Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21:1

The wills, inclinations, and purposes of kings and others are entirely under the direction and government of God; and he can turn them whithersoever he pleases, as easily as the gardener or husbandman can turn his canals of waters

Proverbs 21:2

Men, through their self-love, often fancy their own purposes and works to be extremely right, while the Lord, who perfectly knows their hearts, observes them to be very defective or sinful

Proverbs 21:3

Uprightness of heart, and holiness and virtue of life, are more pleasing to God than the most pompous devotions, or the most liberal benefactions or alms

Proverbs 21:4

Not only the insolence, pride, and ambition, of wicked men, are criminal before God, but all their natural, civil, and moral, actions, with all their worldly greatness and prosperity, lead to sin; and all they do is sinful in its principle, manner, and end

Proverbs 21:5

Prudent contrivances and laborious industry are the proper means of plenty and affluence; but hasty resolutions, precipitant measures, and unjust methods, involve men in trouble and loss

Proverbs 21:6

The getting of wealth, by lying, flattery, calumny, or perjury, is a beguiling and unprofitable course, however much used by such as walk in ways leading to destruction; and the wealth thus obtained is as unsubstantial and transient as heaps of chaff or clouds of smoke before the wind

Proverbs 21:7

The injuries which wicked men do to others in rendering their families poor or desolate, shall, in most ruinous punishments, be returned upon their own heads, because they are wilfully bent upon their unjust dealings

Proverbs 21:8

The whole temper and course of a wicked man are contrary to the law and nature of God, and odious to him; but they, whose consciences are washed in Jesus’ blood, and their hearts renewed by his grace, walk in good works, acceptable to God and profitable to men

Proverbs 21:9

Better is it to live poorly and solitary in the open air, exposed to all the injuries of the weather, or to be thrust into some little corner, than have a spacious house and numerous family, governed by a contentious wife, whose perpetual scolding and brawling upon 6 17 the smallest occasion is more intolerable than thunder, lightning, or blustering winds

Proverbs 21:10

A wicked man’s heart desires to be ever doing mischief, and to have others falling into it: nor will he spare good or bad, friend or foe, if, by reproof or otherwise, they stand in the way of his covetousness, ambition, or other lusts

Proverbs 21:11

When obstinate scoffers at the laws of God and men are punished in providence, or by the magistrates, others, particularly such as they have seduced, will bethink themselves what they are doing: and wise men will improve instructions and admonitions to render themselves wiser and better

Proverbs 21:12

While righteous magistrates search the houses of the wicked for ill-gotten goods, and in order that they may be duly punished, and deprived of power to do further mischief, godly men, in order to deter them from like courses, consider the judgment and ruin which God brings on the wicked for their sins

Proverbs 21:13

They, who refuse to help the poor in distress, shall be reduced to misery themselves, and have none to pity or help them

Proverbs 21:14

Presents, especially if secretly and prudently given, have a powerful influence to appease angry and wrathful men

Proverbs 21:15

The execution of justice, and the practice of holiness and virtue, are a pleasure to the righteous: but are a terror and burden to the wicked, whom God and the magistrates shall concur to destroy

Proverbs 21:16

He that will not live according to the directions of God’s word, but follows the conduct of his own lusts and passions, shall, after all his extravagances, be for ever fixed in hell

Proverbs 21:17

Voluptuous persons destroy their own pleasures, by wasting their estates; and they, who are given to costly and delicious feeding, can never thrive

Proverbs 21:18

Wicked men often fall into the very miseries which they had prepared for the godly; and, in times of common calamity, are often severely punished that the righteous may be delivered

Proverbs 21:20

True wisdom enables men to procure what is necessary for their families, and to enjoy it with satisfaction: but foolish persons lavishly waste what they neither know how to get or how to live without

Proverbs 21:21

They, who make it their business to receive and improve Jesus Christ and his righteousness and grace in a life of holiness and virtue, shall find every new-eminent blessing in time and eternity

Proverbs 21:22

Wise men, by their prudence, kindness, and perseverance, can effect the most difficult enterprises, and do more than others who have much more strength

