Proverbs 28:15-23 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:15

It is written indeed, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people; but if he be a wicked ruler, that oppresses the people, especially the poor people, robbing them of the little they have and making a prey of them, whatever we may call him, this scripture calls him a roaring lion and a ranging bear. 1. In respect of his character. He is brutish, barbarous, and blood-thirsty; he is rather to be put among the beasts of prey, the wildest and most savage, than to be reckoned of that noble... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:16

Two things are here intimated to be the causes of the mal-administration of princes:?1. The love of money, that root of all evil; for hating covetousness here stands opposed to oppression, according to Moses's character of good magistrates, men fearing God and hating covetousness (Exod. 18:21), not only not being covetous, but hating it, and shaking the hands from the holding of bribes. A ruler that is covetous will neither do justly nor love mercy, but the people under him shall be bought and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:17

This agrees with that ancient law, Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed (Gen. 9:6), and proclaims, 1. The doom of the shedder of blood. He that has committed murder, though he flees for his life, shall be continually haunted with terrors, shall himself flee to the pit, betray himself, and torment himself, like Cain, who, when he had killed his brother, became a fugitive and a vagabond, and trembled continually. 2. The duty of the avenger of blood, whether the magistrate... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:18

Note, 1. Those that are honest are always safe. He that acts with sincerity, that speaks as he thinks, has a single eye, in every thing, to the glory of God and the good of his brethren, that would not, for a world, do an unjust thing if he knew it, that in all manner of conversation walks uprightly, he shall be saved hereafter. We find a glorious company of those in whose mouth was found no guile, Rev. 14:5. They shall be safe now. Integrity and uprightness will preserve men, will give them a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:19

Note, 1. Those that are diligent in their callings take the way to live comfortably: He that tills his land, and tends his shop, and minds his business, whatever it is, he shall have plenty of bread, of that which is necessary for himself and his family and with which he may be charitable to the poor; he shall eat the labour of his hands. 2. Those that are idle, and careless, and company-keepers, though they indulge themselves in living (as they think) easily and pleasantly, they take the way... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:20

Here, 1. We are directed in the true way to be happy, and that is to be holy and honest. He that is faithful to God and man shall be blessed of the Lord, and he shall abound with blessings of the upper and nether springs. Men shall praise him, and pray for him, and be ready to do him any kindness. He shall abound in doing good, and shall himself be a blessing to the place where he lives. Usefulness shall be the reward of faithfulness, and it is a good reward. 2. We are cautioned against a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:21

Note, 1. It is a fundamental error in the administration of justice, and that which cannot but lead men to abundance of transgression, to consider the parties concerned more than the merits of the cause, so as to favour one because he is a gentleman, a scholar, my countryman, my old acquaintance, has formerly done me a kindness, or may do me one, or is of my party and persuasion, and to bear hard on the other party because he is a stranger, a poor man, has done me an ill turn, is or has been... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:22

Here again Solomon shows the sin and folly of those that will be rich; they are resolved that they will be so, per fas, per nefas--2643 right or wrong; they will be so with all speed; they are getting hastily an estate. 1. They have no comfort in it: They have an evil eye, that is, they are always grieving at those that have more than they, and always grudging their necessary expenses, because they think the former keep them from seeming rich, the latter from being so, and between both they... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:23

Note, 1. Flatterers may please those for a time who, upon second thoughts, will detest and despise them. If ever they come to be convinced of the evil of those sinful courses they were flattered in, and to be ashamed of the pride and vanity which were humoured and gratified by those flatteries, they will hate the fawning flatterers as having had an ill design upon them, and the fulsome flatteries as having had an ill effect upon them and become nauseous. 2. Reprovers may displease those at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 28:15

As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear ,.... Which are both terrible; the lion that roars for want of food, or when it is over its prey; and the hear, when it runs from place to place in quest of provision, being "hungry and very desirous" of food, has a keen appetite, as some think the word F12 שוקק "avidus", Pagninus, Montanus; "famelicus", Castalio, Schultens; "esuriens", V. L. Vatablus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Bochart; "adpetens", Michaelis. signifies. The Targum and Jarchi take it... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 28:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 28:15

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