Proverbs 15:27

27 He who 1profits illicitly troubles his own house, But he who 2hates bribes will live.

Proverbs 15:27 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 15:27

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house
Or "that covets a covetousness" F20, an evil one, as in ( Habakkuk 2:9 ) ; that seeks riches by unlawful means, that gathers the mammon of falsehood, or unrighteousness, as the Targum; he entails a curse and brings ruin and destruction upon his family; the Septuagint and Arabic versions are, he "destroys himself"; or "his own soul", as the Syriac version; it may be understood of a man that is over anxious and eager to be rich, and hurries on business, and gives his servants no proper time for food and rest; (See Gill on Proverbs 11:29); but he that hateth gifts shall live;
that rejects them with abhorrence, when offered to bribe him to pervert judgment, or to do an unjust thing; otherwise gifts may be lawfully received from one friend by another; the sin is when they are given and taken for the sake of doing what is base and sinful; and a man that shakes his hand from receiving gifts on such a basis, he and his family shall prosper and increase in worldly things; and, doing this from a right principle of grace, shall live comfortably in a spiritual sense, and thrive and flourish in his soul, and live an eternal life hereafter; see ( Psalms 16:5 Psalms 16:6 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (eub euwb) "appetens concupiscentiam", Montanus; "qui avaritiam inhiat" Tigurine version; "concupiscens concupiscentiam", Vatablus.

Proverbs 15:27 In-Context

25 The LORD will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD , But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Proverbs 1:19; Proverbs 28:25; 1 Timothy 6:10
  • 2. Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19; 1 Samuel 12:3; Isaiah 33:15
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