Proverbs 13:21

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.

Evil pursueth sinners,.... They pursue the evil of sin, and the evil of punishment pursues them, and at last overtakes them; their damnation, though it may seem to slumber and linger, it does not; it is upon the full speed after them, and will quickly seize upon them. Some understand this of the evil of sin in the conscience, which pursues the sinner, and fills him with terror; but to the righteous good shall be repaid; or, "he shall recompense the righteous with good" (u), or "good to the righteous"; that is, God shall do it; for all the good things they have done, from a right principle, and to a right end; which good works of theirs will pursue and follow them; and for all the ill things they have suffered for righteousness's sake, a reward of grace, though not of debt, will be given them; as they have had their evil things here, they shall have their good things hereafter; as well as are often recompensed in this life, either in themselves or in their posterity, as follows. (u) "et justis reddet bonum", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus; "justes remunerabit Deus bono", Michaelis; "justis autem bonum rependet", Tigurine version, Piscator, so Cocceius.

Evil; evil of punishment proportionable to their evil of sin, as appears from the next clause. Pursueth; and sooner or later shall certainly overtake them, albeit they please themselves with hopes of impunity. Sinners; obstinate and incorrigible sinners. Good; God’s blessings and true happiness.

The connection is somewhat obscure. Either, "Satisfied desire is pleasant, therefore it is an abomination to fools to depart from the evil on which their minds are set;" or, "Sweet is the satisfaction of desire, yet the wicked will not depart from the evil which makes that satisfaction impossible."

Verse 21. - Evil pursueth sinners. Sinners suffer not only the natural consequences of crime in external evil, injury to body, estate, reputation, etc. ( Psalm 11:6 ), but also stings of conscience and remorse; even seeming prosperity is often a chastisement, and long impunity is only augmenting the coming retribution. As the shadow attends the substance, so guilt is attached to sin, and brings with it punishment. To the righteous good shall be repaid ; or, he, Jehovah, shall repay good (comp. Proverbs 12:14 ); Revised Version, "The righteous shall be recompensed with good." They shall have the answer of a good conscience, happiness here and hereafter. Septuagint, "Good shall take possession of (or, overtake) the righteous." Proverbs 13:21

21 Evil pursueth sinners, And the righteous is repaid with good. To תּרדּף of the punishment which follows after sinners at their heels, cf. Nahum 1:8. Greek art gives wings to Nemesis in this sense. To translate 21b, with Lwenstein, "The pious, the good rewards them," is untenable, for טוב, the good (e.g., Proverbs 11:27), never appears personified, only טוב, goodness, Psalm 23:6, according to which the lxx τοὺς δὲ δικαίους καταλήψεται (ישׂיג) ἀγαθά. Still less is טוב meant personally, as the Venet. τὰ δὲ δίκαια ἀποδώσει χρηστός, which probably means: righteous conduct will a good one, viz., God, reward. טוב .dr is an attribute of God, but never the name of God. So the verb שׁלּם, after the manner of verbs of educating and leading (גמל, עשׂה, עבד), is connected with a double accusative. The Syr., Targum, and Jerome translate passively, and so also do we; for while we must think of God in the retribuet, yet the proverb does not name Him any more than at Proverbs 12:14, cf. Proverbs 10:24; it is designedly constructed, placing Him in the background, with vague generality: the righteous will one, will they, reward with good - this expression, with the most general personal subject, almost coincides with one altogether passive.

continual dropping —a perpetual annoyance, wearing out patience. 14. A contrast of men's gifts and God's, who, though author of both blessings, confers the latter by His more special providence. and —or, "but," implying that the evils of Proverbs 19:13 are only avoided by His care. 15. a deep sleep —a state of utter indifference. idle soul —or, "person" (compare Proverbs 10:4; 12:24). 16. (Compare Proverbs 10:17; 13:13). despiseth … ways —opposed to keeping or observing, neglects (Proverbs 16:17) (as unworthy of regard) his moral conduct. 17. (Compare Proverbs 14:21; Psalms 37:26). hath pity —shown by acts (compare Margin ). 18. (Compare Proverbs 13:24; 23:13). let not … spare —literally, "do not lift up thy soul" (Psalms 24:4; 25:1), that is, do not desire to his death; a caution to passionate parents against angry chastisement. 19. Repeated efforts of kindness are lost on ill-natured persons. 20. (Compare Proverbs 13:18-20). latter end —(Proverbs 5:11). In youth prepare for age. 21. (Compare Proverbs 16:1, 9; Psalms 33:10, 11). The failure of man's devices is implied. 22. desire —that is, to do good, indicates a kind disposition (Proverbs 11:23); and the poor thus affected are better than liars, who say and do not. 23. The fear … life —(Compare Proverbs 3:2). abide —or, "remain contented" (1 Timothy 4:8). not visited with evil —(Proverbs 10:3; Psalms 37:25), as a judgment, in which sense visit is often used (Psalms 89:32; Jeremiah 6:15). 24.

## (1.) In single men, the essential parts are put for the whole man; as the soul (XXXX Nephesh ) for man, Genesis 12:5,13; 17:14; Exodus 12:19; Psalms 3:2; 11:1; 25:13; Isaiah 58:5; Ezekiel 18:4; Luke 6:9; Acts 2:43 , and many other places, &c. Sometimes it is said that the soul, may die or be killed, Numbers 23:10; Judges 16:30; Job 36:14; John 4:8 , where the body must be understood. It is put for any brute, Genesis 1:24 , (&c.) A body is put for man, Exodus 21:3 , where the Hebrew is body; See Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:15 . James 3:6 . The integral parts of man, are put for the man or his body or flesh; Genesis 17:13; Psalms 16:9; Proverbs 14:30 . See Acts 2:26,31; John 6:51 , (which is expounded, Luke 22:19; 2 Corinthians 7:1 .) Flesh is put for the whole man, Genesis 6:12; Luke 3:6; Romans 3:20 . 1 Corinthians 1:29 ; for every living creature, Genesis 6:13,17 . Blood, is put for man, Psalms 94:21; Proverbs 1:11; Matthew 27:4; Acts 17:26 . The head is put for man, Judges 5:30; 2 Kings 2:3; 2 Samuel 1:16; Acts 18:6 . See other examples, Genesis 19:21; Matthew 13:16; Proverbs 8:13; Titus 1:12; Judges 5:30; Genesis 31:26 , where the Hebrew is, "What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away my heart?" when he meant himself, as verse 27, Chaldee, "Thou hast stole myself."