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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:5-6

Note, 1. It is good for us to be reproved, and told of our faults, by our friends. If true love in the heart has but zeal and courage enough to show itself in dealing plainly with our friends, and reproving them for what they say and do amiss, this is really better, not only than secret hatred (as Lev. 19:17), but than secret love, that love to our neighbours which does not show itself in this good fruit, which compliments them in their sins, to the prejudice of their souls. Faithful are the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:7

Solomon here, as often in this book, shows that the poor have in some respects the advantage of the rich; for, 1. They have a better relish of their enjoyments than the rich have. Hunger is the best sauce. Coarse fare, with a good appetite to it has a sensible pleasantness in it, which those are strangers to whose hearts are overcharged with surfeiting. Those that fare sumptuously every day nauseate even delicate food, as the Israelites did the quails; whereas those that have no more than... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:6

Faithful are the wounds of a friend ,.... That is, friendly reproofs; which, though they may be severe, at least thought so, and may grieve and wound, and cause pain and uneasiness for the present, yet, proceeding from a spirit of love, faithfulness, and integrity, and designed for the good of the person reproved, ought to be kindly received; see Psalm 141:5 ; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful ; flow from a deceitful heart, and not to be confided in, as the kisses of Joab... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:7

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb ,.... Or "tramples upon" it F1 תבוס "calcabit", Pagninus, Montanus; "caleat", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus, Gejerus; "conculcat", Cocceius; "proculcat", Michaelis, Schultens. , as the word signifies, and most versions render it, expressive of contempt and abhorrence; and suits will the situation of the honeycomb, which was usually in trees and rocks in Palestine: and so might drop from thence, and be trampled upon by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 27:1-6

These verses are grouped in pairs, each two being connected in subject. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 27:1-6

Beastliness, jealousy, and hypocrisy I. OVER CONFIDENCE REBUKED . ( Proverbs 27:1 .) 1 . On the ground of our limited knowledge. The homely proverb says, "Do not count your chickens before they are hatched." The future exists for us only in imagination. "Who knows," asks Horace, "whether the gods above will add tomorrow's time to the sum of today?" ('Od.,' Proverbs 4:7 . 17); and Seneca, "None hath gods so favourable as that he may promise himself tomorrow's good." 2 . On... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 27:2-21

The praise of man How far we should go in praising others, and in what spirit we should accept their praise, is a matter of no small importance in the conduct of life. I. THE DUTY OF PRAISING OTHERS . "Let another man praise thee" can hardly be said to be imperative so far as he is concerned. But it suggests the propriety of another man speaking in words of commendation. And the duty of praising those who have done well is a much-forgotten and neglected virtue. I. It is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 27:5-19

Four services of friendship (And see homily on "Friendship," Proverbs 13:20 .) We have suggested in the nineteenth verse two conditions of friendship: There can be no true friendship where one heart does not answer to another as the face reflected from a mirror answers to that which is before it. Men must be like minded in their principles and sympathies; and they must be sensitive enough to feel with one another and to give back the thoughts which are expressed by one or the other,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 27:6

Faithful are the wounds of friend . This and the next verse afford examples of the antithetic form of proverb, where the second line gives, as it were, the reverse side of the picture presented by the first. The wounds which a real friend inflicts by his just rebukes are directed by truth and discriminating affection (see Psalms 141:5 ). But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. So St. Jerome, Fraudulenta oscula odientis . But the verb here used ( עתר ) has the meaning, among... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 27:6

The wounds of a friend. The principle implied in this verse is apparent at a glance. It is better that one who loves and truly considers the interests of another should wound him for his good than that a superficial flatterer should refrain from doing so for the sake of pleasing and winning continuous favour. The only difficulties lie in the practical application of the principle. I. TRUE FRIENDSHIP WILL DARE TO WOUND . It is painful and difficult to do that which we know... read more

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