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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:16

Note, 1. The more sinners there are the more sin there is: When the wicked, being countenanced by authority, grow numerous, and walk on every side, no marvel if transgression increases, as a plague in the country is said to increase when still more and more are infected with it. Transgression grows more impudent and bold, more imperious and threatening, when there are many to keep it in countenance. In the old world, when men began to multiply, they began to degenerate and corrupt themselves... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:17

Note, 1. It is a very happy thing when children prove the comfort of their parents. Good children are so; they give them rest, make them easy, and free from the many cares they have had concerning them; yea, they give delight unto their souls. It is a pleasure to parents, which none know but those that are blessed with it, to see the happy fruit of the good education they have given their children, and to have a prospect of their well-doing for both worlds; it gives delight proportionable to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:18

See here, I. The misery of the people that want a settled ministry: Where there is no vision, no prophet to expound the law, no priest or Levite to teach the good knowledge of the Lord, no means of grace, the word of the Lord is scarce, there is no open vision (1 Sam. 3:1), where it is so the people perish; the word has many significations, any of which will apply here. 1. The people are made naked, stripped of their ornaments and so exposed to shame, stripped of their armour and so exposed to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:19

Here is the description of an unprofitable, slothful, wicked servant, a slave that serves not from conscience, or love, but purely from fear. Let those that have such servants put on patience to bear the vexation and not disturb themselves at it. See their character. 1. No rational words will work upon them; they will not be corrected and reformed, not brought to their business, nor cured of their idleness and laziness, by fair means, no, nor by foul words; even the most gentle master will be... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:20

Solomon here shows that there is little hope of bringing a man to wisdom that is hasty either, 1. Through rashness and inconsideration: Seest thou a man that is hasty in his matters, that is of a light desultory wit, that seems to take a thing quickly, but takes it by the halves, gallops over a book or science, but takes no time to digest it, no time to pause or muse upon a business? There is more hope of making a scholar and a wise man of one that is dull and heavy, and slow in his studies,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:16

When the wicked are multiplied ,.... Or "are in authority" F18 ברבות "dominantibus impiis"; some in Mercerus; "quum praesunt impii", Tigurine version. ; as the word is rendered, Proverbs 29:2 ; transgression increaseth ; among the common people, being encouraged by their wicked rulers, whose examples they follow; or as the wicked themselves increase, in numbers, in age, in power, and riches, their sins increase too; but the righteous shall see their fall , from their places... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:17

Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest ,.... Ease of mind, satisfaction and contentment, freedom from all anxious thoughts and cares; the correction being taken in good part, and succeeding according to wish and design; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul ; by his tenderness to his parents, obedience to them, and respect for them; by his prudent behaviour among men; by his sobriety, diligence, and industry in his calling; by his fear of God, and walking in his ways; than which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish ,.... That is, "no prophecy", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; and which is often the sense of the word, as the vision of Isaiah is the prophecy of Isaiah; and, in the New Testament, prophesying is often put for preaching; and here vision, or prophecy, signifies the public ministering of the word and ordinances, and want of persons to administer them; no expounder, as the Septuagint version; or interpreter, as the Arabic. This was the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:19

A servant will not be corrected by words ,.... Not by them only, especially one that is of a servile, surly, and untractable disposition; otherwise a good servant, and well disposed to his master, and willing to serve him, and promote his interest, a word is sufficient for such an one; when he is bid to go, he goes; or to come, he comes, Matthew 8:9 ; or if he has done wrong, and his fault is told him, he will amend another time; whereas a rough ill natured servant will not regard words,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:20

Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words ,.... Swift to speak either before God or men; that takes upon him to speak upon a subject, or return an answer to a question, before he has thoroughly thought of it, and well considered it, and digested what he should say; see Ecclesiastes 5:2 ; or "hasty in matters" F24 אץ בדבריו "praecipitem in negotiis suis", Vatablus, Piscator; "in rebus suis", Mercerus. ; in his business; runs rashly and precipitately into things, without duly... read more

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