Proverbs 17:25

17:19. If we would keep a clear conscience and a quiet mind, we must shun all excitements to anger. And a man who affects a style of living above his means, goes the way to ruin. 20. There is nothing got by ill designs. And many have paid dear for an unbridled tongue. 21. This speaks very plainly what many wise and good men feel very strongly, how grievous it is to have a foolish, wicked child. 22. It is great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful, and cause to be cheerful, if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. 23. The wicked are ready to part with their money, though loved, that they may not suffer for their crimes. 24. The prudent man keeps the word of God continually in view. But the foolish man cannot fix his thoughts, nor pursue any purpose with steadiness. 25. Wicked children despise the authority of their father, and the tenderness of their mother. 26. It is very wrong to find fault for doing what is duty. 27,28. A man may show himself to be a wise man, by the good temper of his mind, and by the good government of his tongue. He is careful when he does speak, to speak to the purpose. God knows his heart, and the folly that is bound there; therefore he cannot be deceived in his judgment as men may be.

A foolish son is a grief to his father,.... Because of his folly and wickedness, and the ruin he is bringing himself to; and bitterness to her that bare him; a cause of bitterness of soul to his mother, more distressing than the bitter pains with which she brought him forth into the world. Jarchi, by the father, understands the blessed God; and by her that bare him, the congregation of Israel; to whom Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, was bitterness, who caused Israel to sin; see Proverbs 10:1.

Proverbs 17:25-26 . A foolish son, &c. — This was said before, Proverbs 15:20 , and elsewhere; but he here repeats it, as a point of great moment and constant use, and as a powerful motive to oblige both children to conduct themselves wisely and dutifully toward their parents, as they would not be thought to be unnatural and inhuman, and parents to educate their children prudently and religiously, at least for their own comfort, if not for the public good. Also to punish, &c. — The particle also, here, seems to have relation to the foregoing sentence, and to imply that, as it is a very evil thing for children to cause grief to their parents, so is it also to do what here follows. To punish the just is not good — For parents, princes, or rulers, (to whom alone this power belongs,) to punish innocent and good men, is highly evil and abominable; nor to strike princes for equity — Nor to smite magistrates, either with the hand or tongue, for the execution of justice, as condemned persons are apt to do. But some learned interpreters read this clause, Nor for princes to strike any man for equity, or for doing his duty, or what is just. The Hebrew will very well bear this reading, and it agrees better with the former clause than that which our translators have adopted. Besides that it belongs properly to princes, or magistrates, to punish or strike.

This he said before, Proverbs 15:20 , and elsewhere; but he here repeats it as a point of great moment and constant use, and as a powerful motive to oblige both children to carry themselves wisely and dutifully to their parents, as they would not be thought to be unnatural or inhuman, and parents to educate their children prudently and religiously, at least for their own comfort, if not for the public good.

Verse 25. - This verse is more or less a repetition of ver. 21; Proverbs 10:1 ; Proverbs 15:20 ; and comp. Proverbs 19:13 . A grief ( kaas ). The Vulgate and Septuagint translate, "anger." A foolish son provokes the wrath of his father, and is bitterness to her that bare him, "Bitterness" ( memer ) oesurs nowhere else; mar and marar are common enough. Proverbs 17:25

The series of proverbs, v. 25-18:2, begins and closes in the same way as the preceding, and only Proverbs 17:26 stands by itself without apparent connection. This verse begins connecting itself with Proverbs 17:21 : A grief to his father is a foolish son, And a bitter woe for her that bare him. The ἅπ. λεγ. ממר is formed from מרר (to be bitter, properly harsh), as מכס from כּסס. The Syr. and Targ. change the subst. into participles; some codd. also have ממר (after the forms מחל, מסב, מפר, מרע), but as may be expected in 25a, מבעיס. The dat. obj. instead of the accus. may be possible; the verse immediately following furnishes a sufficient example of this.

