Mishle 22

1 2 A shem tov is rather to be desired than osher rav, and chen (grace) rather than kesef and zahav.

2 The oisher (rich man) and the rahsh (pauper) have this in common: Hashem is the Oseh (Maker) of them all.

3 A prudent man foreseeth the ra’ah, and hideth himself, but the naïve trudge on, and are punished.

4 By anavah (humility) and the Yirat Hashem are osher, and kavod, and chayyim.

5 Thorns and pachim (snares) are in the derech of the crooked; he that is shomer over his nefesh shall be far from them.

6 Train up a na’ar in the derech (road) he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

7 The oisher ruleth over the rahshim (paupers), and the loveh (borrower, debtor) is eved (slave) to the ish malveh (lender).

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap aven (iniquity), and the shevet (rod) of his wrath shall disappear.

9 He that hath a tov ayin (generous eye) shall have a bracha; for he giveth of his lechem to the dal (poor).

10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall leave; indeed, strife and kalon (shame) shall cease.

11 He that loveth tahor lev (a pure heart), for the chen (grace) on his sfatayim (lips) the Melech shall be his re’a (friend).

12 The eynayim of Hashem preserve da’as, and He overthroweth the devarim of the boged (unfaithful, treacherous, traitor).

13 The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) saith, There is an ari (lion) outside; I shall be murdered in the streets.

14 The peh (mouth) of zarot (strange women) is a deep pit; he that is under the wrath of Hashem shall fall therein.

15 Folly is bound in the lev na’ar, but the shevet musar (rod of correction) shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresseth the dal (poor) in order to increase, and he that giveth to the oisher, shall surely come to machsor (poverty, want).

17 Bow down thine ozen, and hear the devarim of chachamim, and apply thine lev (mind, heart) unto my da’as.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou be shomer over them within thee; they shall therewith abide ready upon thy sfatayim (lips).

19 That thy trust may be in Hashem, I have made thee know this yom, even thee!

20 Have not I written to thee shloshim (thirty sayings) in mo’etzot (counsels) and da’as,

21 That I might make thee know the certain truth of the words of emes; that thou mightest bring back words of emes to them that send thee?

22 Exploit not the dal (poor), because he is dal (poor); neither oppress the oni (afflicted) in the sha’ar,

23 For Hashem will plead their cause, and plunder the nefesh of those that plundered them.

24 Make no friendship with a ba’al af (angry man), and with an ish chemot (man of wrath) thou shalt not go,

25 Lest thou learn his orkhot (ways), and take a mokesh (snare) for thy nefesh.

26 Be not thou one of them that shake hands in a pledge, or of them that are collateral for masha’ot (debts, loans).

27 If thou hast nothing with which to pay, why should he take away thy mishkav (bed) from under thee?

28 Remove not the gevul olam (ancient landmark), which avoteicha have set.

29 Seest thou an ish mahir (diligent, one who excells) in his work? He shall stand before melachim; he shall not stand before obscure men.

Mishle 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.

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.