Devise not evil; any thing injurious or hurtful. Having commanded doing of good, Proverbs 3:27,Proverbs 3:28, he here forbids doing or designing any evil. Dwelleth securely by thee; relying upon thine integrity: do not therefore betray thy trust, which is hateful even to heathens. read more
Strive not; either by words before the magistrate; or otherwise by thine actions. Without cause; without just and necessary cause. If he have done thee no harm; whereby he clearly implies that in case of injury a man may by all lawful means defend himself. read more
Envy thou not the oppressor, for his impunity and success in his wicked designs, and the wealth which he gains by his unrighteous practices. Choose none of his ways; for what men envy in others they seek to obtain for themselves. read more
The froward; or, perverse, who walketh in crooked or sinful paths, as the oppressor last mentioned; opposed to the upright man, who is called right or straight, as Deuteronomy 32:4; Proverbs 29:27. Is abomination to the Lord; God hates him, and therefore sooner or later he must needs be extremely and eternally miserable. His secret is with the righteous; they are God’s friends and favourites, to whom he familiarly imparts, as men use to do to their friends, his mind and counsels, or his secret... read more
In the house of the wicked; not only upon his own person, but also upon his posterity, and upon all his domestical concerns. read more
He scorneth, he will expose to scorn and contempt, the scorners; proud and insolent sinners, who make a mock at sin, Proverbs 14:9, and at God and religion also, and despise all counsels and means of amendment. Compare Psalms 1:1; Proverbs 1:22. He giveth grace, to wit, favour, both with himself and with men, as this word and phrase is used, Exodus 3:21; Exodus 11:3; Exodus 12:36; Ecclesiastes 9:11; Luke 2:52 read more
Shall inherit glory; shall enjoy it not only for a season, as wicked men ofttimes do, but as an inheritance, constantly, and to perpetuity. Shame shall be the promotion of fools; instead of that glory which they greedily seek, they shall meet with nothing but ignominy. Or, as it is in the margin, shame exalteth or lifteth up fools, i.e. it makes them manifest and notorious, as this very word is used Proverbs 14:29. Or, as the words lie in the Hebrew text fools take or carry away (as this word... read more
CRITICAL NOTES.—Proverbs 3:1. Keep. This word, says Miller, primarily means to look hard at, and generally to keep watch over, as over a vineyard. Proverbs 3:2. Length of days, properly “extension of days.” Proverbs 3:3. Good understanding, or “good success,” “good reputation.” Some read “good intelligence,” i.e., thou shalt be esteemed before God and man as one of good understanding. MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Proverbs 3:1-4BLESSINGS FROM THE REMEMBRANCE OF GOD’S COMMANDMENTSI. The... read more
CRITICAL NOTES.—Proverbs 3:6. Acknowledge, “take notice of,” “recognise” Him. Direct, “make level” or “smooth. MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH—Proverbs 3:5-6EXHORTATION TO CONFIDENCE IN GODMan is so constituted that, in some respects, he must have objects outside of himself to lean upon. As a child, he leans upon a wisdom and strength which is superior to his own, and few men are so self-sufficient as entirely to lay aside this habit in after life. In many things we must, whether we will or... read more
Get a Bible verse delivered to your inbox every day!
Read on Mobile
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 3:28
The former verse forbade the denial, and this forbids the delay of this duty. Unto thy neighbour; unto any man, as the word neighbor is commonly used in Scripture, as hath been oft proved. I will give, to wit, what is thy due, in manner before expressed, or what thou needest; for this word is generally used concerning free or charitable gifts, and not concerning due debts. read more