THE human proverb, “Man proposes, but God disposes,” finds its far earlier counterpart in the first verse.
1 The purposes of the heart are of man:
But from Jehovah is the answer of the tongue.
“It is not in man that liveth to direct his way.” He may plan and arrange, but when the time arrives to speak or act it is from Jehovah the answer comes. See Balaam (Num. 23 and 24).
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes:
But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
Ever since the Fall it has been second nature with man to justify himself. Till brought into the light of God’s holiness there is nothing of which he is generally so certain as the defensibleness of his own conduct. His ways are clean in his own eves, but he is not to be trusted in his own judgment, for the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Jehovah weigheth the spirits. His balances are exact.
His judgment is unerring; and He it is who solemnly declares, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting!”
Thus man is shut up to the salvation provided through the finished work of the Son of God on Calvary’s cross. Otherwise condemnation alone can be his portion. See Belshazzar (Dan. 5:25-30).
3 Commit thy works unto Jehovah,
And thy thoughts shall be established.
The word “commit” might be rendered “roll.” He who rolls his affairs over upon the Lord, will find Him ever ready to take charge of them all, and to carry them on to a proper completion and establishment. But it must be borne in mind that if I thus commit all to Him, I no longer choose for myself as to what the outcome should be, but say with confidence, “Thy will be done.” He would have every desire told out in His ear, and then left in faith that He may act according to His love and unerring wisdom. See Hannah (1 Sam. 1:9-20).
4 Jehovah hath made all things for himself:
Yea, even the lawless for the day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah:
Though hand join in hand, he shall not be acquitted.
All things shall redound at last to the glory of God. Earth’s long tale of sin and sorrow will only result in magnifying His love and His holiness eventually. Those saved by His grace will be to His praise forever; but the wicked will also own His justice in the day of their condemnation. He detests pride; and all who walk therein (let them endeavor by confederation to resist His power as they may) shall be broken before Him and brought in guilty when He sits on the throne of judgment. How much better now to bow in repentance, while He is on a throne of grace! See His word as to Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 7; 2 Pet. 2:6).
6 By loving-kindness and truth iniquity is purged;
And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.
Atonement is made for iniquity by loving-kindness and truth—so far as putting things right with man is concerned. It is not a question here of expiating sin before God. No amount of kindly deeds and truthful words can purge the conscience of guilt and give acceptance with Him. But if man has been sinned against, the manifestation of repentance leading to putting right what was wrong as far as possible, and consideration and thoughtful care in the future, will go far towards clearing his mind of the past evil. It is the fear of Jehovah that leads to departure from what is unholy and contrary to sound doctrine. So when one is in the fear of God he will endeavor to have a conscience void of offense both towards Him and towards his fellow-men. See the apostle Paul (Acts 24:16).
7 When a man’s ways please Jehovah,
He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
This is a far-reaching statement, which is much less pondered over than it should be. It allows of no exceptions. If a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, his enemies will be unable to say one word against his character. They may hate him, but they are compelled to own that God is with him.
If therefore my enemies are not at peace with me, is it not time I was asking myself, “Do my ways really please Him?” Doubtless I shall soon be reminded of something needing to be judged in His presence.
One thing that is very conducive to closing the mouths of enemies is, just going on quietly “through evil report and good report,” bent on pleasing One alone, wasting no time in self-vindication, but committing all to Him who judges righteously. A holy, humble walk must silence even my worst foes. See Daniel (Dan. 6:4, 5).
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great revenues without right.
Integrity of heart is better than thousands of silver and gold. How poor and mean is the man who piles up his millions, but sacrifices his conscience to do it! A bare living, with the mind and heart at rest, and a walk in accordance with righteous principles, is infinitely to be preferred to a large income coupled with covetousness and unholy practices. See Naboth and Ahab (1 Kings 21).
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way:
But Jehovah directeth his steps.
Compare with verse 1. See note. People frequently think they are having their own way, when in reality the Lord is leading them with “bit and bridle,” through strange paths, for their discipline and blessing at last. See Naomi (Ruth 1:21).
