Geneva Study Bible My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. For length of {a} days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
(a) Long life is the blessing of God which he gives to his, so far as it is expedient for them. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: Let not {b} mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy {c} neck; write them upon the table of thine {d} heart:
(b) By mercy and truth he means the commandments of the first and second table, or else the mercy and faithfulness that we ought to use toward our neighbours. (c) Keep them as a precious jewel. (d) Have them ever in remembrance. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. It shall be health to thy {e} navel, and marrow to thy bones.
(e) By this part he comprehends the whole body, as by health he means all the benefits promised in the law both corporal and spiritual. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: {f} Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
(f) As was commanded in the law, Ex 23:19, De 26:2 and by this they acknowledged that God was the giver of all things, and that they were ready to bestow all at his commandment. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall {g} burst out with new wine.
(g) For the faithful distributor God gives in greater abundance. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Length of days is in her right hand; {h} and in her left hand riches and honour.
(h) Meaning, that he seeks wisdom, that is, suffers himself to be governed by the Word of God, will have all prosperity both corporal and spiritual. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. She is a tree {i} of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
(i) Which brings forth such fruit that they who eat of it have life and he alludes to the tree of life in paradise. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. The LORD by wisdom hath {k} founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
(k) By this he shows that this wisdom of which he speaks is everlasting, because it was before all creatures and that all things even the whole world were made by it. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. {l} Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
(l) For when God destroys the wicked he will save his as he did Lot in Sodom. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Withhold not good from {m} them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
(m) Not only from them to whom the possession belongs but also you shall not keep it from them who have need of the use of it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth {n} securely by thee.
(n) That is, puts his trust in you. Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. {o} Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
(o) Do not wish to be like him. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his {p} secret is with the righteous.
(p) That is, his covenant and fatherly affection which is hid and secret from the world. The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. Surely {q} he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
(q) He will show by his plagues that their scorn will turn to their own destruction, Pr 1:26. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
    |