Proverbs 22

1 A good reputation is rather to be chosen than great riches and good grace rather than silver and gold.

2 The rich and poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and receive hurt.

4 Riches and honour and life are the remuneration of humility and of the fear of the LORD.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he that keeps his soul shall be far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

8 He that sows iniquity shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his anger shall fail.

9 He that has a merciful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the destitute.

10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; strife and reproach shall cease.

11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.

13 The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches and who gives to the rich shall surely come to want.

17 Bow down thine ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my wisdom.

18 For it is a delightful thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall be ordered together in thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Have I not written unto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,

21 that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to those that send unto thee?

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither destroy the destitute in judgment:

23 For the LORD will judge their cause and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24 Do not meddle with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

25 Lest thou learn his ways and get a snare to thy soul.

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should they take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 22 Commentary

Chapter 22

Verse 1 We should be more careful to do that by which we may get and keep a good name, than to raise or add unto a great estate. Verse 2 . Divine Providence has so ordered it, that some are rich, and others poor, but all are guilty before God; and at the throne of God's grace the poor are as welcome as the rich. Verse 3 . Faith foresees the evil coming upon sinners, and looks to Jesus Christ as the sure refuge from the storm. Verse 4 . Where the fear of God is, there will be humility. And much is to be enjoyed by it; spiritual riches, and eternal life at last. Verse 5 . The way of sin is vexatious and dangerous. But the way of duty is safe and easy. Verse 6 . Train children, not in the way they would go, that of their corrupt hearts, but in the way they should go; in which, if you love them, you would have them go. As soon as possible every child should be led to the knowledge of the Saviour. Verse 7 . This shows how important it is for every man to keep out of debt. As to the things of this life, there is a difference between the rich and the poor; but let the poor remember, it is the Lord that made the difference. Verse 8 . The power which many abuse, will soon fail them. Verse 9 . He that seeks to relieve the wants and miseries of others shall be blessed. Verse 10 . Profane scoffers and revilers disturb the peace. Verse 11 . God will be the Friend of a man in whose spirit there is no guile; this honour have all the saints. Verse 12 . God turns the counsels and designs of treacherous men to their own confusion. Verse 13 . The slothful man talks of a lion without, but considers not his real danger from the devil, that roaring lion within, and from his own slothfulness, which kills him. Verse 14 . The vile sin of licentiousness commonly besots the mind beyond recovery. Verse 15 . Sin is foolishness, it is in the heart, there is an inward inclination to sin: children bring it into the world with them; and it cleaves close to the soul. We all need to be corrected by our heavenly Father. Verse 16 . We are but stewards, and must distribute what God intrusts to our care, according to his will. ( 17-21 ) . To these words, to this knowledge, the ear must be bowed down, and the heart applied by faith and love. To live a life of delight in God and dependence on him, is the foundation of all practical religion. The way to know the certainty of the ( proverbs 22:22-23 ) that robs and oppresses the poor, does so at his peril. And if ( proverbs 22:24-25 ) hearts have so much tinder in them, that it is dangerous to have to do with those that throw about the sparks of their passion. ( proverbs 22:26-27 ) those are not so, who, by folly or other carelessness, waste what they have. Verse 28 . We are taught not to trespass on another man's right. And it is hard to find a truly industrious man. Such a man will rise. Seest thou a man diligent in the business of religion? He is likely to excel. Let us then be diligent in God's work.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 10

This chapter contains an account of the queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon to her great satisfaction, 1Ki 10:1-13, of Solomon's merchandise and riches, and the magnificence of his court, 1Ki 10:14-23, of the rich presents sent to him, and of the purchase of chariots and horses, and other things, he made, 1Ki 10:24-29.