Proverbs 29:25 - Exposition

The fear of man bringeth a snare. He who, through fear of what man may do to him, think or say of him, does what he knows to be wrong, lets his moral cowardice lead him into sin, leaves duty undone,—such a man gets no real good from his weakness, outrages conscience, displeases God. See our Lord's words. Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe ( Proverbs 18:10 ). Such trust carries a man safe through all dangers; fearing to offend God, living as always under his eye, he feels Divine protection, and knows that whatever happens is for the best. The LXX . joins this to the preceding verse, thus: "He who shareth with a thief hateth his own soul; and if, when an oath is offered, they who hear it give, no information, they fearing and reverencing men, are overthrown, but he that trusteth in the Lord shall rejoice." They add another rendering of the last verse, "Ungodliness causeth a man to stumble, but he who trusts in the Lord ( ἐπὶ τῷ δεσπότῃ , 2 Peter 2:1 ) shall be saved." δεσπότης is used for Jehovah in the New Testament, e.g. Luke 2:29 ; Acts 4:24 .