[2] Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
Hasteth — That rashly and headily rushes into actions.
Verse 3
[3] The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
Perverteth — Blasts his designs and enterprises.
Fretteth — He ascribes his unhappiness not to his own sin, but to God and his providence.
Verse 6
[6] Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
A friend — in profession.
Verse 7
[7] All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
Brethren — His nearest relations.
Hate — Despise and shun him.
Pursueth — Earnestly imploring their pity.
Verse 10
[10] Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
Delight — To live in pleasure and outward glory, doth not become him, nor suit with him; because prosperity corrupts even wise men, and makes fools mad; and because it gives him more opportunity to discover his folly, and to do mischief both to himself and others.
Verse 13
[13] A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
Dropping — Are like rain continually dropping upon an house.
Verse 15
[15] Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Casteth — Makes a man careless, and like one asleep in his business.
Verse 16
[16] He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
His ways — The commands of God.
Verse 18
[18] Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
While — Before custom in sin, and thy indulgence have made him incorrigible.
Let not — Forbear not to give him due and necessary correction.
Verse 19
[19] A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
Great wrath — Of strong passions.
Deliver — If thou forbear to punish him.
Do it — Thou must deliver him again and again.
Verse 22
[22] The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
The desire — The hearty desire of being kind is accepted by God, and should be owned by men as a real kindness.
A poor man — Who is not able to give what he desires to do.
A liar — Than a rich man who feeds the poor with fair promises, but doth not perform what he pretends.
Verse 23
[23] The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Satisfied — Shall be fully contented with God's favour and blessing.
Verse 24
[24] A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Bring it — To feed himself; he expects that the meat should drop into his mouth.
Verse 25
[25] Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
Scorner — An obstinate and impudent transgressor.
Simple — Who sin thro' ignorance, being possibly drawn to it by the scorner's evil counsel or example.
Reprove — A verbal reproof will be more effectual for his reformation, than the severest punishments will be to a scorner.
Verse 26
[26] He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
Wasteth — His father's estate.
Chaseth — Causes her to avoid his presence, and to go from the house where he is.
Verse 28
[28] An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Scorneth — Hath no reverence to the place of justice, nor to the presence of God there.
Devoureth — Utters it with greediness and delight.
Verse 29
[29] Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
Prepared — Although they be deferred for a time, yet they are treasured up for them.
Proverbs 19 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 2
[2] Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
Hasteth — That rashly and headily rushes into actions.
Verse 3
[3] The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
Perverteth — Blasts his designs and enterprises.
Fretteth — He ascribes his unhappiness not to his own sin, but to God and his providence.
Verse 6
[6] Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
A friend — in profession.
Verse 7
[7] All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
Brethren — His nearest relations.
Hate — Despise and shun him.
Pursueth — Earnestly imploring their pity.
Verse 10
[10] Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
Delight — To live in pleasure and outward glory, doth not become him, nor suit with him; because prosperity corrupts even wise men, and makes fools mad; and because it gives him more opportunity to discover his folly, and to do mischief both to himself and others.
Verse 13
[13] A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
Dropping — Are like rain continually dropping upon an house.
Verse 15
[15] Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Casteth — Makes a man careless, and like one asleep in his business.
Verse 16
[16] He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
His ways — The commands of God.
Verse 18
[18] Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
While — Before custom in sin, and thy indulgence have made him incorrigible.
Let not — Forbear not to give him due and necessary correction.
Verse 19
[19] A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
Great wrath — Of strong passions.
Deliver — If thou forbear to punish him.
Do it — Thou must deliver him again and again.
Verse 22
[22] The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
The desire — The hearty desire of being kind is accepted by God, and should be owned by men as a real kindness.
A poor man — Who is not able to give what he desires to do.
A liar — Than a rich man who feeds the poor with fair promises, but doth not perform what he pretends.
Verse 23
[23] The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Satisfied — Shall be fully contented with God's favour and blessing.
Verse 24
[24] A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Bring it — To feed himself; he expects that the meat should drop into his mouth.
Verse 25
[25] Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
Scorner — An obstinate and impudent transgressor.
Simple — Who sin thro' ignorance, being possibly drawn to it by the scorner's evil counsel or example.
Reprove — A verbal reproof will be more effectual for his reformation, than the severest punishments will be to a scorner.
Verse 26
[26] He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
Wasteth — His father's estate.
Chaseth — Causes her to avoid his presence, and to go from the house where he is.
Verse 28
[28] An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Scorneth — Hath no reverence to the place of justice, nor to the presence of God there.
Devoureth — Utters it with greediness and delight.
Verse 29
[29] Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
Prepared — Although they be deferred for a time, yet they are treasured up for them.