1Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight. 2When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. 3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them. 4Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death. 5The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness. 6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires. 7When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes. 8The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in. 9With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued. 10When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. 11By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. 12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent. 13A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence. 14For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance. 15He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure. 16A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. 17A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself. 18The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward. 19Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death. 20The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight. 21Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape. 22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. 23The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath. 24One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. 25A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. 26The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it. 27He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it. 28He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage. 29He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. 31If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Matthew Henry's Commentary
1 However men may make light of giving short weight or measure, and however common such crimes may be, they are an abomination to the Lord. #2|. Considering how safe, and quiet, and easy the humble are, we see that with the lowly is wisdom. #3|. An honest man's principles are fixed, therefore his way is plain. #4|. Riches will stand men in no stead in the day of death. #5,6|. The ways of wickedness are dangerous. And sin will be its own punishment. #7|. When a godly man dies, all his fears vanish; but when a wicked man dies, his hopes vanish. #8|. The righteous are often wonderfully kept from going into dangerous situations, and the ungodly go in their stead. #9|. Hypocrites delude men into error and sin by artful objections against the truths of God's word. #10,11|. Nations prosper when wicked men are cast down. #12|. A man of understanding does not judge of others by their success. #13|. A faithful man will not disclose what he is trusted with, unless the honour of God and the real good of society require it. #14|. We shall often find it to our advantage to advise with others. #15|. The welfare of our families, our own peace, and our ability to pay just debts, must not be brought into danger. But here especially let us consider the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in becoming Surety even for enemies. #16|. A pious and discreet woman will keep esteem and respect, as strong men keep possession of wealth. #17|. A cruel, froward, ill-natured man, is vexatious to those that are, and should be to him as his own flesh, and punishes himself. #18|. He that makes it his business to do good, shall have a reward, as sure to him as eternal truth can make it. #19|. True holiness is true happiness. The more violent a man is in sinful pursuits, the more he hastens his own destruction. #20|. Nothing is more hateful to God, than hypocrisy and double dealing, which are here signified. God delights in such as aim and act with uprightness. #21|. Joining together in sin shall not protect the sinners. #22|. Beauty is abused by those who have not discretion or modesty with it. This is true of all bodily endowments. #23|. The wicked desire mischief to others, but it shall return upon themselves. #24|. A man may grow poor by not paying just debts, not relieving the poor, not allowing needful expenses. Let men be ever so saving of what they have, if God appoints, it comes to nothing. #25|. Both in temporal and spiritual things, God commonly deals with his people according to the measure by which they deal with their brethren. #26|. We must not hoard up the gifts of God's bounty, merely for our own advantage. #27|. Seeking mischief is here set against seeking good; for those that are not doing good are doing hurt, even to themselves. 28|. The true believer is a branch of the living Vine. When those that take root in the world wither, those who are grafted into Christ shall be fruitful. #29|. He that brings trouble upon himself and his family, by carelessness, or by wickedness, shall be unable to keep and enjoy what he gets, as a man is unable to hold the wind, or to satisfy himself with it. #30|. The righteous are as trees of life; and their influence upon earth, like the fruits of that tree, support and nourish the spiritual life in many. #31|. Even the righteous, when they offend on earth, shall meet with sharp corrections; much more will the wicked meet the due reward of their sins. Let us then seek those blessings which our Surety purchased by his sufferings and death; let us seek to copy his example, and to keep his commandments.