Matthew Poole and continuators on Proverbs 29

1 HE that being often reproved, hardneth his neck , shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy .

Is incorrigible and obstinately persists in those sins for which he is reproved

Utterly and irrecoverably.

Marginal references: Heb. a [illegible: 1 word] of reproof[illegible: 1+ letters].

2 VVhen the righteous are in authority , the people rejoyce : but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn .

Which interpretation is confirmed from the opposite clause. The Hebrew word signifies to increase either in number, or in dignity and power

For the blessed effects of their good government.

Both for the oppressions and mischiefs which they feel, and for the dreadful Judgments of God which they justly fear.

Marginal references: Ch. 11. 10. & 28. 12, 28. Eccles. 10. 5.; Or, [illegible: 1 word].

3 VVhoso loveth wisdom , rejoyceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots , spendeth his substance .

And therefore hateth and escheweth all folly and wickedness.

Whereby he plainly discovers himself to want Wisdom; of which see Prov. 7. 7, &c.

Whereby he not onely ruineth himself; but also grieveth his Father, as is implied from the opposite clause.

Marginal references: Ch. 10. 1. & 15. 20. & 27. 11.; Ch. 5. 9. & 28. 7. Luk. 15. 13.

4 The king by judgment stablisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts , overthroweth it.

By the free and impartial exercise of Justice.

Heb. a Man (for he would not vouchsafe to call him a King, as being unworthy of that Name and Office) of Oblations, or Gifts, i. e. whose delight and common practice it is to take Bribes, and sell Justice.

Marginal references: Heb. a [illegible: 1 word] of oblations.

5 A man that flattereth his neighbour , spreadeth a net for his feet .

That praiseth or applaudeth another in a sinful state or course.

Kills him under a pretence of kindness, is an occasion of his sin, and consequently of destruction, which possibly he may design to accomplish by that means.

6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare : but the righteous doth sing and rejoyce .

His sin will bring him to dreadful horrors and certain ruine

Because he hath sweet peace in his own Conscience and assurance of present safety and eternal happiness.

7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor : but the wicked regardeth not to know it .

Whether Magistrate or any private Person concerned to know it, and capable of helping him in it.

His poverty neither hinders him from taking pains to examine it, nor from a righteous determination of it.

Will not put himself to the trouble of searching it out, either because it yields him no profit, or because he resolves to give away his right.

Marginal references: Job 29. 16▪

8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare : but wise men turn away wrath .

Expose it to God's wrath and to destruction by their selfconceit and wilfulness, by their wicked counsels and courses whereby they seduce and infect the generality of the People, by their contempt of God, of his just Laws and righteous Judgments, and of the opinions and advices of wise men.

Who do not scorn, but hearken to the counsels of God and of prudent men.

The wrath of God or of men who were enraged against it.

Marginal references: Or, set a City on fire.

9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man , whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

Either judicially or otherwise debating any matter with him, endeavouring to convince him of any errour. x Whether he, the wise Man▪ rageth (or is angry) or laugheth, (i. e. Whether he deal sharply and severely with him, rebuking him for his folly, or mildly and pleasantly, smiling at it, there is no rest, no end or fruit of the debate, the Fool will not be satisfied nor convinced. Or, as it is in the Hebrew, He (to wit, the Fool, last named, to whom the following carriages may seem more fitly to agree) both rageth and laugheth (He will not yield nor be convinced, but persists in his folly, which he discovers somtimes by his furious and unbridled passions, and somtimes by foolish laughter and scorning) and there is no rest, he will never be quieted.

10 The blood-thirsty hate the upright : but the just seek his soul .

And consequently seek their ruine, as is implied from the following clause.

Either 1. to require his Soul or Life at the hands of those who have taken it away. Or 2. to preserve it from those who attempt to take it away, as this Phrase is taken, Psal. 142. 4. though commonly it signifie to seek to destroy it.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] of [illegible: 1 word]

11 A fool uttereth all his mind : but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards .

All at once, unnecessarily, and unseasonably, without reservation or caution.

Till he have fit occasion to express it.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 14. 33.; [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]is [illegible: 1 word]

12 If a ruler hearken to lies , all his servants are wicked .

Delight in flatteries or calumnies, or any lying words or deceitful and wicked practices.

Partly because he chooseth only such for his service, and partly because they are either corrupted by his example, or engaged by their place and interest to please him, and comply with his base Lusts.

13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together : the LORD lighteneth both their eyes .

Heb. the Man of deceits, or, of Usuries, i. e. who hath enriched himself by such practices.

Converse together, and one needeth the other, as Ch. 22. 2.

Either their bodily Eyes with the light of the Sun, which promiscuously shines upon both; or the Eyes of their Minds with the light of Reason and Grace, which he indifferently gives to them; and therefore the one should not envy nor despise the other, but be ready to do good one to another, as God doth good to both.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]

14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor , his throne shall be established for ever.

And the rich too: but he names the poor, because these are most oppressed and injured by others, and least regarded by Princes, and yet committed to their more special care by the King of Kings.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]0. 28.

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Correction and Instruction going together.

Suffered to follow his own will or lusts without restraint and chastening.

