SEARCH THE 1611 KJV (Advanced)
Viewing the original 1611 KJV with archaic English spelling.
Click to switch to the Standard KJV.
1 Be not thou enuious against euill men, neither desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lippes talke of mischiefe.
3 Through wisedome is an house builded, and by vnderstanding it is established.
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers bee filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong, yea a man of knowledge encreaseth strength.
6 For by wise counsell thou shalt make thy warre: and in multitude of counsellers there is safetie.
7 Wisedome is too high for a foole: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deuiseth to doe euill, shall be called a mischieuous person.
9 The thought of foolishnesse is sinne: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 If thou faint in the day of aduersitie, thy strength is small:
11 If thou forbeare to deliuer them that are drawen vnto death, and those that are ready to be slaine:
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not: doth not he that pondereth the heart, consider it? and he that keepeth thy soule, doth not he know it? and shall not hee render to euery man according to his workes?
13 My sonne, eate thou honie, because it is good, and the honie combe, which is sweete to thy taste.
14 So shall the knowledge of wisedome be vnto thy soule: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lay not waite, (O wicked man) against the dwelling of the righteous: spoile not his resting place.
16 For a iust man falleth seuen times, and riseth vp againe: but the wicked shall fall into mischiefe.
17 Reioyce not when thine enemie falleth: and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and hee turne away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thy selfe because of euill men; neither be thou enuious at the wicked.
20 For there shall be no reward to the euill man: the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My sonne, feare thou the Lord, and the king: and medle not with them that are giuen to change.
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both?
23 These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to haue respect of persons in iudgement.
24 He that sayth vnto the wicked, Thou art righteous, him shall the people curse; nations shall abhorre him:
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come vpon them.
26 Euery man shall kisse his lippes that giueth a right answere.
27 Prepare thy worke without, and make it fit for thy selfe in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28 Be not a witnesse against thy neighbour without cause: and deceiue not with thy lippes.
29 Say not, I will doe so to him as he hath done to mee: I will render to the man according to his worke.
30 I went by the field of the slouthfull, and by the vineyard of the man voyd of vnderstanding:
31 And loe, it was all growen ouer with thornes, and nettles had couered the face thereof, and the stone wall therof was broken downe:
32 Then I saw, and considered it well, I looked vpon it, and receiued instruction.
33 Yet a little sleepe, a little slumber, a little folding of the handes to sleepe:
34 So shall thy pouertie come, as one that traueileth, and thy want, as an armed man.
1,2 Envy not sinners. And let not a desire ever come into thy mind, Oh that I could shake off restraints! #3-6|. Piety and prudence in outward affairs, both go together to complete a wise man. By knowledge the soul is filled with the graces and comforts of the spirit, those precious and pleasant riches. The spirit is strengthened for the spiritual work and the spiritual warfare, by true wisdom. #7-9|. A weak man thinks wisdom is too high for him, therefore he will take no pains for it. It is bad to do evil, but worse to devise it. Even the first risings of sin in the heart are sin, and must be repented of. Those that strive to make others hateful, make themselves so. #10|. Under troubles we are apt to despair of relief. But be of good courage, and God shall strengthen thy heart. #11,12|. If a man know that his neighbour is in danger by any unjust proceeding, he is bound to do all in his power to deliver him. And what is it to suffer immortal souls to perish, when our persuasions and example may be the means of preventing it? #13,14|. We are quickened to the study of wisdom by considering both the pleasure and the profit of it. All men relish things that are sweet to the palate; but many have no relish for the things that are sweet to the purified soul, and that make us wise unto salvation. #15,16|. The sincere soul falls as a traveller may do, by stumbling at some stone in his path; but gets up, and goes on his way with more care and speed. This is rather to be understood of falls into affliction, than falls into actual sin. 17,18|. The pleasure we are apt to take in the troubles of an enemy is forbidden. #19,20|. Envy not the wicked their prosperity; be sure there is no true happiness in it. #21,22|. The godly in the land, will be quiet in the land. There may be cause to change for the better, but have nothing to do with them that are given change. #23-26|. The wisdom God giveth, renders a man fit for his station. Every one who finds the benefit of the right answer, will be attached to him that gave it. #27|. We must prefer necessaries before conveniences, and not go in debt. 28,29|. There are three defaults in a witness pointed out. 30-34|. See what a blessing the husbandman's calling is, and what a wilderness this earth would be without it. See what great difference there is in the management even of worldly affairs. Sloth and self-indulgence are the bane of all good. When we see fields overgrown with thorns and thistles, and the fences broken down, we see an emblem of the far more deplorable state of many souls. Every vile affection grows in men's hearts; yet they compose themselves to sleep. Let us show wisdom by doubling our diligence in every good thing.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.