1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion. 2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged. 3 A poor man who oppresses the poor Is like a driving rain which leaves no food. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all. 6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich. 7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father. 8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity the poor. 9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. 10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good. 11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out. 12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves. 13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. 14 Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. 15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people. 16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days. 17 A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; Let no one help him. 18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall. 19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. 21 To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress. 22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him. 23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue. 24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, “It is no transgression,” The same is companion to a destroyer. 25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered. 26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered. 27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses. 28 When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Commentary
Vs. 1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.
Because the wicked live in expectation of wrath and judgment (just as everyone who has guilty conscience does), so they are apt to flee when no one pursues them. In contrast the righteous are as bold as a lion, for their lives are being lived right with God, and so their consciences are clear. They need not fear being exposed, or arrested, or simply overtaken by sins and transgressions.
Vs. 2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged.
Moral and ethical corruption within a nation, especially the leadership of a nation, always leads to all kinds deep abiding problems and upheaval (consider Pr. 14:34). However, where there is a man of understanding and knowledge, who knows God’s truth and declares and lives by as much, right will be prolonged. It’s no coincidence then that the Gospel preachers and teachers helped to form the moral fabric of Western Europe and eventually the New World, all which has been steadily and rapidly undermined these last decades, and thus we are starting to reap once again what happens when people turn from God and turn to their own ways, when everybody does what is right in their own eyes!
Vs. 3 A poor man who oppresses the poor Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
When a poor man rises to power and rules, and he himself begins to oppress the poor, instead of then acting like their deliver, he only becomes one who takes away their expectation and hope and drives them into greater despair.
Vs. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them.
When people forsake God’s law, the moral precepts and ethical principals that make for everyone's peace and well being, (or even the just laws that govern the land), and thus begin to live corrupt and evil lives, yes, they will praise the wicked of which they have now become akin too. However, those who keep the law, and thus keep living justly and soundly and righteously, they will contend with them. For the two are always juxtaposed to each other (consider Pr. 29:27).
Vs. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all.
Evil people do not understand justice because they’re conscience (they’re moral compass) is skewed. However those who seek the Lord gain discernment and understanding from Him (consider Job 32:7-9; Psalm 119:100).
Vs. 6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
A poor man who walks in his integrity (who is honest and fair in his dealings with people) is far better off that a person who is deceitful and unjust even though he be rich, for his riches will not deliver him in the day of wrath (consider Psalm 49).
Vs. 7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father.
There is a discernment that comes from keeping the law; that comes from living righteously before God, and so when a man has such a son, he is a discerning son who clearly sees the many pitfalls and troubles that come to all those who live in sin, and so he stays clear of them. However an undiscerning son does not consider that who he befriends will not only affect him personally, but also his father as well, for he will bear shame (and likely much grief and debt) because of his careless choices.
Vs. 8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.
God makes sure that those who acquire wealth by unjust and evil means, (here extortion, and usury which is charging interest on money loaned to a brother in need. For we as God’s people are never to profit off of each others misfortune and poverty), and so those that do so will have their wealth find a place with those who will pity the poor.
Vs. 9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
Those who think that they can pray to God and have Him hear them while they are casting aside His Word and His truths (and thus they are only living by their own "truth") are only deceiving themselves. For God does not hear the prayer's of the proud and wicked, only the humble and repentant.
Vs. 10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good.
Those who seek to induce the righteous into sin will fall into their own pit. While those who are blameless in their ways will inherit good.
Vs. 11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out.
The rich man is always wise in his own eyes, especially as he seeks to increase his riches, however the poor man who has understanding, who knows that having wealth does not equate with having wisdom, searches him out; that is, he exposes him for what he has done, or is doing wrong to get his wealth.
Vs. 12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves.
The righteous openly rejoice and celebrate when righteous men rule, because truth and justice will prevail during their tenure, but when a wicked man reigns people have to hide themselves.
OR
When the righteous rejoice there is great glory because truth, righteousness, and justice have prevailed, but when a wicked man reigns people have to hide themselves, because no one is safe during their tenures.
Vs. 13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
This verse is not teaching that salvation comes by confessing one’s sins, or that having unconfessed sins leads to eternal damnation. For we receive forgiveness of all of our sins only through the grace of God the moment we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:13-14). And that is the judicial forgiveness, the remission of all our sins, of our now and forever being fully justified in the sight of God, that we have received through God’s grace by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ because He suffered and died on the Cross for us all. Thus, this verse, and verses like 1 John 1:9 are teaching us that when we sin as a believer, since there is no one who does not sin (1 John 1:8, 10, also consider 1 Kings 8:46-50), that we can now have mercy from God our Father when we confess our sins to Him. For our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is in heaven and He is always acting as our Advocate before Him. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:14-16). Therefore, if you have fallen out of fellowship with God turn to Him in a spirit of repentance and faith and confess to Him what you have done and He will have mercy on you!
