Proverbs in the King James Version

Chapters

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• 19
• 20
• 21
• 22
• 23
• 24
• 25
• 26
• 27
• 28
• 29
• 30
• 31

About Proverbs

From Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary.

The subject of this book may be thus stated by an enlargement on the opening verses. 1. The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. 2. Which treat of the knowledge of wisdom, of piety towards God, of instruction and moral discipline, of the understanding wise and prudent counsels. 3. Which treat of the attainment of instruction in wisdom, which wisdom is to be shown in the conduct of life, and consists in righteousness with regard to our fellow-creatures. 4. Which treat of the giving to the simple sagacity to discover what is right, by supplying them with just principles, and correct views of virtue and vice; and to the young man knowledge, so that he need not err through ignorance; and discretion, so that by pondering well these precepts, he may not err through obstinacy. Take the proverbs of other nations, and we shall find great numbers founded upon selfishness, cunning, pride, injustice, national contempt, and animosities. The principles of the Proverbs of Solomon are piety, charity, justice, benevolence, and true prudence. Their universal purity proves that they are the word of God.

Chapter by chapter

Matthew Henry's summary of each chapter.

Proverbs 1. The use of the Proverbs. (1-6) Exhortations to fear God and obey parents. (7-9) To avoid the enticings of sinners. (10-19) The address of Wisdom to sinners. (20-33)

Proverbs 2. Promises to those who seek wisdom. (1-9) The advantages of wisdom. (10-22)

Proverbs 3. Exhortations to obedience and faith. (1-6) To piety, and to improve afflictions. (7-12) To gain wisdom. (13-20) Guidance of Wisdom. (21-26) The wicked and the upright. (27-35)

Proverbs 4. Exhortation to the study of wisdom. (1-13) Cautions against bad company, Exhortation to faith and holiness. (14-27)

Proverbs 5. Exhortations to wisdom. The evils of licentiousness. (1-14) Remedies against licentiousness, The miserable end of the wicked. (15-23)

Proverbs 6. Cautions against rash suretiship. (1-5) A rebuke to slothfulness. (6-11) Seven things hateful to God. (12-19) Exhortations to walk according to God's commandments. (20-35)

Proverbs 7. Invitations to learn wisdom. (1-5) The arts of seducers, with warnings against them. (6-27)

Proverbs 8. Christ, as Wisdom, calls to the sons of men. (1-11) The nature and riches of Wisdom. (12-21) Christ one with the Father, in the creation of the world, and rejoicing in his work for the salvation of man. (22-31) Exhortations to hear Christ's word. (32-36)

Proverbs 9. The invitations of Wisdom. (1-12) The invitations of folly. (13-18)

Proverbs 10. Through the whole of the Proverbs, we are to look for somewhat beyond the first sense the passage may imply, and this we shall find to be Christ. He is the Wisdom so often spoken of in this book.

Proverbs 11. Verse 1 However men may make light of giving short weight or measure, and however common such crimes may be, they are an abomination to the Lord. Verse 2 Considering how safe, and quiet, and easy the humble are, we see that with the lowly is wisdom. Verse 3 An honest man's principles are fixed, therefore his way is plain. Verse 4 Riches will stand men in no stead in the day of death. Verses 5-6…

Proverbs 12. Verse 1 Those who have grace, will delight in the instructions given them. Those that stifle their convictions, are like brutes. Verse 2 The man who covers selfish and vicious designs under a profession of religion or friendship, will be condemned. Verse 3 Though men may advance themselves by sinful arts, they cannot settle and secure themselves. But those who by faith are rooted in Christ, are…

Proverbs 13. Verse 1 There is great hope of those that reverence their parents. There is little hope of any who will not hear those that deal faithfully with them. Verse 2 By our words we must be justified or condemned, Mt 12:37 . Verse 3 He that thinks before he speaks, that suppresses evil if he have thought it, keeps his soul from a great deal both of guilt and grief. Many a one is ruined by an ungoverned…

Proverbs 14. Verse 1 A woman who has no fear of God, who is wilful and wasteful, and indulges her ease, will as certainly ruin her family, as if she plucked her house down. Verse 2 Here are grace and sin in their true colours. Those that despise God's precepts and promises, despise God and all his power and mercy. Verse 3 Pride grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart. The root must be plucked…

Proverbs 15. Verse 1 A right cause will be better pleaded with meekness than with passion. Nothing stirs up anger like grievous words. Verse 2 He that has knowledge, is to use it aright, for the good of others. Verse 3 Secret sins, services, and sorrows, are under God's eye. This speaks comfort to saints, and terror to sinners. Verse 4 A good tongue is healing to wounded consciences, by comforting them; to…

Proverbs 16. Verse 1 The renewing grace of God alone prepares the heart for every good work. This teaches us that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think or speak any thing wise and good. Verse 2 Ignorance, pride, and self-flattery render us partial judges respecting our own conduct. Verse 3 Roll the burden of thy care upon God, and leave it with him, by faith and dependence on him. Verse 4 God makes use…

