Death and life are in the power of the tongue - This may apply to all men. Many have lost their lives by their tongue, and some have saved their lives by it: but it applies most forcibly to public pleaders; on many of their tongues hangs life or death. read more
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing - Marriage, with all its troubles and embarrassments, is a blessing from God; and there are few cases where a wife of any sort is not better than none, because celibacy is an evil; for God himself hath said, "It is not good for man to be alone." None of the versions, except the Chaldee, are pleased with the naked simplicity of the Hebrew text, hence they all add good: "He that findeth a Good wife findeth a good thing;" and most people, who have not... read more
A man that hath friends must show himself friendly - Love begets love; and love requires love as its recompense. If a man do not maintain a friendly carriage, he cannot expect to retain his friends. Friendship is a good plant; but it requires cultivation to make it grow. There is a kind of factitious friendship in the world, that, to show one's self friendly in it, is very expensive, and in every way utterly unprofitable: it is maintained by expensive parties. feasts, etc., where the table... read more
Evils of the tongue and of contention I. THE FOLLY OF HASTE IN DEBATE . ( Proverbs 18:17 .) "One tale is good till another be told." This saw holds good of private life, of lawsuits, of controversies in philosophy and theology. Audi alteram, partem, " Listen to both sides." This is the duty of the judge, or of him who for the time being plays the judicial part. If we are parties in a debate or a suit, then nothing will hold good except to have the "conscience void of... read more
With the first clause, comp, Proverbs 12:14 , and with the second, Proverbs 13:2 . A man's belly; i.e. himself, his mind and body, equivalent to shall he be filled, or satisfied, in the second clause. A man must accept the consequences of his words, good or evil. The next verse explains this. read more
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; literally, in the hand of the tongue. The tongue, according as it is used, deals forth life or death; for speech is the picture of the mind (comp. Proverbs 12:18 ; Proverbs 26:28 ). The vast importance of our words may be learned from James 3:1-18 .; and our blessed Lord says expressly ( Matthew 12:36 , etc.), "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be... read more
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing. A good wife is meant, a virtuous, prudent helpmate, as in Proverbs 12:4 ; Proverbs 19:14 ; and 31. The epithet is omitted, because the moralist is thinking of the ideal wife, the one whoso union is blessed, who alone deserves the holy name of wife. Thus in Proverbs 19:4 we had the ideal man spoken of. Septuagint, εὖρε χάριτας , " findeth graces," viz. peace, union, plenty, ruder (see a different view, Ecclesiastes 7:26-28 ). And... read more
The blessedness of true marriage The Bible does not regard marriage as "a failure," nor does it treat celibacy as a more saintly condition. Even St. Paul, who does not seem to have been a married man, and who is thought by some to undervalue marriage, gives to it a eulogium in describing the union of husband and wife as a copy of the mystical union of Christ and his Church ( Ephesians 5:22-32 ). I. THE BLESSEDNESS OF MARRIAGE . 1 . The companionship of love. The... read more
Love in different relations I. CONJUGAL LOVE . ( Proverbs 18:22 .) The blessing of a good wife. "Young men's mistresses; companions for middle age; and old men's nurses" (Lord Bacon). On the choice of a with none but a recluse or a pedant would pretend to lay down infallible precepts or counsels. But every man who has been happy in the married relation will recognize his happiness as among the chiefest of blessings from above. It is indeed a good that is found, cannot be inherited... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 18:20
With the fruit of his mouth - Our own words frequently shape our good or evil fortune in life. read more