Bible Commentaries
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible
Proverbs 19
A poor man who fears God, is more honourable and happy, than a man without wisdom and grace, however rich or advanced in rank.
What good can the soul do, if without knowledge? And he sins who will not take time to ponder the path of his feet.
We are without excuse if we do not love God with all our hearts. His gifts to us are past number, and all the gifts of men to us are fruits of his bounty.
Christ was left by all his disciples; but the Father was with him. It encourages our faith that he had so large an experience of the sorrows of poverty.
A man that has not wisdom and grace, has no right or title to true joy. It is very unseemly for one who is a servant to sin, to oppress God's free-men.
Christ is a King, whose wrath against his enemies will be as the roaring of a lion, and his favour to his people as the refreshing dew.
It shows the vanity of the world, that we are liable to the greatest griefs where we promise ourselves the greatest comfort.
A sluggish, slothful disposition makes men poor; it brings them to want. And this applies both to the present life and that which is to come.
If we keep God's word, God's word will keep us from every thing really hurtful. We abuse the doctrine of free grace, if we think that it does away the necessity and advantage of obedience. Those that live at random must die. This truth is clearly taught in words enough to alarm the stoutest sinner.
When parents keep under foolish tenderness, they do their best to render children a comfort to them, and happy in themselves.
It is far better to have a heart to do good, and want ability for it, than to have ability for it, and want a heart to it.
Those that live in the fear of God, shall get safety, satisfaction, and true and complete happiness.
Indolence, when indulged, so grows upon people, that they have no heart to do the most needful things for themselves.
The young man who wastes his father's substance, or makes his aged mother destitute, is hateful, and will come to disgrace.
It is the wisdom of young men to dread hearing such talk as puts loose and evil principles into the mind.
The unbelief of man shall not make God's threatenings of no effect. Christ himself, when bearing sins not his own, was not spared. Justice and judgment took hold of our blessed Surety; and will God spare obstinate sinners?
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