Proverbes 19

1 Mieux vaut le pauvre qui marche dans son intégrité, Que l'homme qui a des lèvres perverses et qui est un insensé.

2 Le manque de science n'est bon pour personne, Et celui qui précipite ses pas tombe dans le péché.

3 La folie de l'homme pervertit sa voie, Et c'est contre l'Eternel que son coeur s'irrite.

4 La richesse procure un grand nombre d'amis, Mais le pauvre est séparé de son ami.

5 Le faux témoin ne restera pas impuni, Et celui qui dit des mensonges n'échappera pas.

6 Beaucoup de gens flattent l'homme généreux, Et tous sont les amis de celui qui fait des présents.

7 Tous les frères du pauvre le haïssent; Combien plus ses amis s'éloignent-ils de lui! Il leur adresse des paroles suppliantes, mais ils disparaissent.

8 Celui qui acquiert du sens aime son âme; Celui qui garde l'intelligence trouve le bonheur.

9 Le faux témoin ne restera pas impuni, Et celui qui dit des mensonges périra.

10 Il ne sied pas à un insensé de vivre dans les délices; Combien moins à un esclave de dominer sur des princes!

11 L'homme qui a de la sagesse est lent à la colère, Et il met sa gloire à oublier les offenses.

12 La colère du roi est comme le rugissement d'un lion, Et sa faveur est comme la rosée sur l'herbe.

13 Un fils insensé est une calamité pour son père, Et les querelles d'une femme sont une gouttière sans fin.

14 On peut hériter de ses pères une maison et des richesses, Mais une femme intelligente est un don de l'Eternel.

15 La paresse fait tomber dans l'assoupissement, Et l'âme nonchalante éprouve la faim.

16 Celui qui garde ce qui est commandé garde son âme; Celui qui ne veille pas sur sa voie mourra.

17 Celui qui a pitié du pauvre prête à l'Eternel, Qui lui rendra selon son oeuvre.

18 Châtie ton fils, car il y a encore de l'espérance; Mais ne désire point le faire mourir.

19 Celui que la colère emporte doit en subir la peine; Car si tu le libères, tu devras y revenir.

20 Ecoute les conseils, et reçois l'instruction, Afin que tu sois sage dans la suite de ta vie.

21 Il y a dans le coeur de l'homme beaucoup de projets, Mais c'est le dessein de l'Eternel qui s'accomplit.

22 Ce qui fait le charme d'un homme, c'est sa bonté; Et mieux vaut un pauvre qu'un menteur.

23 La crainte de l'Eternel mène à la vie, Et l'on passe la nuit rassasié, sans être visité par le malheur.

24 Le paresseux plonge sa main dans le plat, Et il ne la ramène pas à sa bouche.

25 Frappe le moqueur, et le sot deviendra sage; Reprends l'homme intelligent, et il comprendra la science.

26 Celui qui ruine son père et qui met en fuite sa mère Est un fils qui fait honte et qui fait rougir.

27 Cesse, mon fils, d'écouter l'instruction, Si c'est pour t'éloigner des paroles de la science.

28 Un témoin pervers se moque de la justice, Et la bouche des méchants dévore l'iniquité.

29 Les châtiments sont prêts pour les moqueurs, Et les coups pour le dos des insensés.

Proverbes 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

Verse 1 A poor man who fears God, is more honourable and happy, than a man without wisdom and grace, however rich or advanced in rank. Verse 2 . What good can the soul do, if without knowledge? And he sins who will not take time to ponder the path of his feet. Verse 3 . Men run into troubles by their own folly, and then fret at the appointments of God. Verse 4 . Here we may see how strong is men's love of money. Verse 5 . Those that tell lies in discourse, are in a fair way to be guilty of bearing false-witness. Verse 6 . We are without excuse if we do not love God with all our hearts. His gifts to us are past number, and all the gifts of men to us are fruits of his bounty. Verse 7 . Christ was left by all his disciples; but the Father was with him. It encourages our faith that he had so large an experience of the sorrows of poverty. Verse 8 . Those only love their souls aright that get true wisdom. Verse 9 . Lying is a damning, destroying sin. Verse 10 . A man that has not wisdom and grace, has no right or title to true joy. It is very unseemly for one who is a servant to sin, to oppress God's free-men. Verse 11 . He attains the most true glory who endeavours most steadily to overcome evil with good. Verse 12 . Christ is a King, whose wrath against his enemies will be as the roaring of a lion, and his favour to his people as the refreshing dew. Verse 13 . It shows the vanity of the world, that we are liable to the greatest griefs where we promise ourselves the greatest comfort. Verse 14 . A discreet and virtuous wife is more valuable than house and riches. Verse 15 . A sluggish, slothful disposition makes men poor; it brings them to want. And this applies both to the present life and that which is to come. Verse 16 . If we keep God's word, God's word will keep us from every thing really hurtful. We abuse the doctrine of free grace, if we think that it does away the necessity and advantage of obedience. Those that live at random must die. This truth is clearly taught in words enough to alarm the stoutest sinner. Verse 17 . God has chosen the poor of this world, to be rich in faith, and heirs of his kingdom. Verse 18 . When parents keep under foolish tenderness, they do their best to render children a comfort to them, and happy in themselves. Verse 19 . The spared and spoiled child is likely to become a man of great wrath. Verse 20 . Those that would be wise in their latter end, must be taught and ruled when young. Verse 21 . What should we desire, but that all our purposes may agree with God's holy will? Verse 22 . It is far better to have a heart to do good, and want ability for it, than to have ability for it, and want a heart to it. Verse 23 . Those that live in the fear of God, shall get safety, satisfaction, and true and complete happiness. Verse 24 . Indolence, when indulged, so grows upon people, that they have no heart to do the most needful things for themselves. Verse 25 . A gentle rebuke goes farthest with a man of understanding. Verse 26 . The young man who wastes his father's substance, or makes his aged mother destitute, is hateful, and will come to disgrace. Verse 27 . It is the wisdom of young men to dread hearing such talk as puts loose and evil principles into the mind. Verse 28 . Those are the worst of sinners, who are glad of an opportunity to sin. Verse 29 . The unbelief of man shall not make God's threatenings of no effect. Christ himself, when bearing sins not his own, was not spared. Justice and judgment took hold of our blessed Surety; and will God spare obstinate sinners?

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 8

This chapter gives an account of the introduction of the ark into the temple, 1Ki 8:1-9 of the glory of the Lord filling it, 1Ki 8:10,11 of a speech Solomon made to the people concerning the building of the temple, and how he came to be engaged in it, 1Ki 8:12-21, of a prayer of his he put up on this occasion, requesting, that what supplications soever were made at any time, or on any account, by Israelites or strangers, might be accepted by the Lord, 1Ki 8:22-53, and of his blessing the people of Israel at the close of it, with some useful exhortations, 1Ki 8:54-61, and of the great number of sacrifices offered up by him, and the feast he made for the people, upon which he dismissed them, 1Ki 8:62-66.