1A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words. 2A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts. 3He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction. 4The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat. 5The upright man is a hater of false words: the evil-doer gets a bad name and is put to shame. 6Righteousness keeps safe him whose way is without error, but evil-doers are overturned by sin. 7A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have nothing; another may seem poor, but have great wealth. 8A man will give his wealth in exchange for his life; but the poor will not give ear to sharp words. 9There is a glad dawn for the upright man, but the light of the sinner will be put out. 10The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit. 11Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased. 12Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life. 13He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded. 14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning men away from the nets of death. 15Wise behaviour gets approval, but the way of the false is their destruction. 16A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts. 17A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well. 18Need and shame will be the fate of him who is uncontrolled by training; but he who takes note of teaching will be honoured. 19To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give up evil is disgusting to the foolish. 20Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken. 21Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be rewarded with good. 22The heritage of the good man is handed down to his children's children; and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the upright man. 23There is much food in the ploughed land of the poor; but it is taken away by wrongdoing. 24He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care. 25The upright man has food to the full measure of his desire, but there will be no food for the stomach of evil-doers.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
1 There is great hope of those that reverence their parents. There is little hope of any who will not hear those that deal faithfully with them. #2|. By our words we must be justified or condemned, #Mt 12:37|. #3|. He that thinks before he speaks, that suppresses evil if he have thought it, keeps his soul from a great deal both of guilt and grief. Many a one is ruined by an ungoverned tongue. #4|. The slothful desire the gains the diligent get, but hate the pains the diligent take; therefore they have nothing. This is especially true as to the soul. #5|. Where sin reigns, the man is loathsome. If his conscience were awake, he would abhor himself, and repent in dust and ashes. 6|. An honest desire to do right, preserves a man from fatal mistakes, better than a thousand fine-drawn distinctions. #7|. Some who are really poor, trade and spend as if they were rich: this is sin, and will be shame, and it will end accordingly. Some that are really rich, would be thought to be poor: in this there is want of gratitude to God, want of justice and charity to others. There are many hypocrites, empty of grace, who will not be convinced of their poverty. There are many fearing Christians, who are spiritually rich, yet think themselves poor; by their doubts, and complaints, and griefs, they make themselves poor. #8|. Great riches often tempt to violence against those that possess them; but the poor are free from such perils. #9|. The light of the righteous is as that of the sun, which may be eclipsed and clouded, but will continue: the Spirit is their Light, he gives a fulness of joy: that of the wicked is as a lamp of their own kindling, easily put out. #10|. All contentions, whether between private persons, families, churches, or nations, are begun and carried forward by pride. Disputes would be easily prevented or ended, if it were not for pride. #11|. Wealth gotten by dishonesty or vice, has a secret curse, which will speedily waste it. #12|. The delay of what is anxiously hoped for, is very painful to the mind; obtaining it is very pleasant. But spiritual blessings are chiefly intended. 13|. He that stands in awe of God, and reverences his word, shall escape destruction, and be rewarded for his godly fear. 14|. The rule by which the wise regulate their conduct, is a fountain yielding life and happiness. #15|. The way of sinners is hard upon others, and hard to the sinner himself. The service of sin is slavery; the road to hell is strewed with the thorns and thistles that followed the curse. #16|. It is folly to talk of things of which we know nothing, and to undertake what we are no way fit for. #17|. Those that are wicked, and false to Christ and to the souls of men, do mischief, and fall into mischief; but those that are faithful, find sound words healing to others and to themselves. #18|. He that scorns to be taught, will certainly be brought down. #19|. There are in man strong desires after happiness; but never let those expect any thing truly sweet to their souls, who will not be persuaded to leave their sins. #20|. Multitudes are brought to ruin by bad company. And all that make themselves wicked will be destroyed. #21|. When God pursues sinners he is sure to overtake them; and he will reward the righteous. #22|. The servant of God who is not anxious about riches, takes the best method of providing for his children. #23|. The poor, yet industrious, thrive, though in a homely manner, while those who have great riches are often brought to poverty for want of judgment. #24|. He acts as if he hated his child, who, by false indulgence, permits sinful habits to gather strength, which will bring sorrow here, and misery hereafter. #25|. It is the misery of the wicked, that even their sensual appetites are always craving. The righteous feeds on the word and ordinances, to the satisfying of his soul with the promises of the gospel, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Bread of life.