This chapter relates the sickness of Jeroboam’s son, the application of his wife, at his instance, to the prophet Ahijah, in the child’s favour, 1 Kings 14:1–6, the prophecy of the prophet concerning the ruin of Jeroboam’s house, and the death of the child, which came to pass, 1 Kings 14:7–18, an…

Boast not thyself of tomorrow Or, “of tomorrow day” [[18]]. Either of having a tomorrow, or of any future time; no man can assure himself of more than the present time; for, however desirable long life is, none can be certain of it; so says the poet [[19]]: for though there is a common term of…

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth Men should do those things which are praiseworthy; and should do them openly, that they may be seen and praised for them: for it is honourable to have such a character as Demetrius had, who had a good report of all men; and as the brother had,…

A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty As was the stone which was at the well’s mouth, where Laban’s flocks were watered, which could not be rolled away till all the shepherds were gathered together, (Gen. 29:2, Gen. 29:3, Gen.

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous Or “an inundation” [[22]]; it is like the breaking in of the sea, or a flood of mighty waters, which know no bounds, and there is no stopping them: so cruel and outrageous were the wrath and anger of Simeon and Levi, in destroying the Shechemites; of Pharaoh,…

Open rebuke is better than secret love. ] This is to be understood, not of rebuke publicly given; though Aben Ezra thinks public reproof is meant, which, arising from love, is better than that which is done in secret, though in love, as being more effectual; for rebuke among friends should be given…

Faithful are the wounds of a friend That is, friendly reproofs; which, though they may be severe, at least thought so, and may grieve and wound, and cause pain and uneasiness for the present, yet, proceeding from a spirit of love, faithfulness, and integrity, and designed for the good of the person…

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb Or “tramples upon” it [[0]], as the word signifies, and most versions render it, expressive of contempt and abhorrence; and suits will the situation of the honeycomb, which was usually in trees and rocks in Palestine: and so might drop from thence, and be…

As a bird that wandereth from her nest To seek for food for herself and her young; or that leaves it without returning to it, and so her eggs or her young are exposed, and she herself liable to fall into the hands of birds of prey, or of the fowler, when she would be safe in her nest; as there was…

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart Meaning not the holy anointing oil for sacred use, or the perfume or incense offered on the altar of incense; but common oil or ointment used at entertainments, poured on the heads of the guests; and incense in censing of rooms, which were very delightful,…

Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend forsake not Who have been long tried and proved, and found faithful; these should be kept to and valued, and not new ones sought; which to do is oftentimes of bad consequence.

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad That is, show thyself to be a wise man by thy words and actions; endeavour to get a good share of wisdom and knowledge, and make a good use of it, and that will rejoice my heart; as nothing more gladdens the heart of a parent than the wisdom and prudent…

A prudent man foreseeth the evil (See Gill on Prov. 22:3); or “seeth the evil” [[5]]; the evil of sin, as it is contrary to the nature, will, and law and abominable in his sight; and not only the evil of gross actions of sin, but of indwelling lust; and such an one, who is wise to that which is…

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.] (See Gill on Prov. 20:16), where the same proverb is, and is expressed in the same words as here.

He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice So as not only to be heard by him, but by others; who is extravagant in his praises and commendations of him; who exceeds all bounds of modesty, truth, and decency; who affects pompous words, and hyperbolical expressions; and shows himself to be a real…

A continual dropping in a very rainy day That is, through the roof of a house which is not well covered, or which lets in rain by one means or another; so that in a thorough rainy day it keeps continually dropping, to the great annoyance of those within, and which is very uncomfortable to them: it…

Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind Whoever attempts to stop her brawls and contentions, to repress and restrain them, and hinder her voice being heard in the streets, and endeavours to hide the shame that comes upon herself and family, attempts a thing as impossible as to hide the wind in the…

Iron sharpeneth iron A sword or knife made of iron is sharpened by it; so butchers sharpen their knives; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend; by conversation with him; thus learned men sharpen one another’s minds, and excite each other to learned studies; Christians sharpen one…

Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof That takes care of a fig tree, either his own or another’s, planted in his garden or vineyard; see ; who cultivates it, digs about and dungs it, and prunes it, and does everything necessary to it; when it brings forth fruit, and that is ripe…

As in water face answereth to face As water is as a looking glass, in which a man may behold his own face and another’s; or as the face in the water answers to the face of a man, and there is a great likeness between them.

Hell and destruction are never full The grave, as the word used often signifies; and which may be called “destruction”, because bodies laid in it are soon corrupted and destroyed; and though bodies are cast into it and devoured by it, it is ready for more; it is one of the four things which never…

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold For the trying, proving, and purifying these metals; see ; so is a man to his praise; or “according to the mouth of his praise” [[14]]; if his own mouth praises him, as in ;, he is known to be what he is, a foolish and vainglorious person: or…

Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle As the manna was, ; and as wheat beat and bruised in a mortar, or ground in a mill, retains its own nature; so, let a wicked man be used ever so roughly or severely, by words, admonitions, reproofs, and counsels; or by deeds,…

Be thou diligent to know the state of flocks In what condition they are; what health they enjoy; how fat and fruitful they be; what pasturage they have; and that they want nothing fitting for them that can be had and is necessary; and also the number of them.

For riches are not for ever A man cannot be assured of the continuance of them; they are uncertain things, here today and gone tomorrow: wherefore, though a man has a considerable share of them, yet should follow one calling or another; particularly husbandry is recommended, or keeping sheep and…

The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself Some think this is mentioned to illustrate the uncertainty of riches, which soon vanish away; as the tender grass shows itself, and is presently cut down and quickly appears hay, and that soon consumed; but rather this contains an argument to…

The lambs are for thy clothing This is another argument, exciting to diligence in the pastoral calling, taken from the profit arising from it: the wool of the lambs, or rather “sheep”, as many versions render it; of it cloth is made, and of that garments to be worn, to keep decent, warm, and…

And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food The word for “goats”, in , signifies he goats, which were sold to buy fields, pay servants or rent, or purchase the necessaries of life; and this here signifies she goats, which were kept for their milk; and which was daily used for food in some…