Proverbs 22

1 A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.

3 An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.

4 The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.

5 Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.

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7 The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.

8 He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but shall fully prove the folly of his works.

9 He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses .

10 Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.

11 The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.

12 But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises words.

13 The sluggard makes excuses, and says, a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.

14 The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.

15 Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are far from him.

16 He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.

17 Incline thine ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply thine heart,

18 that thou mayest know that they are good: and if thou lay them to heart, they shall also gladden thee on thy lips.

19 That thy hope may be in the Lord, and he may make thy way known to thee.

20 And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge.

21 I therefore teach thee truth, and knowledge good to hear; that thou mayest answer words of truth to them that question thee.

22 Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless in the gates.

23 For the Lord will plead his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul in safety.

24 Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:

25 lest thou learn of his ways, and get snares to thy soul.

26 Become not surety from respect of a man's person.

27 For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed under thee.

28 Remove not the old landmarks, which thy fathers placed.

29 It is fit that an observant man and diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.

Proverbs 22 Commentary

Chapter 22

Verse 1 We should be more careful to do that by which we may get and keep a good name, than to raise or add unto a great estate. Verse 2 . Divine Providence has so ordered it, that some are rich, and others poor, but all are guilty before God; and at the throne of God's grace the poor are as welcome as the rich. Verse 3 . Faith foresees the evil coming upon sinners, and looks to Jesus Christ as the sure refuge from the storm. Verse 4 . Where the fear of God is, there will be humility. And much is to be enjoyed by it; spiritual riches, and eternal life at last. Verse 5 . The way of sin is vexatious and dangerous. But the way of duty is safe and easy. Verse 6 . Train children, not in the way they would go, that of their corrupt hearts, but in the way they should go; in which, if you love them, you would have them go. As soon as possible every child should be led to the knowledge of the Saviour. Verse 7 . This shows how important it is for every man to keep out of debt. As to the things of this life, there is a difference between the rich and the poor; but let the poor remember, it is the Lord that made the difference. Verse 8 . The power which many abuse, will soon fail them. Verse 9 . He that seeks to relieve the wants and miseries of others shall be blessed. Verse 10 . Profane scoffers and revilers disturb the peace. Verse 11 . God will be the Friend of a man in whose spirit there is no guile; this honour have all the saints. Verse 12 . God turns the counsels and designs of treacherous men to their own confusion. Verse 13 . The slothful man talks of a lion without, but considers not his real danger from the devil, that roaring lion within, and from his own slothfulness, which kills him. Verse 14 . The vile sin of licentiousness commonly besots the mind beyond recovery. Verse 15 . Sin is foolishness, it is in the heart, there is an inward inclination to sin: children bring it into the world with them; and it cleaves close to the soul. We all need to be corrected by our heavenly Father. Verse 16 . We are but stewards, and must distribute what God intrusts to our care, according to his will. ( 17-21 ) . To these words, to this knowledge, the ear must be bowed down, and the heart applied by faith and love. To live a life of delight in God and dependence on him, is the foundation of all practical religion. The way to know the certainty of the ( proverbs 22:22-23 ) that robs and oppresses the poor, does so at his peril. And if ( proverbs 22:24-25 ) hearts have so much tinder in them, that it is dangerous to have to do with those that throw about the sparks of their passion. ( proverbs 22:26-27 ) those are not so, who, by folly or other carelessness, waste what they have. Verse 28 . We are taught not to trespass on another man's right. And it is hard to find a truly industrious man. Such a man will rise. Seest thou a man diligent in the business of religion? He is likely to excel. Let us then be diligent in God's work.

Footnotes

• [a]. See 2 Cor 9. 7. Compare Heb.
• [b]. See 1 Peter 3. 15.
• [c]. Gr. eternal.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 10

This chapter contains an account of the queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon to her great satisfaction, 1Ki 10:1-13, of Solomon's merchandise and riches, and the magnificence of his court, 1Ki 10:14-23, of the rich presents sent to him, and of the purchase of chariots and horses, and other things, he made, 1Ki 10:24-29.