Commentary Upon Proverbs, Chapter 21
THE XXI. CHAPTER.
1 The kinges heart is in the hand of the Lord as the riuers of water, he turneth it whither ſoeuer it pleaſeth him.
EVen as riuers of water are moued by the hand of the Lord hither and thither,See a like compariſon Reuelation. 1.16. ſo that ſometimes they ebbe, ſomtimes they flow, ſomtimes they runne forward ſometimes they returne backward, ſometimes they are rough, ſometimes they are calme: ſo the hearts of Princes and of all men, are by him diſpoſed and altered according to his will & power, vntounto fauour or hatred, to one affection or another.
2 A man ſeemeth ſtreight to him ſelfe in all his wayes, but God pondereth the hearts.
A man iuſtifieth him ſelfe oftentimes in all reſpectes, when as God who ſearcheth the reines,See before. 16.2. findeth many things amiſſe in him.
3 To do iuſtice and iudgemēt, is a thing more acceptable to the Lord then ſacrifice.
Workes of charitie practiſed toward men, are here preferred before the exerciſes of Religion, which cō cerne the worſhip of God. The reaſon hereof is, for that the Lord had rather be ſerued by thoſe actions which are profitable to men, then by thoſe which to them are vnfruitefull. For this cauſe it is ſaid in the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes, that by ſuch ſacrifices as good workes are,Heb. 13. God is well pleaſed. When as the exerciſes of Religion are performed with faith, they are acceptable to the Lord as was the ſacrifice of Abell: but becauſe iuſtice and iudgement are the greater points of the law,Micha. 6.6. when other things are alike, the Lord alwayes preferreth them. As for the outward exerciſes of Religion which the wicked who practiſe al iniquitie performe,Oſe. 6.6. they are ſo farre off from being acceptable vntounto the Lord,Eſay. 1.10. that they rather are abhominable in his ſight.
4 The haughty looke, and the proud heart, [to conclude] the *Or plowing.light of the wicked is ſinne.
We are herein taught, that all the actions of the wicked are abhominable in the ſight of God. The haughtie looke and the proud heart, the ſtately geſtures and minde puffed vp. To conclude, the light of the wicked is ſinne, and to be brief, whatſoeuer the wicked do, euen their ciuill and religious actions, yea their conſciences and their ſoules are polluted.Tit. 1.15. For vntounto the vncleane all things are vncleane, and that which is high in the ſight of man,Luc. 16.15. is abhomination in the ſight of God.
5 The thoughtes of the diligent man are onelyonly vntounto profit, but the haſtie mans tend onelyonly to pouertie.
They who bend their wits and applie them ſelues, to finde out and to vſe the meanes and opportunities of inriching their eſtate, ſhall waxe wealthie. On the contrary ſide, ſuch harebraynes as runne all on head in making haſtie bargaines, or in doing things they care not how, vndoe them ſelues.
6 Treaſures gathered together by a deceitfull toung, are vanitie toſſed too and fro [of men] who ſeeke death.
Goods gotten by falſehood, hauehave two euils. Firſt, they are vnſtable, vaniſhing away as the duſt flyeth before the wind. Secondly, they are hurtfull, bringing ſometimes temporall death, but alwayes eternall deſtruction on the owners thereof.
7 The calamitie of the wicked ſhall *Or cut them in ſunder.destroy them, becauſe they refuſe to practiſe that which is right.
The great afflictions of the vngodly ſhall cauſe them to houle and crye and ſhall ouerthrowne them, for that they will execute iuſtice, or doe that which is good.
8*Or the way of a peruers man is ſtraunge. The way of ſome man is peruerſe and ſtraunge, but as for the pure man his worke is right.
The courſe which impure men take,See the ſame phraſe. Iob. 8.6. is ouerthwart and contrarie to nature, to reaſon, or to the law of God. On the contrary ſide, the action of the vpright perſon, is agreable to equitie and to the law of God.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the houſe top, then with a contentious woman in a *Or an houſe of companie.wide houſe.
