Proverbs 30

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:8

Here is the first request: Remove far from me vanity and lies. Shay , "vanity," is inward hollowness and worthlessness, and "lies" are the expression of this in words. The prayer might indeed be taken as an entreaty against being polluted with the companionship of the evil, like "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;" but it is best taken subjectively, as a supplication for personal truthfulness and sincerity in all relations both towards God and man. Give me neither... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:8-9

Neither poverty nor riches. A wise man here points out the danger of the two extremes of poverty and riches, and seeks for himself the happier middle position. In the present day the enormous wealth of one class and the hard penury of another suggest serious social questions, and raise alarms as to great possible dangers unless the terrible anomaly of this artificial condition is not remedied. I. THE EVIL OF POVERTY . The thought is of extreme poverty, of absolute destitution,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:9

The reason for the latter prayer follows, unless, as some consider, the prayer is one, as if Agur asked, "Take from me riches which lead to vanity, and poverty which leads to lying and deceit." In this case the ground of the request would embrace both parts of the petition. Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord ( Jehovah )? Great wealth and temporal prosperity tempt to forgetfulness of God, to self-confidence and practical unbelief in Divine providence. Like Pharaoh,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:10

Accuse not a servant unto his master. Calumniate, slander not; μὴ καταλαλήσης , Theodotion; μὴ διαβάλης , Symmachus. Do not secretly bring a charge against a man's slave, and make his master suspicious of him; have a kind feeling for those in lowly condition, and do not render their lot more unbearable by insinuating false or frivolous accusations against them. Ewald and others would render, "Entice not a servant to slander his master;" but there is no need so to take the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:10

Caution in the use of the tongue I. THE THOUGHTS ONE FEARS EXPRESS HIMSELF ONE MAY BE TEMPTED TO ELICIT FROM ANOTHER . II. IT IS BASE TO TEMPT AN HONEST HEART TO THOUGHTS AND WORDS OF DISCONTENT . One of the most active forms of evil consists in the "putting into the head" of others feelings towards their employers or superiors which would not otherwise have arisen. III. THE BITER MAY THUS BE BIT ; THE TEMPTER... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:11

There is a generation that eurseth their father. The words, "there is," are not found in the Hebrew, and the four subjects are without a predicate. Delitzsch calls the group "a mutilated priamel," which is explained to be a kind of gnomic poetry containing a series of antecedents or subjects followed by an epigrammatic conclusion applicable to all the antecedents. In the present ease the conclusion is wanting, so that we are left in doubt whether the author meant merely to de. scribe classes... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:11-14

Detestable phases of human character I. THOSE UNGRATEFUL TO PARENTS . ( Proverbs 30:11 .) "Without natural affection." Solon, asked why he had made no law against parricides, said that he could not conceive of any one so impious and cruel. In the Law of Moses the cursing of a parent was visited with the same punishment as the blaspheming of God (Le Proverbs 20:9 ; Proverbs 24:11-16 ; comp. Isaiah 45:9 , Isaiah 45:10 ; 2 Timothy 3:2 ). II. CRASS SELF - CONCEIT... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:11-31

contain six groups of four sentences each, each quaternion having a certain connection in language and concinnity of idea. First ( Proverbs 30:11-14 ) come four generations that are evil—four being taken as the symbol of universality. The sins herein specified had become so general that they affected the whole generation. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:12

A generation that are pure in their own eyes ( Proverbs 20:9 ). The second characteristic is hypocrisy and Pharisaical self-righteousness ( see Luke 18:11 ). And yet are not washed from their filthiness ; have not cleansed their heart by complete repentance, either because they have not examined themselves and know nothing of the real state of their conscience, or because they care nothing about it and will not regard it in its true light. There is a similar expression in Isaiah 4:4... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:12-13

Self-deception Self-deception in regard to the guilt of sin is the most common delusion of minds that have not been spiritually enlightened. However much men may know and acknowledge about themselves in other respects, on this vital point they are most tempted to go astray. I. LET US CONSIDER THE TEMPTATION TO SELF - DECEPTION . People have strong motives to think well of themselves. 1 . Conscience is so powerful and urgent that few men are able to brave a... read more

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