Bible Commentaries

These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the ^a men of Hezekiah king of Judah ^b copied out.

(a) Whom Hezekiah appointed for this purpose.

(b) That is, gathered out of various books of Solomon.

[It is] the glory of God to ^c conceal a thing: but the honour of ^d kings [is] to search out a matter.

(c) God does not reveal the cause of his judgments to man.

(d) Because the king rules by the revealed word of God, the cause of his doings must appear, and therefore he must use diligence in trying causes.

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of ^e kings [is] unsearchable.

(e) He shows that it is too hard for man to attain the reason of all the secret doings of the king, even when he is upright and does his duty.

Take away the ^f dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner.

(f) When vice is removed from a king, he is a meet vessel for the Lord's use.

Take ^g away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

(g) It is not enough that he is pure himself, but that he put away others who are corrupted.

Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thy infamy ^h turn not away.

(h) Lest while you think by this means to have an end of the matter, it put you to further trouble.

As the cold of snow ⁱ in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

(i) In the time of great heat, when men desire cold.

Whoever boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] ^k clouds and wind without rain.

(k) Which have an outward appearance, and are nothing within.

By long ^l forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the ^m bone.

(l) By not creating opportunity to provoke him further.

(m) That is, the heart that is bent to anger, as in (Proverbs 15:1).

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is ⁿ sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.

(n) Use moderately the pleasures of this world.

[As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon ^o soda, so [is] he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

(o) Which melts it, and consumes it.

For thou shalt heap ^p coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

(p) You will, as if by force, overcome him, in so much that his own conscience will move him to acknowledge the benefits, and his heart will be inflamed.

He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] ^q broken down, [and] without walls.

(q) And so is in extreme danger.