Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 3

Verse 2

3:2 For length of {a} days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

(a) Long life is the blessing of God which he gives to his, so far as it is expedient for them.

Verse 3

3:3 Let not {b} mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy {c} neck; write them upon the table of thine {d} heart:

(b) By mercy and truth he means the commandments of the first and second table, or else the mercy and faithfulness that we ought to use toward our neighbours.

(c) Keep them as a precious jewel.

(d) Have them ever in remembrance.

Verse 8

3:8 It shall be health to thy {e} navel, and marrow to thy bones.

(e) By this part he comprehends the whole body, as by health he means all the benefits promised in the law both corporal and spiritual.

Verse 9

3:9 {f} Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

(f) As was commanded in the law, Exodus 23:19, De 26:2 and by this they acknowledged that God was the giver of all things, and that they were ready to bestow all at his commandment.

Verse 10

3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall {g} burst out with new wine.

(g) For the faithful distributor God gives in greater abundance.

Verse 16

3:16 Length of days [is] in her right hand; {h} [and] in her left hand riches and honour.

(h) Meaning, that he seeks wisdom, that is, suffers himself to be governed by the Word of God, will have all prosperity both corporal and spiritual.

Verse 18

3:18 She [is] a tree {i} of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her.

(i) Which brings forth such fruit that they who eat of it have life and he alludes to the tree of life in paradise.

Verse 19

3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath {k} founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

(k) By this he shows that this wisdom of which he speaks is everlasting, because it was before all creatures and that all things even the whole world were made by it.

Verse 25

3:25 {l} Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

(l) For when God destroys the wicked he will save his as he did Lot in Sodom.

Verse 27

3:27 Withhold not good from {m} them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do [it].

(m) Not only from them to whom the possession belongs but also you shall not keep it from them who have need of the use of it.

Verse 29

3:29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth {n} securely by thee.

(n) That is, puts his trust in you.

Verse 31

3:31 {o} Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

(o) Do not wish to be like him.

Verse 32

3:32 For the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his {p} secret [is] with the righteous.

(p) That is, his covenant and fatherly affection which is hid and secret from the world.

Verse 34

3:34 Surely {q} he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

(q) He will show by his plagues that their scorn will turn to their own destruction, Proverbs 1:26.