1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. 3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4 A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin. 5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. 6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. 7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them, Because they refuse to do justice. 8 The way of a guilty man is perverse; But as for the pure, his work is right. 9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. 10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. 11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. 12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. 13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath. 15 It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. 16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead. 17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich. 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright. 19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman. 20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it. 21 He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness and honor. 22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold. 23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles. 24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name; He acts with arrogant pride. 25 The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor. 26 He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he brings it with wicked intent! 28 A false witness shall perish, But the man who hears him will speak endlessly. 29 A wicked man hardens his face, But as for the upright, he establishes his way. 30 There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the Lord. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord.
Commentary
Vs. 1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
The Sovereignty of God is such that it extends even to those kings and rulers who do not know Him, and so when He Wills something to be done He can move their hearts to turn them to do whatever He Wills be done (the Persian king Cyrus is one such Biblical example).
Vs. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
No man is the right judge of his own motives and actions; for God is the only One who completely knows our hearts and who completely weighs all our actions.
Vs. 3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Doing righteousness and justice is far more important to the Lord then just doing “religious service”, regarding this then consider Isaiah 58.
Vs. 4 A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.
Three things which are sin in the sight of God (but often are not in the sight and hearts of others) is:
1) Having a
haughty look, a look which not only vainly projects one’s own arrogance and
self importance, but often also disdains others as well.
2)
A proud
heart, which is not only sin, but is also the ultimate folly of man, for who
created themselves, and who can sustain themselves, for whatever a man or woman
is or has, it has been given them by God. And yet it is unbelieving mankind in
their pride who not only exalt themselves against others, opposing and
oppressing people as they will and are able, but they also deny, or rage at God
in heaven. All which is acting in accord with the devil.
3) Plowing of the wicked, which basically means the work of the wicked is sin (Pr. 10:16).
Vs. 5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
Those who are diligent, who work hard to attain their goals, will have their labors rewarded. In contrast are those who are always seeking shortcuts in this life, who make rash and hasty decisions when they find them, better be prepared for poverty!
Vs. 6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.
Those who lie, cheat, scheme and or steal to get wealth are only those who are doing what will lead to their own demise and death.
Vs. 7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them, Because they refuse to do justice.
Here the Scripture promises that the wicked will be destroyed by their own violent dealings and unjust ways.
Vs. 8 The way of a guilty man is perverse; But as for the pure, his work is right.
The way of a guilty person is perverse or crooked because in not dealing truthfully with God and others, that person has already decided that they will do and say anything they think they need to, to keep up their masquerade of being righteous and just in the sight of others. That person then cannot be trusted. In contrast then is the person whose life is free of lies and deceptions, and whose conscience is clear, their work then is right and they can be trusted.
The
guilty persons perverse (crooked, deceitful, misleading and or manipulating) person and life reveals their own guilt.
Vs. 9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
In ancient times houses were made with flat roofs, these rooftops then served as outdoor living quarters at night during the hot summer months and as storage places. Now this proverb says that it is better to dwell there out in the open elements, in a corner year-round exposed too to the blazing sun and or driving winter winds and rain then to dwell with a contentious woman inside.
Vs. 10 The soul
of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor
in his eyes.
Wicked people are never satisfied with what you do, for all they ever do is look for trouble, or an excuse to make trouble. For all their souls desire is evil, not peace, and not good things from you or the Lord.
Vs. 11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Though a scoffer will not change when they are punished, the simple who observes their punishment will take that lesson to heart. In contrast the wise needs no such treatment, for when instructed they receive knowledge, that is they both learn and understand and apply what is learned.
Vs. 12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.
God is always watching the evil and the good and so when He considers it is the right time He overthrows the wicked for their wickedness.
Vs. 13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.
Scripture has so much to say about how we are to treat the poor with compassion and justice, so here we are warned that if we are indifferent to their cries, God Himself will then be indifferent to ours (consider Exodus 22:22-24; 25-27; 34:6-7; Job 34:28; Luke 16:19-31; James 5:1-6 etc.).
Vs. 14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.
Here the Bible is not promoting giving bribes, rather it is making an observation on human nature, that the giving of a gift in secret to one who is angered will appease their wrath. Same with giving a financial gift to someone who has strong wrath over something, thus this giving is as an act of appeasement not a bribe.