And further too; but he names onely the Mother, either because her indulgence oft spoils the Child; or because Children commonly stand in least awe of their Mothers, and abuse the weakness of their Sex, and tenderness of their Natures.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 17.; [illegible: 1 word]. 10. 1. [illegible: 1 word] 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. 21, 25.

16 When the wicked are multiplied , transgression increaseth : but the righteous shall see their fall .

Or rather, are advanced, because this is opposed to their falling in the next clause; and so this Hebrew word is taken above, v. 2.

Sin and Sinners abound and grow impudent by impunity and the example and encouragement of such Rulers.

The destruction of such Transgressors, in due time.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word], i[illegible: 1+ letters] Au [illegible: 1+ letters].; [illegible: 1 word]. 37. 36. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]8. 10. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]1. 8.

17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest ; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Satisfaction to thy Mind, and comfort in his amendment.

Marginal references: Ch. 13. 24. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]2. 15. [illegible: 1 word] 23. 13, 14.

18 Where there is no vision , the people perish : but he that keepeth the law , happy is he.

i. e. No Prophecy, for the Prophets were anciently called Seers, 1 Sam. 9. 9. i. e. no publick Preaching of God's Law or Word (as appears by the opposite clause) which is called Prophecy, Rom. 12. 6. 1 Cor. 14. 1, &c. Where the People are destitute of the means of instruction.

Because they want the onely means of Salvation. Or, is made naked, stripped of their best ornaments, God's favour and protection, as this word is taken, Exod. 32. 25.

This he saith rather than, he that hath vision, which the Laws of Opposition might seem to require, to teach us, that although the want of God's Word be sufficient for mens destruction, yet the having and hearing or reading of it is not sufficient for their Salvation, except they also keep or obey it.

Marginal references: Or, is made [illegible: 1 word].

19 A Servant will not be corrected by words : for though he understand he will not answer .

Who is so not onely in condition, but also in the temper of his Mind▪ disingenuous, perverse and stubborn.

By meer words without blows. Compare Prov. 19. 29.

Though he know thy mind, and words, and his own duty.

Either by words, expressing his readiness; or by deeds, speedily and chearfully performing thy commands, but will neglect his duty pretending that he did not hear or understand thee.

20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words ? there is more hope of a fool , than of him .

Or rather, in his Business, who is rash and heady in the management of his affairs.

Who is sensible of his folly, and willing to hearken to the advice of others, as this word is used▪ Ch. 26. 12. though commonly it be meant of a wilful and wicked fool.

Because he is self confident, and neither considers things seriously within himself, nor seeks counsel from the wise.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] matters.

21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child, shall have him become his son at the length.

Allowing him too much freedom, and familiarity, and delicious fare.

Will find him at last grow insolent and presumptuous and forgetful of his servile condition.

22 An angry man stirreth up strife: and a furious man aboundeth in transgression .

Is by his passion easily transported into grievous and manifold sins, against God, and others, and himself, as swearing, and cursing, and violence, yea somtimes even to murder.

Marginal references: Ch. 15. 18. & 26. 21.

23 A mans pride shall bring him low : but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit .

Because both God and Man conspire against him and abhor him.

Or, as others render it, without any difference in the sense, the humble in Spirit shall hold their honour, shall be honoured by God and men. Thus honour, like a shadow, flees from them that pursue it, and follows them who flee from it.

Marginal references: Job 22. 29. Ch. 15. 33. & 18. 12. Matt. 23. 12. Luk. 14. 11. & 18. 14. Jam. 4. 6, 10. 1 Pet. 5. 5.

24 Whoso is partner with a thief , hateth his own soul : he heareth cursing , and bewrayeth it not .

By receiving a share of the stolen Goods upon condition of his concealment of the theft.

He carrieth himself towards it as if he hated it, he woundeth and destroyeth it.

He heareth the voice of swearing, as is said, Levit. 5. 1. the Oath given to him by a Judge adjuring him and other suspected Persons to give information concerning it.

Which he is bound to do both by vertue of his Oath and for the publick good, which ought to be preferred before all private contracts or friendships.

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare : but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD , shall be safe.

Inordinate fear of harm or mischief from men, which is fitly opposed to trust in God, because it comes from a distrust of God's Promise and Providence.

Is an occasion of many sins, and of great danger, both of injuries from men, and of sore punishments from God.

Keeping God's way, and securely relying upon God to protect him from the designs and rage of wicked men.

Marginal references: Heb, shall [illegible: 1 word] set on high.

26 Many seek the rulers favour , but every mans judgment cometh from the LORD .

Men study to please and ingage their Rulers by their obliging carriage and humble Petitions and all other means, supposing that to be the only way to procure either right or favour from them, as they need or desire it.

The decision of his cause and the success of all his endeavours.

Dependeth wholly upon God who ruleth and inclineth their Minds and Hearts as it pleaseth him, Prov. 21. 1.

Marginal references: Ch. 19. 6.; Heb. the [illegible: 1 word] of a Ruler.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just : and he that is upright in the way, is abomination to the wicked

Because such men, as such, are hated by God, and haters of and Enemies unto God and all goodness, and publick Plagues to the Church and State in which they live, and therefore he who loves these must needs hate them, as true Friends hate those who are Enemies to their Friends.

Of which see above on v. 10.