Proverbs 27:1-10 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:1

Here is, 1. A good caution against presuming upon time to come: Boast not thyself, no, not of to-morrow, much less of many days or years to come. This does not forbid preparing for to-morrow, but presuming upon to-morrow. We must not promise ourselves the continuance of our lives and comforts till to-morrow, but speak of it with submission to the will of God and as those who with good reason are kept at uncertainty about it. We must not take thought for the morrow (Matt. 6:34), but we must... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:2

Note, 1. We must do that which is commendable, for which even strangers may praise us. Our light must shine before men, and we must do good works that may be seen, though we must not do them on purpose that they may be seen. Let our own works be such as will praise us, even in the gates, Phil. 4:8. 2. When we have done it we must not commend ourselves, for that is an evidence of pride, folly, and self-love, and a great lessening to a man's reputation. Every one will be forward to run him down... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:3-4

These two verses show the intolerable mischief, 1. Of ungoverned passion. The wrath of a fool, who when he is provoked cares not what he says and does, is more grievous than a great stone or a load of sand. It lies heavily upon himself. Those who have no command of their passions do themselves even sink under the load of them. The wrath of a fool lies heavily upon those he is enraged at, to whom, in his fury, he will be in danger of doing some mischief. It is therefore our wisdom not to give... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:5-6

Note, 1. It is good for us to be reproved, and told of our faults, by our friends. If true love in the heart has but zeal and courage enough to show itself in dealing plainly with our friends, and reproving them for what they say and do amiss, this is really better, not only than secret hatred (as Lev. 19:17), but than secret love, that love to our neighbours which does not show itself in this good fruit, which compliments them in their sins, to the prejudice of their souls. Faithful are the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:7

Solomon here, as often in this book, shows that the poor have in some respects the advantage of the rich; for, 1. They have a better relish of their enjoyments than the rich have. Hunger is the best sauce. Coarse fare, with a good appetite to it has a sensible pleasantness in it, which those are strangers to whose hearts are overcharged with surfeiting. Those that fare sumptuously every day nauseate even delicate food, as the Israelites did the quails; whereas those that have no more than... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:8

Note, 1. There are many that do not know when they are well off, but are uneasy with their present condition, and given to change. God, in his providence, has appointed them a place fit for them and has made it comfortable to them; but they affect unsettledness; they love to wander; they are glad of a pretence to go abroad, and do not care for staying long at a place; they needlessly absent themselves from their own work and care, and meddle with that which belongs not to them. 2. Those that... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:9-10

Here is, 1. A charge given to be faithful and constant to our friends, our old friends, to keep up an intimacy with them, and to be ready to do them all the offices that lie in our power. It is good to have a friend, a bosom-friend, whom we can be free with, and with whom we may communicate counsels. It is not necessary that this friend should be a relation, or any way akin to us, though it is happiest when, among those who are so, we find one fit to make a friend of. Peter and Andrew were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:1

Boast not thyself of tomorrow ,.... Or, "of tomorrow day" F20 ביום מחר "in die crastino", Pagninus, Montanus. . Either of having a tomorrow, or of any future time; no man can assure himself of more than the present time; for, however desirable long life is, none can be certain of it; so says the poet F21 Sophoclis Oedipus Colon. v. 560. "Nemo tam divos habuit faventes, erastinum ut possit sibi polliceri", Senco. Thyest. v. 617, 618. : for though there is a common term of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:2

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth ,.... Men should do those things which are praiseworthy; and should do them openly, that they may be seen and praised for them: for it is honourable to have such a character as Demetrius had, who had a good report of all men; and as the brother had, whose praise in the Gospel was in all the churches. To be commended by others, by any but a man's self, is to his credit and reputation; but nothing more hurtful to it than self-commendation;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:3

A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty ,.... As was the stone which was at the well's mouth, where Laban's flocks were watered, which could not be rolled away till all the shepherds were gathered together, Genesis 29:2 ; and like the burdensome stone Jerusalem is compared to Zechariah 12:3 ; and as that at the sepulchre of Christ, rolled away by the angel, Matthew 28:2 . And sand is a very ponderous thing; difficult to be carried, as the Septuagint render it, as a bag of it is; and... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:3-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:5-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:9-10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:3

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