Proverbs 21

[Bible] 20:18. Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments. 20:19. Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips. 20:20. He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness. 20:21. The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing. 20:22. Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord, and he will deliver thee. 20:23. Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good. 20:24. The steps of men are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way? 20:25. It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract. 20:26. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel. 20:27. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels. 20:28. Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency. 20:29. The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs. 20:30. The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly. Proverbs Chapter 21 21:1. As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will, he shall turn it. 21:2. Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts. 21:3. To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims. 21:4. Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin. 21:5. The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but every sluggard is always in want. 21:6. He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death. 21:7. The robberies of the wicked shall be their downfall, because they would not do judgment. 21:8. The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is pure, his work is right.

Hence he is said to covet greedily all the day long, Proverbs 21:26, while the righteous, who has been laborious and diligent, has enough to eat, and some to spare. PROVERBS 21: 26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold. PROVERBS 21: 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind! Verse 27 When he bringeth it with a wicked mind? - If such a person even bring the sacrifices and offerings which God requires, they are an abomination to him, because the man is wicked; and if such offerings be imperfect in themselves, or of goods ill-gotten, or offered by constraint of custom, etc., they are doubly abominable. PROVERBS 21: 28 A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity. PROVERBS 21: 29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways. Verse 29 He directeth his way - Instead of ‫יכין‬ yachin, he directeth, upwards of fifty of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., several ancient editions with some of the versions, read ‫יבין‬ yabin, he understands; and because he understands his way, he is able to direct himself in walking in it. PROVERBS 21: 30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. PROVERBS 21: 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD. Verse 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle - Horses were not used among the Jews before the time of Solomon.

Verse 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous - God often in his judgments cuts off the wicked, in order to prevent them from destroying the righteous. And in general, we find that the wicked fall into the traps and pits they have digged for the righteous. PROVERBS 21: 19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman. PROVERBS 21: 20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up. PROVERBS 21: 21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honour. PROVERBS 21: 22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence. Verse 22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty - Wisdom is in many respects preferable to strength, even in the case of defense. See what skill does in the fortification and reduction of strong places. PROVERBS 21: 23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. PROVERBS 21: 24 The proud and haughty man, “scoffer” is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride. PROVERBS 21: 25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labour. Verse 25 The desire of the slothful killeth him - He desires to eat, drink, and be clothed: but as he does not labor, hence he dies with this desire in his heart, envying those who possess plenty through their labor and industry.

## Proverbs 21:22 A wise man sealeth the city of the mighty; wisdom and policy is ofttimes more considerable and powerful than strength. ## The strength of the confidence thereof; the strongest forts, to which the citizens trust most for their defence. ## Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue from offensive and provoking speeches, keepeth his soul, his person, from troubles; which a licentious and abusive tongue frequently brings upon a man. ## Proverbs 21:24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name; instead of that respect and glory which he seeks by such courses, he shall be branded with the title and imputation of an arrogant and scornful person, which is most contemptible and hateful to mankind. ## Who dealeth in proud wrath; who in the conduct of his affairs and dealings in the world is not governed by reason and justice, but by his own pride and passions. ## Proverbs 21:25 Killeth him; either, 1. Tormenteth him almost to death, whilst he passionately desires that which he sees he shall not enjoy, and will not take pains to procure. Or, 2. Exposeth him to extreme want, and so to death, or to such wicked courses, for the supply of his wants, as bring him to an untimely death. ## Proverbs 21:26 He coveteth; the slothful man, mentioned in the last verse.

## Wine and oil are put for all delicious fare and luxurious feasting; for wine and oil were much used in feasts in those parts. Proverbs 21:18 The wicked shall be brought into those troubles which were either threatened by God or designed by wicked men against the righteous, and by that means, as by a ransom, the righteous shall be delivered. Thus Achan was a ransom for Israel, Jos_7:26, and Haman for Mordecai. ## Proverbs 21:19 Than, understand, in a wide house , as it is expressed above, Pro_21:9, and as the opposition here requires. Proverbs 21:20 Wise men lay up all necessary and desirable treasures for their own use, and for their children and families. ## Oil is particularly mentioned, partly because that was a considerable part of their wealth and treasures in those countries, ## of which see Deu_7:13 28:40,51 Jude 9:9 Mic_5:15, &c.; and partly to show that his providence reached not only to necessaries, but even to matters of just and lawful delight. ## Proverbs 21:21 That followeth after; that fervently desires, and diligently and constantly endeavours, to attain to them, for such shall and will certainly obtain them. ## Righteousness and mercy; living in the constant exercise of these virtues. ## Findeth; shall obtain from God what is right and due to him; either from God, by virtue of his gracious promise; or from men, whose hearts God will dispose to deal justly and kindly with him.