Proverbs 14:34

34 iustitia elevat gentem miseros facit populos peccatum

Proverbs 14:34 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 14:34

Righteousness exalteth a nation
Administered by the government, and exercised by subjects towards one another; doing justice between man and man: this exalts a nation, as it did the people of Israel, while practised among them; this sets a people above their neighbours, and high in the esteem of God and men; and is attended with privileges and blessings, which make a nation great and honourable. Some understand this of aims deeds, or beneficence to the poor; which, both in the Hebrew and Greek languages, is called righteousness; (See Gill on Matthew 6:1). It may be put for the whole of true religion, which is an honour to a nation, where it obtains; and is what makes the holy nation, and peculiar people, so truly illustrious; and particularly the righteousness of Christ makes such who are interested in it really great and noble, and promotes and exalts them to heaven and happiness; but sin [is] a reproach to any people;
where vice reigns, iniquity abounds, profaneness, impiety, and immorality of all sorts prevail, a people become mean and despicable; they fall into poverty and contempt; are neither able to defend themselves, nor help their neighbours, and so are despised by them. The word rendered "reproach" most commonly signifies "mercy" or goodness; and some render it, "and the mercy of a people is a sin offering" ^F16; or as one: or it is so "to the nations"; it is as good as a sacrifice for sin, of which the word is sometimes used, or better, more acceptable to God, "who will have mercy, and not sacrifice", ( Matthew 9:13 ) ; even beneficence and kindness to the poor, the same with righteousness, as before. I think it may be as well rendered, "the piety" or religion "of the nations is sin" ^F17; it being idolatry, as Aben Ezra observes: such is the religion of the antichristian nations, who worship idols of gold and silver; and though they may afflict themselves, as Gersom remarks of the idolatrous nations, with fasting and penance, with whippings and scourgings; yet it is nothing else but sin, will worship, and superstition.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (tajx Mymal dox) "beneficentia expiatio est populi", Grotius; "sacrificium expiatorium", Tigurine version; "velut sacrificium pro peccato", Vatablus, Gejerus; "gratuita beneificentia nationibus est aliquid sacrificium peccati expiatorium", Gussetius, p. 74.
F17 "Pietas nationum est peccatium", Munster, Mercerus; "studium nationum peccatum", Cocceius.

Proverbs 14:34 In-Context

32 in malitia sua expelletur impius sperat autem iustus in morte sua

33 in corde prudentis requiescit sapientia et indoctos quoque erudiet

34 iustitia elevat gentem miseros facit populos peccatum

35 acceptus est regi minister intellegens iracundiam eius inutilis sustinebit