Proverbs 29:5

5 A person who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for him to step into.

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 A person who loves wisdom makes his father happy, but one who pays prostitutes wastes his wealth.

4 By means of justice, a king builds up a country, but a person who confiscates religious contributions tears it down.

5 A person who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for him to step into.

6 To an evil person sin is bait in a trap, but a righteous person runs away from it and is glad.

7 A righteous person knows the just cause of the poor. A wicked person does not understand this.