Proverbs 30:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:7-9

After Agur's confession and creed, here follows his litany, where we may observe, I. The preface to his prayer: Two things have I required (that is, requested) of thee, O God! Before we go to pray it is good to consider what we need, and what the things are which we have to ask of God.?What does our case require? What do our hearts desire? What would we that God should do for us?--that we may not have to seek for our petition and request when we should be presenting it. He begs, Deny me not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:8

Remove far from me vanity and lies ,.... This is the "first" request, to be preserved from sin, in general; which is a vain, lying, and deceitful thing; promising pleasure, profit, liberty, and impunity, which it does not give. Agur desires to have vain thoughts removed out of his mind, vain words from his mouth, and vain actions from his life and conversation; to have his eyes turned from beholding vanity, and his feet from walking in it; and his affections taken off from the vain things of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 30:8

Remove far from me vanity and lies - שוא shav , all false shows, all false appearances of happiness, every vain expectation. Let me not set my heart on any thing that is not solid, true, durable, and eternal. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:1-33

Part VII. FIRST APPENDIX TO THE SECOND COLLECTION , containing "the words of Agur." A short introduction, teaching that the Word of God is the source of wisdom ( Proverbs 30:1-6 ), is followed by apothegms on different subjects ( Proverbs 30:7-33 ). Cornelius a Lapide offers the following opinion concerning this appendix, which no one can hesitate to say is well founded, if he attempts to give it a spiritual interpretation, and to discern mysteries under the literal... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:7-9

A mashal ode, containing two requests, and a rationale of the latter. The matter of the two prayers connects it with Proverbs 30:6 , whether we consider that the limitation of man's desire follows naturally the limitation of his knowledge (Plumptre). or that the warning against being reproved as a liar is corroborated by the prayer against vanity and lies (but see below, on Proverbs 30:9 ). It is the first of Agur's numerical proverbs. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:7-9

The golden mean I. THE WAY OF LIFE : TRUTH IS THE MEAN BETWEEN TWO EXTREMES . ( Proverbs 30:8 .) Extremes exist in logic; life shows that extremes meet, and that the path of sense in opinion and of safety in conduct lies intermediate between them. II. GREAT INCHES ARE NOT IN THEMSELVES DESIRABLE . Not by the wise and religious man. They bring perils to the soul. Full of his gifts, it is tempted to deny the Giver. The deepest atheism springs from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:7-9

A new year's prayer We have in these most instructive words a wise and good man— I. CALMLY CONFRONTING THE FUTURE . Whether we read "before I die" or "until I die" (Wardlaw), we have a good man deliberately facing the future of his life. He realizes that before him stretches out a tract of time which he has to cross; he knows that he must keep steadily, incessantly, moving forward; that he will meet with difficulties and dangers on his way; that he will want all and more than... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:8

Here is the first request: Remove far from me vanity and lies. Shay , "vanity," is inward hollowness and worthlessness, and "lies" are the expression of this in words. The prayer might indeed be taken as an entreaty against being polluted with the companionship of the evil, like "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;" but it is best taken subjectively, as a supplication for personal truthfulness and sincerity in all relations both towards God and man. Give me neither... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:8-9

Neither poverty nor riches. A wise man here points out the danger of the two extremes of poverty and riches, and seeks for himself the happier middle position. In the present day the enormous wealth of one class and the hard penury of another suggest serious social questions, and raise alarms as to great possible dangers unless the terrible anomaly of this artificial condition is not remedied. I. THE EVIL OF POVERTY . The thought is of extreme poverty, of absolute destitution,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 30:7-8

Proverbs 30:7-8. Two things have I required of thee I do most earnestly and especially desire: deny me them not Hebrew, אל תמנע ממני , withhold them not from me; before I die That is, while I live, as being things of great and continual necessity, for thy honour and service, and my own good. Remove far from me From my heart, and from the course of my life: vanity That Isaiah , 1 st, All false and vain opinions, namely, concerning God and things divine; all unbelief, idolatry, and... read more

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