Proverbs 17. Verse 1 These words recommend family love and peace, as needful for the comfort of human life. Verse 2 The wise servant is more deserving, and more likely to appear one of the family, than a profligate son. Verse 3 God tries the heart by affliction. He thus has often shown the sin remaining in the heart of the believer. Verse 4 Flatterers, especially false teachers, are welcome to those that live…

Proverbs 18. Verse 1 If we would get knowledge and grace, we must try all methods of improving ourselves. Verse 2 Those make nothing to purpose, of learning or religion, whose only design is to have something to make a show with. Verse 3 As soon as sin entered, shame followed. Verse 4 The well-spring of wisdom in the heart of a believer, continually supplies words of wisdom. Verse 5 The merits of a cause must…

Proverbs 19. Verse 1 A poor man who fears God, is more honourable and happy, than a man without wisdom and grace, however rich or advanced in rank. Verse 2 What good can the soul do, if without knowledge? And he sins who will not take time to ponder the path of his feet. Verse 3 Men run into troubles by their own folly, and then fret at the appointments of God. Verse 4 Here we may see how strong is men's love…

Proverbs 20. Verse 1 It seems hard to believe that men of the greatest abilities, as well as the ignorant, should render themselves fools and madmen, merely for the taste or excitement produced by strong liquors. Verse 2 How formidable kings are to those who provoke them! how much more foolish then is it to provoke the King of kings! Verse 3 To engage in quarrels is the greatest folly that can be. Yield, and…

Proverbs 21. Verse 1 The believer, perceiving that the Lord rules every heart as he sees fit, like the husbandman who turns the water through his grounds as he pleases, seeks to have his own heart, and the hearts of others, directed in his faith, fear, and love. Verse 2 We are partial in judging ourselves and our actions. Verse 3 Many deceive themselves with a conceit that outward devotions will excuse…

Proverbs 22. Verse 1 We should be more careful to do that by which we may get and keep a good name, than to raise or add unto a great estate. Verse 2 Divine Providence has so ordered it, that some are rich, and others poor, but all are guilty before God; and at the throne of God's grace the poor are as welcome as the rich. Verse 3 Faith foresees the evil coming upon sinners, and looks to Jesus Christ as the…

Proverbs 23. Verses 1-3 God's restraints of the appetite only say, Do thyself no harm. Verses 4-5 Be not of those that will be rich. The things of this world are not happiness and a portion for a soul; those that hold them ever so fast, cannot hold them always, cannot hold them long. Verses 6-8 Do not make thyself burdensome to any, especially those not sincere. When we are called by God to his feast, and to…

Proverbs 24. Verses 1-2 Envy not sinners. And let not a desire ever come into thy mind, Oh that I could shake off restraints! Verses 3-6 Piety and prudence in outward affairs, both go together to complete a wise man. By knowledge the soul is filled with the graces and comforts of the spirit, those precious and pleasant riches. The spirit is strengthened for the spiritual work and the spiritual warfare, by…

Proverbs 25. Verses 1-3 God needs not search into any thing; nothing can be hid from him. But it is the honour of rulers to search out matters, to bring to light hidden works of darkness. Verses 4-5 For a prince to suppress vice, and reform his people, is the best way to support his government. Verses 6-7 Religion teaches us humility and self-denial. He who has seen the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus, will…

Proverbs 26. Verse 1 Honour is out of season to those unworthy and unfit for it. Verse 2 He that is cursed without cause, the curse shall do him no more harm than the bird that flies over his head. Verse 3 Every creature must be dealt with according to its nature, but careless and profligate sinners never will be ruled by reason and persuasion. Man indeed is born like the wild ass's colt; but some, by the…

Proverbs 27. Verse 1 We know not what a day may bring forth. This does not forbid preparing for to-morrow, but presuming upon to-morrow. We must not put off the great work of conversion, that one thing needful. Verse 2 There may be occasion for us to justify ourselves, but not to praise ourselves. Verses 3-4 Those who have no command of their passions, sink under the load. Verses 5-6 Plain and faithful…

Proverbs 28. Verse 1 Sin makes men cowards. Whatever difficulties the righteous meet in the way of duty, they are not daunted. Verse 2 National sins disturb the public repose. Verse 3 If needy persons get opportunities of oppressing, their extortion will be more severe than that of the more wealthy. Verse 4 Wicked people strengthen one another in wicked ways. Verse 5 If a man seeks the Lord, it is a good sign…

Proverbs 29. Verse 1 If God wounds, who can heal? The word of God warns all to flee from the wrath to come, to the hope set before us in Jesus Christ. Verse 2 The people have cause to rejoice or mourn, as their rulers are righteous or wicked. Verse 3 Divine wisdom best keeps us from ruinous lusts. Verse 4 The Lord Jesus is the King who will minister true judgment to the people. Verse 5 Flatterers put men off…

Proverbs 30. Verses 1-6 Agur speaks of himself as wanting a righteousness, and having done very foolishly. And it becomes us all to have low thoughts of ourselves. He speaks of himself as wanting revelation to guide him in the ways of truth and wisdom. The more enlightened people are, the more they lament their ignorance; the more they pray for clearer, still clearer discoveries of God, and his rich grace in…

Proverbs 31. An exhortation to king Lemuel to take heed of sin, and to do duties. (1-9) The description of a virtuous woman. (10-31)