Proverbs 28:3-5 ASV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:3

See here, 1. How hard-hearted poor people frequently are to one another, not only not doing such good offices as they might do one to another, but imposing upon and over-reaching one another. Those who know by experience the miseries of poverty should be compassionate to those who suffer the like, but they are inexcusably barbarous if they be injurious to them. 2. How imperious and griping those commonly are who, being indigent and necessitous, get into power. If a prince prefer a poor man, he... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:4

Note, 1. Those that praise the wicked make it to appear that they do themselves forsake the law, and go contrary to it, for that curses and condemns the wicked. Wicked people will speak well of one another, and so strengthen one another's hands in their wicked ways, hoping thereby to silence the clamours of their own consciences and to serve the interests of the devil's kingdom, which is not done by any thing so effectually as by keeping vice in reputation. 2. Those that do indeed make... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:5

Note, I. As the prevalency of men's lusts is owing to the darkness of their understandings, so the darkness of their understandings is very much owing to the dominion of their lusts: Men understand not judgment, discern not between truth and falsehood, right and wrong; they understand not the law of God as the rule either of their duty or of their doom; and, 1. Therefore it is that they are evil men; their wickedness is the effect of their ignorance and error, Eph. 4:18. 2. Therefore they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 28:3

A poor man that oppresseth the poor ,.... Either one that is poor at the time he oppresses another like himself, either by secret fraud or open injury; from whom the oppressed can get no redress, as sometimes he may and does from a rich man: or rather one that has been poor, but now become rich, and got into some place of authority and profit, who should remember what he had been; and it might be expected that such an one would put on bowels of compassion towards the poor, as knowing what it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 28:4

They that forsake the law praise the wicked ,.... Who are like them; who forsake and transgress the law, as they do; every like loves its like; wicked men delight in sin, the transgression of the law, and in those that do it. One covetous man will bless and praise another, whom the Lord abhors, and commend his covetousness as frugality and good husbandry: one proud man will call another happy, and praise him as a man of spirit, that will not debase himself, but keep up his authority, rank,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 28:5

Evil men understand not judgment ,.... Or, "men of wickedness" F2 אנשי רע "viri mali, (in genitivo casu)", Mercerus; "vel malitiae", Baynus, Gejerus. ; that are under the governing power of it; who are given up and give up themselves unto it; who, like Ahab, sell themselves to work wickedness: these know not what is just and right between man and man, at least not to do it; they know it not practically; they are wise to do evil, but to do good have no knowledge, Jeremiah 4:22 ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 28:3

A poor man that oppresseth the poor - Our Lord illustrates this proverb most beautifully, by the parable of the two debtors, Matthew 18:23 . One owed ten thousand talents, was insolvent, begged for time, was forgiven. A fellow servant owed this one a hundred pence: he was insolvent; but prayed his fellow servant to give him a little time, and he would pay it all. He would not, took him by the throat, and cast him into prison till he should pay that debt. Here the poor oppressed the poor;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 28:4

They that forsake the law - He that transgresses says, in fact, that it is right to transgress; and thus other wicked persons are encouraged. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 28:5

They that seek the Lord understand all things - They are wise unto salvation; they "have the unction from the Holy One, and they know all things," 1 John 2:20 , every thing that is essentially needful for them to know, in reference to both worlds. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 28:1-5

Canons of moral truth I. WICKEDNESS IS FEARFUL , GOODNESS IS COURAGEOUS . ( Proverbs 28:1 .) A good conscience is better than a thousand witnesses; an evil conscience unmans ( Job 15:21 ). What passes by the name of courage is often the effect of fear of men; and that which is discountenanced as want of spirit may proceed from the profoundest reverence for God. We shall never find anything in the world more to be feared than the warring presence within our own breast.... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 28:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 28:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 28:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 28:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 28:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 28:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 28:1-5

Group of Brands