This chapter gives an account of the charge David gave to his son Solomon, a little before his death, to walk in the ways of the Lord, 1 Kings 2:1–4; and of some instructions delivered to him concerning some particular persons he should either show favour to, or execute justice on, 1 Kings 2:5–9;…

Whose loveth instruction loveth knowledge That loves the instruction of Wisdom, or Christ, ; the means of instruction, the Scriptures, which are profitable for instruction in righteousness, and are written for our learning; the Gospel, which instructs into the person, office, and grace of Christ;…

A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord One that is made so by the grace of God, for no man is so naturally; there is none good, nor does good, no, not one, until some good thing is put into him, or the good work of grace is begun in him.

A man shall not be established by wickedness Not any man, though he may be established in his wickedness, so as not to be rooted out of it; yet he cannot be so established by it as not to be removed from a prosperous state and condition into an unhappy and distressed one; he may seem to be in a…

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband One that is loving and chaste, constant and faithful, obsequious and submissive to him; that is diligent in the affairs of her house, takes care of her family, brings up her children, and keeps up a good order and decorum among her servants, is an honour…

The thoughts of the righteous are right Or “judgment” [[13]]. The thoughts of men’s hearts are naturally evil, nor can any think a good thought of themselves; but the thoughts of the righteous are directed and influenced by the grace of God, and are formed according to that Word which is a…

The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood Which some understand of perjury and false witness, as Jarchi, whereby the lives of innocent persons are taken away: or it may be interpreted either of the smooth words and fair speeches, and secret artifices, antichrist and his emissaries make…

The wicked are overthrown, and are not With such an overthrow as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. The kingdom of the beast shall not only be full of darkness, as at the pouring of the fifth vial, and be in the utmost confusion, but it shall be brought to ruin and destruction; which stands opposed…

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom Not according to his birth and pedigree; not according to his riches and wealth; not according to the places of honour and trust he may be in; but according to his wisdom, which he discovers in his words and actions, in his life and conversation: not…

He that is despised, and hath a servant Meaning not the same person as before, but one in mean circumstances of life; and because he has not that substance as others have, at least does not make that show and figure in the world as some; and mean in his own eyes, as Jarchi; and does not affect…

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast Or “knoweth” it [[15]]; knows the worth of it and values it, and takes care of it, and is concerned for the preservation of it; he provides sufficient food for it, and gives it; he does not overwork it, but allows it proper rest from labour; and, if…

He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread This was man’s work in innocence; this he was doomed to do with the sweat of his brow after his fall; every man has his land to till, or some calling, work, or business, to be employed in, either civil or sacred; and it becomes him to be…

The wicked desireth the net of evil men To be master of all the wicked arts and methods evil men use to ensnare and oppress others; to get them and their substance into their hands; or “desireth the evil net”, as the Targum; the evil net of antichrist, which he lays for the poor, whom he draws into…

The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips A wicked man often brings himself into trouble by giving his tongue too great a liberty, and by making free with the characters of others; sometimes by treasonable speeches against his sovereign; sometimes by bearing false Witness, and by lies…

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth The wholesome advice, the good instruction, and sound doctrine he delivers to others, which are the fruit of his lips, and come forth by them from his heart; these redound to his own advantage, are not only a satisfaction to his mind upon…

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes Whether it be the way of open profaneness, or self-righteousness, it appears to him to be the right way; it seems to him a very plain one, and he finds it pleasant; and, trusting to carnal sense, corrupt reason, and a false judgment, and having a high…

A fool’s wrath is presently known Having no command of himself, he cannot repress it, nor keep it in; no sooner is he provoked but he shows it in his countenance, and by his words and actions; it is to be seen in the fire of his eyes, in the frowns of his face, in the gnashing of his teeth, and in…

He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness He that “blows” or “breathes out truth” [[3]], as the word signifies; that utters it freely and fully without any hesitation; that speaks nothing but truth, and speaks out the whole truth without any reserve; such a man upon every occasion will…

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword Whose words are like sharp swords, cutting, wounding, dividing, killing; see ; such are the words of false witnesses, who by their false testimonies and perjuries are as guilty of the murder of men as cutthroats; such are the words of slanderers,…

The lip of truth shall be established for ever The man that speaks truth is and will be established in his credit and reputation among men; he is uniform and all of a piece, and what he says is believed; truth, though it may be opposed, will prevail against lies and falsehood; the word of truth,…

Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil That secretly devise mischief in their hearts against their neighbours; that plough evil, as the word [[6]] signifies, and sow discord among men; and by many artful and deceitful methods promote contention and division, in order to answer some base…

There shall no evil happen to the just The evil of sin: no iniquity, as the Targum; which, and the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, interpret of sin not being agreeable, convenient, suit able, and pleasing to a righteous man.

Lying lips are abomination to the Lord Such that speak lies in common talk; and that deliver out doctrinal lies, false doctrines, lies in hypocrisy, as are the doctrines of Rome; these are abominable unto God; as being contrary to his nature as the God of truth; contrary to the Scriptures of truth…

A prudent man concealeth knowledge Of things natural or divine, which he is furnished with; not but that he is willing to communicate it, as he should, at proper times, in proper places, and to proper persons; but he does not needlessly and unseasonably speak of it; he does not make a show of it,…

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule “Shall become rich”, so Jarchi interprets it, according to ; Through diligence men get riches, and through riches they arrive to power and authority over others: from apprentices and journeymen workmen they become masters of their business; diligent men…

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop Either an anxious care and solicitude about living in the world, as the word [[11]] signifies; when it seizes a man’s spirits, it depresses them, and keeps them down: or a fear and dread of adversity, or sorrow and grief, on account of some calamity and…

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour Not than his neighbour who is righteous also; for though one may have more excellent gifts than another, or a larger measure of grace; one righteous man may have more faith than another, yet not more righteousness; every truly righteous man is…

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting Because he takes none. The slothful man takes no pains to get anything for a livelihood, by hunting or otherwise; and though he loves to live well, and eat roast meat, yet what he roasts is not what he has got himself, but what another has…

In the way of righteousness is life The life of the soul, or spiritual life, as Aben Ezra; and eternal life, as Gersom. One that is in the true way of righteousness is one that is instilled by the righteousness of Christ, which justification is the justification of life: such an one is made alive,…