{"collection":"Bible & Christianity","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bib/cmt/jfb/pro020.htm","path":"bib/cmt/jfb/pro020.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/jfb/pro020.htm","text":"A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]\nmocker--scorner. Such men are made by wine.\nstrong drink--made by spicing wine (compare Isa 5:11, Isa 5:22); and it may include wine.\nraging--or boisterous as a drunkard.\ndeceived--literally, \"erring,\" or reeling.\n(Compare Pro 19:12). Men who resist authority injure themselves (Rom 13:2).\nto cease from strife--or, better, \"to dwell from or without strife,\" denoting the habit of life.\nfool . . . meddling-- (Pro 17:14).\nshall . . . beg--literally, \"ask\" (in this sense, Psa 109:10).\nCounsel . . . water--that is, deeply hidden (Pro 18:4; Psa 13:2). The wise can discern well.\nBoasters are unreliable.\ngoodness--or, \"kind disposition.\"\nThe conduct of good men proclaims their sound principles. God's covenant and their good example secure blessing to their children (Pro 4:26; Psa 112:1-2).\nAs in Pro 14:35; Pro 16:10, Pro 16:15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings.\nThe interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14; Ecc 7:20).\nVarious measures, implying that some are wrong (compare Pro 11:1; Pro 16:11).\nThe conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mat 7:16).\nHence, of course, God will know all you do (Psa 94:9).\nActivity and diligence contrasted with sloth (Pro 6:9; Pro 10:11).\nlest . . . poverty--literally, \"be deprived of inheritance.\"\nwhen . . . his way--implying that he goes about boasting of his bargains.\nThe contrast denotes the greater value of knowledge (compare Pro 3:14-16).\nTake his garment--implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness.\na strange woman--by some readings \"strangers,\" but the former here, and in Pro 27:13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless.\nBread . . . sweet--either as unlawfully (Pro 9:17) or easily obtained.\nmouth . . . gravel--well expresses the pain and grief given at last.\n(Compare Pro 15:22). Be careful and considerate in important plans.\nThose who love to tell news will hardly keep secrets.\nflattereth . . . lips--(compare Margin; Pro 1:10).\nmeddle . . . him--literally, \"join,\" or \"associate with.\"\nhis lamp--(Compare Pro 13:9; Pro 24:20).\ngotten hastily--contrary to God's providence (Pro 28:20), implying its unjust or easy attainment; hence the man is punished, or spends freely what he got easily (compare Pro 20:17).\n(Compare Psa 27:14; Rom 12:17-19).\n(Compare Pro 20:10; Pro 11:1).\nMan's goings--literally, \"Stately steppings of a strong man.\"\na man--any common man.\nunderstand--or, \"perceive.\"\ndevoureth . . . holy--or, better, \"who rashly speaks promises,\" or \"devotes what is holy,\" consecrating any thing. This suits better the last clause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashly vowing.\n(Compare Pro 20:8).\nbringeth . . . over them--The wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity (compare Amo 1:3).\nThe spirit . . . Lord--Men's minds are God's gifts, and thus able to search one another (compare Pro 20:5; Pro 18:8, Pro 18:17; Co1 2:11).\n(Compare Pro 3:3; Pro 16:6, Pro 16:12).\nThe glory of young men . . . the beauty of old men--Each age has its peculiar excellence (Pro 16:31).\nblueness--literally, \"joining,\" the process of uniting the edges of a wound throws off purulent matter.\nstripes . . . belly--So punishment provides healing of soul (Pro 18:8), by deterring from evil courses.","title":"A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments: Proverbs: Proverbs Chapter 20","type":"page"}