Vs. 15 It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
Just people have joy in doing justly, they
love doing justly and honestly, thus they will have a place with the Lord. In
contrast the wicked will only have destruction from Him.
Vs. 16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
When someone wanders away from the way of understanding, from the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping His Word, they will find themselves in the assembly of the dead, abiding with those who are spiritually dead to God and live their lives as much (consider Ecc. 8:10-13).
Vs. 17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
When people make pleasure their “god” they always end in poverty, for their “god” consumes all their time and energy and resources.
Vs. 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright.
God gives the wicked as a ransom for the righteous, so that He might spare the righteous for Himself. Same with those who are unfaithful to Him, these He gives to judgment, so that He might spare the upright.
Vs. 19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman.
Similar to the Proverb in verse nine. We are once again warned about getting involved with an angry and contentious woman. Better than to live a life alone in the wilderness than to have to live with a woman who is never satisfied, whose demeaner is anger, who is always nagging, quarrelling, fighting.
Vs. 20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
There are things are many things that are desirable that the wise person uses their own resources to wisely purchase and own. However, a foolish person who is given the same resources and opportunities will not do so, instead they will squander away whatever wealth they have and end up with nothing. People who are given large inheritances, or win large sums of money through lotteries, and yet somehow manage to squander it all in a few years are extreme examples.
Vs. 21 He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness and honor.
Here we are commended to live righteous and merciful lives, for all who do so not only find a satisfied life for themselves here and now; for they will get all the rewards and benefits of living righteously and generously before God; but they will also be highly esteemed and honored by others as well. No greater example of this in my lifetime was the life of Billy Graham who exemplified a Godly Christian life for a whole generation of believers.
Vs. 22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.
Here the idea is of disarming/disabling those false ideas or things in which someone is trusting in. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 we are told to cast down arguments and every high thing which exalts itself against the knowledge of God, to bring every thought into the captivity of Christ (see 2 Cor. 10:1-5).
Vs. 23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
Guarding ones mouth from uttering foolish, hurtful, or destructive things keeps ones soul from many troubles, for it is from the mouth and tongue that the souls troubles often originate.
Vs. 24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name; He acts with arrogant pride.
What drives the scoffer to scoff at others, simply it is their own haughtiness, arrogance, and self-deceived pride.
Vs. 25 The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.
Because the lazy man will not work his own inactivity kills him, for he lacks not only proper nutrition and care, but also, he loses all of the physical, emotional, and financial benefits that come when one exerts oneself in gainful labors and positive endeavors.
Vs. 26 He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare.
This verse is the second half of verse twenty-five which reveals the lazy mans plight as even more self-destructive, because instead of working honestly to provide for himself, and or his family, all he does is look at what others have attained for themselves and he greedily covets it all day long, which at its worst is the first step towards criminal activity, or at its least does nothing but embitter his own person and soul, which brings with it all of its own conflicts and troubles. In contrast the righteous person by honest work has not only enough for himself and his family, but he also has enough to be a blessing towards others as well.
Vs. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!
The Lord does not receive the offerings of the wicked, for they are an abomination to Him, because they come from unrepentant hearts that think they can buy His favor by religious sacrifice or service, and yet often they only are the fruits of wicked works and schemes. Therefore, how much more does the Lord arbore their offerings when they bring them with wicked intent! Consider Isaiah 1:10-20, 21-23, 24-26, 27-31.
Vs. 28 A false witness shall perish, But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.
The false witness may have joy while he perjures himself and slanders others, but his end is assured. In contrast the one who hears him, who discerns his evil way, will rebuke him and he will speak truthfully.
Vs. 29 A wicked man hardens his face, But as for the upright, he establishes his way.
A wicked person who doesn’t repent will only harden their face, that is their heart towards God, just like ancient Pharaoh did until God started to harden him in his sin to his own destruction and ruin. In contrast the upright he establishes his way, by doing justly and righteously before God.
Vs. 30 There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the Lord.
No one can plot, scheme, or devise anything against the counsel of the Lord, for God’s Word always supplants every word, counsel, and action that any man or angel or power or principality may try to do to overthrow or undermine it.
Vs. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord.
Battles in this life are not won by mans plans and designs, by mans ingenuity, military might or battlefield prowess, battles in this life are won when one trusts in the Lord (consider 2 Chr. 16:7-9; Ps. 33:16-22; Isaiah 30:1-5; 31:1-3 etc.).
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