Proverbs 17:23-28

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 17:23

See here, 1. What an evil thing bribery is: He is a wicked man that will take a gift to engage him to give a false testimony, verdict, or judgment; when he does it he is ashamed of it, for he takes it, with all the secresy imaginable, out of the bosom where he knows it is laid ready for him; it is industriously concealed, and so slyly that, if h 1a08 e could, he would hide it from his own conscience. A gift is taken out of the bosom of a wicked man (so some read it); for he is a bad man that... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 17:24

Note, 1. He is to be reckoned an intelligent man that not only has wisdom, but has it ready when he has occasion for it. He lays his wisdom before him, as his card and compass which he steers by, has his eye always upon it, as he that writes has on his copy; and then he has it before him; it is not to seek, but still at hand. 2. He that has a giddy head, a roving rambling fancy, will never be fit for any solid business. He is a fool, and good for nothing, whose eyes are in the ends of the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 17:25

Observe, 1. Wicked children are an affliction to both their parents. They are an occasion of anger to the father (so the word signifies), because they contemn his authority, but of sorrow and bitterness to the mother, because they abuse her tenderness. The parents, being joint-sufferers, should therefore bring mutual comfort to bear them up under it, and strive to make it as easy as they can, the mother to mollify the father's anger, the father to alleviate the mother's grief. 2. That Solomon... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 17:26

In differences that happen between magistrates and subjects, and such differences often arise, 1. Let magistrates see to it that they never punish the just, that they be in no case a terror to good works, for that is to abuse their power and betray that great trust which is reposed in them. It is not good, that is, it is a very evil thing, and will end ill, whatever end they may aim at in it. When princes become tyrants and persecutors their thrones will be neither easy nor firm. 2. Let... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 17:27

Two ways a man may show himself to be a wise man:?1. By the good temper, the sweetness and the sedateness, of his mind: A man of understanding is of an excellent spirit, a precious spirit (so the word is); he is one that looks well to his spirit, that it be as it should be, and so keeps it in an even frame, easy to himself and pleasant to others. A gracious spirit is a precious spirit, and renders a man amiable and more excellent than his neighbour. He is of a cool spirit (so some read it),... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:23

A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom ,.... Of another, of a rich man, who takes it out from thence, and offers it to him as a bribe. This he takes in the most secret manner, that it might not be seen by others; though the Arabic version renders it, "he that receives a gift in his own bosom commits iniquity"; it is true of both the giver and the receiver; the one gives out of his bosom, and the other takes if from thence, and puts it into his own, and both are wicked. And the words... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:24

Wisdom is before him that hath understanding ,.... Is near him, to direct and assist him; it is before him as a rule to walk by, and it is the mark he aims at. A man of spiritual understanding has the book of wisdom before him, the Scriptures of truth, which are able to make a man wise to salvation; and he steers his course according to them; he sets Christ, the Wisdom of God, always before him; and keeps his eye on the mark for the prize, all the while he is running his Christian race:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:25

A foolish son is a grief to his father ,.... Because of his folly and wickedness, and the ruin he is bringing himself to; and bitterness to her that bare him ; a cause of bitterness of soul to his mother, more distressing than the bitter pains with which she brought him forth into the world. Jarchi, by the father, understands the blessed God; and by her that bare him, the congregation of Israel; to whom Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, was bitterness, who caused Israel to sin; see Proverbs... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:26

Also to punish the just is not good ,.... It is evil, and an abomination to the Lord, Proverbs 17:15 . Evildoers indeed should be punished; but to punish the righteous also, as well as them, is far from being commendable; nor to strike princes for equity : to strike princes, judges, civil magistrates, for doing the duty of their place and office, for doing that which is just and equitable among men, is very criminal, who ought to be encouraged and supported therein. Or it may be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:27

He that hath knowledge spareth his words ,.... Or, "he that knows knowledge" F3 יודע דעת "qui scit scientiam", Pagninus, Vatablus, Mercerus. ; one that is very knowing, has a fund of knowledge in him, "spareth his words"; is generally a man of few words, he thinks much and says little; and though he may be communicative of his knowledge to proper persons, and at proper times, yet never speaks of it in a boasting and ostentatious way: or, he "restrains his words" F4 חושך ... read more

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