Proverbs 30:7-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:7-9

After Agur's confession and creed, here follows his litany, where we may observe, I. The preface to his prayer: Two things have I required (that is, requested) of thee, O God! Before we go to pray it is good to consider what we need, and what the things are which we have to ask of God.?What does our case require? What do our hearts desire? What would we that God should do for us?--that we may not have to seek for our petition and request when we should be presenting it. He begs, Deny me not... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:10-14

Here is, I. A caution not to abuse other people's servants any more than our own, nor to make mischief between them and their masters, for it is an ill office, invidious, and what will make a man odious, Prov. 30:10. Consider, 1. It is an injury to the servant, whose poor condition makes him an object of pity, and therefore it is barbarous to add affliction to him that is afflicted: Hurt not a servant with thy tongue (so the margin reads it); for it argues a sordid disposition to smite any... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:15-17

He had spoken before of those that devoured the poor (Prov. 30:14), and had spoken of them last, as the worst of all the four generations there mentioned; now here he speaks of their insatiableness in doing this. The temper that puts them upon it is made up of cruelty and covetousness. Now those are two daughters of the horse-leech, its genuine offspring, that still cry, ?Give, give, give more blood, give more money;? for the bloody are still blood-thirsty; being drunk with blood, they add... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:18-23

Here is, I. An account of four things that are unsearchable, too wonderful to be fully known. And here, 1. The first three are natural things, and are only designed as comparisons for the illustration of the last. We cannot trace, (1.) An eagle in the air. Which way she has flown cannot be discovered either by the footstep or by the scent, as the way of a beast may upon ground; nor can we account for the wonderful swiftness of her flight, how soon she has gone beyond our ken. (2.) A serpent... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

I. Agur, having specified four things that seem great and yet are really contemptible, here specifies four things that are little and yet are very admirable, great in miniature, in which, as bishop Patrick observes, he teaches us several good lessons; as, 1. Not to admire bodily bulk, or beauty, or strength, nor to value persons or think the better of them for such advantages, but to judge of men by their wisdom and conduct, their industry and application to business, which are characters that... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 30:29-33

Here is, I. An enumeration of four things which are majestic and stately in their going, which look great:?1. A lion, the king of beasts, because strongest among beasts. Among beasts it is strength that gives the pre-eminence, but it is a pity that it should do so among men, whose wisdom is their honour, not their strength and force. The lion turns not away, nor alters his pace, for fear of any pursuers, since he knows he is too hard for them. Herein the righteous are bold as a lion, that they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:7

Two things have I required of thee ,.... Or, "have asked of thee F1 שאלתי מאתך "postulavi a te", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Mercerus, Gejerus; "peto ab te", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "petii a te", Cocceius, Michaelis, Schultens. , O God"; as may be supplied, for the words are addressed to him. The following is a prayer made unto him, which contains the two requests here referred to; his requests are not many, his words are few; he did not make long prayers, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:8

Remove far from me vanity and lies ,.... This is the "first" request, to be preserved from sin, in general; which is a vain, lying, and deceitful thing; promising pleasure, profit, liberty, and impunity, which it does not give. Agur desires to have vain thoughts removed out of his mind, vain words from his mouth, and vain actions from his life and conversation; to have his eyes turned from beholding vanity, and his feet from walking in it; and his affections taken off from the vain things of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:9

Lest I be full, and deny thee ,.... This is the dangerous consequence of riches, and the temptation they expose men unto; who, being full of the things of this world, are tempted to deny the Lord; not his being and perfections directly, but chiefly his providence; to deny that what they have, they have received of him, but attribute it to their own care, diligence, and industry; and now think they can live without him, without any dependence on his providence, having a large affluence of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:10

Accuse not a servant unto his master ,.... Wrongly, rashly, and without any foundation, nor for any trifling thing; unless it be in a case of moment and importance, when his master's business is sadly neglected, or he is injured in his property by him: especially care should be taken not to calumniate a servant, to abuse him with the tongue, as the word F7 אל תלשן "ne crimineris lingua", Montanus. signifies; the circumstance he is in should be considered, as a servant; and how... read more

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