1. soft--tender or gentle. turneth . . . wrath--from any one. stir up--as a smouldering fire is excited.
2. useth . . . aright--commends knowledge by its proper use. poureth out--utters abundantly (Pr 12:23), and so disgusts others. 3. beholding--watching (compare Pr 5:21 Ps 66:7). 4. A wholesome tongue--(Compare Margin), pacifying and soothing language. tree of life--(Pr 3:18 11:30). perverseness therein--cross, ill-natured language. breach . . . spirit--(compare Isa 65:14, Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasing. 5. (Compare Pr 4:1 10:17 13:1-18). is prudent--acts discreetly.
6. treasure--implying utility. trouble--vexation and affliction.
7. (Compare Pr 10:20,21). heart . . . not so--not right, or vain. 8, 9. The sacrifice [and] prayer--are acts of worship. way . . . followeth . . . righteousness--denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Ps 50:17 Isa 1:11. 10. (Compare Pr 10:17). the way--that in which God would have him to go (Pr 2:13 Ps 119:1). 11. Hell--(Ps 16:10). destruction--or, "Abaddon," the place of the destroyer. All the unseen world is open to God, much more men's hearts. 12. (Compare Pr 9:8). go unto the wise--to be instructed. 13. maketh . . . countenance--or, "benefits the countenance." spirit is broken--and so the countenance is sad.
14. (Compare Pr 10:21,22). The wise grow wiser, the fools more foolish (Pr 9:9).
15. The state of the heart governs the outward condition. evil--sad, contrasted with the cheerfulness of a feast. 16. trouble--agitation, implying the anxieties and perplexities attending wealth held by worldlings (Pr 16:18 1Ti 6:6). 17. dinner--or, "allowance" (2Ki 25:30)-- of herbs--and that the plainest. and hatred--(compare Pr 10:12,18). 18. (Compare Pr 14:29 16:32). 19. The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a plain [and open] way--literally, "a highway," by diligence (1Sa 10:7 Ps 1:3). 20. (Compare Pr 10:1). 21. walketh uprightly--and so finds his joy (Pr 3:6 10:23). 22. Without counsel--or, "deliberation," implying a wise deference to the opinions of the wise and good, contrasted with rashness. 23. Good advice blesses the giver and receiver. 24. (Compare Col 3:2). Holy purposes prevent sinning, and so its evils. 25. The most desolate who have God's aid have more permanent good than the self-reliant sinner (Pr 2:22 12:7). border--or, "boundary for possessions" (Ps 78:54). 26. are pleasant words--that is, pleasing to God (Pr 8:8,9). 27. (Compare Pr 11:17). Avarice brings trouble to him and his. hateth gifts--or, "bribes" (Ex 23:8 Ps 15:5), and is not avaricious. 28. (Compare Pr 15:14 Pr 10:11). Caution is the fruit of wisdom; rashness of folly. 29. far . . . wicked--in His love and favor (Ps 22:11 119:155). 30. light of the eyes--(Pr 13:9). What gives light rejoiceth the heart, by relieving from anxiety as to our course; so good report--or, "doctrine" (Isa 28:9 53:1), maketh . . . fat--or, "gives prosperity" (Pr 3:13-17 9:11). The last clause is illustrated by the first. 31, 32. (Compare Pr 10:17). reproof of life--which leads to life. abideth . . . wise--is numbered among them. 32. refuseth--or, "neglects," "passes by" (Pr 1:25 4:15). despiseth . . . soul--so acts as if esteeming its interests of no value. 33. The fear . . . wisdom--Wisdom instructs in true piety. before . . . humility--(compare Lu 24:26 1Pe 1:11); opposite (compare Pr 16:18).
