1Kto miluje kázeň, miluje poznanie, kto však nenávidí karhanie, je hlúpy. 2Dobrý dosahuje priazeň Hospodina, ale podliaka On odsúdi. 3Človek nestojí pevne bezbožnosťou, ale koreň spravodlivých sa nepohne. 4Súca žena je korunou svojho manžela, ale tá, čo ho do hanby privádza, je ako kostižer v jeho kostiach. 5Myšlienky spravodlivých sú správne, úmysly bezbožných sú klamstvo. 6Slová bezbožných sú krvavé úklady, ale statočných zachraňujú ich ústa. 7Bezbožní budú vyvrátení a nebude ich, ale dom spravodlivých bude stáť. 8Človeka chvália podľa jeho rozumnosti, ale pohrdnú tým, kto má prevrátené srdce. 9Lepšie je byť neváženým, a pracovať pre seba, ako sa robiť vznešeným, a mať nedostatok chleba. 10Spravodlivý pozná potreby svojho dobytka, ale srdce bezbožných je ukrutné. 11Kto si obrába pole, bude mať dosť chleba, ale kto sa zháňa po márnostiach, nemá rozum. 12Pevnosť zlých bude zničená, ale koreň spravodlivých potrvá. 13Zlý sa zapletie priestupkom perí, ale spravodlivý vyjde zo súženia. 14Z ovocia svojich úst každý bude nasýtený dobrým, človek dostane odplatu za to, čo spravil inému. 15Bláznovi sa vidí jeho cesta správnou, múdry však poslúcha radu. 16Blázon prejaví svoju mrzutosť ihneď, ale opatrný človek skrýva svoju hanbu. 17Kto vyslovuje pravdu, hlása spravodlivosť, falošný svedok však vyslovuje klam. 18Kto nerozvážne hovorí, akoby bodal mečom, ale jazyk múdrych lieči. 19Pravdivé pery obstoja naveky, ale falošný jazyk len na chvíľu. 20Podvod je v srdci tých, čo snujú zlé, radosť však majú, ktorí dávajú rady k pokoju. 21Neprihodí sa spravodlivým nijaké nešťastie, ale bezbožní sú plní pohrôm. 22Klamné pery sú ohavnosťou Hospodinovi, ale tí, čo verne konajú, sa Mu páčia. 23Opatrný človek zakrýva to, čo vie, ale srdce bláznov vykričí svoju bláznivosť. 24Ruka usilovných bude vládnuť, ale lenivá bude konať nútenú prácu. 25Ustarostenosť v srdci skľučuje človeka, ale dobré slovo mu spôsobuje radosť. 26Spravodlivý sa odvracia od zlého, ale cesta bezbožných vedie na scestie. 27Lenivec neupečie, čo ulovil, ale usilovnosť človeka je vzácnym imaním. 28Na chodníku spravodlivosti je život, ale cesta odpadnutia vedie k smrti.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 Those who have grace, will delight in the instructions given them. Those that stifle their convictions, are like brutes.
2 The man who covers selfish and vicious designs under a profession of religion or friendship, will be condemned.
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 firmly fixed.
4 A wife who is pious, prudent, and looks well to the ways of her household, who makes conscience of her duty, and can bear crosses; such a one is an honour and comfort to her husband. She that is the reverse of this, preys upon him, and consumes him.
5 Thoughts are not free; they are under the Divine knowledge, therefore under the Divine command. It is a man's shame to act with deceit, with trick and design.
6 Wicked people speak mischief to their neighbours. A man may sometimes do a good work with one good word.
7 God's blessing is often continued to the families of godly men, while the wicked are overthrown.
8 The apostles showed wisdom by glorying in shame for the name of Christ.
9 He that lives in a humble state, who has no one to wait upon him, but gets bread by his own labour, is happier than he that glories in high birth or gay attire, and wants necessaries.
10 A godly man would not put even an animal to needless pain. But the wicked often speak of others as well used, when they would not endure like treatment for a single day.
11 It is men's wisdom to mind their business, and follow an honest calling. But it is folly to neglect business; and the grace of God teaches men to disdain nothing but sin.
12 When the ungodly see others prosper by sin, they wish they could act in the same way. But the root of Divine grace, in the heart of the righteous, produces other desires and purposes.
13 Many a man has paid dear in this world for the transgression of his lips.
14 When men use their tongues aright, to teach and comfort others, they enjoy acceptance through Christ Jesus; and the testimony of their conscience, that they in some measure answer the end of their being.
15 A fool, in the sense of Scripture, means a wicked man, one who acts contrary to the wisdom that is from above. His rule is, to do what is right in his own eyes.
16 A foolish man is soon angry, and is hasty in expressing it; he is ever in trouble and running into mischief. It is kindness to ourselves to make light of injuries and affronts, instead of making the worst of them.
17 It is good for all to dread and detest the sin of lying, and to be governed by honesty.
18 Whisperings and evil surmises, like a sword, separate those that have been dear to each other. The tongue of the wise is health, making all whole.
19 If truth be spoken, it will hold good; whoever may be disobliged, still it will keep its ground.
20 Deceit and falsehood bring terrors and perplexities. But those who consult the peace and happiness of others have joy in their own minds.
21 If men are sincerely righteous, the righteous God has engaged that no evil shall happen to them. But they that delight in mischief shall have enough of it.
22 Make conscience of truth, not only in words, but in actions.
23 Foolish men proclaim to all the folly and emptiness of their minds.
24 Those who will not take pains in an honest calling, living by tricks and dishonesty, are paltry and beggarly.
25 Care, fear, and sorrow, upon the spirits, deprive men of vigour in what is to be done, or courage in what is to be borne. A good word from God, applied by faith, makes the heart glad.
26 The righteous is abundant; though not in this world's goods, yet in the graces and comforts of the Spirit, which are the true riches. Evil men vainly flatter themselves that their ways are not wrong.
27 The slothful man makes no good use of the advantages Providence puts in his way, and has no comfort in them. The substance of a diligent man, though not great, does good to him and his family. He sees that God gives it to him in answer to prayer.
28 The way of religion is a straight, plain way; it is the way of righteousness. There is not only life at the end, but life in the way; all true comfort.