Simon Patrick on the Proverbs 1683
1. "The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother." Let the father's care in educating his children (especially his son the heir of his family) be equal to the joy he will have in their well doing: and let the mother beware that her indulgence do not spoil them; for they will have the greatest share in the heaviness, which their untowardness will give them.
2. "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death." This is more necessary than the care of heaping up riches for them (which many times tempt men to fraud and oppression), for though great treasures be gotten by such means, they will be so far from availing the owners in time of distress, that they will rather expose them to be a prey; when justice and mercy with a little wealth will procure safety and deliverance from the greatest dangers.
3. "The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but He casteth away the substance of the wicked." The reason is, the Lord hath treasures in store for the just, especially for the merciful man; and will send him such supplies in his straits, that he shall not starve, but rather have enough: but He will drive the wicked out of their ill-gotten possessions, whereby they think to secure themselves from want.
4. "He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich." And next unto virtue let children be bred up to industry; without which indeed they cannot be virtuous: for both poverty and fraud are commonly the fruit of negligence and sloth; when an active diligence is wont to enrich men, without the help of deceit.
5. "He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame." Especially if prudence be added to diligence and opportunity be not neglected: for as he that makes hay (as we speak) while the sun shines is commended for his provident care; so he that by taking his ease, when he should gather the fruits of the earth, loses all the benefit of his former labors, is a shame to himself, and unto those that bred him.
6. "Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked." The blessings of heaven shall visibly descend in great plenty upon the just and merciful man: but their own iniquity shall violently overwhelm those, to their utter confusion, who wickedly defraud and oppress their neighbors.
7. "The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot." And though envy may sometime cloud a good man for the present, yet after death an honorable mention shall be made of him; and he shall be commemorated with praises: when the memory of the wicked, who now perhaps are extolled, shall either perish or stink and be abominated.
8. "The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall." He that is truly wise will thankfully receive such good advices as these, and avoid the dangers of which he is admonished: but he whose wisdom lies only in his tongue (which moves upon all occasions, and will not let him learn of others) ruins himself, even by his own imprudent prating.
9. "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known." He that deals sincerely in all his actions is both safe and secure: but he that relies upon fraud and tricks of deceiving shall find his cunning fail him at the last; and besides can never be secure that he shall not be detected and made a public reproach.
10. "He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall." But he especially, that under pretense of kindness betrays his neighbor, and gives the sign to others, when he would have them circumvent him, is a common grievance; and shall himself, in the end, feel the miserable effects of his falseness: for he is worse than a man, who openly professing his malice rails perpetually, and thereby, sooner hurts himself than others.
11. "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked." The discourse of a good man (like a perpetual spring of wholesome water) always tends to the profit, comfort, and refreshment of those that receive it: but a wicked man, how fair soever his language be, doth but conceal the mischief, which (like pestilent waters out of a deep pit) he designs to produce when opportunity serves.