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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:23

Note, 1. It is our great concern to keep our souls from straits, being entangled in snares and perplexities, and disquieted with troubles, that we may preserve the possession and enjoyment of ourselves and that our souls may be in frame for the service of God. 2. Those that would keep their souls must keep a watch before the door of their lips, must keep the mouth by temperance, that no forbidden fruit go into it, no stolen waters, that nothing be eaten or drunk to excess; they must keep the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:23

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue ,.... Guards the one and bridles the other; is careful of what he says, that it is truth, and without dissimulation and guile; and is not injurious to the characters of men, and is not offensive and provoking; who abstains from ill and wrathful language, and which tends to stir up wrath and contention. Aben Ezra distinguishes between the mouth and tongue, and interprets it, that keeps his mouth from eating, that is, immoderately and intemperately; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 21:21-23

The wise and the loving life I. IT IS AN ARDENT ENTHUSIASTIC LIFE . ( Proverbs 21:21 .) Literally, he who hunts after justice and love will find life, righteousness, and honour. So in other figures—of hungering and thirsting, of digging eagerly for hid treasures, etc.—the earnest enthusiasm of the true life is depicted. II. IT IS A LIFE OF PRESENT POSSESSION AND ENJOYMENT . So in the New Testament ( Romans 3:26 ; Galatians 3:21 ). III. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 21:23

We have had similar maxims before ( Proverbs 13:8 and Proverbs 18:21 , where see notes). He keepeth his mouth, who knows when to speak and when to be silent; and he keepeth his tongue, who says only what is to the purpose. We have all heard the proverb, "Speech is silver, silence is gold." One who thus takes heed of his words, keepeth his soul from troubles. The troubles ( angores, Vulgate) are such as these—remorse for the evil occasioned, distress of conscience, vexation and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:1-31

God at work in people’s lives (21:1-31)As God directs the course along which a stream flows, so he guides the decisions of national rulers according to his plan (21:1). God knows people’s motives and he will not accept their sacrifices if their thoughts and actions are wrong (2-4). Prosperity that comes through diligence is a fitting reward, but prosperity that comes through greed, lying and violence is a deadly trap (5-8). Some people make life unpleasant for those who live in the same house,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 21:23

keepeth = guardeth. mouth . . . tongue. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what is uttered by them. troubles. Some codices, with five early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "trouble" (singular) read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 21:23

"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.""Caution in speech has already been mentioned in Proverbs 21:13:3 and Proverbs 21:18:21 (See the comments there). The troubles referred to here are probably social and legal difficulties into which imprudent talk would bring one, especially where there were gossips and professional informers."[21] read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 21:1-31

1. The ’watercourses’ (RV) are the artificial irrigation channels of Egypt and Babylon (Isaiah 58:11). 4. There is no connexion between the two halves of the v. RM ’The tillage of the wicked is sin,’ i.e. the result of his labour is sin. 5. One who is in a hurry to be rich hastens to want. 6. By a very slight alteration of the Hebrew text we get the greatly improved rendering of RM, ’Is a vapour driven to and fro; they are snares of death.’9. A small room is often built on the flat roof of an... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Proverbs 21:23

(23) Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, &c—See above on Proverbs 12:13. read more

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