PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible — Proverbs
Gill, John, 1697-1771 · 266,170 words · 546 reading sections
Proverbs 21:10
Proverbs 21:10 Ver. 10. The soul of the wicked desireth evil,.... The evil of sin, it being natural to him; he chooses it, delights in it, craves after it, under a notion of pleasure or profit: or the evil of mischief; it is a sport and pastime to him to do injury to others; see Pr 10:23; he desires both the one and t…
166 wordsSECTION 362Proverbs 21:11
Proverbs 21:11 Ver. 11. When the scorner is punished,.... Either by the immediate hand of God, or by the civil magistrate; he who scoffs at Deity, blasphemes the most High, mocks at all religion, despises dominion, and speaks evil of dignities: the simple is made wise; who is weak and foolish, easily persuaded and dr…
238 wordsSECTION 363Proverbs 21:12
Proverbs 21:12 Ver. 12. The righteous [man] wisely considereth the house of the wicked,.... Not so much the stately palace he lives in, and the furniture of it, as the glory, splendour, riches, and largeness of his family; the flourishing condition he and they are in: he considers how they came into it, the short cont…
281 wordsSECTION 364Proverbs 21:13
Proverbs 21:13 Ver. 13. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,.... For want of bread; or, "of the weak", as the Septuagint and other versions; for want of help and protection, when in the greatest distress; and, with the most pressing importunity, entreats his assistance, and yet refuses to hear him out: or, …
169 wordsSECTION 365Proverbs 21:14
Proverbs 21:14 Ver. 14. A gift in secret pacifieth anger,.... Appeases an angry man; humbles and "brings [his anger] down" {y}, as Aben Ezra and Gersom observe the word signifies; which before rose very high, and showed itself in big words and disdainful looks, as proud wrath does; or extinguishes it, as the Targum an…
299 wordsSECTION 366Proverbs 21:15
Proverbs 21:15 Ver. 15. [It is] joy to the, last to do judgment,.... It is with pleasure he does it; he delights in the law of God, after the inward man, and finds much peace of mind and joy in the Holy Ghost in keeping it, and observing its commands, which are holy, just, and good; yea, it gives him pleasure to see j…
230 wordsSECTION 367Proverbs 21:16
Proverbs 21:16 Ver. 16. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding,.... The way of getting understanding, the good ways and word of God; that wanders from the house of God, the assembly of the saints, where the Gospel is preached, and the ordinances are administered; that, instead of attending on them, whe…
246 wordsSECTION 368Proverbs 21:17
Proverbs 21:17 Ver. 17. He that loveth pleasure [shall be] a poor man,.... Or "sport" {c} and pastime, music and dancing, cards and dice, hunting and hawking, and other sensual gratifications; a man that indulges himself in these things, and spends his time and his money in such a way, is very likely to be a poor man,…
203 wordsSECTION 369Proverbs 21:18
Proverbs 21:18 Ver. 18. The wicked [shall be] a ransom for the righteous,.... Not to make satisfaction for them, as Christ is a ransom for his people; but as a ransom is in the room of another, so the wicked cometh in the stead of the righteous, and into the trouble he is delivered from; as Haman for Mordecai, which i…
274 wordsSECTION 370Proverbs 21:19
Proverbs 21:19 Ver. 19. [It is] better to dwell in the wilderness,.... Where persons live without shelter, and are not only exposed to storms and tempests, but to beasts of prey; where is want of the necessaries of life, and no society; where no "speech" is, as the word {e} for wilderness may signify; yet it is better…
2,736 wordsSECTION 371Proverbs 22:1
Proverbs 22:1 Ver. 1. A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches,.... The word "good" is not in the text, but is rightly supplied, as it is by the Targum, Septuagint, and Vulgate Latin versions; for it is not any name that is more eligible than riches; nor is it a need name among any sort of persons; for…
272 wordsSECTION 372Proverbs 22:2
Proverbs 22:2 Ver. 2. The rich and poor meet together,.... In an hostile way, as some; they rush upon one another; the rich despise the poor, and the poor envy the rich; they cannot speak well one of another, as the Arabic version; or they are dependent on one another, they cannot do without each other; as in the natu…
