1. mocker--scorner. Such men are made by wine. strong drink--made by spicing wine (compare Isa 5:11,22); and it may include wine. raging--or boisterous as a drunkard. deceived--literally, "erring," or reeling.
2. (Compare Pr 19:12). Men who resist authority injure themselves (Ro 13:2). 3. to cease from strife--or, better, "to dwell from or without strife," denoting the habit of life. fool . . . meddling--(Pr 17:14). 4. shall . . . beg--literally, "ask" (in this sense, Ps 109:10). 5. Counsel . . . water--that is, deeply hidden (Pr 18:4 Ps 13:2). The wise can discern well.
6. Boasters are unreliable. goodness--or, "kind disposition."
7. The conduct of good men proclaims their sound principles. God's covenant and their good example secure blessing to their children (Pr 4:26 Ps 112:1,2). 8. As in Pr 14:35 16:10,15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings. 9. The interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14 Ec 7:20). 10. Various measures, implying that some are wrong (compare Pr 11:1 16:11). 11. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mt 7:16). 12. Hence, of course, God will know all you do (Ps 94:9).
13. Activity and diligence contrasted with sloth (Pr 6:9 10:11). lest . . . poverty--literally, "be deprived of inheritance."
14. when . . . his way--implying that he goes about boasting of his bargains. 15. The contrast denotes the greater value of knowledge (compare Pr 3:14-16). 16. Take his garment--implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness. a strange woman--by some readings "strangers," but the former here, and in Pr 27:13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless. 17. Bread . . . sweet--either as unlawfully (Pr 9:17) or easily obtained. mouth . . . gravel--well expresses the pain and grief given at last. 18. (Compare Pr 15:22). Be careful and considerate in important plans. 19. Those who love to tell news will hardly keep secrets. flattereth . . . lips--(compare Margin;Pr 1:10). meddle . . . him--literally, "join," or "associate with." 20. his lamp--(Compare Pr 13:9 24:20). 21. gotten hastily--contrary to God's providence (Pr 28:20), implying its unjust or easy attainment; hence the man is punished, or spends freely what he got easily (compare Pr 20:17). 22. (Compare Ps 27:14 Ro 12:17-19). 23. (Compare Pr 20:10 Pr 11:1). 24. Man's goings--literally, "Stately steppings of a strong man." a man--any common man. understand--or, "perceive." 25. devoureth . . . holy--or, better, "who rashly speaks promises," or "devotes what is holy," consecrating any thing. This suits better the last clause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashly vowing. 26. (Compare Pr 20:8). bringeth . . . over them--The wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity (compare Am 1:3). 27. The spirit . . . Lord--Men's minds are God's gifts, and thus able to search one another (compare Pr 20:5 Pr 18:8,17 1Co 2:11). 28. (Compare Pr 3:3 16:6,12). 29. The glory of young men . . . the beauty of old men--Each age has its peculiar excellence (Pr 16:31). 30. blueness--literally, "joining," the process of uniting the edges of a wound throws off purulent matter. stripes . . . belly--So punishment provides healing of soul (Pr 18:8), by deterring from evil courses.