A brawling wife is here ſhewed to be a great euill. The Iewes houſes were broad and open in the top. Now then,Chap. 19.13.23.24. it would be a verie in cōuenient abiding, for a man to dwell in ſuch a place, ſo ſubiect to the wind and weather, as that it were more tolerable to dwell in a caue of the earth. But not onelyonly to dwell on an houſe top but in a corner of an houſe top, is yet more incommodious. For how can a man ſo much as ſtirre him, when he is pent vp in ſo narrow ſtreights? Neuertheleſſe, to hauehave fellowſhip with a brawling wife, is yet an harder eſtate then this. For ſhe with her ſcoulding toung wil diſquiet her husbands mind, hinder him in his calling, and cauſe reſt to depart from his eyes. And what though the houſe be wide wherein thou dwelleſt with ſuch a contentious mate, or there are diuers therein, with whom thou mayeſt hauehave ſocietie?See the punishment of this ſin. Pſal. 109▪ 16. See an example in the Edomites. Pſal. 137. Alſo in the brethren of Ioſeph who were touched with no compaſsion toward him. Thou ſhalt be quiet in no corner of thine houſe, neither ſhalt thou receiue any ioye by the preſence of any perſon.
10 The ſoule of the wicked man wiſheth euill, his neighbour hath no fauour in his eyes.
The bloudie minded man, wiſheth for and ſeeketh his neighbours, harme. His neighbour hath no fauour in his eyes. He will by no pitie, due vntounto his friend or the poore afflicted perſon, be ſtayed from doing of that miſchief, which his ſoule deſireth. For indeede, he hath no pitie or merciemercy, or reuerent regard vntounto any.
11 When the ſcorner is puniſhed he that is ſimple waxeth wiſe, and when a wiſe man is inſtructed, he receiueth knowledge.
This verſe ſheweth two meanes, whereby a ſimple or vnwiſe man may attaine vntounto wiſedome.See before. 19.25. The one is, the deſtruction of the wicked, the other is,That mashkil ſignifieth to conſider appeareth. Pſal. 41.1. that beth is of the maſculin gender manifeſt. the inſtruction of the godly.
12 The righteous man conſidereth the houſe of the wicked man, which ouerthroweth the vngodly *Or which throweth the vngodly into euill.for [their] wickedneſſe.
The iuſt perſon beholdeth and pondereth, how the place wherein ſinners dwell, oftentimes falling down on them or being full of curſes, reuengeth them for their impieties and iniquities. How true this is Eliphaz declareth in the booke of Iob, who ſaith that he had ſeen the foole well rooted,Iob. 5.3. whoſe habitation by and by he curſed. The Prophet Dauid likewiſe affirmeth in the Pſalme,Pſal. 37.36. that he had beheld the wicked man floriſhing as a laurell, whom ſeeking a while after, he could no more finde. For this cauſe the Lord would hauehave Abraham behold the ſmoke of the ſinnefull Cities ſet on fire, that by the houſe of the wicked he might receiue inſtruction, yea and by their ouerthrow, miniſter inſtruction to his owne familie.
13 He that ſtoppeth his eares at the crying of the poore, ſhall him ſelfe crye and not be heard.
The vnmercifull are threatened in this ſentence. He is ſaid to ſtoppe his eares at the crying of the poore, See an example in the rich miſer.who doth not pitie or relieue the afflicted.Luc. 16. A double calamitie ſhall befall this mercileſſe man. For firſt, he ſhall crye ſo that he ſhall be in ſome neceſſitie or miſerie. Secondly, he ſhall not be heard, ſo that in his aduerſitie he ſhall not obtaine deliuerance or ſuccour.
14 A gift in ſecret turneth away anger, & a preſent in the boſome vehement wrath.
A token of ſubmiſſion and good will cloſely offred,See. 17.18. alſo. 18.16. appeaſeth diſpleaſure and endeth ſtrife.
15 To do that which is iust [bringeth] ioye to the righteous man, but deſtruction [ſhall be] to the workers of iniquitie.
Well doing bringeth forth a bleſſing vntounto a man. On the contrary ſide,Pſal. 55.29. Pſal. 6.8. ſinne leaueth a ſting of terror behind it, and draweth deſtruction after it vponupon the tranſgreſſor.
