1The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure. 2Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts. 3To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering. 4A high look and a heart of pride, *** of the evil-doer is sin. 5The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need. 6He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death. 7By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right. 8Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright. 9It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house. 10The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour. 11When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge. 12The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction. 13He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help. 14By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe. 15It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil. 16The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades. 17The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth. 18The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright. 19It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman. 20There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man. 21He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour. 22A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith. 23He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. 24The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride. 25The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work. 26All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back. 27The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose! 28A false witness will be cut off, ... 29The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way. 30Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord. 31The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
1 The believer, perceiving that the Lord rules every heart as he sees fit, like the husbandman who turns the water through his grounds as he pleases, seeks to have his own heart, and the hearts of others, directed in his faith, fear, and love. #2|. We are partial in judging ourselves and our actions. #3|. Many deceive themselves with a conceit that outward devotions will excuse unrighteousness. #4|. Sin is the pride, the ambition, the glory, the joy, and the business of wicked men. #5|. The really diligent employ foresight as well as labour. #6|. While men seek wealth by unlawful practices, they seek death. #7|. Injustice will return upon the sinner, and will destroy him here and for ever. #8|. The way of mankind by nature is froward and strange. 9|. It is best to shun bitter contention by pouring out the heart before God. For by prudence and patience, with constant prayer, the cross may be removed. #10|. The evil desires of a wicked man's heart, lead to baseness in his conduct. #11|. The simple may be made wise by punishments on the wicked, and by instructions to those who are willing to be taught. #12|. Good men envy not the prosperity of evil-doers; they see there is a curse on them. #13|. Such as oppress the poor by beating down wages, such as will not relieve according to their ability those in distress, and those in authority who neglect to do justice, stop their ears at the cry of the poor. But doubtless care is to be used in the exercise of charity. #14|. If money can conquer the fury of the passions, shall reason, the fear of God, and the command of Christ, be too weak to bridle them? #15|. There is true pleasure only in the practice of religion. #16|. Of all wanderers in the ways of sin, those are in the most dangerous condition who turn aside into the ways of darkness. Yet there is hope even for them in the all-sufficient Saviour; but let them flee to him without delay. #17|. A life of worldly pleasure brings ruin on men. #18|. The righteous is often delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead, and so seems as a ransom for him. #19|. Unbridled passions spoil the comfort of all relations. #20|. The plenty obtained by prudence, industry, and frugality, is desirable. But the foolish misspend what they have upon their lusts. #21|. True repentance and faith will lead him that relies on the mercy of God in Christ, to follow after righteousness and mercy in his own conduct. #22|. Those that have wisdom, often do great things, even against those confident of their strength. #23|. It is our great concern to keep our souls from being entangled and disquieted. #24|. Pride and haughtiness make men passionate; such continually deal in wrath, as if it were their trade to be angry. #25,26|. Here is the misery of the slothful; their hands refuse to labour in an honest calling, by which they might get an honest livelihood; yet their hearts cease not to covet riches, pleasures, and honours, which cannot be obtained without labour. But the righteous and industrious have their desires satisfied. #27|. When holiness is pretended, but wickedness intended, that especially is an abomination. #28|. The doom of a false witness is certain. #29|. A wicked man bids defiance to the terrors of the law and the rebukes of Providence. But a good man asks, What does God require of me? #30,31|. Means are to be used, but, after all, our safety and salvation are only of the Lord. In our spiritual warfare we must arm ourselves with the whole armour of God; but our strength must be in the Lord, and in the power of his might.