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1 Boast not thy selfe of to morrow: for thou knowest not what a day may bring foorth.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine owne mouth; a stranger, and not thine owne lips.
3 A stone is heauie, and the sand weightie: but a fooles wrath is heauier then them both.
4 Wrath is cruell, and anger is outragious: but who is able to stand before enuie?
5 Open rebuke is better then secret loue.
6 Faithfull are the woundes of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy are deceitfull.
7 The full soule loatheth an honie combe: but to the hungry soule euery bitter thing is sweete.
8 As a bird that wandreth from her nest: so is a man that wandreth from his place.
9 Oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart: so doeth the sweetnesse of a mans friend by heartie counsell.
10 Thine owne friend and thy fathers friend forsake not; neither goe in to thy brothers house in the day of thy calamitie: for better is a neighbour that is neere, then a brother farre off.
11 My sonne, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answere him that reprocheth me.
12 A prudent man foreseeth the euil, and hideth himselfe: but the simple passe on, and are punished.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising earely in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 A continuall dropping in a very rainie day, and a contentious woman, are alike.
16 Whosoeuer hideth her, hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand which be wrayeth it selfe.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron: so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18 Whoso keepeth the figtree, shall eate the fruit therof: so he that waiteth on his master, shall be honoured.
19 As in water face answereth to face: so the heart of man to man.
20 Hell and destruction are neuer full: so the eyes of man are neuer satisfied.
21 As the fining pot for siluer, and the furnace for gold: so is a man to his praise.
22 Though thou shouldest bray a foole in a morter among wheate with a pestell, yet will not his foolishnesse depart from him.
23 Be thou diligent to knowe the state of thy flocks, and looke well to thy herds.
24 For riches are not for euer: and doth the crowne endure to euery generation?
25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grasse sheweth it selfe, and herbes of the mountaines are gathered.
26 The lambes are for thy clothing, and the goates are the price of thy field.
27 And thou shalt haue goats milke enough for thy food, for the food of thy houshold, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
1 We know not what a day may bring forth. This does not forbid preparing for to-morrow, but presuming upon to-morrow. We must not put off the great work of conversion, that one thing needful. #2|. There may be occasion for us to justify ourselves, but not to praise ourselves. #3,4|. Those who have no command of their passions, sink under the load. #5,6|. Plain and faithful rebukes are better, not only than secret hatred, but than love which compliments in sin, to the hurt of the soul. #7|. The poor have a better relish of their enjoyments, and are often more thankful for them, than the rich. In like manner the proud and self-sufficient disdain the gospel; but those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, find comfort from the meanest book or sermon that testifies of Christ Jesus. #8|. Every man has his proper place in society, where he may be safe and comfortable. 9,10|. Depend not for relief upon a kinsman, merely for kindred's sake; apply to those who are at hand, and will help in need. But there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and let us place entire confidence in him. #11|. An affectionate parent urges his son to prudent conduct that should gladden his heart. The good conduct of Christians is the best answer to all who find fault with the gospel. #12|. Where there is temptation, if we thrust ourselves into it, there will be sin, and punishment will follow. #13|. An honest man may be made a beggar, but he is not honest that makes himself one. #14|. It is folly to be fond of being praised; it is a temptation to pride. 15,16|. The contentions of a neighbour may be like a sharp shower, troublesome for a time; the contentions of a wife are like constant rain. #17|. We are cautioned to take heed whom we converse with. And directed to have in view, in conversation, to make one another wiser and better. #18|. Though a calling be laborious and despised, yet those who keep to it, will find there is something to be got by it. God is a Master who has engaged to honour those who serve him faithfully. #19|. One corrupt heart is like another; so are sanctified hearts: the former bear the same image of the earthly, the latter the same image of the heavenly. Let us carefully watch our own hearts, comparing them with the word of God. #20|. Two things are here said to be never satisfied, death and sin. The appetites of the carnal mind for profit or pleasure are always desiring more. Those whose eyes are ever toward the Lord, are satisfied in him, and shall for ever be so. #21|. Silver and gold are tried by putting them into the furnace and fining-pot; so is a man tried by praising him. #22|. Some are so bad, that even severe methods do not answer the end; what remains but that they should be rejected? The new-creating power of God's grace alone is able to make a change. #23-27|. We ought to have some business to do in this world, and not to live in idleness, and not to meddle with what we do not understand. We must be diligent and take pains. Let us do what we can, still the world cannot be secured to us, therefore we must choose a more lasting portion; but by the blessing of God upon our honest labours, we may expect to enjoy as much of earthly blessings as is good for us.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.