16 A man that wandereth out of the way of wiſedome, ſhall remaine in the congregation of the dead.
He which following his owne luſtes leaueth the truth and forſaketh the feare of God,See an example. 1. Pet. 3.19. ſhall at laſt come to an hard inne and finde a reſtleſſe kinde of reſting in the graue and in hell.
17 He that loueth paſtime ſhal be a poore mā, and he that loueth wyne & oyle ſhal not be rich.
Prodigalitie is the high way to beggerie. He that loueth paſtime, ſuch a one as is drowned in gaming, hawking, hunting, carding, difing, and ſuch like vanities, ſhall in the end become a begger. And he that loueth wyne and * oyle ſhall not be rich. Or ointment.So likewiſe ſuch a one as batheth him ſelfe in ſweete delites or is giuen to all ſortes of ſuperfluities ſhall not be wealthy. Mē tiō is made of wine and of an ointmēt,See an example in the prodigall ſonne Luc. 15. Pſal. 23. becauſe theſe two things were the chiefeſt ſolemnities of feaſtes, among the Iewes in thoſe times.
18 The wicked man ſhall be a ranſome for the iuſt man, and the tranſgreſſor, for the righteous.
A way of cauſing plagues to ceaſe, is here chalked out. The wicked man, ſhall be a ranſome for the iuſt man. The vngodly perſon ſhall be as it were a price for him who is godly, in ſuch ſort, as that when he is puniſhed or deſtroyed,See example. 2. Sam. 21. Ioſu. 7.20. Heſt. 8.7. Dani. 6.25. Gods wrath ſhall ceaſe and not proceed to take hold on the iuſt man. For the ſinners head doth pay and ſatisfie as it were for him, who though he be not voyde of ſinne, yet hath not committed ſo great a crime. And the tranſgreſſor for the righteous. Moreouer, many innocent people being deliuered out of trouble or freed frō ſome plague by the Lord, ſhall indeede eſcape, but ſo, as that ſome one notorious offendour ſucceeding in their aduerſitie, ſhall dye as it were for the reſt. Such a ſacrifice is ſo ſweet in the Lordes noſtrels, as that when in the time of any great calamitie it is performed, the plague commonly doth ceaſe, as if that by ſinnefull bloud, ſinne were purged after a certaine ſort.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderneſſe, then with a contentious and angrie woman.
The deſert, is a ſolitarie place, wherein neceſſaries are wanting, and daungers abounding. Neuertheleſſe, it is more tollerable to abide in the wilderneſſe among wild beaſtes, then to dwell in neuer ſo faire or plentifull an houſe, with a brawling wife.
20 In the houſe of the wiſe man is a *Or deſired.pleaſant treaſure and ointment, but a fooliſh man deuoureth it.
Thriftneſſe is commended in this diuine inſtruction. In the houſe of the wiſe man is a pretious treaſure and ointment. There is in the ſtorehouſe of a good husbād, plentie of neceſſaries and delightes. But a fooliſh man deuoureth it. On the contrary ſide, the vnthrift by riot or voluptuouſneſſe, lauiſheth out his whole patrimonie, and his great ſubſtance.
21 He that followeth after righteouſneſſe and bountie, ſhall finde life, righteouſneſſe and glorie.
He that followeth after, that perſon who enſueth with earneſtneſſe, righteouſneſſe and bountie, equitie and liberalitie, ſhall finde life righteouſneſſe and glorie, Mat. 6.33.34.ſhall obtaine life temporall and eternall, iuſtice imputed and inſpired, honor from man and from God. For indeed, godlyneſſe hath the promiſes both of this life and of the life to come.
22 A wiſe man goeth vp into the Citie of the mightie, and caſteth downe the ſtrength of the confidence thereof.
This inſtruction teacheth, that wiſedome can doe much euen in warre,Eccleſiaſtes. 9.14. yea more then ſtrength, which yet therein is commonly moſt reſpected. A wiſe man goeth vp into the Citie of the mightie, After. 24.5.one prudent perſon by his pollicie ſcaleth the walles of the towne wherein many valiant men dwell or keepe, and caſteth downe the ſtrength of the confidence thereof. Neither onelyonly doth he climbe vp the walles, but he throweth downe by his wiſedome, the towres and caſtles thereof.
