Proverbs 24:34

24:30-34. See what a blessing the husbandman's calling is, and what a wilderness this earth would be without it. See what great difference there is in the management even of worldly affairs. Sloth and self-indulgence are the bane of all good. When we see fields overgrown with thorns and thistles, and the fences broken down, we see an emblem of the far more deplorable state of many souls. Every vile affection grows in men's hearts; yet they compose themselves to sleep. Let us show wisdom by doubling our diligence in every good thing.

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth,.... Swiftly and suddenly, both in a temporal and spiritual sense; See Gill on Proverbs 6:11 ; and thy want as an armed man; irresistibly. Here ends according to some the "second", according to others the "third" part of this book of Proverbs, another beginning with the following chapter.

A Mashal ode of the slothful, in the form of a record of experiences, concludes this second supplement (vid., vol. i. p. 17): 30 The field of a slothful man I came past, And the vineyard of a man devoid of understanding. 31 And, lo! it was wholly filled up with thorns; Its face was covered with nettles; And its wall of stones was broken down. 32 But I looked and directed my attention to it; I saw it, and took instruction from it: 33 "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest. 34 Then cometh thy poverty apace, And thy want as an armed man." The line 29b with לאישׁ is followed by one with אישׁ. The form of the narrative in which this warning against drowsy slothfulness is clothed, is like Psalm 37:35. The distinguishing of different classes of men by אישׁ and אדם (cf. Proverbs 24:20) is common in proverbial poetry. עברתּי, at the close of the first parallel member, retains its Pathach unchanged. The description: and, lo! (הנּהו, with Pazer, after Thorath Emeth, p. 34, Anm. 2) it was... refers to the vineyard, for נדר אבניו (its stone wall, like Isaiah 2:20, "its idols of silver") is, like Numbers 22:24; Isaiah 5:5, the fencing in of the vineyard. עלה כלּו, totus excreverat (in carduos), refers to this as subject, cf. in Ausonius: apex vitibus assurgit; the Heb. construction is as Isaiah 5:6; Isaiah 34:13; Gesen. 133, 1, Anm. 2.

The sing. קמּשׁון of קמּשׁונים does not occur; perhaps it means properly the weed which one tears up to cast it aside, for (Arab.) kumâsh is matter dug out of the ground. (Note: This is particularly the name of what lies round about on the ground in the Bedouin tents, and which one takes up from thence (from ḳamesh, cogn. קבץ קמץ, ramasser, cf. the journal המגיד, 1871, p. 287b); in modern Arab., linen and matter of all kinds; vid., Bocthor, under linge and toffe.) continued...

mind —or, "spirit," for anger or any ill passion which the righteous restrain. 12. His servants imitate him. 13. (Compare Proverbs 22:2). deceitful man —literally, "man of vexations," an exactor. the Lord … their eyes —sustains their lives (1 Samuel 14:27; Psalms 13:3); that is, both depend on Him, and He will do justice. 14. (Compare Proverbs 20:28; 25:5). Such is the character of the King of kings (Psalms 72:4, 12). 15. (Compare Proverbs 13:24; 23:13). 16. (Compare Proverbs 29:2, 12; Psalms 12:1-8). shall see … fall —and triumph in it (Psalms 37:34-38; 58:10, 11). 17. (Compare Proverbs 29:3, 15; Proverbs 19:18). give thee rest —peace and quiet (compare Proverbs 29:9). 18. no vision —instruction in God's truth, which was by prophets, through visions (1 Samuel 3:1). people perish —(Compare Margin ), are deprived of moral restraints. keepeth the law —has, and observes, instruction (Proverbs 14:11, 34; Psalms 19:11). 19. A servant —who lacks good principle. corrected —or discovered. will not answer —that is, will not obey. 20. (Compare Proverbs 21:5). ## hasty in … words? —implying self-conceit (Proverbs 26:12). 21. become his son —assume the place and privileges of one. 22. (Compare Proverbs 15:18). Such are delighted by discord and violence. 23. (Compare Proverbs 16:18; 18:12). honour … spirit —or, "such shall lay hold on honor" (Proverbs 11:16). 24. hateth … soul —(Compare Proverbs 8:36). heareth cursing —(Leviticus 5:1), risks the punishment, rather than reveal truth. 25.

meddleth —as in Proverbs 20:19; 24:21; as either holding a dog by the ears or letting him go involves danger, so success in another man's strife or failure involves a useless risk of reputation, does no good, and may do us harm. 18, 19. Such are reckless of results. 20, 21. The talebearers foster (Proverbs 16:28), and the contentious excite, strife. 22. (Compare Proverbs 18:8). 23. Warm professions can no more give value to insincerity than silver coating to rude earthenware. 24. dissembleth —though an unusual sense of the word (compare Margin ), is allowable, and better suits the context, which sets forth hypocrisy. 25. Sentiment of Proverbs 26:24 carried out. seven abominations in his heart —that is, very many (compare Proverbs 24:16). 26, 27. Deceit will at last be exposed, and the wicked by their own arts often bring on retribution (compare Proverbs 12:13; Psalms 7:16; 9:17, &c.). 28. Men hate those they injure. A lying tongue —"lips" for the persons (compare Proverbs 4:24; Psalms 12:3). ## CHAPTER 27 Proverbs 27:1-27. 1. Do not confide implicitly in your plans (Proverbs 16:9; 19:21; James 4:13-15). 2. Avoid self-praise. 3. heavy —The literal sense of "heavy," applied to material subjects, illustrates its figurative, "grievous," applied to moral. a fool's wrath —is unreasonable and excessive. 4. envy —or, "jealousy" (compare Margin; Proverbs 6:34), is more unappeasable than the simpler bad passions. 5, 6.