Killeth him; either, 1. Tormenteth him almost to death, whilst he passionately desires that which he sees he shall not enjoy, and will not take pains to procure. Or, 2. Exposeth him to extreme want, and so to death, or to such wicked courses, for the supply of his wants, as bring him to an untimely death. read more
He coveteth; the slothful man, mentioned in the last verse. But because the verses in this book are for the most part independent one upon another, this clause is and may be otherwise rendered, There is that coveteth, &c.; or, the wicked (which may be understood from the opposition of the righteous in the next clause) coveteth, &c. All the day long; spends his whole time in vain and lazy desires, but will not labour to get any thing, either to use himself, or to give to others. The... read more
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 21:25-26THE SWORD OF THE SLUGGARDI. A sluggard cannot help desiring the results of toil. It is natural and lawful for men to value bodily health and comfort, and all those blessings which are the ordinary fruits of industry—they are good things which God gives His creatures to enjoy, but they are not His only gifts nor His best gifts. But they are the main objects of the sluggard’s desire, for an inordinate and exclusive love of them has made him a slothful man. If... read more
DISCOURSE: 803DESIRE IS NOTHING WITHOUT LABOURProverbs 21:25. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.IT is the duty of a minister to “comfort the Lord’s people,” and on no account to “make the heart of the righteous sad.” Our blessed Lord “brake not the bruised reed, nor quenched the smoking flax:” and in this respect all who minister in his name must follow his example, never “despising the day of small things,” but “carrying the lambs in their bosom, and gently... read more
Shall we turn now in our Bibles to Proverbs 21:1-31 .Proverbs 21:1-31 , Solomon declares:The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will ( Proverbs 21:1 ).The word "rivers of water" is in the Hebrew "as the water courses." Now in the land of Israel, they had made many sluices for the water by which they could direct the water from the river to their farm areas. And these sluices were, of course, to turn the water to bring it to a desired... read more
Proverbs 21:1 . The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he will. The allusion is probably to the water-meads and the ditches in the corn fields, which irrigate the lands by a diversion of the streams. This doctrine asserts the providence of God over the nations, and over the church. God commissioned the king of Assyria to punish the Jews for idolatry. Isaiah 10:5. How remarkably was the heart of Cyrus, of Darius, and of Artaxerxes... read more
Proverbs 21:25The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.SlothSolomon attaches to it several evils.I. Suicide. “The desire of the slothful killeth him.” The man who is too lazy to move his limbs or open his eyes is too lazy to have a “desire.” These desires kill him. There are several things that tend to kill such a man.1. Ennui. This is what Byron calls “that awful yawn which sleep cannot abate.” In all life there is not a more crushing power than lassitude. It... read more
Pro 21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. Ver. 25. The desire of the slothful killeth him. ] He only wisheth well to himself; but refusing to labour, "pineth away in his iniquity." Lev 26:39 Neither grace nor wealth is had with wishing; Nemo casu fit sapiens, saith Seneca. a Some have a kind of willingness and velleity, a kind of wambling after the best things, but it doth not boil up to the full height of resolution for God. “ Virtutem exoptant,... read more
Pro 21:26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. Ver. 26. He coveteth greedily all day long. ] But these greedy constant coverings come to nothing he makes nothing of them. Meteors have matter enough in the vapours themselves to carry them above the earth, but not enough to unite them to the element of fire, therefore they fall and return to their first principles. So it is with our wishers and woulders. Many came out of Egypt, that never came into... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 21:1-31
Proverbs 21:1 . watercourses: not the natural brooks and wadys of Palestine, but the artificial irrigation canals of Egypt or Babylonia, which could be diverted in any direction at will. Proverbs 21:4 . Apparently two unconnected lines belonging to different couplets. A connexion can be established only by forced exegesis. The Heb. is lit. “ lofty of look and arrogant of heart, the tillage of the wicked is sin.” RV “ lamp” for “ tillage” depends on a different pointing, but does not improve... read more