Proverbs 22 Bible Commentary

22:1 A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] ^a loving favour rather than silver and gold.

(a) Which comes by well doing.

22:2 The rich and poor ^b meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.

(b) Live together, and have need the one of the other.

22:3 A prudent [man] ^c foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

(c) That is, the punishment, which is prepared for the wicked and flees to God for help.

22:6 Train up a child ^d in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

(d) Bring him up virtuously and he will continue so.

22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the ^e rod of his anger shall fail.

(e) His authority by which he oppressed others, will be taken from him.

22:9 He that hath a bountiful ^f eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

(f) He that is merciful and liberal.

22:11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the ^g king [shall be] his friend.

(g) He shows that princes should use their familiarity, whose conscience is good, and their talk wise and godly.

22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve ^h knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

(h) Favour them that love knowledge.

22:13 The slothful [man] saith, ⁱ [There is] a lion outside, I shall be slain in the streets.

(i) He derides them that invent vain excuses, because they would not do their duty.

22:14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit: he that is abhorred by the LORD ^k shall fall in it.

(k) So God punishes one sin by another, when he suffers the wicked to fall into the acquaintance of a harlot.

22:15 Foolishness [is] bound ^l in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

(l) He is naturally given to it.

22:19 That thy trust may be in ^m the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

(m) He shows what the end of wisdom is: that is, to direct us to the Lord.

22:20 Have not I written to thee ⁿ excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

(n) That is, various times.

22:24 Make ^o no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

(o) Have nothing to do with him that is not able to rule his affections: for he would hurt you by his evil conversation.

22:26 Be not thou [one] of them that ^p strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.

(p) Who rashly put themselves in danger for others, as in (Proverbs 6:2).