Westminster Annotations, Proverbs · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
Vers. 1. EVery wise woman buildeth her house] Encreaseth the welfare of it, by looking well to her children and servants: but foolish women ruine the family. Pride then must not make a man despise the counsell of a prudent wife, nor affection force him to give way to a foolish.
V. 2. He that walketh in his uprightnesse seareth the Lord] Mens courses shew, whether they fear God, or despise him.
but be that is perverse in his wayes, despiseth him] Job 12. 4.
V. 3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride] His proud tongue shall cause him to be punished, chap. 10. 8, 10.
V. 4. where no oxen are, the crib is clean] By the ox is meant labour, and by the barne: meaning, without labour, there is no food for cattell, much lesse for men.
V. 5. A faithfull witnesse will not lie] Exod. 20. 16. and 23. 1. chap. 6. 19. and 12. 17.
A faithfull] Heb. Of faithfulnesses.
V. 6. A scorner secketh wisdom, and findeth it not] For the maintenance of his own ambition, as Simon Magus did, Acts 8. 18, 19. and not for Gods glory.
knowledge is easie unto him that understandeth] Chap. 8.
V. 9. Fools make a mock at sin] Chap. 10. 23. They that know not the grievousnesse of sin, nor Gods judgements that follow it: or, it may be read. Sin mocksfools: It deceives them of Gods favour, which they expect, in vain, but righteous men, which are truely wise, have it among them.
V. 10. The heart knoweth his own bitternesse] Other men know not whether we joy, or grieve, on good ground, nor have no part in our inward joy or grief, till we reveal it.
his own bitternesse] Heb. the bitternesse of his soul.
V. 12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man] Chap. 16. 25.
V. 13. and the end of that mirth is heavinesse] He sheweth, that the allurement unto sin seemeth sweet, but the end thereof is destruction.
V. 14. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own wayes] He that forsaketh God shall be punished, and made weary of his sins, wherein he delighted.
filled with his own wayes] Chap. 1. 31. and 12. 14.
a good man shall be satisfied from himself] Heb. from with himself. That is, by those graces, and comforts that God hath given him: or, from the goodnesse of his actions, though others discourage him.
V. 17. a man of wicked devices is hated] Men can bear with him that is rashly angry, but they hate him that deviseth mischief to others in cool blood: or, a man that conceals the mischief he contrives, is hated, 2 Sam. 13. 22.
V. 20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbour] Chap. 19. 7.
neighbour] Or, friend.
the rich hath many friends] Heb. many are the lovers of the rich.
V. 21. He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth] He that will not give to the poor, shall be punished as a sinner, although he take nothing from them.
but be that mercy on the poor, happy is he] Psal. 112. 9.
V. 22. Do they not erre that devise evil?] They that seek to hurt others, go out of the way of safety themselves, and perish miserably.
mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good] Gods mercifull promise shall be made good to them.
V. 23. the talk of the lips tendeth onelyonly to penury] Talk without study or labour, makes no man rich.
V. 24. The crown of the wise is their riches] Riches honour wise men that use them well, but make fools more contemptible.
V. 25. A true witnesse delivereth souls, but a deceitfull witnesse speaketh lies] Verse 5.
A true witnesse delivereth souls] Saveth men by witnessing the truth; whereas false witnesses destroy themselves and others.
souls] Or, lives.
V. 26. and his children shall have a place of refuge] Gods children, or the children of him that fears God, Psal. 115. 13, 14.
V. 27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death] Chap. 13. 14.
V. 28. In the multitude of people is the kings honour] That is, the strength, as appears by the opposition: for a king without strength hath neither honour nor safety.
V. 29. he that is hastie of spirit exalteth solly] Shews it to all men, is things set on high are seen far.
hasty of spirit] Heb. short of spirit.
V. 30. A sound heart is the life of the flesh] A heart free from passions preserveth the health of the body.
envy the rotterunesse of the bones] Psal. 112. 10.
V. 31. He that oppresseth the poor, reproacheth his maker] Chap. 17. 5. Matth. 25. 40.
reproacheth his maker] His own maker, or the maker of the poor: for God made him, and in that state, not to be despised, but to be relieved.
but he that honoureth him, hath] Or, but he honoureth him that hath.
V. 32. in] Or, for.
hath hope in his death] Job 13. 15. and 19. 26. Psal. 23. 4. 2 Cor. 1. 9.
V. 34. Righteousnesse exalteth a nation] A mean people grows great and honourable by justice, whereas a great nation is ruined by injustice, and suffering sin to be unpunished.
to any people] Heb. to nations.
V. 35. his wrath is against him that causeth shame] By doing the kings businesse foolishly, whereas he that doth it wisely, gets the king credit, Isai. 22. 18.