Verse 1

Through desire, &c. = Seeking his own pleasure, the recluse (or separatist) breaketh forth (or quarreleth) with everything that is stable.

intermeddleth = breaketh forth. Hebrew. gala". See note on "meddle", Proverbs 17:14.

all wisdom = everything that is stable. See note on Proverbs 2:7.

Verse 2

fool. Hebrew. keslt. See note on Proverbs 1:7. Same word as in verses: Proverbs 18:6, Proverbs 18:7; not the same as in Proverbs 18:13.

discover = vent.

Verse 3

the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha". App-44.

ignominy = disgrace, or shame (i.e. outward).

reproach = reproachfulness.

Verse 4

words. Hebrew. dabar. App-73.

wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Proverbs 1:2.

flowing brook = a gushing torrent. Hebrew. nahal.

Verse 5

not good. Figure of speech Tapeinosis (App-6), meaning it is very bad.

to accept the person = to show partiality.

To. Repeat the Ellipsis: "[It is not good] to".

overthrow = turn aside: i.e. pervert. the righteous = a righteous one.

Verse 6

lips. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for what is spoken by them.

mouth. See above note. Illustrations: Judges 8:4-17; 2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:24; Luke 19:22.

Verse 7

soul = own self. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

Verse 8

talebearer = whisperer, or tattler.

are as wounds = are as dainty morsels: i.e. are greedily swallowed.

Verse 9

a great waster = a master of destruction: i.e. an absolute destroyer.

Verse 10

name = person. See note on Psalms 20:1.

safe = set on high. Illustrations: Job (Job 19:25, Job 19:26); Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:17, Habakkuk 3:19); Asa (2 Chronicles 14:11); Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:14-20, 2 Kings 19:32-35. Isaiah 38:1-8); Apostles (Acts 4:24-33).

Verse 11

as = [it is]as.

conceit = imagination. See note on Proverbs 25:11.

Verse 12

is haughty. Illustration: Jezebel (2 Kings 9:30-33).

humility. Compare Proverbs 15:33. Illustration: contrast Goliath (1 Samuel 17:8-10, 1 Samuel 17:43, 1 Samuel 17:44) with 1 Samuel 17:45, 1 Samuel 17:47.

Verse 13

before he heareth it. Illustrations: David (2 Samuel 16:4; 2 Samuel 19:24-30); Ahasuerus (Esther 3:10. Compare Proverbs 8:5, &c.); Darius (Daniel 6:9. Compare Proverbs 6:14, Proverbs 6:18); magistrates (Acts 16:37-39).

Verse 14

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

sustain, &c. Illustrations: Job (Job 1:20, Job 1:21; Job 2:8, Job 2:9, Job 2:10); Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9. Acts 22:24. Romans 5:3-5); Paul and Silas (Acts 16:23-25, Acts 16:37).

who can bear? Illustrations: Cain (Genesis 4:13, Genesis 4:14); Eli"s daughter-inlaw (1 Samuel 4:19-22. Compare Proverbs 15:13); Saul (1 Samuel 28:20; 2 Samuel 1:9); Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23); Zimri (1 Kings 16:18); Pashur (Jeremiah 20:4); Judas (Matthew 27:5).

Verse 15

the prudent = a prudent one.

the wise = wise ones.

Verse 16

man"s. Hebrew. "adam. App-14.

Verse 17

first in his own cause. Illustrations: Saul (1 Samuel 15:13. Compare Proverbs 18:26); Ziba (2 Samuel 16:1-3. Compare Proverbs 19:26).

Verse 19

offended = dealt falsely with.

Verse 21

power. Hebrew "hand", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the power put forth by it.

the tongue. Illustrations: the ten spies (Numbers 14:36, Numbers 14:37); Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9, 1 Samuel 22:10); Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:28, 2 Kings 18:35; 2 Kings 19:22-35. 2 Chronicles 32:21); Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:3-7); Sapphira (Acts 5:5-10); Esther (Esther 7 and Esther 8); Paul (Acts 16:28-34); the Gospel (Romans 1:16. 2 Corinthians 2:16).

Verse 22

a wife. Some codices, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read, "a good wife". Compare Proverbs 19:14.

Verse 23

The poor = a needy one. Hebrew. rush. See note on Proverbs 6:11.

Verse 24

A man. A special various reading called sevir reads yesh, instead of ish, which means "there is", or "there are "instead of "a man". It occurs three times: here, 2 Samuel 14:19, and Micah 6:10.

friends. Hebrew. re"im = feeders, from ra"ah to feed (Psalms 23:1, shepherd).

must shew himself friendly = who break in pieces. Hebrew. Hithipolel of ra"a" (App-44.)

there is. Hebrew. yesh, as in preceding line.

a friend = a lover (who loves "without cause"). Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6) in these words, which may be thus represented in English: "There are friends who rend us, But there is a lover who is closer than a brother. "