Proverbs 27:21-27

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:21

This gives us a touchstone by which we may try ourselves. Silver and gold are tried by putting them into the furnace and fining-pot; so is man tried by praising him. Let him be extolled and preferred, and then he will show himself what he is. 1. If a man be made, by the applause that is given him, proud, conceited, and scornful,?if he take the glory to himself which he should transmit to God, as Herod did,?if, the more he is praised, the more careless he is of what he says and does,?if he lie... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:22

Solomon had said (Prov. 22:15), The foolishness which is bound in the heart of a child may be driven out by the rod of correction, for then the mind is to be moulded, the vicious habits not having taken root; but here he shows that, if it be not done then, it will be next to impossible to do it afterwards; if the disease be inveterate, there is a danger of its being incurable. Can the Ethiopian change his skin? Observe, 1. Some are so bad that rough and severe methods must be used with them,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 27:23-27

Here is, I. A command given us to be diligent in our callings. It is directed to husbandmen and shepherds, and those that deal in cattle, but it is to be extended to all other lawful callings; whatever our business is, within doors or without, we must apply our minds to it. This command intimates, 1. That we ought to have some business to do in this world and not to live in idleness. 2. We ought rightly and fully to understand our busine 1522 ss, and know what we have to do, and not meddle... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:21

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold ,.... For the trying, proving, and purifying these metals; see Proverbs 17:3 ; so is a man to his praise ; or "according to the mouth of his praise" F16 לפי מהללו "ad os laudis suae", Gejerus. ; if his own mouth praises him, as in Proverbs 27:2 ;, he is known to be what he is, a foolish and vainglorious person: or "so a man is proved by the mouth of him that praises him", as the Vulgate Latin version; or "of them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:22

Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle ,.... As the manna was, Numbers 11:8 ; and as wheat beat and bruised in a mortar, or ground in a mill, retains its own nature; so, let a wicked man be used ever so roughly or severely, by words, admonitions, reproofs, and counsels; or by deeds, by corrections and punishment, by hard words or blows, whether publicly or privately; in the midst of the congregation, as the Targum and Syriac version; or of the sanhedrim and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:23

Be thou diligent to know the state of flocks ,.... In what condition they are; what health they enjoy; how fat and fruitful they be; what pasturage they have; and that they want nothing fitting for them that can be had and is necessary; and also the number of them. The calling of the shepherd is here particularly mentioned, because valiant, honourable, innocent, and useful; but the same diligence is to be used in all other callings and business men are employed in, that they may provide for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:24

For riches are not for ever ,.... A man cannot be assured of the continuance of them; they are uncertain things, here today and gone tomorrow: wherefore, though a man has a considerable share of them, yet should follow one calling or another; particularly husbandry is recommended, or keeping sheep and cattle, which are increasing; by which means his substance will be continued and augmented, which otherwise is not to be depended on, but in a diligent attendance to business; and doth the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:25

The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself ,.... Some think this is mentioned to illustrate the uncertainty of riches, which soon vanish away; as the tender grass shows itself, and is presently cut down and quickly appears hay, and that soon consumed; but rather this contains an argument to take to the pastoral life and calling, since it may be performed with so much ease; for the earth, the valleys and hills, are covered with grass for the cattle; so that there is no further... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 27:26

The lambs are for thy clothing ,.... This is another argument, exciting to diligence in the pastoral calling, taken from the profit arising from it: the wool of the lambs, or rather "sheep", as many versions render it; of it cloth is made, and of that garments to be worn, to keep decent, warm, and comfortable; see Job 31:20 ; and the goats are the price of thy field : these, being brought up and sold, furnish the husbandman with money to purchase more fields to feed his cattle on.... read more

John Gill

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

And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food ,.... The word for "goats", in Proverbs 27:26 , signifies he goats, which were sold to buy fields, pay servants or rent, or purchase the necessaries of life; and this here signifies she goats, which were kept for their milk; and which was daily used for food in some countries, and is still in use for the same purpose in some parts of our kingdoms; and in medicine it has been preferred by some physicians above others, next to the milk of... read more

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