PROVERBS 17: 20 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble. PROVERBS 17: 21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy. PROVERBS 17: 22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Verse 22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine - Instead of ‫גהה‬ gehah, a medicine, it appears that the Chaldee and Syriac had read in their copies ‫גוה‬ gevah, the body, as they translate in this way. This makes the apposition here more complete: "A merry heart doeth good to the body; but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Nothing has such a direct tendency to ruin health and waste out life as grief, anxiety, fretfulness, bad tempers, etc. All these work death. PROVERBS 17: 23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice. Verse 23 A gift out of the bosom - Out of his purse; as in their bosoms, above their girdles, the Asiatics carry their purses. I have often observed this. PROVERBS 17: 24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. Verse 24 Are in the ends of the earth - Wisdom is within the sight and reach at every man: but he whose desires are scattered abroad, who is always aiming at impossible things, or is of an unsteady disposition, is not likely to find it. PROVERBS 17: 25 A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

The scope of the whole is a comment on Proverbs 11:23. Thus liberality, by God's blessing, secures increase, while penuriousness, instead of expected gain, procures poverty. 25. liberal soul —(Compare Margin ). made fat —prospers (Proverbs 28:25; Deuteronomy 32:15; Luke 6:38). watereth … watered —a common figure for blessing. 26. Another example of the truth of Proverbs 11:23; the miser loses reputation, though he saves corn. selleth it —that is, at a fair price. 27. good [and] mischief —that is, of others. procureth … seeketh —implying success. 28. (Compare Proverbs 10:15; Psalms 49:6; 1 Timothy 6:17). righteous … branch —(Psalms 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8). 29. troubleth —as Proverbs 15:27 explains, by greediness for gain (compare Proverbs 11:17). inherit … wind —Even successful, his gains are of no real value. So the fool, thus acting, either comes to poverty, or heaps up for others. 30. a tree of life —Blessings to others proceed from the works of the righteous (Proverbs 3:18). winneth souls —(Compare Margin ) to do them good as opposed to Proverbs 6:25; Ezekiel 13:18 (compare Luke 5:10). 31. Behold —Thus calling attention to the illustrations (compare Proverbs 11:23), the sentiment of which is confirmed even in time, not excluding future rewards and punishments. ## CHAPTER 12 Proverbs 12:1-28. 1. loveth knowledge —as the fruit of instruction or training (Proverbs 1:2). hateth reproof —(Proverbs 10:17). brutish —stupid, regardless of his own welfare (Psalms 49:10; 73:22). 3.

Sweetness, or to be sweet, is a metaphor well known, and signifies to delight, or to be well pleased in a thing, Job 20:12; Psalms 55:14; Proverbs 3:24; 9:17 , (where by a metaphor of stolen waters, which are said to be sweet, and bread of secrecies to be pleasant, wicked company-keeping with an adulteress is expressed,) Song of Solomon 2:3,14; 5:16; Jeremiah 31:26; Psalms 19:10-11; 119:103 . Bitterness, or to be bitter, denotes an overwhelming with calamity, which is as hateful to the mind and sense as bitterness is to the taste, Genesis 26:35; Exodus 1:14; Ruth 1:20; 1 Samuel 30:6; 1:10; 2 Kings 4:27; Job 13:26; 21:25; Proverbs 17:25; Isaiah 38:17; Lamentations 3:15; Ezekiel 3:14; Ecclesiastes 12:10 , (&c.,) Isaiah 24:9 . It betokens that which is evil and hurtful, Proverbs 5:4; Jeremiah 2:19 , and so is applied to idols, Hosea 12:14 . More especially it denotes anger, or fierceness and cruelty of mind, Genesis 49:23; Judges 18:25; 2 Samuel 17:8; Habakkuk 1:6; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:19 . It denotes calumny, Romans 3:14; James 3:14 , with James 3:8-11; sin, as Acts 8:23; Romans 3:14; Hebrews 12:15; Matthew 26:75; Luke 22:62 . The object of touch is hard and soft. Hardness is spoken, 1. Of men; and denotes, (1.) Depravity, pertinacy, and stubbornness of mind, Exodus 7:3; 13:15; Deuteronomy 2:30; 10:16; Proverbs 28:14; Isaiah 48:4; 63:17; Ezekiel 2:4; Matthew 19:8;