And bitterness to her who bore him: Because of the maternal instinct and bond, there is a special pain and bitterness that belongs to the mother of a foolish son or daughter. The exposure of all belongs to God, not man (Luke 12:3). A broken spirit dries the bones: Those who are defeated and broken in spirit will see the effect in their health and experience of life. Commentary on Proverbs 17:3 (Read Proverbs 17:3) Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. Parents should do all they can to not raise scoffers, beginning with believing and living out the truth themselves. Uprightness should be rewarded and honored, not punished. An evil man seeks only rebellion; - (Comp, Proverbs 15:16, 17; Proverbs 16:8.) 17 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. If you have fewer comforts than you used to have, or fewer comforts than other people have, or fewer comforts than you desire, do you not still have more than you deserve?” (Bridges). 4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. i. “An evil heart is disposed and ever ready to receive evil; and liars delight in lies.” (Clarke), iii. And a brother is born for adversity. 17. He blesses those who follow His commandments. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, Our enemy’s great object is to turn the mind away from what is immediate to what is indefinite, from what is plain and important to what is unsearchable, from what is personal to what is irrelevant. And becomes surety for his friend: It is responsibility enough to honor our own debts. Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Proverbs 17:17. “These fine family fruits need cultivating and protecting. He who has knowledge spares his words: Both wisdom and folly are often revealed by one’s words. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. But here a crushed spirit describes a brooding spirit of despondency that always looks on the dark side of things. And this interpretation seems to agree better with the scope of the context.” (Clarke). Such people should understand that when they mock the poor, they despise (reproach) the One who made both the poor and themselves. Proverbs 17:18. A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. 4. Proverbs 17 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary has been valued for generations and consulted by Bible scholars everywhere But the Lord tests the hearts. You can check these in your browser security settings. An evil man seeks only rebellion: The instinctive response of rebellion belongs to the evil, not to the wise. b. b. Dross in metal may be discovered and expurged by fire, but evil in the heart can be discovered and dealt with only by God. “The proverb pictures them gathered around the aged parent like a crowning diadem.” (Waltke). “As many persons are guilty of the sin of ingratitude, and of paying kindness with unkindness, and good with evil, it is no wonder we find so much wretchedness among men; for God’s word cannot fail; evil shall not depart from the houses and families of such persons.” (Clarke), ii. Such a friend was Jonathan; Hushai the Archite; Ittai the Gittite, who stuck close to David when he was at his lowest point. Words in boxes are from the Bible. Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise), Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete), California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Rather, it recognizes the inherent rights of every man in God, notwithstanding his poverty.” (Morgan). i. “He therefore tries us, that he may make us know what is in us, what dross, what pure metal; and that all may see that we are such as, for a need, can ‘glorify him in the very fires,’ [Isaiah 24:15].” (Trapp). i. He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished: To be glad at anyone’s calamity shows an unloving, unsympathetic heart. First, a question as to whether I am really a friend to anyone; and second, a question as to how many real friends I have.”, ii. The Lord rewarded His people for good behavior. When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive: If the fool cared about being considered perceptive, this gives an easy way for it to happen. Commentary on Proverbs 17:1 (Read Proverbs 17:1) These words recommend family love and peace, as needful for the comfort of human life. A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge: Wisdom guards us against foolish partnerships. Than a hundred blows on a fool: Correction may be administered deeply and repeatedly to the fool, yet they will not receive it. “Contrary to judicial law and custom, one’s virtue, not the privilege of birth, ultimately counts for more in social and economic standing.” (Waltke). Proverbs 17:13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house." 1. b. His thoughts are scattered. This is a lofty and rarely reached standard among leaders, especially political leaders. And bitterness to her who bore him. And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. The mystery of this friendship is beyond our imagination.”, iii. Truly, a cheerful and merry heart is good for more than the personality; it is good for the body. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; 17 Correct thy son, and he will give thee delight, And afford pleasure to thy soul. To pervert the ways of justice: When favor and a desired outcome depends on bribe money and not fairness and righteousness, justice is perverted. Keith Simons. Many trifles take the place of the one thing that is needful.” (Bridges). Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool: It isn’t that excellent speech is not desired from the fool, but that it is such an unexpected surprise. a. Commentary on Proverbs 17:2 (Read Proverbs 17:2) The wise servant is more deserving, and more likely to appear one of the family, than a profligate son. To pervert the ways of justice. Elders derive a sense of pride from their descendants, and children get their self-worth from parents. A gentle reproof will enter, not only into the head, but into the heart of a wise man. Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom: Wisdom has a price, and Solomon imagined a fool who was ready to pay that price. A neglected crop, riddled with mutual antipathy, is seen in Isaiah 3:5; Micah 7:6; 2 Timothy 3:2-4.” (Kidner). Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Children’s children are the crown of old men, 4. i. The question implies, that the price is unworthily placed, and that it is to no purpose, or benefit of the possessor. 