Proverbs 21:23

The servant of the tongue, from impure, false, profane, rash, injurious, language, greatly preserves men from troubles, embarrassments, and miseries

Proverbs 21:24

Pride, humility, and outrageous words, only render men infamous and contemptible

Proverbs 21:25

The stethoscope is a good idea in a man’s desire after that which he has not and will not have been his pious and diligent persons have enough for themselves, and also wherewith to relieve others

Proverbs 21:27

All the appearances of devotion and piety about unrenewed persons being hypocritical, proceeding from a wicked principle, done in a wicked manner, and to a wicked end, are abominable to God

Proverbs 21:28

The testimony, character, and soul, of a false witness shall quickly be ruined: but he, that speaks nothing but what he knows to be true, is fixed and invariable in his attestations

Proverbs 21:29

Impenitent sinners refuse to blush at their abominations, and obstinately resolve to go on in them; but sincere saints carefully conduct their thoughts, words and actions, by the rule of God’s word

Proverbs 21:30

No projects, however, wisely laid or prudently conducted, can defeat or alter the purposes, or counteract the providence, of God

Proverbs 21:31

Neither horses, chariots, or powerful armies, can obtain victories, or even protect their owners: but all safety and salvation are of, and effected by, the Lord himself. CHAP. XXI. Ver. I. A good character, qualifying men to be useful for God in their generation, and the noted respect and friendship of those among whom we live, are more honourable and comfortable than all the riches of the world. 2. The rich by their wealth, and the poor by their labour, are mutual supports of each other, and ought to live together in harmony and kindness, as the same Lord made them both, and appointed them their respective conditions. 3. Prudent men foresee calamities or temptations when approaching, and use proper means for securing themselves; but foolish and inconsiderate persons go on securely in their sins, and are ruined. 4. True humility and real godliness are the certain way to honour and happiness in this world and in that which is to come. 5. Wicked men meet with much trouble and danger in their sinful ways: but he that takes proper care of his soul shall be preserved therefrom, and enjoy manifold blessings. 6. Let children be carefully instructed in the truths, and accustomed to the ways, of God as early and earnestly as possible, and they will retain the impression, and practise the same, as long as they live. 7. Rich men domineer over the poor; and they who borrow are obliged to depend on the will and pleasure of the lender. 8. He, whose common practice is to do mischief, shall be paid in his own coin with misery and trouble; and at length his power of wronging others shall be taken from him. 9. They, who compassionately observe the wants of the poor, and cheerfully relieve them, shall be largely rewarded of God. 10. The removal of graceless persons, who scorn all good counsels, from a society, is an excellent means to compose the contentions therein, and to prevent strifes and mutual reproaches for the future. 11. He that loves and practises sincerity and plain-heartedness will recommend himself even to princes, by the piety, pleasantness, and candour of his discourse. * 12. God, in his providence, carefully preserves his own oracles and ordinances among men, and provides for, preserves, and honours, those who are thereby made wise unto salvation: but he blasts all the counsels and designs of the wicked and perfidious. 13. Slothful persons imagine mighty hindrances in the way of their duty where there are none, or at least very few. 14. Nothing is so dangerous, so eternally dangerous, as the ensnaring flatteries of whorish women, and the enslaving influence of fleshly lust. If a man be ensnared by them, nothing but infinite mercy and power can prevent his utter and everlasting destruction. And seldom are any, who have not provoked the Lord by former wickedness, permitted to fall into these snares. 15. False opinions and bad inclinations adhere so closely to the minds of children, that not only instructions and reproofs, but even seasonable and duly severe chastisements, must remove their obstinate folly. 16. He that by violence or fraud oppresses the poor to enrich himself, or gives to the rich what he took from the poor, or what he should give to relieve their wants, shall himself be reduced to want and beggary. 17. Attend diligently, and consider seriously, the counsels and precepts of wise men, and particularly those given in this book. 18. For it will afford thee great satisfaction heartily to embrace, thoroughly to digest, and faithfully to preserve, them in thy mind: and by these means thou wilt be qualified to instruct others in them. 29. Men who are quick and dextrous, but prudent in dispatching whatever business is committed to them, are in a fair way to be preferred to some honourable employment in the service of their prince