Proverbs 29:7-14 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:7

It is a pity but that every one who sues sub formâ pauperis?as a pauper, should have an honest cause (they are of all others inexcusable if they have not), because the scripture has so well provided that it should have a fair hearing, and that the judge himself should be of counsel, as for the prisoner, so for the pauper. 1. It is here made the character of a righteous judge that he considers the cause of the poor. It is every man's duty to consider the poor (Ps. 41:1), but the judgment of the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:8

See here, 1. Who are the men that are dangerous to the public?scornful men. When such are employed in the business of the state they do things with precipitation, because they scorn to deliberate, and will not take time for consideration and consultation; they do things illegal and unjustifiable, because they scorn to be hampered by laws and constitutions; they break their faith, because they scorn to be bound by their word, and provoke the people, because they scorn to please them. Thus they... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:9

A wise man is here advised not to set his wit to a fool?s, not to dispute with him, or by contending with him to think either of fastening reason upon him or gaining right from him: If a wise man contend with a wise man, he may hope to be understood, and, as far as he has reason and equity on his side, to carry his point, at least to bring the controversy to a head and make it issue amicably; but, if he contend with a foolish man, there is no rest; he will see no end of it, nor will he have... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:10

Note, 1. Bad men hate their best friends: The blood-thirsty, all the seed of the old serpent, who was a murderer from the beginning, all that inherit his enmity against the seed of the woman, hate the upright; they seek the ruin of good men because they condemn the wicked world and witness against it. Christ told his disciples that they should be hated of all men. Bloody men do especially hate upright magistrates, who would restrain and reform them, and put the laws in execution against them,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:11

Note, 1. It is a piece of weakness to be very open: He is a fool who utters all his mind,?who tells every thing he knows, and has in his mouth instantly whatever he has in his thoughts, and can keep no counsel,?who, whatever is started in discourse, quickly shoots his bolt,?who, when he is provoked, will say any thing that comes uppermost, whoever is reflected upon by it,?who, when he is to speak of any business, will say all he thinks, and yet never thinks he says enough, whether choice or... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:12

Note, 1. It is a great sin in any, especially in rulers, to hearken to lies; for thereby they not only give a wrong judgment themselves of persons and things, according to the lies they give credit to, but they encourage others to give wrong informations. Lies will be told to those that will hearken to them; but the receiver, in this case, is as bad as the thief. 2. Those that do so will have all their servants wicked. All their servants will appear wicked, for they will have lies told of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:13

This shows how wisely the great God serves the designs of his providence by persons of very different tempers, capacities, and conditions in the world, even, 1. By those that are contrary the one to the other. Some are poor and forced to borrow; others are rich, have a great deal of the mammon of unrighteousness (deceitful riches they are called), and they are creditors, or usurers, as it is in the margin. Some are poor, and honest, and laborious; others are rich, slothful, and deceitful. They... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:14

Here is, 1. The duty of magistrates, and that is, to judge faithfully between man and man, and to determine all causes brought before them, according to truth and equity, particularly to take care of the poor, not to countenance them in an unjust cause for the sake of their poverty (Exod. 23:3), but to see that their poverty do not turn to their prejudice if they have a just cause. The rich will look to themselves, but the poor and needy the prince must defend (Ps. 82:3) and plead for, Prov.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:7

The righteous considereth the cause of the poor ,.... Not his poverty and distress, so as to relieve him, which yet he does, Psalm 41:1 ; nor the person of the poor in judgment, and which he ought not to do; for as he should not regard a rich man's person, and favour him, because he is rich; so neither a poor man, because he is poor, through an affectation of mercy, Leviticus 19:15 ; but the cause of the poor, and the justice of that, and do him justice, though a poor man. This is to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:8

Scornful men bring a city into a snare ,.... Such as despise dominion, speak evil of dignities; proud and haughty men, that speak Loftily, and with a contempt of their superiors; or who make a mock at religion, and scoff at all that is good and serious; these bring the inhabitants of a city into a snare, to rebel against their governors, and so into mischief and ruin: or, they "burn a city", as the Septuagint and Syriac versions F15 "Inflammant urbem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:8

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