Vs. 14 Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Those who have a healthy fear of the Lord will remain happy or blessed. But those who harden their hearts against Him will fall into calamity.
Vs. 15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people.
The tyrant ruler only instills great fear in those he rules. His tenure is not one of joy and peace, but only one of harshness, cruelty, and severe oppression. And sadly it is the poor (those most in need of justice and representation and relief from oppression) who will bear the brunt of his evil ways.
Vs. 16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.
A ruler who lacks understanding, not only rules with an iron fist, but he rules with an utter indifference towards those he is set over. And so, by heavily burdening and oppressing his own people he only sets them all against himself. While the ruler who considers his peoples plights and welfare, who doesn’t seek to make himself rich at their expense, will not only prolong his days, but also his tenure (consider 1 Kings 11:43-1 Kings 12:19).
Vs. 17 A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; Let no one help him.
When the murderer flees seeking to escape his own guilt let no one help him. For no one (not even his own family) should ever try to assist such an individual flee from, or avoid justice.
Vs. 18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
The person who walks blamelessly will be saved, not only from judgment in this life but also the many pitfalls and sorrows that come to those who are perverse in their ways. While the perverse person, the one who is crooked in their ways, will find themselves suddenly falling, that is suddenly and without warning they will be taken down, whether by lawful authority, or by their own their perverse ways, or by something even orchestrated, arranged, or permitted by God Himself, and so they’re own perverse ways will lead to their sudden and unexpected ruin.
Vs. 19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
Just as the Book of Proverbs reveals and warns about in so many places, for in all labor there is profit! Thus, the one who puts in the work and effort will reap a bountiful harvest, while the one who follows frivolity, who spends their life and time doing and pursuing nothing but worthless activities will have poverty enough.
Vs. 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
Those who are faithful to God and to others will abound with blessings, they will be rewarded for their generosity, honesty, and integrity; while the person who only hastens to get rich will not go unpunished, sooner or later they will be exposed and found out!
Vs. 21 To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
Throughout the Scripture showing partiality is condemned as unrighteous behavior (consider Duet. 1:17; Ezk. 13:19; Mic. 3:11; Mal. 2:9; Acts 10:34-35; 1 Tim. 5:21 etc.). And so here we are once again being warned about doing so, because showing partiality to anyone only opens the door for corruption to enter in.
Vs. 22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.
The evil eye here represents a persons covetous heart which is set on gaining wealth for themselves, not God (consider Matt. 6:22-24). And so such people often become through their own covetousness and greed victims to the innumerable and very questionable investment and get rich schemes that promise much, but deliver little or nothing, that people like themselves endlessly dream up. Better then to step back and reconsider ones course then to rush headstrong into ones own financial ruin and poverty!
Vs. 23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue.
Once again, we are admonished to speak the truth in love, to rebuke a friend, brother or sister, before they go astray. For you will find more favor with them than if you had only flattered them with your tongue, and thus encouraged them to do what they themselves wanted to do, but was only going to harm them, or others in the end. Again, wise people don’t want a bunch of “yes men” surrounding them, who are always affirming what they themselves think and say. Wise people want counselors that will give them true Godly counsel, even when it contravenes their own thoughts, plans, desires.
Vs. 24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, “It is no transgression,” The same is companion to a destroyer.
Someone who robs his parents (and yet can excuse his own evil deed, saying it is no transgression) is by their very actions and indifference to their crime, a companion (a cohort) of Satan the destroyer!
Vs. 25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.
The proud person with their overt aggression in striving to get ahead of everyone else (and always at the expense of everyone else) always stirs up strife. In contrast the person who trusts in the Lord, who is humble, honest, and fair, and does need to push themselves to the front of the line, or put others down, they will be prospered.
Vs. 26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it (Jer. 17:9). Therefore, to trust in one’s own heart, which will lead you astray, is only to be fool! In contrast those who walk wisely, because they are being guided by God’s Word, will be delivered from not only self-made troubles, but also much judgment as well.
Vs. 27 He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
Here the Word of God promises that by being generous towards the poor one will not lack. While those who turn a willful blind eye to those who are in need will have many curses.
Vs. 28 When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.
The rise of the wicked to power always causes men to hide themselves, however when the wicked perish, the righteous increase, because truth and justice prevails!
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