Proverbs 23:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 23:17-18

Here is, 1. A necessary caution against entertaining any favourable thoughts of prospering profaneness: ?Let not thy heart envy sinners; do not grudge them either the liberty they take to sin or the success they are to be pitied rather than envied. Their prosperity is their portion (Pr. 12:14), nay, it is their poison,? Prov. 1:32. We must not harbour in our hearts any secret discontent at the providence of God, though it seem to smile upon them, nor wish ourselves in their condition. ?Let not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 23:17

Let not thine heart envy sinners ,.... Their present prosperity and happiness, the pleasure, profit, and honour, they seem to enjoy; all which is but a shadow, fading had temporary; and yet good men are apt to envy it in their hearts, if they do not express it with their lips; and are ready to murmur and think it hard that they should be in straitened circumstances while the wicked are in flourishing ones; and inwardly fret and are uneasy at it, which they should not, Psalm 37:1 ; or do... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:12-18

Discipline in Divine wisdom I. THE TEMPER OF DOCILITY . ( Proverbs 23:12 .) It is submission of the affections to a higher law. It is the resignation of the will to a higher leading. It is the opening of the understanding to Divine counsels. It is the realization, on the one hand, of dependence and need; on the other, of the light, the wisdom, and the goodness which ever meet that need. II. THE NECESSITY OF DISCIPLINE FOR THE YOUNG . ( Proverbs 23:13 ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:17

Let not thine heart envy sinners, when thou seest them apparently happy and prosperous (comp. Proverbs 3:31 ; Proverbs 24:1 , Proverbs 24:19 ; Psalms 37:1 ; Psalms 73:3 ). The Authorized Version, in agreement with the Septuagint, Vulgate, Arabic, and other versions, takes the second clause of this verse as an independent one: but it seems evidently to be constructionally connected with the preceding, and to be governed by the same verb, so that there is no occasion to insert "be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:17-18

Envying sinners I. THERE IS A GREAT TEMPTATION TO ENVY SINNERS . The wise man would wastewords in giving a warning if he saw no danger. This temptation is fascinating on various accounts. 1 . Sinners prosper. This was the old ground of the psalmist's perplexity. The righteous were suffering while the wicked were fattening in ill-earned luxury ( Psalms 73:3-9 ). 2 . Sinners take forbidden paths with impunity. They trespass and are not arrested. Thus they attain... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:17-18

God's righteous judgment Nothing is more foolish than to endeavour to found a proof of the righteousness of God's rule upon a single case of human experience. Yet is that often done. A good man seizes upon a piece of good fortune in a godly man's life, and exaggerates its importance; a bad man pounces upon a piece of bad fortune and draws unwarrantable conclusions therefrom. But are there not indications, if not proofs, to be had for the seeking, that all things are under the direction of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 23:17-18

Proverbs 23:17-18. Let not thy heart envy sinners Let not the consideration of their present impunity and prosperity excite thee either to envy them, or to approve and imitate their evil courses; but be thou in the fear of the Lord Reverence the presence of the Divine Majesty, and dread his power and justice, and those judgments which he hath prepared for sinners, and thou wilt see no cause to envy, but rather to pity them; all the day long Not only when thou art in trouble, but in all... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 23:1-35

Social-climbers and others (23:1-35)Those who seek status like to mix with the upper classes and try to copy their habits. But because of their ignorance of how to eat fine foods, they make fools of themselves and so spoil their chances of progressing up the social ladder. The food they desire becomes the means of their downfall (23:1-3). The desire for wealth can lead to disappointment (4-5), and the efforts to win the favour of others may win only their disfavour. This may particularly be the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 23:17

sinners. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 . the fear of the LORD. See note on Proverbs 1:7 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 23:17

13"Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day long: For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off."Concerning the blessed hope of holy religious faith, mortals need all the encouragement they can find; and here the sacred text thunders the message, "Surely there is a reward." The hope of heaven is a reality. Christ said, "In my Father's house, there are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you." (John 14:2). This being true,... read more

Group of Brands