Proverbs 21:17-21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:17

Here is an argument against a voluptuous luxurious life, taken from the ruin it brings upon men's temporal interests. Here is 1. The description of an epicure: He loves pleasure. God allows us to use the delights of sense soberly and temperately, wine to make glad the heart and put vigour into the spirits, and oil to make the face to shine and beautify the countenance; but he that loves these, that sets his heart upon them, covets them earnestly, is solicitous to have all the delights of sense... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:18

This intimates, 1. What should be done by the justice of men: The wicked, that are the troublers of a land, ought to be punished, for the preventing and turning away of those national judgments which otherwise will be inflicted and in which even the righteous are many times involved. Thus when Achan was stoned he was a ransom for the camp of righteous Israel; and the seven sons of Saul, when they were hanged, were a ransom for the kingdom of righteous David. 2. What is often done by the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:19

Note, 1. Unbridled passions embitter and spoil the comfort of all relations. A peevish angry wife makes her husband's life uneasy, to whom she should be a comfort and a meet help. Those cannot dwell in peace and happiness that cannot dwell in peace and love. Even those that are one flesh, if they be not withal one spirit, have no joy of their union. 2. It is better to have no company than bad company. The wife of thy covenant is thy companion, and yet, if she be peevish and provoking, it is... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:20

Note, 1. Those that are wise will increase what they have and live plentifully; their wisdom will teach them to proportion their expenses to their income and to lay up for hereafter; so that there is a treasure of things to be desired, and as much as needs be desired, a good stock of all things convenient, laid up in season, and particularly of oil, one of the staple commodities of Canaan, Deut. 8:8. This is in the habitation, or cottage, of the wise; and it is better to have an old-fashioned... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:21

See here, 1. What it is to make religion our business; it is to follow after righteousness and mercy, not to content ourselves with easy performances, but to do our duty with the utmost care and pains, as those that are pressing forward and in fear of coming short. We must both do justly and love mercy, and must proceed and persevere therein; and, though we cannot attain to perfection, yet it will be a comfort to us if we aim at it and follow after it. 2. What will be the advantage of doing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:17

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man ,.... Or "sport" F3 שמחה "laetitiam", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus, Cocceius, Schultens. and pastime, music and dancing, cards and dice, hunting and hawking, and other sensual gratifications; a man that indulges himself in these things, and spends his time and his money in such a way, is very likely to be a poor man, and generally is so in the issue; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:18

The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous ,.... Not to make satisfaction for them, as Christ is a ransom for his people; but as a ransom is in the room of another, so the wicked cometh in the stead of the righteous, and into the trouble he is delivered from; as Haman for Mordecai, which instance Jarchi mentions; see Proverbs 11:8 ; or when a body of people are threatened with divine vengeance; and this falls upon the wicked, whose sins caused it, and the righteous are delivered from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:19

It is better to dwell in the wilderness ,.... Where persons live without shelter, and are not only exposed to storms and tempests, but to beasts of prey; where is want of the necessaries of life, and no society; where no "speech" is, as the word F5 מדבר "a" דבר "loqui". for wilderness may signify; yet it is better to dwell in such a place, where no human voice is heard, than with a contentious and an angry woman ; that is always brawling and scolding, ever in a quarrelsome... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:20

There is a treasure to be desired ,.... Gold, silver, jewels, and precious stones; all sorts food, as Aben Ezra explains it, and rich and costly, raiment; all which may be lawfully desired and sought after, and, when obtained, laid up for future use; which may be spared for their own service and that of posterity: but there are riches of grace, a pearl of great price and treasure in heaven, more desirable than these, Matthew 6:19 ; and oil in the dwelling of the wise ; which is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:21

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy ,.... Is eager, diligent, and fervent in his pursuit of these things: "after righteousness"; not a legal righteousness, such as the Jews followed after, but did not attain to; because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law, Romans 9:31 ; by which there is no righteousness or justification before God; but an evangelical righteousness, the righteousness of Christ; see Isaiah 51:1 . To follow after it is to seek,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:21

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