Proverbs 19:22-23 ASV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:22

Note, 2c6c 1. The honour of doing good is what we may laudably be ambitious of. It cannot but be the desire of man, if he have any spark of virtue in him, to be kind; one would not covet an estate for any thing so much as thereby to be put into a capacity of relieving the poor and obliging our friends. 2. It is far better to have a heart to do good and want ability for it than have ability for it and want a heart to it: The desire of a man to be kind, and charitable, and generous, is his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:23

See what those that get by it that live in the fear of God, and always make conscience of their duty to him. 1. Safety: They shall not be visited with evil; they may be visited with sickness or other afflictions, but there shall be no evil in them, nothing to hurt them, because nothing to separate them from the love of God, or hurt to the soul. 2. Satisfaction: They shall abide satisfied; they shall have those comforts which are satisfying, and shall have a constant contentment and complacency... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:22

The desire of a man is his kindness ,.... Either the grace and kindness of God, which is, desirable by every sensible man, as being most excellent, and better than life and anything in it; or it is his desire to show kindness. A good man is desirous of riches, that he might have it in the power of his hands to do good to others; and a beneficent man, who has it in his power, is desirous of an opportunity of showing kindness to his fellow creatures and friends; and such a disposition and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:23

The fear of the Lord tendeth to life ,.... "Godliness", of which the fear of the Lord is a principal part, has "the promise of this life and that to come", 1 Timothy 4:8 , the fear of God is the beginning of a spiritual life; and it leads to eternal life, as Gersom observes, and is connected with it; and he that hath it shall abide satisfied ; with his lot and portion in this life; with the good things of it he has, being content therewith and "godliness with contentment is great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:22

The desire of a man is his kind. nose. The Revised Version rather paraphrases the clause, The desire of a man is the measure of his kindness ; i.e. the wish and intention to do good is that which gives its real value to an act. The word for "kindness" is chesed, "mercy;" and, looking to the context, we see the meaning of the maxim to be that a poor man's desire of aiding a distressed neighbour, even if he is unable to carry out his intention, is taken for the act of mercy. "The desire... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:22-29

Mixed maxims of life-wisdom I. HUMAN KINDNESS . ( Proverbs 19:22 .) There is no purer delight than in the feelings of love and the practical exercise of universal kindness. If the mere pleasure of the selfish and the benevolent life be the criterion, without question the latter has the advantage. II. TRUTHFULNESS . ( Proverbs 19:22 , Proverbs 19:28 .) So the honest poor outweighs the rich or successful liar in intrinsic happiness as well as in repute. The worthless... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:23

The fear of the Lord tendeth to life ( Proverbs 14:27 ). True religion, obedience to God's commandments, was, under a temporal dispensation, rewarded by a long and happy life in this world, an adumbration of the blessedness that awaits the righteous in the world to come. And he that hath it shall abide satisfied. The subject passes from "the fear" to its possessor. Perhaps better, and satisfied he shall pass the night, which is the usual sense of לוּן ( lun ) , the verb here... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:23

The praise of piety What could he said more than is said here in praise of piety? What more or better could anything do for us than— I. ENSURE OUR SAFETY . So that we shall not be visited with evil. But is not the good man visited with evil? Do not his crops fail, his vessels sink, his shares fall, his difficulties gather, his children die? Does not his health decline, his hope depart, his life lessen? Yes; but: 1 . From the worst evils his piety secures him. The "fear of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 19:22-23

Proverbs 19:22-23. The desire of a man is his kindness This expression is obscure, and will admit of several interpretations. The Seventy render it, Καρπος ανδρι ελεημοσυνη , alms-giving, or charity, is fruit to a man. The meaning, Le Clerc thinks, is, that there is no virtue a man ought to be so desirous of as benignity, or a generous, charitable spirit, as it is the greatest ornament of human nature, and the strongest bond of human society; which if any one wants, however rich he may... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:1-29

Lessons heeded and ignored (19:1-29)Moral uprightness is more important than wealth, and wise action is more important than hasty action. People are foolish when they blame God for the trouble they bring upon themselves through their own mistakes (19:1-3).Often the reason the rich have many friends is that these ‘friends’ hope to gain personally from their wealth or influence (4-6). The poor lose their friends, though in a sense they are rich if they maintain their understanding (7-8). People... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:22-29

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:23

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 19:22-23

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:1-29

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