Proverbs 16:14

16:12. The ruler that uses his power aright, will find that to be his best security. 13. Put those in power who know how to speak to the purpose. 14,15. Those are fools, who, to obtain the favour of an earthly prince, throw themselves out of God's favour. 16. There is joy and satisfaction of spirit, only in getting wisdom. 17. A sincerely religious man keeps at a distance from every appearance of evil. Happy is the man that walks in Christ, and is led by the Spirit of Christ. 18. When men defy God's judgments, and think themselves far from them, it is a sign they are at the door. Let us not fear the pride of others, but fear pride in ourselves. 19. Humility, though it exposes to contempt in the world, is much better than high-spiritedness, which makes God an enemy. He that understands God's word shall find good. 21. The man whose wisdom dwells in his heart, will be found more truly prudent than many who possess shining talents. 22. As waters to a thirsty land, so is a wise man to his friends and neighbours. 23. The wise man's self-knowledge, always suggests something proper to be spoken to others. 24. The word of God cures the diseases that weaken our souls. 25. This is caution to all, to take heed of deceiving themselves as to their souls. 26. We must labour for the meat which endureth to everlasting life, or we must perish.

The wrath of a king is as messengers of death,.... Or, "angels of death", as the Targum. As the wrath of Ahasuerus was to Haman; when it is either discovered in the countenance of a king, or expressed by his words, or signified by a messenger; it sometimes has been immediate death to a person, and often as terrible as if a messenger brought the sentence of death; yea, it is as if one messenger after another was sent on such an errand, and therefore the word is in the plural number. How terrible is the wrath of the King of kings; and even to kings themselves, who are represented as flying to rocks and mountains to hide them from it! Revelation 6:15 ; but a wise man will pacify it; by a proper acknowledgment of the offence committed; or by a prudent representation of his case, or the case of his friends; by soft answers and strong arguments, as Jonathan pacified the wrath of King Saul his father against David. He is a wise man that believes in Christ, and pleads his propitiatory sacrifice for the expiation of his sin, at the same time frankly acknowledging it.

Verse 14. - The wrath of a king is as messengers of death. In a despotic monarchy the death of an offender follows quickly on the offence. Anger the king, and punishment is at hand; instruments are always ready who will carry out the sentence, and that before time is given for reconsideration. The murder of Thomas a Becket will occur as an illustration (comp. Esther 7:8 , etc). The LXX. translates, "The king's wrath is a messenger of death," taking the plural as put by enallage for the singular; but possibly the plural may intimate the many agents who are prepared to perform the ruler's behests, and the various means which he possesses for punishing offenders. This first clause implies, without expressly saying, that, such being the case, none but a fool will excite the monarch's resentment (comp. Ecclesiastes 8:4 ); then the second clause comes in naturally. But a wise man will pacify it. He will take care not to provoke that anger which gluts its resentment so quickly and so fatally ( Proverbs 19:12 ; Proverbs 20:2 ). Septuagint, "A wise man will appease him," the king; as Jacob propitiated Esau by the present which he sent forward ( Genesis 32:20, 21 ). Proverbs 16:14

14 The wrath of the king is like messengers of death; But a wise man appeaseth him. The clause: the wrath of the king is many messengers of death, can be regarded as the attribution of the effect, but it falls under the point of view of likeness, instead of comparison: if the king is angry, it is as if a troop of messengers or angels of death went forth to visit with death him against whom the anger is kindled; the plur. serves for the strengthening of the figure: not one messenger of death, but at the same time several, the wrinkled brow, the flaming eye, the threatening voice of the king sends forth (Fleischer). But if he against whom the wrath of the king has thus broken forth is a wise man, or one near the king who knows that ὀργὴ ἀνδρὸς δικαιοσύνην Θεοῦ οὐ κατεργάζεται (James 1:20), he will seek to discover the means (and not without success) to cover or to propitiate, i.e., to mitigate and appease, the king's anger. The Scripture never uses כּפּר, so that God is the object (expiare Deum), because, as is shown in the Comm. zum Hebrerbrief, that were to say, contrary to the decorum divinum, that God's holiness or wrath is covered, or its energy bound, by the offering up of sacrifices or of things in which there is no inherent virtue of atonement, and which are made the means of reconciliation only by the accommodative arrangement of God. On the contrary, כּפּר is used here and at Genesis 32:21 of covering equals reconciling (propitiating) the wrath of a man.

