Proverbs 19:4-9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:4

Here, 1. We may see how strong men's love of money is, that they will love any man, how undeserving soever he be otherwise, if he has but a deal of money and is free with it, so that they may hope to be the better for it. Wealth enables a man to send many presents, make many entertainments, and do many good offices, and so gains him many friends, who pretend to love him, for they flatter him and make their court to him, but really love what he has, or rather love themselves, hoping to get by... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:5

Here we have, 1. The sins threatened?bearing false witness in judgment and speaking lies in common conversation. Men could not arrive at such a pitch of impiety as to bear false witness (where to the guilt of a lie is added that of perjury and injury) if they had not advanced to it by allowing themselves to speak untruths in jest and banter, or under pretence of doing good. Thus men teach their tongues to speak lies, Jer. 9:5. Those that will take a liberty to tell lies in discourse are in a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:6-7

These two verses are a comment upon Prov. 18:4; and show, 1. How those that are rich and great are courted and caressed, and have suitors and servants in abundance. The prince that has power in his hand, and preferments at his disposal, has his gate and his ante-chamber thronged with petitioners, that are ready to adore him for what they can get. Many will entreat his favour, and think themselves happy in it. Even great men are humble suppliants to the prince. How earnest then should we be for... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:8

Those are here encouraged, 1. That take pains to get wisdom, to get knowledge, and grace, and acquaintance with God; those that do so show that they love their own souls, and will be found to have done themselves the greatest kindness imaginable. No man ever hated his own flesh, but loves that, yet many are wanting in love to their own souls, for only those love their souls, and consequently love themselves, aright, that get wisdom, true wisdom. 2. That take care to keep it when they have got... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:9

Here is, 1. A repetition of what was said before (Prov. 18:5), for we have need to be again and again warned of the danger of the sin of lying and false-witness-bearing, since nothing is of more fatal consequence. 2. An addition to it in one word; there it was said, He that speaks lies shall not escape, and intimated that he shall be punished. Here it is said, His punishment shall be such as will be his destruction: he shall perish; the lies he forged against others will be his own ruin. It is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:4

Wealth maketh many friends ,.... Or "adds" F6 יסיף . "addit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; it increases the number of them: so the poet F7 Ovid. , "donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos"; and to this agrees what the wise man says, Proverbs 14:20 ; but the poor is separated from his neighbour ; or "friend" F8 מרעהו "ab amico sua", Pagninus, Montanus, Baynus, Junius & Tremeliius, Piscator, Michaelis; "a sodali sua", Schultens. ; he will not visit him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:5

A false witness shall not be unpunished ,.... He that bears false witness against his neighbour in an open court of judicature; though be may not be detected by men, and so escape the punishment due to such offenders by the laws of God and men; yet God, who knows all hearts and actions, will not suffer him to go with impunity; if not punished in this world, he shall be in the world to come; for bearing false witness, or perjury, is a grievous offence to God; and he that speaketh lies... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:6

Many will entreat the favour of the prince ,.... Or of the liberal and bountiful man; as kings and princes generally are, Luke 22:25 ; such have many to wait upon them, and are humble petitioners to them. Aben Ezra and Gersom interpret the many of great and honourable men, who are courtiers to kings and princes; who wait upon them, ask favours of them, and seek for places under them. The Targum is, "there are many that minister before a prince;' he has many servants, and some of them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:7

All the brethren of the poor do hate him ,.... They despise him on account of his poverty; they neglect him, and do not take care of him; they reckon him a reproach unto them, and do not choose to own him; all which may be interpreted an hatred of him; how much more do his friends go far from him ? or "his friend", every one of his friends; or "his neighbour" F12 מרעהו "amicus ejus", Vatablus; "ominis amicus", Cocceius; i.e. "quisque amicorum ejus", Michaelis. : for if his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:8

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul ,.... Wisdom and knowledge in things natural and civil; and especially in things divine, spiritual, and evangelical; particularly he that gets Christ, the Wisdom of God, and a saving knowledge of him; see Proverbs 3:13 . Or, "he that getteth a heart" F16 לב "cor", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Mercerus, &c.; ; a good heart, as the Targum explains it; which is a new heart, and a new spirit; a clean heart and a right spirit; a heart of... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:6-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:8

Group of Brands