Proverbs 3:29-30

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 3:27-35

True wisdom consists in the due discharge of our duty towards man, as well as towards God, in honesty as well as piety, and therefore we have here divers excellent precepts of wisdom which relate to our neighbour. I. We must render to all their due, both in justice and charity, and not delay to do it (Prov. 3:27, 28): ?Withhold not good from those to whom it is due (either for want of love to them or through too much love to thy money) when it is in the power of thy hand to do it, for, if it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 3:29

Devise not evil against thy neighbour ,.... Or, "plough not evil" F9 תתרש "ne ares", Amama. ; turn not up thy heart to find evil against thy neighbour, as the earth is turned up by the plough; see Hosea 10:13 . Do not contrive and form schemes in thy mind and thoughts to do him any injury, in his name and character, in his person, property, or family: a good man should devise all the good he can to his fellow creatures, but not evil to any; especially to his neighbour, and as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 3:30

Strive not with a man without cause , Either by words, in a wrangling, quarrelsome, and contentious way, for mere trifles; when there is no foundation for it, no just reason given to form a complaint, or pick a quarrel upon; or by deeds, by lawsuits, when there is nothing to proceed upon; or it is so trifling, that it is not worth while to litigate it or contend about: such, who strive either way, are far from following the example of Wisdom or Christ, and from taking his advice, Matthew... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:30

Strive not with a man - Do not be of a litigious, quarrelsome spirit. Be not under the influence of too nice a sense of honor. If thou must appeal to judicial authority to bring him that wrongs thee to reason, avoid all enmity, and do nothing in a spirit of revenge. But, if he have done thee no harm, why contend with him? May not others in the same way contend with and injure thee! read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:27-32

Four valuable virtues There are some graces which, though not of the first importance, are yet far from being unimportant. Many men so fashion their lives that while, upon the whole, they are rightly reckoned among the wise and good, they are much less happy, less honoured, and less useful than they might become if they heeded a few small things. If we had regard to some of the minor moralities which we are apt to neglect, there would be less friction and more beauty in our lives than is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:27-35

6. Sixth admonitory discourse. In this discourse the teacher still carries on his object, which is to demonstrate the conditions upon which true wisdom and happiness are to be attained. The discourse differs from the preceding in consisting of detached proverbs, and may be divided into two main sections—the first ( Proverbs 3:27-30 ) enjoining benevolence, that love to one's neighbour which is the fulfilling of the Law; the second warning against emulating the oppressor and associating... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:29

Devise not evil against thy neighbour. This precept is directed against abuse of confidence. Devise not evil ( al takharosh raah ). The meaning of this expression lies between "fabricating evil" and "ploughing evil." The radical meaning of kharash, from which takharosh, is "to cut into," "to inscribe" letters on a tablet, cognate with the Greek χαράσσειν , "to cut into." But it is used in the sense of "to plough" in Job 4:18 , "They that plough iniquity ( khar'shey aven ) , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:29-31

Odious passions Let them he held up in the clear exposure of Wisdom, that their very mention may suggest their hideousness. I. MALICE AND ITS DEVICES . ( Proverbs 3:29 .) Literally, "Forge not ill against thy neighbour." 1 . Malice, like love, is all-inventive. But as the devices of the latter are the very instruments of progress and good, so those of the former are pernicious—burglar's tools, cunning instruments of torture. 2 . Directed against unsuspecting objects,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:30

The meaning of the precept in this verse is clear. We are nat to strive or quarrel with a man unless he has first given us offence. So Le Clerc, "Nisi injuria prior lacessiverit." The admonition is directed against those who, from spite, jealousy, or other reasons, "stir up strife all the day long" with those who are quiet and peaceable. Strive. The Keri here reads tariv for the Khetib taruv, but without any change of meaning. The verb ruv, from which taruv, is "to strive or contend... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 3:29

Proverbs 3:29. Devise not evil, &c. Any thing injurious or hurtful; against thy neighbour Against any child of man. Having commanded the doing of good, (Proverbs 3:27-28,) he here forbids the doing or designing any evil. Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee Relying upon thy integrity: do not, therefore, deceive his trust, and cause him to repent of the confidence which he places in thee, which would be an iniquity hateful even to heathen. read more

Group of Brands