Proverbs 27:11

The phrase in the preceding clause signifies a cloudy day, and such a day of distress through poverty is; in which sense it is used by Latin {e} writers, when a man is alone, and former friends care not to come nigh him. {e} "Tempora si fuerunt nubila, solus eris", Ovid. Trist. 1. Eleg. 8. Proverbs 27:11 Ver. 11. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,.... That is, show thyself to be a wise man by thy words and actions; endeavour to get a good share of wisdom and knowledge, and make a good use of it, and that will rejoice my heart; as nothing more gladdens the heart of a parent than the wisdom and prudent behaviour of his son; see Proverbs 10:1; that I may answer him that reproacheth me; with begetting a foolish son, or a wicked man; or making him such by ill examples; or through neglect of education; or by using too much severity in it. Proverbs 27:12 Ver. 12. A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil,....

27:9,10. Depend not for relief upon a kinsman, merely for kindred's sake; apply to those who are at hand, and will help in need. But there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and let us place entire confidence in him. 11. An affectionate parent urges his son to prudent conduct that should gladden his heart. The good conduct of Christians is the best answer to all who find fault with the gospel. 12. Where there is temptation, if we thrust ourselves into it, there will be sin, and punishment will follow. 13. An honest man may be made a beggar, but he is not honest that makes himself one. 14. It is folly to be fond of being praised; it is a temptation to pride.

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,.... That is, show thyself to be a wise man by thy words and actions; endeavour to get a good share of wisdom and knowledge, and make a good use of it, and that will rejoice my heart; as nothing more gladdens the heart of a parent than the wisdom and prudent behaviour of his son; see Proverbs 10:1 ; that I may answer him that reproacheth me; with begetting a foolish son, or a wicked man; or making him such by ill examples; or through neglect of education; or by using too much severity in it.

(11) My son.— The address of a father to his son, or master to pupil. That I may answer him that reproacheth me for having brought you up badly when he sees you ignorant or ill-behaved. So Christians are exhorted to let their “light so shine before men” that their Father in heaven may be thereby glorified (Matthew 5:16).

Verse 11. - My son, be wise, and make my heart glad. The exhortation of a father to his son, or of a teacher to his pupil. Such address is not found elsewhere in this latter portion of the book, though common in previous parts. Delitzsch translates, "become wise." Σοφὸς γίνου , Septuagint. Such development of wisdom delights a father's heart, as Proverbs 10:1 ; Proverbs 23:15, 24 . That I may answer him that reproacheth me ( Psalm 119:42 ; comp. Psalm 127:5 ; Ecclus. 30:2). If the pupil did not show wisdom and morality in his conduct, the teacher would incur blame for the apparent failure of his education; whereas the high tone of the disciple might be appealed to as a proof of the merit and efficacy of the tutor's discipline. On the other hand, the evil doings of Hebrews often made the Name of God to be blasphemed among the Gentiles; just as nowadays the inconsistent lives of Christians are the greatest impediment to the success of missionary efforts in heathen countries. St. Jerome has, Ut possis exprobanti respondere sermonem . So Septuagint, "And remove from thyself reproachful words." But the first person is in accordance with the Hebrew. Proverbs 27:11

This proverb has, in common with the preceding tristich, the form of an address: Become wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, That I may give an answer to my accusers. Better than "be wise" (Luther), we translate "become wise" (lxx σοφὸς γίνου); for he who is addressed might indeed be wise, though not at present so, so that his father is made to listen to such deeply wounding words as these, "Cursed be he who begat, and who educated this man" (Malbim). The cohortative clause 11b (cf. Psalm 119:42) has the force of a clause with a purpose (Gesen. 128:1): ut habeam quod iis qui me convicientur regerere possim; it does not occur anywhere in the Hezekiah collection except here.

stay him —sustain or deliver him. 18. (Compare Proverbs 10:9; 17:20). Double dealing is eventually fatal. 19. (Compare Proverbs 10:4; 20:4). vain persons —idle, useless drones, implying that they are also wicked (Proverbs 12:11; Psalms 26:4). 20. maketh haste … rich —implying deceit or fraud (Proverbs 20:21), and so opposed to "faithful" or reliable. 21. respect of persons —(Proverbs 24:23). Such are led to evil by the slightest motive. 22. (Compare Proverbs 28:20). evil eye —in the general sense of Proverbs 23:6, here more specific for covetousness (compare Proverbs 22:9; Matthew 20:15). poverty … him —by God's providence. 23. (Compare Proverbs 9:8, 9; 27:5). Those benefited by reproof will love their monitors. 24. (Compare Matthew 15:4-6). Such, though heirs, are virtually thieves, to be ranked with highwaymen. 25. of a proud heart —literally, "puffed up of soul"—that is, self-confident, and hence overbearing and litigious. made fat —or, "prosperous" (Proverbs 11:25; 16:20). 26. (Compare Proverbs 3:6-8). walketh wisely —that is, trusting in God (Proverbs 22:17-19). 27. (Compare Proverbs 11:24-26). hideth his eyes —as the face (Psalms 27:9; 69:17), denotes inattention. 28. The elevation of the wicked to power drives men to seek refuge from tyranny (compare Proverbs 28:12; 11:10; Psalms 12:8). ## CHAPTER 29 Proverbs 29:1-27. 1. hardeneth … neck —obstinately refuses counsel (2 Kings 17:14; Nehemiah 9:16).

## That rolleth a stone, to wit, up the hill, with design to do mischief to some person or thing with it. ## Proverbs 26:28 Hateth those that are afflicted by it, because by his calumnies he hath made them his enemies. ## A flattering mouth; which, though it be more smooth and plausible than a slandering mouth, yet is in truth no less pernicious, betraying others either to sin, or to danger and mischief. ## Proverbs 27:1 PROVERBS CHAPTER 27 ## Counsel against self-conceitedness, Pro_27:1 ,2 . The evil effects of envy, Pro_27:4. The praises of a faithful friend, Pro_27:5-10. The different fruits of prudence and folly, Pro_27:11 ,12 . Sundry rules and cautions, Pro_27:13-21. ## Of tomorrow; of any good thing which thou purposest to do or hopest to receive to-morrow, or hereafter; the thee being here put metonymically for things done or had in the thee, as Deu_4:32 Ecc_2:23. The same caution is given Jam_4:13, &c. ## What a day may bring forth; what may happen in the space of one day, which may hinder thy designs or expectations. The day is said to bring forth what God by his almighty power and providence doth either cause or suffer to be brought forth or done in it. Proverbs 27:2 Except it be really necessary, either for thy own just vindication, or for the honour of God, or for the edification of others, in which cases this hath been allowed and practised by wise and virtuous men, as particularly by St. Paul, 2Co_11:12.