Proverbs 29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:3

Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father ,.... He that is a philosopher, especially a religious one, that not only loves and seeks after natural wisdom, but moral wisdom and knowledge; and more particularly evangelical wisdom, Christ the Wisdom of God, who is to be valued and loved above all things; the Gospel of Christ, which is the wisdom of God in a mystery; and the knowledge of it which is the wisdom which comes from above and is pure and peaceable; and which lies much in the fear of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:4

The king by judgment establisheth the land ,.... By executing, judgment and justice among his subjects, he establishes the laws of the land, and the government of it; he secures its peace and prosperity, and preserves his people in the possession at their properties and privileges; and makes them rich and powerful, and the state stable and flourishing, so that it continues firm to posterity; such a king was Solomon, 2 Chronicles 9:8 ; but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it ; that,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:5

A man that flattereth his neighbour ,.... That speaks smooth things to him gives him flattering titles, speaks fair to his face, highly commends him on one account or another: spreadeth a net for his feet ; has an idle design upon him, and therefore should be guarded against; his view is to draw him into a snare and make a prey of him; he attacks him on his weak side, and hopes to make some advantage of it to himself; wherefore flatterers should be avoided as pernicious persons; or he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:6

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare ,.... Or, according to the accents in some copies, "in the transgression of a man is an evil snare", as Aben Ezra observes the words may be read; there is a snare in sin to man himself; one sin leads on to another, and a man is snared by the works of his own hands, and is implicated and held in the cords of his own iniquity, and falls into the snare of the devil, out of which he is not easily recovered; and the transgression of one man... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:7

The righteous considereth the cause of the poor ,.... Not his poverty and distress, so as to relieve him, which yet he does, Psalm 41:1 ; nor the person of the poor in judgment, and which he ought not to do; for as he should not regard a rich man's person, and favour him, because he is rich; so neither a poor man, because he is poor, through an affectation of mercy, Leviticus 19:15 ; but the cause of the poor, and the justice of that, and do him justice, though a poor man. This is to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:8

Scornful men bring a city into a snare ,.... Such as despise dominion, speak evil of dignities; proud and haughty men, that speak Loftily, and with a contempt of their superiors; or who make a mock at religion, and scoff at all that is good and serious; these bring the inhabitants of a city into a snare, to rebel against their governors, and so into mischief and ruin: or, they "burn a city", as the Septuagint and Syriac versions F15 "Inflammant urbem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:9

If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man ,.... Enters into a controversy with him, either by word or writing, in order to convince him of his folly and wickedness, of his errors and mistakes; whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest ; that is, either whether the fool is angry with the wise man, and rages at him and abuses him, and calls him names, or laughs at him, and scoffs at all his arguments, reasons, and advice; yet the wise man does not cease from proceeding in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:10

The bloodthirsty hate the upright ,.... Cain did Abel; and as the wicked world hate all good men, and persecute them, even unto death; but the just must seek his soul ; either the soul of the bloodthirsty, and that either the good of their souls; seek their spiritual welfare, and pray for it, even though they are so cruel and inhuman: or just magistrates will seek after such persons, to punish them for shedding the blood of the upright. Or else the meaning is, that just persons seek the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:11

A fool uttereth all his mind ,.... At once; tells all he knows, all that is in his breast; whatever he thinks, and all that he intends to do; what or whom he loves or hates. Or, "a fool brings out all his wrath"; so the Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions: he cannot restrain it, nor hide it; it breaks out at once, even all of it, and is soon known, as in Proverbs 12:16 ; but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards ; reserves his mind, and thoughts, and designs, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:12

If a ruler hearken to lies ,.... To men that tell them in order to soothe and flatter him, or to hurt the character and reputation of others, that they may raise their own: rulers should not listen to and encourage such sort of persons; for, as lying lips do not become a prince, so it is not right to have liars about him; David would not suffer such to dwell in his court, Psalm 101:7 ; all his servants are wicked ; or the greatest part of them: for a ruler of such a disposition will... read more

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