Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 19

Verse 2

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

Hasteth — That rashly and headily rushes into actions.

Verse 3

The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

Perverteth — Blasts his designs and enterprises.

Fretteth — He ascribes his unhappiness not to his own sin, but to God and his providence.

Verse 6

Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

A friend — in profession.

Verse 7

All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

Brethren — His nearest relations.

Hate — Despise and shun him.

Pursueth — Earnestly imploring their pity.

Verse 10

Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

Delight — To live in pleasure and outward glory, doth not become him, nor suit with him; because prosperity corrupts even wise men, and makes fools mad; and because it gives him more opportunity to discover his folly, and to do mischief both to himself and others.

Verse 13

A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

Dropping — Are like rain continually dropping upon an house.

Verse 15

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

Casteth — Makes a man careless, and like one asleep in his business.

Verse 16

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

His ways — The commands of God.

Verse 18

Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

While — Before custom in sin, and thy indulgence have made him incorrigible.

Let not — Forbear not to give him due and necessary correction.

Verse 19

A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

Great wrath — Of strong passions.

Deliver — If thou forbear to punish him.

Do it — Thou must deliver him again and again.

Verse 22

The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

The desire — The hearty desire of being kind is accepted by God, and should be owned by men as a real kindness.

A poor man — Who is not able to give what he desires to do.

A liar — Than a rich man who feeds the poor with fair promises, but doth not perform what he pretends.

Verse 23

The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Satisfied — Shall be fully contented with God’s favour and blessing.

Verse 24

A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

Bring it — To feed himself; he expects that the meat should drop into his mouth.

Verse 25

Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

Scorner — An obstinate and impudent transgressor.

Simple — Who sin thro’ ignorance, being possibly drawn to it by the scorner’s evil counsel or example.

Reprove — A verbal reproof will be more effectual for his reformation, than the severest punishments will be to a scorner.

Verse 26

He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

Wasteth — His father’s estate.

Chaseth — Causes her to avoid his presence, and to go from the house where he is.

Verse 28

An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

Scorneth — Hath no reverence to the place of justice, nor to the presence of God there.

Devoureth — Utters it with greediness and delight.

Verse 29

Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

Prepared — Although they be deferred for a time, yet they are treasured up for them.