23 He that keepeth his mouth and his toung, preſerueth his ſoule from affliction.
He that bridleth his mouth and his toung from lying, babling, ſlaundering, rayling, backbiting, and ſuch like vices, keepeth him ſelfe from many trouble… as from futes of law, frō blowes, and from death it ſelfe.
24 Stately, haughty, ſcornefull is his name, that in his furie worketh pride.
That perſon who in his moodineſſe becauſe his will is croſſed or his deſire contraried, ſheweth contempt of other or boaſting him ſelfe, by this his dealing procureth no credit to him ſelfe, but rather perpetuall infamie, ſo that afterward he is counted or called, one that is vainglorious, high minded, and cō temptuous.
25 The deſire of the ſlouthfull man ſlayeth him, becauſe his hands refuſe to worke.
26 All the day long he coueteth greedelie, Pſal. 37.2….but the righteous man giueth and ſpareth not.
The ſlouthfull perſon is therfore ſtarued with hunger, becauſe he will ſet his hand to nothing. Hence alſo it commeth to paſſe, that (as we vſe to ſpeake) he is indeede a wiſher and woulder but an ill houſholder. On the contrary ſide, the iuſt man who labouring diligētly in his calling, ſerueth God alſo ſincerely, hath not onelyonly ſufficient for him ſelfe and his familie, but giueth vntounto the poore all day long.
27 The ſacrifice of the wicked is an abhomination, how much more when he *Or offreth is wickedly.bringeth it with a wicked minde?
Wickedneſſe maketh the exerciſes of Religion deteſtable in Gods ſight. The ſacrifice of the wicked is an abhominatiō. Eſay. 1.11, Mich. 6.7. Pſal. 50.….The ordināces of God rightly obſerued but performed by vnholy perſons, prouoke the Lord to wrath. The reaſon hereof is euident. For as the foule veſſell poluteth pretious liquour, ſo the vncleanneſſe of him that ſacrificeth, defileth the ſacrifice. How much more when he bringeth it with a wicked minde? Now then, how much more muſt a ſacrifice needes offend the maieſtie of God, when it is offred that he ſhould wincke…t ſome great ſinne, or when it is not rightly performed?Eſay. 26.3. This is all one, as if that a dogge ſhould be ſacrificed, or the bloud of ſwine offred.
28 A falſe witneſſe ſhall periſh, but he that heareth, ſhall ſpeake for euer.
He which deuiſing lyes reporteth thoſe things which he hath neither ſeen nor heard, ſhall be put to ſilence or puniſhed with temporall or eternall death. On the cōtrary ſide, he who teſtifieth no other thing ſaue onelyonly that which he hath heard or knoweth to be true, ſhall continue ſpeaking and finde good.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face, but he who is vpright, ordereth each of his wayes aright.
As a traueller who ſetteth his face to go to any place, proceedeth on his iourney, albeit he meeteth with many lets therein or is told of more, ſo the vngodly perſon goeth on in his ſinnes obſtinately, although he hath oft been croſſed therein or warned thereof. On the contrary ſide, the iuſt man walketh warily and ſoberly in this world, examining his actions whether they be ſuch as are to be left off or proceeded in.
30 There is no wiſedome, and no vnderſtanding, and no counſell againſt the Lord.
The vanitie of worldly politickes is herein layd open. There is no wiſedome, there is no plotting of matters, and no vnderſtanding, no ſubtle deuiſe or inuention alſo, and no counſell, finally, no aduiſe or debating of caſes, againſt the Lord, able to withſtand or ouerthrow the Lordes will or purpoſe.
31 The horſe is prepared againſt the day of battell, but ſaluation it ſelfe is of the Lord.
As before hath been ſhewed, that no pollicie preuaileth againſt the Lord,… the roote …ereof. Pſal. 3.9. ſee like ſayings …cl. 20.9. … 33.16.17. ſo here is declared, that no power can do any thing without the Lord. The horſe is prepared againſt the day of battell. Meanes vntounto warre, as namely the horſe and the rider are made ready by men. But ſaluation it ſelfe is of the Lord. As for the conqueſt, and preſeruation in the conflict, theſe things proceede from God alone.