Proverbs 13

²A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

Shall eat - Shall receive comfort, and benefit by his wise and profitable discourses.

⁶Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

Keepeth him - From that over-throw which befal sinners.

⁷There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

Maketh rich - Some men who have little or nothing, pretend to have great riches. Maketh rich - Some rich men profess to be poor.

⁸The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

Riches - Riches enable a man to redeem his life when it is in greatest danger, and poverty preserves a man from many injuries. Because they are cautious, that they may not provoke others; and because they are esteemed objects of pity.

⁹The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

The light - The prosperity. Rejoiceth - Shines with a pleasant and constant brightness. Rejoicing is here ascribed to the light, as it is to the sun, Psal 19:5, metaphorically. Put out - Their felicity shall have a hidden end.

¹⁰Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Pride - It is chiefly, pride which blows up the coals of contention. Well-advised - Who are not governed by their passions, but by prudent considerations. Wisdom - Which teaches them to avoid contention.

¹¹Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Vanity - By wicked practices.

¹²Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Hope deferred - Delays in obtaining what a man passionately desires. The desire - The good desired. A tree of life - It is satisfactory, and reviving.

¹³Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

The word - The word of God.

¹⁴The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

The law - The instruction, or counsel; as the word law, is frequently understood in scripture.

¹⁵Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Giveth - Makes a man acceptable to God. Rough - Offensive and hateful to God and men, as rough ways are to a traveller.

¹⁶Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

Knowledge - Considerately and discreetly. Layeth open - By his foolish actions.

¹⁷A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

A messenger - Who is unfaithful in the execution of that which is committed to his charge. Is health - Procures benefit, as to his master, so to himself.

¹⁹The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Sweet - Whatsoever men earnestly desire, the enjoyment of it is sweet to them; therefore sinners rejoice in the satisfaction of their sinful lusts, and abhor all restraint of them.

²¹Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

Evil - Punishment proportionable to their sin.

²³Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

The poor - Poor persons by their diligent labours, and God’s blessing often grow rich. Destroyed - Or, consumed, brought to poverty, for want of discretion.

²⁴He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Hateth his son - His fond affection, is as pernicious to him as hatred.