416 wordsSECTION 373Proverbs 22:3
Proverbs 22:3 Ver. 3. A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself,.... A wise man, whose eyes are in his head, who looks about him and before him, and is cautious and careful of his conduct and behaviour; he foresees the evil of sin he is liable to be drawn into by such and such company, snares, and temptat…
200 wordsSECTION 374Proverbs 22:4
Proverbs 22:4 Ver. 4. By humility [and] the fear of the Lord,.... Some render it, "the reward of humility, which [is] the fear of the Lord" {r}; so the Targum; an humble man is blessed with it. Jarchi's note is, "because of humility, the fear of the Lord comes;'' humility leads on to the fear of the Lord; he that be…
206 wordsSECTION 375Proverbs 22:5
Proverbs 22:5 Ver. 5. Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward,.... Who walks contrary to the will and law of God; such a man meets with troubles, which are as thorns, grieving and distressing to him; and is taken in snares, and brought into difficulties, out of which he is not easily extricated; the thorns…
142 wordsSECTION 376Proverbs 22:6
Proverbs 22:6 Ver. 6. Train up a child in the way he should go,.... As Abraham trained up his children, and those born in his house, in the way of the Lord, in the paths of justice and judgment; which are the ways in which they should go, and which will be to their profit and advantage; see Ge 14:14; and which is the …
348 wordsSECTION 377Proverbs 22:7
Proverbs 22:7 Ver. 7. The rich ruleth over the poor,.... Usurps a dominion over them, and exercises it in a rigorous, oppressive, and tyrannical manner; otherwise they are generally the rich that rule, and if they rule well, in a lawful, gentle, and righteous manner, it is commendable; and the borrower [is] servant t…
111 wordsSECTION 378Proverbs 22:8
Proverbs 22:8 Ver. 8. He that soweth iniquity {u} shall reap vanity,.... He that practises sin, and is frequent in the commission of it; indulges to it in a profuse way, as the sower plentifully scatters his seed; such shall reaper possess nothing but sin and wickedness; for, what a man sows, that shall he reap; he sh…
271 wordsSECTION 379Proverbs 22:9
Proverbs 22:9 Ver. 9. He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed,.... Or "a good eye" {y}; who looks about him for proper objects to do good unto; looks pleasantly on them, and deals out cheerfully and bountifully to them; he shall be blessed with an increase of temporal good things, with spiritual blessings, and w…
172 wordsSECTION 380Proverbs 22:10
Proverbs 22:10 Ver. 10. Cast out the scorner,.... That makes a mock at sin, a jest at religion, and scoffs at all good men, and everything serious and spiritual; cast such an one out of all company and conversation; out of the family, as mocking Ishmael was cast out of Abraham's family; and out of the church, and all …
158 wordsSECTION 381Proverbs 22:11
Proverbs 22:11 Ver. 11. He that loveth pureness of heart,.... Though man's heart is naturally impure, and all that is in it, the thoughts, affections, mind, conscience, understanding, and will; yet there is such a thing as pureness of heart; as where the grace of God is; where there it pure love to God, Christ, and to…
604 wordsSECTION 382Proverbs 22:12
Proverbs 22:12 Ver. 12. The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,.... That is, the providence of God, whose eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth; these preserve the knowledge of himself, even among the Heathens in some measure; for what may be known of God is manifest in them, and showed to them: more particu…
258 wordsSECTION 383Proverbs 22:13
Proverbs 22:13 Ver. 13. The slothful [man] saith, [there is] a lion without,.... Or, "in the street". This he says within himself; or to those who call out to him, and put him on doing the business of his proper calling, whether in the field or elsewhere, which, through his slothfulness, he has a disinclination to; an…
171 wordsSECTION 384Proverbs 22:14
Proverbs 22:14 Ver. 14. The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit,.... The mouth of harlots; the kisses of their mouth, their fair speech and flattering words, their amorous talk, and lascivious and wanton language, ensnare and draw unwary persons to commit lewdness with them, which bring them into a pit of ruin and …
