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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 22:17-21

Solomon here changes his style and manner of speaking. Hitherto, for the most part, since the beginning of Prov. 10:1; he had laid down doctrinal truths, and but now and then dropped a word of exhortation, leaving us to make the application as we went along; but here, to the end of Prov. 22:17-24:34; he directs his speech to his son, his pupil, his reader, his hearer, speaking as to a particular person. Hitherto, for the most part, his sense was comprised in one verse, but here usually it is... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 22:22-23

After this solemn preface, one would have expected something new and surprising; but no; here is a plain and common, but very needful caution against the barbarous and inhuman practices of oppressing poor people. Observe, I. The sin itself, and that is robbing the poor and making them poorer, taking from those that have but little to lose and so leaving them nothing. It is bad to rob any man, but most absurd to rob the poor, whom we should relieve,?to squeeze those with our power whom we... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 22:24-25

Here is, 1. A good caution against being intimate with a passionate man. It is the law of friendship that we accommodate ourselves to our friends and be ready to serve them, and therefore we ought to be wise and wary in the choice of a friend, that we come not under the sacred tie to any one whom it would be our folly to accommodate ourselves to. Thought we must be civil to all, yet we must be careful whom we lay in our bosoms and contract a familiarity with. And, among others, a man who is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 22:20

Have not I written to thee excellent things ,.... In the Scriptures. Some render it, "three things" F3 שלשים "terna", Montanus, Vatablus, so Jarchi. ; 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 three books wrote by him; the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. Others render it, "in a threefold way" F4 τριαρως , Sept.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 22:21

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 leads into: there is a "certainty" in these; they are in the sure word of prophecy; are contained in the inspired and infallible word of God, and are no other than the Gospel of God; nothing is more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 22:22

Rob not the poor, because he is poor ,.... And cannot help himself; cannot go to law with him that has injured him, and defend his own cause; which the other knowing, is the more emboldened to spoil and defraud him, which is an aggravation of his sin: or, "for he is poor" F7 כי דל חוא "nam tenuis est", so some in Mercerus. ; to rob any man is an evil and an injurious thing; but to rob the poor is cruel and barbarous; rather something should be given them, and not anything taken... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 22:23

For the Lord will plead their cause ,.... If counsellors at the bar will not, he will; if judges on the bench will not do them justice, he will; he will judge the poor of the people; he will plead their cause, and plead it thoroughly, till he has brought forth judgment unto victory: woe to the man against whom Jehovah pleads; happy the poor on whose side he is; for their Redeemer is mighty, the Lord of hosts is his name, Psalm 72:4 ; and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them ; they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 22:24

Make no friendship with an angry man ,.... Do not associate with him; contract not a familiarity with him; make him not a companion; take him not into an intimacy, or use him as a particular friend and acquaintance: a man should be courteous, and carry it civilly to all men; but he should take care whom he admits as his bosom friend; he should be cautious in his choice of a familiar friend, and not receive any; and, among the rest, avoid an angry and passionate man, one who is much given to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 22:25

Lest thou learn his ways ,.... And be as wrathful and furious, as quarrelsome and contentious, as he is. Evil works and ways are soon learned; men are more ready to imitate what is evil than what is good: Joseph learned to swear in Pharaoh's court; and the Israelites learned the works of the Heathen, among whom they were mingled; "evil communications corrupt good manners", 1 Corinthians 15:33 . Many men, naturally mild and gentle, tenderhearted and compassionate, by being brought up among... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 22:21

That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth - read more

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