1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. 2Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but righteousness brings deliverance from death. 3The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the craving of the wicked. 4Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. 5He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. 6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 7The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. 8A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin. 9He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. 10He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin. 11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions. 13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment. 14The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction. 15The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor. 16The labor of the righteous leads to life, but the gain of the wicked brings punishment. 17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who ignores reproof goes astray. 18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. 19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. 20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth. 21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment. 22The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it. 23The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom. 24What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever. 26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him. 27The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short. 28The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish. 29The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright, but destruction awaits those who do evil. 30The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not inhabit the land. 31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. 32The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Through the whole of the Proverbs, we are to look for somewhat beyond the first sense the passage may imply, and this we shall find to be Christ. He is the Wisdom so often spoken of in this book. 1 The comfort of parents much depends on their children; and this suggests to both, motives to their duties. #2,3|. Though the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life. #4|. Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works. #5|. Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter. #6|. Abundance of blessings shall abide on good men; real blessings. 7|. Both the just and the wicked must die; but between their souls there is a vast difference. #8|. The wise in heart puts his knowledge in practice. #9|. Dissemblers, after all their shuffling, will be exposed. #10|. Trick and artifice will be no excuse for iniquity. #11|. The good man's mouth is always open to teach, comfort, and correct others. #12|. Where there is hatred, every thing stirs up strife. By bearing with each other, peace and harmony are preserved. #13|. Those that foolishly go on in wicked ways, prepare rods for themselves. #14|. Whatever knowledge may be useful, we must lay it up, that it may not be to seek when we want it. The wise gain this wisdom by reading, by hearing the word, by meditation, by prayer, by faith in Christ, who is made of God unto us wisdom. #15|. This refers to the common mistakes both of rich and poor, as to their outward condition. Rich people's wealth exposes them to many dangers; while a poor man may live comfortably, if he is content, keeps a good conscience, and lives by faith. #16|. Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard for, but that labour tends to life. #17|. The traveller that has missed his way, and cannot bear to be told of it, and to be shown the right way, must err still. #18|. He is especially a fool who thinks to hide anything from God; and malice is no better. #19|. Those that speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a wise man, and therein consults his own peace. #20,21|. The tongue of the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought. 22|. That wealth which is truly desirable, has no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment; no grief for the loss; no guilt by the abuse of it. What comes from the love of God, has the grace of God for its companion. #23|. Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin. #24|. The largest desire of eternal blessings the righteous can form, will be granted. #25|. The course of prosperous sinners is like a whirlwind, which soon spends itself, and is gone. #26|. As vinegar sets the teeth on edge, and as the smoke causes the eyes to smart, so the sluggard vexes his employer. #27,28|. What man is he that loves life? Let him fear God, and that will secure to him life enough in this world, and eternal life in the other. 29|. The believer grows stronger in faith, and obeys with increased delight. #30|. The wicked would be glad to have this earth their home for ever, but it cannot be so. They must die and leave all their idols behind. #31,32|. A good man discourses wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by the power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.