Proverbs 29:5

5 A person who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his own steps.

Proverbs 29:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 29:5

A man that flattereth his neighbour
That speaks smooth things to him gives him flattering titles, speaks fair to his face, highly commends him on one account or another: spreadeth a net for his feet;
has an idle design upon him, and therefore should be guarded against; his view is to draw him into a snare and make a prey of him; he attacks him on his weak side, and hopes to make some advantage of it to himself; wherefore flatterers should be avoided as pernicious persons; or he spreads a net for his own feet, and is taken in the snare which he had laid for his neighbour; or falls into the pit he dug for him, as Gersom observes; see ( Psalms 140:5 ) ( Hosea 5:1 ) .

Proverbs 29:5 In-Context

3 Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a patron of prostitutes wastes his wealth.

4 A king gives stability to a country by justice, but one who overtaxes it brings it to ruin.

5 A person who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his own steps.

6 In an evil person's crime is a trap, but the righteous sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous understands the cause of the poor, but the wicked is unconcerned.