness; but never let those expect any thing truly sweet to their souls, who will not be persuaded to leave their sins. 20. Multitudes are brought to ruin by bad company. And all that make themselves wicked will be destroyed. 21. When God pursues sinners he is sure to overtake them; and he will reward the righteous. 22. The servant of God who is not anxious about riches, takes the best method of providing for his children. 23. The poor, yet industrious, thrive, though in a homely manner, while those who have great riches are often brought to poverty for want of judgment. 24. He acts as if he hated his child, who, by false indulgence, permits sinful habits to gather strength, which will bring sorrow here, and misery hereafter. 25.

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction,.... Of parents, masters, and ministers of the word; the instruction of wisdom, the instruction of the Gospel, in things relating to their present spiritual peace, and to their eternal welfare: such generally come to poverty and disgrace in this life, and to everlasting shame and contempt in another; see Proverbs 5:11 ; but he that regardeth reproof; the reproof of the word, and of the ministers of it, and of all good men, and takes it kindly, and acts according to it, shall be honoured; with riches and reputation; if not with the riches of this world, yet with the riches of grace and glory; and shall have honour among the saints, and from the Lord himself; who will honour those that honour him, as they do who regard the reproof and instruction of his word, 1 Samuel 2:30.

Proverbs 13:18 . Poverty, &c., shall be to him, that refuseth instruction — Whereby he might have been preserved from destructive and dishonourable courses; but he that regardeth reproof — That considers it seriously, receives it kindly, and reforms himself by it; shall be honoured — And enriched, which is to be inferred from the former branch. Not indeed that it is always the case, but commonly, and when God sees it will be good for a man. Or, if he do not gain riches, he shall certainly have honour both from God and good men.

Instruction; whereby he might have been kept from destructive and dishonourable courses. He that regardeth reproof, that considers it seriously, receiveth it kindly, and reformeth himself by it, shall be honoured, and enriched, which is implied from the former branch. Not that it is so always, but commonly, and when God sees it good for a man. Or if he do not always gain riches, he shall certainly have honour both from God and men.

Hard - The primary meaning of the original word is permanence (compare Deuteronomy 21:4 ; Micah 6:2 ). This may be applied as here to the hard dry rock, to running streams, or to stagnant pools. In either case, the idea is that of the barren dry soil, or the impassable marsh, in contrast with the fountain of life, carrying joy and refreshment with it.

Verse 18. - Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction; correction, discipline. Nowack takes the two nouns as predicates: "He that refuseth discipline is poverty and shame," i.e. they are his lot. Such a one indulges his own lusts and passions, is headstrong in pursuing his own plans, and thus dissipates his fortune and acquires the contempt of all good men. Septuagint, "Discipline taketh away poverty and disgrace." He that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. To listen to rebuke and to profit thereby is a proof of humility and self-knowledge, which wins respect from others. Lesetre refers to Theodosius's submission to the sentence imposed upon him by St. Ambrose as a real honour and glory to him (comp. Proverbs 12:1 ; Proverbs 15:5, 32 ). Proverbs 13:18

18 Poverty and shame (to him) who rejecteth correction; But he who regardeth reproof is honoured. We are neither to supply אישׁ before רישׁ קלונו (or more correctly, abstr. pro concr., as רמיּה, Proverbs 1:27), nor ל before פורע, as Gesenius (Lehrgeb. 227a) does; nor has the part. פּורע the value of a hypothetical clause like Proverbs 18:13, Job 41:18, although it may certainly be changed into such without destroying the meaning (Ewald, Hitzig); but "poverty and shame is he who is without correction," is equivalent to, poverty and shame is the conclusion or lot of him who is without correction; it is left to the hearer to find out the reference of the predicate to the subject in the sense of the quality, the consequence, or the lot (cf. e.g., Proverbs 10:17; Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 14:35). (Note: Vid., regarding the strong demand which the Hebr. style makes on hearer and reader, my Gesch. der jdischen Poesie (1863), p. 189.) Regarding פרע, vid., p. 73. The Latin expression corresponding is: qui detrectat disciplinam. He who rejects the admonition and correction of his parents, his pastor, or his friend, and refuses every counsel to duty as a burdensome moralizing, such an one must at last gather wisdom by means of injury if he is at all wise: he grows poorer in consequence of missing the right rule of life, and has in addition thereto to be subject to disgrace through his own fault.

On the contrary, to him who has the disgrace to deserve reproof, but who willingly receives it, and gives it effect, the disgrace becomes an honour, for not to reject reproof shows self-knowledge, humility, and good-will; and these properties in the judgment of others bring men to honour, and have the effect of raising them in their position in life and in their calling.

[Reformed Biblical] Cain found his brother's murder an intolerable trouble to his flesh . (Gen. iv. 13, 14.) Joseph's brethren severally smarted for their unfeeling wantonness. (lb. xlii. 21.) Adoni-bezek was constrained. to acknowledge the justice of his chastisement. (Judg. i. 6, 7.) The doom of Ahab and Jezebel was the curse of their own cruelty . (1 Kings, xxii. 38. 2 Kings, ix. 36, 37.) The treasures of selfishness will eat as doth a canker in our own flesh . (Jam. v. 1-3.) 0 my God, save me from the tyranny of my own lust, and may thy perfect image of mercy be my standard and my pattern! 18 . The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteous- ness shall be a sure reward. 19. As righteousness tendeth to life, so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death . Both the Masters that claim the heart put forth their promise of reward. Did Satan fulfill all his promises, truly his servants would be abundantly enriched. (Gen. iii. 4, 5. Matt. iv. 8, 9.) But the wicked worketh a deceitful work , ending in disappointment. (Heb. ii. 13. Rom. vi. 21.) Pharaoh's exterminating project against Israel deceived him in its result, issuing in their increase, and the ruin of himself and his peo- ple. (Acts, vii. 19. Exod. i. 20.) Abimelech doubtless expected peace