name of the Lord —manifested perfections (Psalms 8:1; 20:2), as faithfulness, power, mercy, &c., on which men rely. is safe —literally, "set on high, out of danger" (Psalms 18:2; 91:4). 11. contrasts with Proverbs 18:10 (compare Proverbs 10:15). Such is a vain trust (compare Psalms 73:6). 12. (Compare Proverbs 15:33; 16:18). 13. Hasty speech evinces self-conceit, and ensures shame (Proverbs 26:12). 14. infirmity —bodily sickness, or outward evil. The spirit, which sustains, being wounded, no support is left, except, as implied, in God. 15. (Compare Proverbs 1:5, 15, 31). 16. (Compare Proverbs 17:8, 23). Disapproval of the fact stated is implied. 17. One-sided statements are not reliable. searcheth —thoroughly (Proverbs 17:9, 19). 18. The lot —whose disposal is of God (Proverbs 16:13), may, properly used, be a right mode of settling disputes. 19. No feuds so difficult of adjustment as those of relatives; hence great care should be used to avoid them. 20. (Compare Proverbs 12:14; 13:2). Men's words are the fruit, or, increase of his lips, and when good, benefit them. satisfied with —(Compare Proverbs 1:31; 14:14). 21. Death and life —or, the greatest evil and good. that love it —that is, the tongue, or its use for good or evil. eat … fruit —(Compare Proverbs 18:19; James 1:19). 22. The old versions supply "good" before the "wife," as the last clause and Proverbs 19:14 imply (compare Proverbs 31:10). 23. the rich … roughly —He is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by wealth is wrong. 24.

[Bible] 13:12. Hope that is deferred afflicteth the soul: desire when it cometh, is a tree of life. 13:13. Whosoever speaketh ill of any thing, bindeth himself for the time to come: but he that feareth the commandment, shall dwell in peace. Deceitful souls go astray in sins: the just are merciful, and shew mercy. 13:14. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, that he may decline from the ruin of death. 13:15. Good instruction shall give grace: in the way of scorners is a deep pit. 13:16. The prudent man doth all things with counsel: but he that is a fool, layeth open his folly. 13:17. The messenger of the wicked shall fall into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. 13:18. Poverty and shame to him that refuseth instruction: but he that yieldeth to reproof shall be glorified. 13:19. The desire that is accomplished, delighteth the soul: fools hate them that flee from evil things. 13:20. He that walketh with the wise, shall be wise: a friend of fools shall become like to them. 13:21. Evil pursueth sinners: and to the just good shall be repaid. 13:22. The good man leaveth heirs, sons, and grandsons: and the substance of the sinner is kept for the just. 13:23. Much food is in the tillage of fathers: but for others it is gathered without judgment. 13:24. He that spareth the rod, hateth his son: but he that loveth him, correcteth him betimes. 13:25. The just eateth and filleth his soul: but the belly of the wicked is never to be filled. Proverbs Chapter 14 14:1. A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down with her hands that also which is built. 14:2. He that walketh in the right way, and feareth God, is despised by him that goeth by an infamous way. 14:3. In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride: but the lips of the wise preserve them. 14:4. Where there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is much corn, there the strength of the ox is manifest. 14:5. A faithful witness will not lie: but a deceitful witness uttereth a lie.

## Proverbs 16:14 Is as messengers of death; is as terrible as if many messengers were sent to denounce the sentence of death, and to execute it. ## Will pacify it; will use all prudent and lawful means to pacify it. ## Proverbs 16:15 In the light of the king ’ s countenance is life; his favour and smiling countenance is most sweet and refreshing, especially to him that was under a sentence of death, Pro_16:14. ## His favour is as a cloud of the latter rain; as acceptable as those clouds which bring the latter rain, whereby the fruits are filled and ripened a little before the harvest; of which see Deu_11:14 Job_29:23 Jam_5:7. ## Proverbs 16:16 How much better! it is inexpressibly and unconceivably better, as this phrase implies, Psa_31:19 36:7 92:5 , &c. ## Is it to get wisdom than gold, because it brings a man more certain, and complete, and lasting comfort and advantage. ## Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright, their common road, in which they constantly purpose, and desire, and customarily use to walk, although sometimes through frailty or temptation they slip into the by-paths of sin, is to depart from evil; from the evil of sin, and consequently from the evil of punishment. ## He that keepeth his way, that takes heed to walk in that highway, preserveth his soul from that mischief which befalls those that walk in the crooked paths of wickedness.