283 wordsSECTION 385Proverbs 22:15
Proverbs 22:15 Ver. 15. Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child,.... That is, sin, the greatest of all folly; this is naturally in the heart of man; it is in the heart of a child, it is in him from his infancy; it is bound in his heart, it is rooted and riveted in him, being conceived in sin, and shapen in iniq…
178 wordsSECTION 386Proverbs 22:16
Proverbs 22:16 Ver. 16. He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches],.... By taking away from them the little they have; by keeping back their hire, defrauding them of the just wages of their labours; or by usury and extortion, or any other unjust method, whereby they distress the poor, and enrich themselves; …
185 wordsSECTION 387Proverbs 22:17
Proverbs 22:17 Ver. 17. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise,.... Here begins a new part or division of this book. According to some, the "third"; the "first" ending with Pr 9:18, the "second" at Pr 22:16, and a "third", beginning here, and ending with Pr 24:34. It is certain that what follows from hence…
262 wordsSECTION 388Proverbs 22:18
Proverbs 22:18 Ver. 18. For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee,.... Or, "in thy belly" {a}. That is, in thine heart, in the inmost recesses of it; where the words or doctrines of the wise should be received in the love of them, and carefully laid up and retained; which will upon reflection yield mu…
195 wordsSECTION 389Proverbs 22:19
Proverbs 22:19 Ver. 19. That thy trust may be in the Lord,.... By means of the words of the wise, or doctrines of the Gospel, faith in Christ is first had; men are directed and encouraged hereby to believe in him; and by the same means faith is increased, confirmed, and established. This is the end of penning the Scri…
199 wordsSECTION 390Proverbs 22:20
Proverbs 22:20 Ver. 20. Have not I written to thee excellent things,.... In the Scriptures. Some render it, "three things" {c}; and think that Solomon refers to the three divisions of the Scriptures among the Jews, the law, the prophets, and holy writings; so Jarchi; but some of those writings then were not: or to the…
369 wordsSECTION 391Proverbs 22:21
Proverbs 22:21 Ver. 21. That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth,.... Such are the doctrines of the Gospel; they are "the words of truth"; are written in the Scriptures of truth; come from the God of truth; the subject matter of which is Christ, who is the truth, and which the Spirit of truth le…
2,365 wordsSECTION 392Proverbs 23:1
Proverbs 23:1 Ver. 1. When thou sittest to eat with a ruler,.... Either a supreme ruler, a king, or a subordinate ruler, a nobleman, a judge, a civil magistrate, a person of honour, dignity, and authority; and to sit at table with such is sometimes allowed, and is always reckoned an honour; this particularly diligent …
438 wordsSECTION 393Proverbs 23:2
Proverbs 23:2 Ver. 2. And put a knife to thy throat,.... Refrain from too much talk at the table; give not too loose to thy tongue, but bridle it, considering in whose presence thou art; do not use too much freedom, either with the ruler or fellow guests; which, when persons have ate and drank well, they are too apt t…
293 wordsSECTION 394Proverbs 23:3
Proverbs 23:3 Ver. 3. Be not desirous of his dainties,.... His savoury food, which is very grateful to the taste, his rich provisions and royal dainties; do not lust after them, as the word {s} signifies, in an immoderate way, as the Israelites lusted after the fleshpots in Egypt: these may be lawfully desired, but no…
243 wordsSECTION 395Proverbs 23:4
Proverbs 23:4 Ver. 4. Labour not to be rich,.... In an immoderate over anxious way and manner, to a weariness, as the word {u} signifies, and even as to gape for breath men ought to labour, that they may have wherewith to support themselves and families, and give to others and: if they can, lay up for their children; …
263 wordsSECTION 396Proverbs 23:5
Proverbs 23:5 Ver. 5. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?.... The Vulgate Latin version is, "do not lift up thine eyes to riches which thou canst not have;'' riches no doubt are intended, and which may be said to be "not"; they are not the true riches, have only the shadow and appearance of riches; they…
434 wordsSECTION 397Proverbs 23:6
