So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth ,.... Swiftly and suddenly, both in a temporal and spiritual sense; See Gill on Proverbs 6:11 ; and thy want as an armed man ; irresistibly. Here ends according to some the "second", according to others the "third" part of this book of Proverbs, another beginning with the following chapter. read more
Part V . A SECOND COLLECTION , forming a second supplement to the first Solomonic book, and containing further "words of the wise." read more
A mashal ode concerning the sluggard (for similar odes, comp. Proverbs 7:1-27 :41-23; Job 5:3-5 ; Psalms 37:35 , etc.; Isaiah 5:1-6 ). read more
The field of the slothful Nothing is more characteristic of the Book of Proverbs than its scorn of slothfulness and its strenuous inculcation of industry. To doubt these subjects were especially important in view of the perennial indolence of Orientals. But slothfulness is not unknown in the West, and in the fierce competition of modern life a smaller indulgence in idleness will bring sure disasters. Men often blame their circumstances, the injustice of fate, etc; when they should accuse... read more
The sluggard's vineyard: a parable of sloth I. A PICTURE OF INDOLENCE . ( Proverbs 24:30 , Proverbs 24:31 .) The vineyard in the East corresponds to the garden, orchard, or small farm in the West. In the parable it is overgrown with nettles and thorns. The stone fence is crumbling for want of repair. We may contrast the picture in Isaiah 5:1 , sqq; of what a vineyard ought to be. The way in which God tilled the chosen people is the way in which he would have each of us attend... read more
The neglected garden The whole scene is before us. The sluggard is asleep while everything is going wrong; instead of the flower is the thorn; the ground is coloured with the green weeds; the wall is breaking down; where should be beauty is unsightliness; where should be fruitfulness is barrenness or wilderness; ruin is written, on everything, everywhere. So is it with the farmer, with the tradesman, with the merchant or manufacturer, of the sluggard order. Consider it well. Negligence,... read more
These verses are a repetition, with very slight variations, of Proverbs 6:10 , Proverbs 6:11 (where see notes), and possibly have been introduced here by a later editor. Proverbs 6:33 seems to be the sluggard's own words; Proverbs 6:34 shows the result of his sloth. There are numberless proverbs dedicated to this subject in all languages; e . g . "No sweat, no sweet;" "No pains, no gains; …. He that wad eat the kernel maun crack the nut;" "A punadas entran las buenas hadas,"... read more
Proverbs 24:30-34. I went by the field of the slothful For the counsel intended to be conveyed by this paragraph, see note on Proverbs 6:6-11. I looked upon it and received instruction I learned wisdom by his folly, and by his gross idleness was provoked to greater care and diligence. read more
Godly and ungodly citizens (24:1-34)In contrast to the destructive schemes of the wicked are the constructive acts of the wise. A life built by wisdom is likened to a strongly built and richly furnished house (24:1-4). Wisdom gives people real strength and success, but folly gives them nothing worthwhile, not even sensible words that can benefit their fellow citizens (5-7). (In ancient times the place where citizens liked to gather was the open area just inside the city gate; v. 7. There they... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 24:30-34
Here is, 1. The view which Solomon took of the field and vineyard of the slothful man. He did not go on purpose to see it, but, as he passed by, observing the fruitfulness of the ground, as it is very proper for travellers to do, and his subjects? management of their land, as it is very proper for magistrates to do, he cast his eye upon a field and a vineyard unlike all the rest; for, though the soil was good, yet there was nothing growing in them but thorns and nettles, not here and there... read more