Proverbs 19:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:1

Here see, 1. What will be the credit and comfort of a poor man, and make him more excellent than his neighbour, though his poverty may expose him to contempt and may dispirit him. Let him be honest and walk in integrity, let him keep a good conscience and make it appear that he does so, let him always speak and act with sincerity when he is under the greatest temptations to dissemble and break his word, and then let him value himself upon that, for all wise and good men will value him. He is... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:2

Two things are here declared to be of bad consequence:?1. Ignorance: To be without the knowledge of the soul is not good, so some read it. Know we not our own selves, our own hearts? A soul without knowledge is not good; it is a great privilege that we have souls, but, if these souls have not knowledge, what the better are we? If man has not understanding, he is as the beasts, Ps. 49:20. An ignorant soul cannot be a good soul. That the soul be without knowledge is not safe, nor pleasant; what... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:3

We have here two instances of men's folly:?1. That they bring themselves into straits and troubles, and run themselves a-ground, and embarrass themselves: The foolishness of man perverts his way. Men meet with crosses and disappointments in their affairs, and things do not succeed as they expected and wished, and it is owing to themselves and their own folly; it is their own iniquity that corrects them. 2. That when they have done so they lay the blame upon God, and their hearts fret against... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:4

Here, 1. We may see how strong men's love of money is, that they will love any man, how undeserving soever he be otherwise, if he has but a deal of money and is free with it, so that they may hope to be the better for it. Wealth enables a man to send many presents, make many entertainments, and do many good offices, and so gains him many friends, who pretend to love him, for they flatter him and make their court to him, but really love what he has, or rather love themselves, hoping to get by... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:5

Here we have, 1. The sins threatened?bearing false witness in judgment and speaking lies in common conversation. Men could not arrive at such a pitch of impiety as to bear false witness (where to the guilt of a lie is added that of perjury and injury) if they had not advanced to it by allowing themselves to speak untruths in jest and banter, or under pretence of doing good. Thus men teach their tongues to speak lies, Jer. 9:5. Those that will take a liberty to tell lies in discourse are in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:1

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity ,.... In the uprightness of his heart before God and men; who is sincere in the worship of God, and in the profession of his name, and walks in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless; and is upright, harmless, and inoffensive in his conversation with men; and studies to exercise a conscience void of offence to both, and continues herein. A man may be a poor man with respect to worldly things, and yet be rich towards God;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:2

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good ,.... Without knowledge of things natural and civil, especially without the knowledge of God and Christ, and divine and spiritual things; to be without this is not good, yea, very bad; for men without such knowledge and understanding are, like the beasts that perish, and for lack of it do. Jarchi interprets it, without the law. Or, "to be without the knowledge of the soul is not good" F5 So Vatablus; or "without care of it",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:3

The foolishness of man perverteth his way ,.... The sinfulness of his heart and nature; the folly which is bound up in it causes him to go astray out of the way in which he should go, or makes things go cross with him; so that the ways he takes do not prosper, nor his schemes succeed; but everything goes against him, and he is brought into straits and difficulties; and his heart fretteth against the Lord ; laying all the blame on him; and ascribing his ill success, not to his own sin and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:4

Wealth maketh many friends ,.... Or "adds" F6 יסיף . "addit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; it increases the number of them: so the poet F7 Ovid. , "donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos"; and to this agrees what the wise man says, Proverbs 14:20 ; but the poor is separated from his neighbour ; or "friend" F8 מרעהו "ab amico sua", Pagninus, Montanus, Baynus, Junius & Tremeliius, Piscator, Michaelis; "a sodali sua", Schultens. ; he will not visit him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:5

A false witness shall not be unpunished ,.... He that bears false witness against his neighbour in an open court of judicature; though be may not be detected by men, and so escape the punishment due to such offenders by the laws of God and men; yet God, who knows all hearts and actions, will not suffer him to go with impunity; if not punished in this world, he shall be in the world to come; for bearing false witness, or perjury, is a grievous offence to God; and he that speaketh lies... read more

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