Proverbs 23:6 Ver. 6. Eat thou not the bread of [him that hath] an evil eye,.... A sordid covetous man, that grudges every bit that is eaten, in opposition to a man of a good eye, or a bountiful one, that is liberal and generous, Pr 22:9; if he invites to a meal, do not accept of it, sit not down at his table to eat w…
91 wordsSECTION 398Proverbs 23:7
Proverbs 23:7 Ver. 7. For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he,.... He is not the man his mouth speaks or declares him to be, but what his heart thinks; which is discovered by his looks and actions, and by which he is to be judged of, and not by his words; eat and drink, saith he to thee, but his heart [is] not wi…
97 wordsSECTION 399Proverbs 23:8
Proverbs 23:8 Ver. 8. The morsel [which] thou hast eaten, shalt thou vomit up,.... It shall turn in thy stomach, thou shall not be able to keep it, when thou understandest thou art not welcome; or thou wilt wish thou hadst never eaten a bit, or that thou couldest vomit up what thou hast; so disagreeable is the thought…
113 wordsSECTION 400Proverbs 23:9
Proverbs 23:9 Ver. 9. Speak not in the ears of a fool,.... For it is only beating the air, and speaking to the wind; it is casting pearls before swine, and that which is holy to dogs. By the "fool" is meant a wicked man, one abandoned to sin, and hardened in it; that scoffs at all admonitions and reproofs, that deride…
207 wordsSECTION 401Proverbs 23:10
Proverbs 23:10 Ver. 10. Remove not the old landmark,.... See Gill on "Pr 22:28"; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless; to carry off the increase of them, to reap their wheat, or mow their grass, or turn in cattle to eat it; or to encroach upon them, take in any part of them, or join the whole to their own;…
101 wordsSECTION 402Proverbs 23:11
Proverbs 23:11 Ver. 11. For their Redeemer [is] mighty,.... As he must needs be, since the Lord of hosts is his name; who sympathizes with them, has mercy on them, is their father, and their friend; see Jer 50:34; he shall plead their cause with thee; or "against thee", as the Vulgate Latin version; and will certainl…
76 wordsSECTION 403Proverbs 23:12
Proverbs 23:12 Ver. 12. Apply thine heart unto instruction,.... To the instruction of parents, and to the instruction of ministers of the word; to the Scriptures, which are profitable to instruction in righteousness; to the instruction of wisdom, or to the Gospel of Christ, which instructs in things relating to him, a…
152 wordsSECTION 404Proverbs 23:13
Proverbs 23:13 Ver. 13. Withhold not correction from the child,.... When he has committed a fault, and correction is necessary; for to spare it is the ruin of the child, and no proof of true affection in the parent, but the reverse; see Pr 13:24; for, [if] thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die; if he be beate…
132 wordsSECTION 405Proverbs 23:14
Proverbs 23:14 Ver. 14. Thou shall beat him with the rod,.... Or, correct him with the stripes of the children of men, in a moderate and suitable manner, proportionable to the fault committed; and as he is able to bear it, both as to body and mind; and shalt deliver his soul from hell; be a means of preventing those …
118 wordsSECTION 406Proverbs 23:15
Proverbs 23:15 Ver. 15. My son, if thine heart be wise,.... To that which is good; so as from it to understand in a spiritual and experimental manner things divine and heavenly; he may be said to have a wise heart who knows in some measure what his heart is, the wickedness, the original depravity and corruption, of it…
343 wordsSECTION 407Proverbs 23:16
Proverbs 23:16 Ver. 16. Yea, my reins shall rejoice,.... Which is only another phrase expressive of the same thing, and confirming the greatness of joy on the above occasion; not only his heart rejoiced, which was affectionately concerned for his son, near which he lay, the desires of which were frequently drawn out f…
151 wordsSECTION 408Proverbs 23:17
Proverbs 23:17 Ver. 17. Let not thine heart envy sinners,.... Their present prosperity and happiness, the pleasure, profit, and honour, they seem to enjoy; all which is but a shadow, fading had temporary; and yet good men are apt to envy it in their hearts, if they do not express it with their lips; and are ready to m…
321 wordsSECTION 409Proverbs 23:18
