Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 29

Verse 1

CHAPTER XXIX

We must not despise correction. The prudent king. The

flatterer. The just judge. Contend not with a fool. The prince

who opens his ears to reports. The poor and the deceitful. The

pious king. The insolent servant. The humiliation of the proud.

Of the partner of a thief. The fear of man. The Lord the

righteous Judge.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXIX

Verse Proverbs 29:1. Hardeneth his neck — Becomes stubborn and obstinate.

Verse 3

Verse Proverbs 29:3. But he that keepeth company — רעה roeh, he that feedeth harlots, יאבד yeabed, shall utterly destroy his substance. Has there ever been a single case to the contrary?

Verse 4

Verse Proverbs 29:4. He that receiveth gifts — This was notoriously the case in this kingdom, before the passing of the Magna Charta, or great charter of liberties. Hence that article in it, Nulli vendemus justitiam; "We will not sell justice to any." I have met with cases in our ancient records where, in order to get his right, a man was obliged almost to ruin himself in presents to the king, queen, and their favourites, to get the case decided in his favour.

Verse 5

Verse Proverbs 29:5. Spreadeth a net for his feet. — Beware of a flatterer; he does not flatter merely to please you, but to deceive you and profit himself.

Verse 9

Verse Proverbs 29:9. Whether he rage or laugh — Coverdale translates, "Yf a wyse man go to lawe with a foole, whether he deale with him frendly or roughly he geteth no rest."

Verse 11

Verse Proverbs 29:11. A fool uttereth all his mind — A man should be careful to keep his own secret, and never tell his whole mind upon any subject, while there are other opinions yet to be delivered; else, if he speak again, he must go over his old ground; and as he brings out nothing new, he injures his former argument.

Verse 12

Verse Proverbs 29:12. If a ruler hearken to lies — Wherever the system of espionage is permitted to prevail, there the system of falsity is established; for he who is capable of being a spy and informer, is not only capable of telling and swearing lies, but also of cutting his king's or even his father's throat. I have seen cases, where the same spy received pay from both parties, and deceived both.

Verse 13

Verse Proverbs 29:13. The poor and the deceitful man — It is difficult to fix the meaning of תככים techachim, which we here render the deceitful man. The TARGUM has, "The poor and the man of LITTLE WEALTH." The SEPTUAGINT, "The usurer and the DEBTOR." The VULGATE, "The poor and CREDITOR." COVERDALE, "The poor and the LENDER." OTHERS, "The poor and the RICH;" "The poor and the OPPRESSORS." I suppose the meaning may be the same as in Proverbs 22:2: "The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all." Where see the note.

Verse 16

Verse Proverbs 29:16. When the wicked are multiplied — That, in the multiplication of the wicked transgression is increased, requires no proof; but an important doctrine attaches to this. On this account wicked nations and wicked families are cut off and rooted out. Were it not so righteousness would in process of time be banished from the earth. This will account for many of the numerous instances in which whole families fail.

Verse 18

Verse Proverbs 29:18. Where there is no vision — My old MS. Bible, following the Vulgate, translates: Whan prophecye schal failen, the peple schal ben to scatered. Where Divine revelation, and the faithful preaching of the sacred testimonies, are neither reverenced nor attended, the ruin of that land is at no great distance.

But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. — Go how it may with others, he shall be safe. So our Lord: "Blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it."

Verse 21

Verse Proverbs 29:21. He that delicately bringeth up his servant — Such persons are generally forgetful of their obligations, assume the rights and privileges of children, and are seldom good for any thing.

Verse 22

Verse Proverbs 29:22. An angry man stirreth up strife — His spirit begets its like wherever he goes.

And a furious man aboundeth in transgression. — His furious spirit is always carrying him into extremes, and each of these is a transgression.

Verse 23

Verse Proverbs 29:23. A man's pride shall bring him low — A proud man is universally despised, and such are often exposed to great mortifications.

Verse 24

Verse Proverbs 29:24. Hateth his own soul — נפשו naphsho, his life, as the outraged law may at any time seize on and put him to death.

He heareth cursing — אלה alah, the execration or adjuration, (for all culprits were charged, as before God, to tell the truth,) ולא יגד velo yaggid, but HE will not tell IT. He has no fear of God, nor reverence for an oath, because his heart is hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Verse 25

Verse Proverbs 29:25. The fear of man bringeth a snare — How often has this led weak men, though sincere in their general character, to deny their God, and abjure his people! See the case of Peter; and learn from this, O reader, that where the mighty have been slain, thou wilt fall, unless thou call on the Strong for strength, and for courage to use it. Be not ashamed of JESUS nor of his people, nor of his cross. Glory in this, that thou knowest him, art joined to them, and art counted worthy to bear it.

Verse 26

Verse Proverbs 29:26. Many seek the ruler's favour — To be screened from the punishment determined by the law; but should he grant the favour sought, and pardon the criminal, this takes not away his guilt in the sight of God, from whom all just judgment proceeds.

Verse 27

Verse Proverbs 29:27. And he that is upright in the way — "But as for those that be in the right waye, the wicked hate them."-COVERDALE.

To this verse the VULGATE adds the following: Verbum custodiens filius extra perditionem erit; "The son that keeps the word shall not fall into perdition." This is not in all copies of the Vulgate: but it was in that from which my old MS. Bible was made, where it is thus translated: The sone keping the worde schal ben out of perdicyon. I believe verbum here is intended for the Divine word; the revelation from God.