10 A sure decision is in the lips of the king:
His mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance are Jehovah’s:
All the weights of the bag are His work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit lawlessness:
For the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings;
And they love him that speaketh right.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death;
But a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life;
And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
It is the ideal king that is contemplated. Occasionally have earthly monarchs been raised up who hated iniquity and loved righteousness, but this world still groans for the coming and reign of the true King, who shall judge the nations with equity, and in whose mouth the vile person shall be contemned.
It is God’s Anointed alone whose throne will be established by righteousness, and to whom lawlessness of every kind is an abomination. In His lips is there a sure decision, for His mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
For all human rulers He is the grand pattern. In the measure that they are imitators of Him do they properly maintain the kingly glory.
Whatever is right and true among men is from God. All baseness and dishonest trickery are detestable in His eyes. So we have the weights and balances introduced in the midst of this section, relating to kingly dignity. For it is the same integrity that directs the decision of the upright king and the measures of the poorest of his subjects.
The king delights in lips of truth, and loves sound speech. His anger is as a death-sentence, but wisdom will pacify it. In his favor is life and refreshing. If of the light of a man’s countenance this can be said, how much more of the King of kings! “In Thy presence is fullness of joy.”
See David (2 Sam. 3:36).
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil:
He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Compare chapter 2:1-9, and see notes.
The man of wisdom and understanding has his fortune made for both worlds. But it is easy to be deceived by a counterfeit wisdom which descendeth not from above, being earthly, sensual, devilish. That which does not begin with the fear of the Lord, and keep from the highway of iniquity, is but Satan’s counterfeit, let it be vaunted as it may by wiseacres who know not to depart from evil. See Daniel (Dan. 5:11).
18 Pride goeth before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Pride was an archangel’s ruin, as it has been the destruction of untold myriads of men and women on earth. It is the sure precursor of a fall, for the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity cannot permit self-exaltation, on the part of a creature, to go unchecked.
Far better is it to be little in one’s own eyes, and to find happy fellowship with the lowly, than to share the pursuits and treasures of the proud in spirit.
It is when one sees pride in another that its hideousness is clearly revealed. How often we will complacently tolerate in ourselves what, when we behold it in someone else, fills us with disgust. But God takes note of the least beginning of unjudged haughtiness in each heart. What mind can conceive how hateful it must all be to Him! May writer and reader look to it that this baneful sin be checked in His presence, ere it master us to our lasting sorrow! See Haman (Esth. 5 to 7).
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good:
And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent:
And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Understanding is a well-spring of life to him that hath it:
But the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise maketh wise his mouth,
And addeth learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
The five verses form a series of epigrams on the value of applied wisdom in the various affairs of life. To proceed wisely in a case presenting difficulties not readily overcome, is an earnest of coming good. Only those do so, in the full sense, who confide in Jehovah, and find their happiness in His fear.
When wisdom possesses the reins the behavior will be discreet, and kindly lips will manifest a lowly heart and willingness to be instructed. This is true understanding; which, like a spring of living water, dwells in the possessor of it, and flows forth to bless others. Of fools the opposite is true. Their folly is manifested to any person of discernment.
It is the condition of the heart that is of prime importance. If all be right there, the words of the lips will accord therewith; so that in place of the speculative vaporings of the worldly pedant there will be the counsel of the wise, who knows how to give forth what is profitable as well as pleasant and cheering. Note the characteristics of the wisdom that is from above in James 3:17, and see the confession of the queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:6-9).
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man,
But the end thereof are the ways of death.
This verse repeats the statement of chapter 14:12, as though to emphasize the danger of refusing the path of wisdom for self-chosen ways which can only end in death. See note on that verse.
26 The soul of him that laboreth, laboreth for himself;
For his mouth urgeth him on.
It is because of his desire to be satisfied with the fruits of his toil that the laborer pursues his occupation. His appetite craves it of him, and so he presses on in his service. This is as God ordained when the fall had shut man out of the garden of delight, and in the sweat of his face he was commanded to eat his bread. Wealth gotten without labor is generally a very dangerous acquisition. He who knows the weariness of honest toil will be careful how he uses that which results therefrom. Ponder the cases of Ruth (Ruth 2) and of Gideon (Judges 6:11, 12).