Proverbs 23:18 Ver. 18. For surely there is an end,.... Both of the prosperity of the wicked, which is but for a short time; and of the afflictions of the righteous, which are but as it were for a moment; and therefore there is no reason to envy the one, nor to be fretful under the other; the end to a good man will be…
201 wordsSECTION 410Proverbs 23:19
Proverbs 23:19 Ver. 19. Hear thou, my son, and be wise,.... Hear the instruction of a father, of the word of Wisdom, of the ministers of the Gospel, which is the way to be wise unto salvation; faith comes by hearing; spiritual wisdom, and an increase of it; the Spirit of God, and his gifts and graces; and guide thine…
120 wordsSECTION 411Proverbs 23:20
Proverbs 23:20 Ver. 20. Be not amongst winebibbers,.... Who drink to excess, otherwise wine may be drank, provided moderation is used; but it is not good to be in company with, excessive drinkers of it, lost a habit of excessive drinking should be acquired; among riotous eaters of flesh; flesh may be lawfully eaten, …
88 wordsSECTION 412Proverbs 23:21
Proverbs 23:21 Ver. 21. For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty,.... They consuming their substance upon their bellies, in eating and drinking; see Pr 21:17; and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags; excessive eating and drinking brings drowsiness on men, unfits them for business, and makes them i…
77 wordsSECTION 413Proverbs 23:22
Proverbs 23:22 Ver. 22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,.... And who has a true and hearty affection for thee, and whatever he says is for thy good and welfare, which he studies and has at heart; and who therefore also has an authority over thee, and what he enjoins ought to be strictly regarded; and, having l…
4,147 wordsSECTION 414Proverbs 24:1
Proverbs 24:1 Ver. 1. Be not thou envious against evil men,.... Or, "men of evil" {b}. Such who are addicted to evil, and given up to it, whose principles and practices are bad; such as are before described in the preceding chapter; gluttons and drunkards, men given to women and wine: envy not their present prosperity…
192 wordsSECTION 415Proverbs 24:2
Proverbs 24:2 Ver. 2. For their heart studieth destruction,.... To others; to good men, that separate from them, and reprove them, or are in their way; or any ways hinder them in the prosecution of their wicked designs; as Haman's heart studied the destruction of the Jews: or their hearts study to draw men into their …
163 wordsSECTION 416Proverbs 24:3
Proverbs 24:3 Ver. 3. Through wisdom is a house builded,.... A family is built up, furnished and supplied with the necessaries and conveniences of life, and brought into flourishing and prosperous circumstances, by wise and prudent management, by diligence and industry, through the blessing of God upon them, without t…
218 wordsSECTION 417Proverbs 24:4
Proverbs 24:4 Ver. 4. And by knowledge shalt the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. That are both of worth, value, and usefulness, and for ornament and delight; the more private and retired parts of a man's dwelling house, as well as his shops, warehouses, barns, and granaries, shall be filled w…
151 wordsSECTION 418Proverbs 24:5
Proverbs 24:5 Ver. 5. A wise man [is] strong,.... He can do that sometimes by his wisdom, and which requires strength and courage too, which another cannot do by his strength; see Pr 21:22. This may be understood of one that is spiritually wise, wise unto salvation, wise for another world, is made to know true wisdom …
514 wordsSECTION 419Proverbs 24:6
Proverbs 24:6 Ver. 6. For by wise counsel thou shall make thy war,.... Counsel, as well as strength, is necessary for war: kings and states, before they enter on a war, should not only well consider the justness of their cause, but should consult whether they have a sufficiency of men and money to carry it on; and sho…
244 wordsSECTION 420Proverbs 24:7
Proverbs 24:7 Ver. 7. Wisdom [is] too high for a fool,.... It is out of his reach, he cannot attain it; natural wisdom, or the knowledge of many things in nature; at least it seems so to himself, and therefore will not take any pains, or make use of any means, to obtain it; as the knowledge of human laws; of medicine,…
306 wordsSource & rights
Public domain; John Gill (1697–1771). Source item is marked Public Domain on Internet Archive.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.