These are are also proverbs of Solomon These that follow to the end of the book, as well as those which go before. Here begins a “third”, some say a “fourth” part of this book.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing Secret things belong unto him, and they are kept so by him: many things which he does reveal, yet the “modus” or manner of them remains hidden; as what relates to his own being, and manner of subsisting; the trinity of Persons in the Godhead; the filiation…

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth These are eminent for what are ascribed to them; nothing is higher than the heavens, nor anything deeper than the earth; the height of the heavens cannot be reached, and the centre of the earth cannot easily be got unto; the heavens above cannot be…

Take away the dross from the silver By putting it into the furnace, and purging it from it: and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer; not out of the furnace, a vessel formed and shaped, but pure silver shall come out of it for the refiner; of which a vessel may be made, very honourable,…

Take away the wicked from before the king Wicked ministers and counsellors; they are the “dross”, worthless and useless; yea, hurtful and pernicious. The king is the “refiner”, for whom the vessel is; the kingdom is the silver vessel refined; and which becomes much the better, when wicked men are…

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king Intrude not thyself into his presence; or rush not into it in a rude and irreverent way; or be not ambitious to be a courtier: or “do not appear glorious”, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; or “honour thyself” 1: as the word signifies; do not…

For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, &c.] It is much more to thine honour and credit to seat thyself in a place rather beneath than above thee; which being observed by some of the officers at court, or by him whose business it is to look after such things, he will beckon or…

Go not forth hastily to strive To go to law with a neighbour; think well of it beforehand; consider the nature of the cause, whether right or wrong; or whether it is a matter of such moment as to go to law about; whether it will not be deemed a frivolous and vexatious suit; whether able to bear the…

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself Between thee and him alone; lay the matter before him, and hear what he has to say for himself, by which you will better judge of the nature of the cause; try to compromise things, and make up the difference between you, which is much better than to…

Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame Or, “reproach thee” [[2]] with treachery and deceit. Either the person of whom it is told, or the person to whom it is told; who may make thee ashamed, either by fixing the odious character of a defamer, a whisperer, and backbiter, on thee; or by making a…

A word fitly spoken Or, “a word spoken on its wheels” [[3]]: that proceeds aright, keeps due order, is well circumstanced as to matter, method, time, place, and persons; a discourse well put together, properly pronounced, roundly, easily, and fluently delivered to proper persons, and adapted to…

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold As a golden earring, when first put on, gives pain and uneasiness; but, being well hung and fixed, is very ornamental, being of fine gold, and especially when any jewels are upon it; which may be meant by the ornament, as the word is rendered, ;…

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest As water as cold as snow; or as a breeze of air, such as in a time of snow; and so Jarchi, “as the cold of the days of snow, which a man desires in summer, and not snow simply, for snow itself is not good in the time of harvest;” see .

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift Of his charity and alms deeds; bragging of great things he does this way, when he does nothing; or who is very vain in making large promises of what he will give, when he does not perform; either not having it in his heart, or in the power of his hands, to…

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded To come into measures, and do that which his council and ministry advise him to, and to which he may seem at first very averse; but by a mild and gentle representation of things, by an humble submission of them to him, and by frequent remonstrances and…

Hast thou found honey? &c.] Of which there was great plenty in Judea; and was to be found in fields and woods, (1 Sam. 14:25, 1 Sam. 14:26) ; eat so much as is sufficient for thee; to satisfy appetite, without overcharging the stomach; what may be conducive to health, and no more; lest thou be…

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house Not but that it is commendable to be neighbourly and friendly, or for one neighbour to visit another; but then it should not be very frequent; a man should not be always or often at his neighbour’s house.

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour In whose house he has often been, and whom he has frequently visited; and, observing what was done there, not only discovers and tells abroad the secrets of his family, but even things which are false; yea, in a court of judicature, appears a…

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble It is not good to put confidence in any man, not in princes, nor in the best of men; much less in an unfaithful, prevaricating, and treacherous man; and especially in a time of distress and trouble, depending on his help and assistance, which is…

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather Either takes it off of himself, or another person, when it would be rather more proper to put another garment on, and so is exposed to the injury of cold weather; and as vinegar upon nitre: nitre was found in Egypt, beyond Memphis, as Strabo says…

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat Which includes all manner of food; whatever persons may have in their houses, that they should bring out and feed the hungry with, even though an enemy; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; which was what was usually and in common drank in…

For thou shall heap coals of fire upon his head Not to increase his punishment and damnation, the more aggravated by kindness shown him; but to bring him by such means to a sense of former injuries, and to shame for them, repentance of them, and love of the person injured, and carefulness for the…

The north wind driveth away rain So the geographer [[21]] says, the swift north wind drives away the moist clouds; which usually come from the opposite quarter, the south.

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.] (See Gill on Prov. 21:9).

As cold waters to a thirsty soul Water is naturally cold; and is by classic writers expressed by “cold” itself [[2]], and is very refreshing to one athirst through heat: or, “to a weary soul” [[3]]; to one wearied with labour; or to a traveller weary with travelling, especially in hot countries, as…

A righteous man falling dozen before the wicked Either falling into calamity and distress by means of the wicked man, through his malice and cunning, and which be seeing, rejoices at; or crouching unto him, bowing before him, yielding to him, not daring to oppose or reprove him; or falling into sin…

It is not good to eat much honey That is too much otherwise it is good to eat, ; but too much is hurtful, it surfeits the stomach increases choler [[4]] and creates loathing; and indeed, too much of anything is bad [[5]]; so for men to search their own glory is not glory: to set forth their own…

He that hath no rule over his own spirit His affections and passions, puts no restraint, unto them, as the word signifies; no guard against them, no fence about them, to curb his curiosity, to check his pride and vanity, to restrain his wrath and anger and revenge, and keep within due bounds his…