Proverbs 16:7-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:7

Note, 1. God can turn foes into friends when he pleases. He that has all hearts in his hand has access to men's spirits and power over them, working insensibly, but irresistibly upon them, can make a man's enemies to be at peace with him, can change their minds, or force them into a feigned submission. He can slay all enemies, and bring those together that were at the greatest distance from each other. 2. He will do it for us when we please him. If we make it our care to be reconciled to God,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:8

Here, 1. It is supposed that an honest good man may have but a little of the wealth of this world (all the righteous are not rich),?that a man may have but little, and yet may be honest (though poverty is a temptation to dishonesty, Prov. 30:9; yet not an invincible one),?and that a man may grow rich, for a while, by fraud and oppression, may have great revenues, and those got and kept without right, may have no good title to them nor make any good use of them. 2. It is maintained that a small... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:9

Man is here represented to us, 1. As a reasonable creature, that has the faculty of contriving for himself: His heart devises his way, designs an end, and projects ways and means leading to that end, which the inferior creatures, who are governed by sense and natural instinct, cannot do. The more shame for him if he do not devise the way how to please God and provide for his everlasting state. 2. But as a depending creature, that is subject to the direction and dominion of his Maker. If men... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:10

We wish this were always true as a proposition, and we ought to make it our prayer for kings, and all in authority, that a divine sentence may be in their lips, both in giving orders, that they may do that in wisdom, and in giving sentence, that they may do that in equity, both which are included in judgment, and that in neither their mouth may transgress, 1 Tim. 2:1. But it is often otherwise; and therefore, 1. It may be read as a precept to the kings and judges of the earth to be wise and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:11

Note, 1. The administration of public justice by the magistrate is an ordinance of God; in it the scales are held, and ought to be held by a steady and impartial hand; and we ought to submit to it, for the Lord's sake, and to see his authority in that of the magistrate, Rom. 13:1; 1 Pet. 2:13. 2. The observance of justice in commerce between man and man is likewise a divine appointment. He taught men discretion to make scales and weights for the adjusting of right exactly between buyer and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:12

Here is, 1. The character of a good king, which Solomon intended not for his own praise, but for instruction to his successors, his neighbours, and the viceroys under him. A good king not only does justice, but it is an abomination to him to do otherwise. He hates the thought of doing wrong and perverting justice; he not only abhors the wickedness done by others, but abhors the wickedness done by others, but abhors to do any himself, though, having power, he might easily and safety do it. 2.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:13

Here is a further character of good kings, that they love and delight in those that speak right. 1. They hate parasites and those that flatter them, and are very willing that all about them should deal faithfully with them and tell them that which is true, whether it be pleasing or displeasing, both concerning persons and things, that every thing should be set in a true light and nothing disguised, Prov. 29:12. 2. They not only do righteousness themselves, but take care to employ those under... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:14-15

These two verses show the power of kings, which is every where great, but was especially so in those eastern countries, where they were absolute and arbitrary. Whom they would they slew and whom they would they kept alive. Their will was a law. We have reason to bless God for the happy constitution of the government we live under, which maintains the prerogative of the prince without any injury to the liberty of the subject. But here it is intimated, 1. How formidable the wrath of a king is:... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:16

Solomon here not only asserts that it is better to get wisdom than gold (Prov. 3:14; 8:19), but he speaks it with assurance, that it is much better, better beyond expression?with admiration (How much better!) as one amazed at the disproportion?with an appeal to men's consciences (?Judge in yourselves how much better it is? )--and with an addition to the same purport, that understanding is rather to be chosen than silver and all the treasures of kings and their favourites. Note, 1. Heavenly... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:17

Note, 1. It is the way of the upright to avoid sin, and every thing that looks like it and leads towards it; and this is a highway marked out by authority, tracked by many that have gone before us, and in which we meet with many that keep company with us; it is easy to find and safe to be travelled in, like a highway, Isa. 35:8. To depart from evil is understanding. 2. It is the care of the upright to preserve their own souls, that they be not polluted with sin, and that by the troubles of the... read more

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