Proverbs 13:11-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 13:11

This shows that riches wear as they are won and woven. 1. That which is won ill will never wear well, for a curse attends it which will waste it, and the same corrupt dispositions which incline men to the sinful ways of getting well incline them to the like sinful ways of spending: Wealth gotten by vanity will be bestowed upon vanity, and then it will be diminished. That which is got by such employments as are not lawful, or not becoming Christians, such as only serve to feed pride and luxury,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 13:12

Note, 1. Nothing is more grievous than the disappointment of a raised expectation, though not in the thing itself by a denial, yet in the time of it by a delay: Hope deferred makes the heart sick and languishing, fretful and peevish; but hope quite dashed kills the heart, and the more high the expectation was raised the more cutting is the frustration of it. It is therefore our wisdom not to promise ourselves any great matters from the creature, not to feed ourselves with any vain hopes from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished ,.... In an unjust or unlawful way, either by robbery and theft, as Aben Ezra; or by fraud and tricking, by overreaching and circumventing others; or by vain practices, as by cards or dice, and by stage playing and the like; or by curious and illicit arts, as necromancy, judiciary astrology, and such like things; whatever is gotten in a wicked way very seldom lasts long; it lessens by little and little till it comes to nothing F6 "De malo... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick ,.... That is, the object hoped for; if it is not enjoyed so soon as expected, at least if it is delayed any length of time, the mind becomes uneasy, the heart sinks and fails, and the man is dispirited and ready to despond, and give up all hope of enjoying the desired blessing; whether it be deliverance from any evil, or the possession of any good; but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life ; when that which is hoped and wished for, and has... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gotten by vanity - Wealth that is not the result of honest industry and hard labor is seldom permanent. All fortunes acquired by speculation, lucky hits, and ministering to the pride or luxury of others, etc., soon become dissipated. They are not gotten in the way of Providence, and have not God's blessing, and therefore are not permanent. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick - When once a good is discovered, want of it felt, strong desire for the possession excited, and the promise of attainment made on grounds unsuspected, so that the reality of the thing and the certainity of the promise are manifest, hope posts forward to realize the blessing. Delay in the gratification pains the mind; the increase of the delay prostrates and sickens the heart; and if delay sickens the heart, ultimate disappointment kills it. But when the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 13:1-18

The wisdom of docility, etc.: a sermon to the young We have the positive and negative, the happy and the sorrowful aspects of the subject brought into view. I. THE WISDOM OF DOCILITY . The excellency of docility is seen in its results: 1 . In character. It is a "wise son" who heareth his father's instruction. 2 . In circumstance. The docile son will "be rewarded," will "be honored." The path he treads is one which leads to competence, to comfort, to health, to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 13:4-11

The value and use of property I. THE WORTH OF THIS WORLD 'S GOODS IS ASSUMED . It is needless to show that property is a necessary institution of life under present conditions. All the strong things said in the gospel about riches do not dispute their value; it is in the relation of the spirit to them that evil arises. Their value as a means to the ends of the spirit is unquestioned, and everywhere assumed. II. THE VANITY OF RICHES WITHOUT CORRESPONDING ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; literally, wealth by a breath ; i.e. wealth obtained without labour and exertion, or by illegitimate and dishonest means, is soon dissipated, is not blessed by God, and has no stability. Vulgate, "riches acquired hastily;" Septuagint, "substance gotten hastily with iniquity." This makes the antithesis more marked, the contrast being between wealth gotten hastily and that acquired by diligent labour. Cito nata, cito pereunt, "Quickly won,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 13:11

Fraudulent gain I. THE DELUSIVE APPEARANCE OF FRAUDULENT GAIN . This looks very different from coarse, vulgar robbery. The sleek swindler owns no common brotherhood with the brutal burglar. Fraudulent gain is got in the way of business; it is not at all like the money directly stolen from a man's pocket. The process is so very roundabout that it is difficult to trace the transition from fair dealing to cheating. The decorous thief would be horrified at hearing his true name. He... read more

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