27 An ungodly man [or, a man of Belial] diggeth up evil:
And in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A froward man soweth strife:
And a whisperer separateth chief friends.
See notes on chapter 11:13, and 17:9. It would be well if every one addicted to the sinfully cruel habit of talebearing would ponder carefully these words. It is an ungodly man who digs up evil, whose lips seem to be set on fire of hell. Such a one will go about scattering the seeds of strife as one might sow thistledown, or the pods of other noxious weeds, to result in a harvest of grief and anguish to many a soul.
There is no question that whispering and backbiting is one of the greatest curses among Christians. By means of this detestable vice the dearest friends are alienated, misunderstandings of all kinds are created, and many are defiled by the recital of tales which a godly person would seek to cover and forbear ever to repeat. See what mischief was brought about by the talebearing of Doeg the Edomite, and see that you follow not in the steps of so unsavory a wretch (1 Sam. 22:9-19).
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbor,
And leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things:
Moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Many an otherwise kindly and gracious soul has been misled by the energy and apparent earnestness of a violent man, and led on to join him in things that were quite opposed to his own more mature judgment, had he not allowed his eyes to be blinded. But the other’s fair speech, coupled with what men call a magnetic presence, have often won the day, and led one, who would never have gone if left to himself, into a way that was not good. It is well not to be too easily persuaded. Before making a decision, take time to get the mind of God, that thus you be not partaker of other men’s sins. Neglect of this led Jehoshaphat, a most amiable man, into many a snare (2 Chron. 18:1, and 20:35-37).
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory,
[If] it be found in the way of righteousness.
Probably the last line should read simply, “It shall be found in the way of righteousness.” The verse does not say the hoary head will never be found in the paths of wickedness; for, alas, often white hairs crown the sinner’s head. But it is characteristic of the way of righteousness; and when found there, it is indeed a diadem of honor. Riotous living in youth generally means decrepitude in middle age, and premature death. Temperance and righteousness tend to strength of body and length of days. Hear the testimony of Caleb, who wholly followed the Lord (Josh. 14:11); and note what is written of Moses (Deut. 34:7).
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Self-mastery is the greatest of all victories. Men have subdued kingdoms who were defeated in the effort to control themselves. A bad temper is often excused on the ground of natural infirmity, but it is rather the evidence of unjudged pride and impatience. “Learn of Me,” said Jesus, “for I am meek and lowly in heart.” The meek man is not a spiritless man, but he is slow to anger. He can be righteously stirred when occasion requires, but not when it is his own dignity that is in question. “Add to patience self-control” is a word for us all. It is generally a sign of weakness when one allows himself to become angry and excited in the face of opposition. Note the calmness of spirit and dependence on God manifested by Nehemiah, throughout the book that bears his name, when meeting the irritating sneers and downright opposition of the enemies of Jerusalem.
33 The lot is cast into the lap;
But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.
There is no such thing as chance, though it seems so to the man who looks only “under the sun” (Eccl. 9:11). But a supreme Intelligence is over all things, controlling even when unseen and unrecognized.
Casting lots was a method frequently resorted to among the ancients for determining vexed questions. By this means Canaan was divided among the tribes, and it was used on many occasions to detect guilty persons. The last mention of its use in Scripture is in connection with the election of Matthias to the vacant apostleship of Judas. It would seem that, as of old, God gave judgment, and so the company of the twelve was kept complete. Paul evidently was never numbered with them. He was the messenger of the glory of Christ to the nations, while the twelve were connected primarily with the Jewish testimony.
For instances of God’s giving judgment by the lot, see the cases of the two goats of Lev. 16:8; the land (Num. 26:55, and Josh. 18:10); Achan (Josh. 7:16-18); Jonathan (1 Sam. 14:41); and Matthias (Acts 1:26). In the book of Esther we find the lot (called Pur) used by Haman to determine a fortunate day for the destruction of the Jews.