Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22:1

LOving favour] That is to say, the favour and good will of men.

Proverbs 22:2

Meet together] Live together, and in many things have need of one another, and as they are borne all alike, so death makes them all equall, and at the last they are equally judged by the Lord, Job 31:15. Ephes. 6 9. Whereby the consequence is cleere, that we ought to be charitable and upright, because that before God there will be no difference.

Proverbs 22:3

The evill] Namely, the danger and inconvenience Passeon] Doe runne on headlong, without any stay or circumspection.

Proverbs 22:5

Thornes] All manner of unhappinesse, danger and trouble, encumbreth their wicked life Doth keep] namely from sinne, he that keeps himselfe pure and cleane, 1 John 5:18 Shall be farre] shall be exempt from these evil, or shall keepe himselfe farre from such people.

Proverbs 22:8

The rod] That is to say, the tyrannicall power and authority, wherewith he unjustly oppresseth others. Psal. 125. 3.

Proverbs 22:9

He that hath] He that seeing other mens miseries and wants is moved to compassion.

Proverbs 22:10

The scorner] He that respecteth or reverenceth no man, that is licentious in scoffing and mocking every one.

Proverbs 22:11

He that loveth] The good man proceeds in words and deeds, with such grace, discretion, and honestie that he is able to gaine the favour of the greatest ones.

Proverbs 22:12

Knowledge] The Italian A man endowed with knowledge] Namely with true and spirituall wisdome, joyned with faith, love, and obedience.

Proverbs 22:13

A Lion] He saigneth unto himselfe imaginary dangers, because hee would have some pretence that he might not goe abroad into the fields to work.

Proverbs 22:14

The mouth] That is to say their dalliances and allurements, serve for to catch men, even as your pits made by hunters, for to catch, wilde beasts.

Proverbs 22:18

Within thee] The Italian I thy belly] In thy soule, like wholesome and well digested meate They shall] The Italian And if they be all] If thou hast well conceived and learned them, so that thou canst in fitting times and places make convenient use of them, if thou doest alwayes adorne thy speech with them, like unto a string of rich and precious pearles.

Proverbs 22:21

The certaintie] Namely these divine, eternall, and undoubted truths Thou mightest] That thou mayest in any vocation wherein thou shalt bee employed by God, or men, speake, worke, and converse in all manner of uprightnesse.

Proverbs 22:22

Because he is] taking occasion from his povertie which is without power or defence. Or take heed thou doe him no wrong, for thou shouldest thereby not wrong justice onely, but mercy also, which is so much recommended and encharged to us by God. Or for feare of the Lord who is the deender of the poore In the gate] In judgment, whose seate was neere to the Citie gates, the meaning is, do him no wrong neither in publick nor in private. See Job 5. 4. & 31. 21.

Proverbs 22:25

Get a snare] be not unawares drawne to imitate him, or doe not runne into some mortall danger, as one often doth in such mens companies.

Proverbs 22:26

That strike] For to enter rashly into suretyship.

Proverbs 22:29

Diligent] that hath a quick and ready wit to resolve upon businesse, and is watchfull in taking hold of opportunities, diligent and active in his actions Shall stand] shall be advanced and imployed in great mens services, and shall not be imployed in the imployments of the meanest sort of people.