Proverbs 15:9

15:3. Secret sins, services, and sorrows, are under God's eye. This speaks comfort to saints, and terror to sinners. 4. A good tongue is healing to wounded consciences, by comforting them; to sin-sick souls, by convincing them; and it reconciles parties at variance. 5. If instruction is despised, reprove men rather than suffer them to go on undisturbed in the way to ruin. 6. The wealth of worldly men increases their fears and suspicions, adds strength to their passions, and renders the fear of death more distressing. 7. We use knowledge aright when we disperse it; but the heart of the foolish has nothing to disperse that is good. 8,9. The wicked put other things in the stead of Christ's atonement, or in the place of holy obedience. Praying graces are his gift, and the work of his Spirit, with which he is well pleased. 10. He that hates reproof shall perish in his sins, since he would not be parted from them.

This is a way not good, but evil, and so an abomination to the Lord; and the whole tenor and course of his life, which is meant by his way being evil: hence his sacrifices, and all his external duties of religion performed by him, are abominable to the Lord; for, while he continues in a course of sin, all his religious exercises will be of no avail, cannot be pleasing and acceptable to God; but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness; either after a justifying righteousness; not the righteousness of the law, which the carnal Jews followed after, but did not attain unto; nor is righteousness to be had by the works of the law, nor any justification by it, nor can a man be acceptable to God on account of it; but the righteousness of Christ, which he has wrought out, and is revealed in the Gospel: to follow after this supposes a want of one; a sense of that want; a view of the glory, fulness, suitableness, and excellency of Christ's righteousness; an eager desire after it, sometimes expressed by hungering and thirsting after it, as here by a pursuit of it; which means no other than an earnest and importunate request to be found in it: and such, as they shall be satisfied or filled with it, so they are loved by the Lord, and are acceptable to him through the righteousness they are seeking after: or else it may be understood of following after true holiness of heart and life, without which there is no seeing the Lord; and though perfection in it is not attainable in this l

The way; the conversation or course of life. This verse seems to contain a reason of the foregoing. God hates wicked men’s religious performances, because they are accompanied with ungodly lives, and they pull down with one hand what they build up with another. That followeth after righteousness; that earnestly desires, and constantly and diligently endeavours, to be holy and righteous in the course of his life, although he doth not attain to that perfect righteousness which he thirsts after.

Not so - The word translated "so" is taken by some in its etymological force as "strong," "firm," and the passage is rendered "the heart of the fool disperseth (supplied from the first clause) what is weak and unsteady," i. e., "falsehood and unwisdom." The Septuagint takes it as an adjective, "the heart of the fool is unstedfast." The phrase as it stands in the King James Version is, however, of frequent occurrence Genesis 48:18 ; Exodus 10:11 ; Numbers 12:7 .

Another proverb with the key-word תועבת An abomination to Jahve is the way of the godless; But He loveth him who searcheth after righteousness. The manner and rule of life is called the way. מרדּף is the heightening of רדף, Proverbs 21:21, and can be used independently in bonam, as well as in malam partem (Proverbs 11:19, cf. Proverbs 13:21). Regarding the form יאהב, vid., Fleischer in Deutsch. Morgenl. Zeitsch. xv. 382.

8. As in Proverbs 14:35; 16:10, 15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings. 9. The interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:20). 10. Various measures, implying that some are wrong (compare Proverbs 11:1; 16:11). 11. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Matthew 7:16). 12. Hence, of course, God will know all you do (Psalms 94:9). 13. Activity and diligence contrasted with sloth (Proverbs 6:9; 10:11). lest … poverty —literally, "be deprived of inheritance." 14. when … his way —implying that he goes about boasting of his bargains. 15. The contrast denotes the greater value of knowledge (compare Proverbs 3:14-16). 16. Take his garment —implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness. a strange woman —by some readings "strangers," but the former here, and in Proverbs 27:13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless. 17. Bread … sweet —either as unlawfully (Proverbs 9:17) or easily obtained. mouth … gravel —well expresses the pain and grief given at last. 18. (Compare Proverbs 15:22). Be careful and considerate in important plans. 19. Those who love to tell news will hardly keep secrets. ## flattereth … lips —(compare Margin; Proverbs 1:10). meddle … him —literally, "join," or "associate with." 20. his lamp —(Compare Proverbs 13:9; 24:20). 21.

e passage has no reference to the prayers which sinners make for salvation. 2nd. If it had it would not be of course true. It was the mere opinion of this man, in accordance with the common sentiment of the Jews, and there is no evidence that he was inspired. 3rd. The only prayers which God will not hear are those which are offered in mockery, or when the man loves his sins and is un- willing to give them up. Such prayers God will not hear, Psalms 66:18: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me;" Isaiah 1:14,15; Job 27:9; Jeremiah 11:11; Ezekiel 8:18; Micah 3:4; Zechariah 8:13. A worshipper. A sincere worshipper; one who fears, loves, and adores him. Doeth his will. Obeys his commandments. This is infallibly true. The Scripture abounds with promises to such that God will hear their prayer. See Psalms 34:15; Matthew 7:7,8. {t} "God heareth not sinners" Job 27:9; Psalms 66:18; Proverbs 28:9; Isaiah 1:15 Jeremiah 11:11; Ezekiel 8:18; Micah 3:4; Zechariah 7:13 {u} "but if any man" Psalms 34:15; Proverbs 15:29 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN - Chapter 9 - Verse 32 Verse 32. Since the world began. Neither Moses nor any of the prophets had ever done this. No instance of this kind is recorded in the Old Testament. As this was a miracle which ha