16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? on StudyLight.org It is stamped with his special honor. He who loves transgression loves strife: There are those who love both transgression and strife. i. He is careful when he does speak, to speak to the purpose. Proverbs Bible Study Commentary. “His eyes are on the ends of the earth, rolling and wandering from one object to another. Yet, in the case of wisdom, it may be revealed by the knowledge of when to keep quiet. He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. An EasyEnglish Bible Version and Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on the Book of Proverbs. b. Rather than a fool in his folly. a. A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame: It is natural that a son should rule; the trust one has in family is often greater than the trust one has servants. ii. b. a. Ver. a. What danger there is in the beginning of strife! We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. What used to be called fair-weather friends – those who are friends only when the weather is pleasant and fair – are not true friends at all. John Trapp Complete Commentary. Lessons about wisdom. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Resist its earliest display; and leave it off, if it were possible, before you begin. And becomes surety for his friend. He who covers a transgression seeks love: There is a time and a place for the exposure of sin (Ephesians 5:11), but often the sins of others should be tactfully and lovingly covered. Christ silenced the devil when he confessed him to be the Son of the most high God.” (Trapp). “A dishonest leader is worse than an arrogant fool. God tries the heart by affliction. b. He who has a perverse tongue falls into evil: Wicked and foolish words not only display the evil of someone’s heart, they also lead them into greater evil. b. Proverbs 17:17. Better is a dry morsel with quietness: There is nothing appealing about a dry morsel. Once an argument or battle has begun, it is difficult to control its course, and like uncontrolled water, it can cause great damage. Proverbs 17:1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife. i. i. b. A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family. i. Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.. Ver. “Peace and contentment, and especially domestic peace, are beyond all other blessings.” (Clarke), ii. We might say that the price of wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. Those who seek only rebellion can offer nothing wise and good to replace that which they rebel against. A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. It will feel to them that their life has withered and dried up. The son has his natural place, but God does not see that natural place as giving absolute right to lead and may give leadership to a wise servant instead. It is great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful, and cause to be cheerful, if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. i. Morgan on the principle of this proverb: “Let it be applied. a. To be constantly agitated and upset is a mark of folly, not wisdom. Than a hundred blows on a fool. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.. a. A friend loveth at all times.] A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family. This proverb may simply state the fact that a bribe usually works. How ingenious is the cheerful heart in finding the means of enjoyment and in extending these! i. www.easyenglish.bible. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Justice requires the opposite outcome – that the wicked are condemned and that the just are justified. Yet the blessing of quietness and peace is so great, that it can make a dry morsel seem better than the alternative presented. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. “The contrast here is between ‘before the face of him’ and ‘the ends of the earth.’ While it is a sure sign of weakness to see only the things that are near, it is a yet surer sign of folly to be forever looking at far-off things, to the neglect of those close at hand.” (Morgan), iii. This was the feeling David described in Psalm 32:1-4. i. Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, b. In Him this text did receive, and still receives its most glorious fulfilment. 1. He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow: To be the parent of a foolish scoffer (one who foolishly doubts and rejects the truth) is to have sorrow. The beginning of strife is like releasing water: The nature of liquid water makes it difficult to restrain. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. b. a. “Abundance often brings a deterioration of moral and ethical standards as well as an increase in envy and strife.” (Ross). Let not any wrong their families. It is very wrong to find fault for doing what is duty. i. “The ancient Jews applied this proverb to Christ, adducing it as a testimony that the divine Messiah would by his incarnation become the Brother of man.” (Bridges). If men loved not lies, they would not listen to them.” (Trapp), ii. Verse 17 This intimates the strength of those bonds by which we are bound to each other and which we ought to be sensible of. Proverbs 17 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this classic commentary, written in 2013, is Gary H. Everett's Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures It should concern us if we love to hear lies and gossip about others. Proverbs 17 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this highly respected and nearly exhaustive compilation, containing nearly 500,000 cross-references When the heart is cheerful the duties of a mans calling are a pleasure to him. “That eminent servant of God, Jonathan Edwards, when he was at his last, said, ‘Where is Jesus of Nazareth, my old and faithful friend? A friend loves at all times, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. a. Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts: Because strife and contention are difficult to control and cause great damage, wisdom sees that it is much better to stop contention before it ever starts. b. a. Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. “The proverb corrects the popular misconception that it is better to set free ten guilty persons than to condemn one innocent person. b. Consider the influence of cheerfulness and depression on the duties and the pursuits of life. a. What influence should the gifts of God have on our hearts! But the foolish man cannot fix his thoughts, nor pursue any purpose with steadiness. To punish the righteous is not good: God’s moral order insists that the righteous be rewarded and the wicked be punished. Proverbs 17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. The seepage starts from a small aperture, but under built up pressure it quickly bursts open and the small leak turns into a raging, uncontrolled cataclysm that gets out of hand and does irreparable damage.” (Waltke), ii. Once it is released it will go in unexpected and uncontrolled ways. It discourages those who do good and encourages those who do not. i. 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