1 My sonne, forget not my lawe; but let thine heart keepe my commaundements:
2 For length of dayes, and long life, and peace shall they adde to thee.
3 Let not mercy and trueth forsake thee: bind them about thy necke, write them vpon the table of thine heart.
4 So shalt thou find fauour, and good vnderstanding in the sight of God, and man.
5 ¶ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and leaue not vnto thine owne vnderstanding.
6 In all thy wayes acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy pathes.
7 ¶ Be not wise in thine owne eyes: feare the Lord, and depart from euill.
8 It shalbe health to thy nauill, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.
10 So shall thy barnes be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 ¶ My sonne, despise not the chastening of the Lord: neither be weary of his correction.
12 For whom the Lord loueth, he correcteth, euen as a father the sonne, in whom he delighteth.
13 ¶ Happy is the man that findeth wisedome, and the man that getteth vnderstanding.
14 For the merchandise of it is better then the merchandise of siluer, and the gaine thereof, then fine gold.
15 She is more precious then Rubies: and all the things thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her.
16 Length of dayes is in her right hand: and in her left hand, riches and honour.
17 Her wayes are wayes of plesantnesse: and all her pathes are peace.
18 She is a tree of life, to them that lay hold vpon her: and happy is euery one that retaineth her.
19 The Lord by wisedome hath founded the earth; by vnderstanding hath he established the heauens.
20 By his knowledge the depthes are broken vp; and the cloudes droppe downe the dew.
21 ¶ My sonne, let not them depart from thine eyes: keepe sound wisedome and discretion.
22 So shall they bee life vnto thy soule, and grace to thy necke.
23 Then shalt thou walke in thy way safely, & thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When thou lyest downe, thou shalt not be afraide: yea, thou shalt lye downe, and thy sleepe shalbe sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden feare, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it commeth.
26 For the Lord shalbe thy confidence, and shall keepe thy foote from being taken.
27 ¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to doe it.
28 Say not vnto thy neighbour, Goe, and come againe, and to morrow I will giue, when thou hast it by thee.
29 Deuise not euil against thy neighbour, seeing hee dwelleth securely by thee.
30 ¶ Striue not with a man without cause, if hee haue done thee no harme.
31 ¶ Enuie thou not the oppressour, and choose none of his wayes.
32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 ¶ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the iust.
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giueth grace vnto the lowly.
35 The wise shall inherite glory, but shame shalbe the promotion of fooles.
Exhortations to obedience and faith. (1-6) To piety, and to improve afflictions. (7-12) To gain wisdom. (13-20) Guidance of Wisdom. (21-26) The wicked and the upright. (27-35)1-6 In the way of believing obedience to God's commandments health and peace may commonly be enjoyed; and though our days may not be long upon earth, we shall live for ever in heaven. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; God's mercy in promising, and his truth in performing: live up to them, keep up thine interest in them, and take the comfort of them. We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is able and wise to do what is best. Those who know themselves, find their own understandings a broken reed, which, if they lean upon, will fail. Do not design any thing but what is lawful, and beg God to direct thee in every case, though it may seem quite plain. In all our ways that prove pleasant, in which we gain our point, we must acknowledge God with thankfulness. In all our ways that prove uncomfortable, and that are hedged up with thorns, we must acknowledge him with submission. It is promised, He shall direct thy paths; so that thy way shall be safe and good, and happy at last.
7-12 There is not a greater enemy to the fear of the Lord in the heart, than self-conceit of our own wisdom. The prudence and sobriety which religion teaches, tend not only to the health of the soul, but to the health of the body. Worldly wealth is but poor substance, yet, such as it is, we must honour God with it; and those that do good with what they have, shall have more to do more good with. Should the Lord visit us with trials and sickness, let us not forget that the exhortation speaks to us as to children, for our good. We must not faint under an affliction, be it ever so heavy and long, not be driven to despair, or use wrong means for relief. The father corrects the son whom he loves, because he loves him, and desires that he may be wise and good. Afflictions are so far from doing God's children any hurt, that, by the grace of God, they promote their holiness.
13-20 No precious jewels or earthly treasures are worthy to be compared with true wisdom, whether the concerns of time or eternity be considered. We must make wisdom our business; we must venture all in it, and be willing to part with all for it. This Wisdom is the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation, sought and obtained by faith and prayer. Were it not for unbelief, remaining sinfulness, and carelessness, we should find all our ways pleasantness, and our paths peace, for his are so; but we too often step aside from them, to our own hurt and grief. Christ is that Wisdom, by whom the worlds were made, and still are in being; happy are those to whom he is made of God wisdom. He has wherewithal to make good all his promises.
21-26 Let us not suffer Christ's words to depart from us, but keep sound wisdom and discretion; then shall we walk safely in his ways. The natural life, and all that belongs to it, shall be under the protection of God's providence; the spiritual life, and all its interests, under the protection of his grace, so that we shall be kept from falling into sin or trouble.
27-35 Our business is to observe the precepts of Christ, and to copy his example; to do justice, to love mercy, and to beware of covetousness; to be ready for every good work, avoiding needless strife, and bearing evils, if possible, rather than seeking redress by law. It will be found there is little got by striving. Let us not envy prosperous oppressors; far be it from the disciples of Christ to choose any of their ways. These truths may be despised by the covetous and luxurious, but everlasting contempt will be the portion of such scorners, while Divine favour is shown to the humble believer.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.