Proverbs 22:1-16

22¹ A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.

² The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.

³ The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.

⁴ The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.

⁵ Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.

⁶ If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.

⁷ The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.

⁸ By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.

⁹ He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

¹⁰ Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.

¹¹ He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.

¹² The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.

¹³ The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.

¹⁴ The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.

¹⁵ Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.

¹⁶ He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.

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Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 22:1-16

Commentary on Proverbs 22:1

(Read Proverbs 22:1)

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.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:2

(Read Proverbs 22:2)

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.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:3

(Read Proverbs 22:3)

Faith foresees the evil coming upon sinners, and looks to Jesus Christ as the sure refuge from the storm.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:4

(Read Proverbs 22:4)

Where the fear of God is, there will be humility. And much is to be enjoyed by it; spiritual riches, and eternal life at last.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:5

(Read Proverbs 22:5)

The way of sin is vexatious and dangerous. But the way of duty is safe and easy.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:6

(Read Proverbs 22:6)

Train children, not in the way they would go, that of their corrupt hearts, but in the way they should go; in which, if you love them, you would have them go. As soon as possible every child should be led to the knowledge of the Saviour.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:7

(Read Proverbs 22:7)

This shows how important it is for every man to keep out of debt. As to the things of this life, there is a difference between the rich and the poor; but let the poor remember, it is the Lord that made the difference.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:8

(Read Proverbs 22:8)

The power which many abuse, will soon fail them.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:9

(Read Proverbs 22:9)

He that seeks to relieve the wants and miseries of others shall be blessed.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:10

(Read Proverbs 22:10)

Profane scoffers and revilers disturb the peace.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:11

(Read Proverbs 22:11)

God will be the Friend of a man in whose spirit there is no guile; this honour have all the saints.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:12

(Read Proverbs 22:12)

God turns the counsels and designs of treacherous men to their own confusion.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:13

(Read Proverbs 22:13)

The slothful man talks of a lion without, but considers not his real danger from the devil, that roaring lion within, and from his own slothfulness, which kills him.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:14

(Read Proverbs 22:14)

The vile sin of licentiousness commonly besots the mind beyond recovery.

Commentary on Proverbs 22:15

(Read Proverbs 22:15)

Sin is foolishness, it is in the heart, there is an inward inclination to sin: children bring it into the world with them; and it cleaves close to the soul. We all need to be corrected by our heavenly Father.