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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Proverbs 22 Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/proverbs/22.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/22.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/proverbs/22-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/commentaries/">Commentary</a> > <a href="../">Ellicott</a> > <a href="../proverbs/">Proverbs</a></div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../proverbs/21.htm" title="Proverbs 21">◄</a> Proverbs 22 <a href="../proverbs/23.htm" title="Proverbs 23">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</div><div class="chap"> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-1.htm">Proverbs 22:1</a></div><div class="verse">A <i>good</i> name <i>is</i> rather to be chosen than great riches, <i>and</i> loving favour rather than silver and gold.</div><span class= "bld">XXII.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">Loving favour.—</span>Or, <span class= "ital">favour is better than silver and gold. </span>“Favour” may signify the grace which wins love, as well as the favour gained thereby.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-2.htm">Proverbs 22:2</a></div><div class="verse">The rich and poor meet together: the LORD <i>is</i> the maker of them all.</div>(2) <span class= "bld">The rich and poor meet together.—</span>Are thrown together in the world in order to aid each other in the path through life, remembering that they are brethren, sons of one Father. (Comp. <a href="/1_corinthians/12-27.htm" title="Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.">1Corinthians 12:27</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-3.htm">Proverbs 22:3</a></div><div class="verse">A prudent <i>man</i> foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.</div>(3) <span class= "bld">A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself,</span> as the Israelites hid themselves within their houses from the destroying angel, Noah within the Ark, the Christians before the fall of Jerusalem (<a href="/luke/21-21.htm" title="Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the middle of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.">Luke 21:21</a>) in Pella. (Comp. <a href="/isaiah/26-20.htm" title="Come, my people, enter you into your chambers, and shut your doors about you: hide yourself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be over.">Isaiah 26:20</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-4.htm">Proverbs 22:4</a></div><div class="verse">By humility <i>and</i> the fear of the LORD <i>are</i> riches, and honour, and life.</div>(4) <span class= "bld">By humility and the fear of the Lord.—</span>Rather, <span class= "ital">by </span>(or, the reward of) <span class= "ital">humility is the fear of the Lord. </span>He guides the humble and teaches them His fear. (Comp. <a href="/psalms/25-9.htm" title="The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.">Psalm 25:9</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Honour, and life.</span>—Comp. <a href="/proverbs/21-21.htm" title="He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.">Proverbs 21:21</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-5.htm">Proverbs 22:5</a></div><div class="verse">Thorns <i>and</i> snares <i>are</i> in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.</div>(5) <span class= "bld">Thorns.—</span>Comp. note on <a href="/proverbs/15-19.htm" title="The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.">Proverbs 15:19</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-8.htm">Proverbs 22:8</a></div><div class="verse">He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.</div>(8) <span class= "bld">Vanity</span>—i.e., calamity, trouble.<p><span class= "bld">The rod of his anger shall fail.—</span>When his time comes, and his iniquity is full, he shall himself suffer the punishment he brought on others, as Babylon did (<a href="/isaiah/14-6.htm" title="He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hinders.">Isaiah 14:6</a>), Assyria (<a href="/isaiah/30-31.htm" title="For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.">Isaiah 30:31</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-10.htm">Proverbs 22:10</a></div><div class="verse">Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.</div>(10) <span class= "bld">The scorner.—</span>See above on <a href="/proverbs/1-22.htm" title="How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?">Proverbs 1:22</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-11.htm">Proverbs 22:11</a></div><div class="verse">He that loveth pureness of heart, <i>for</i> the grace of his lips the king <i>shall be</i> his friend.</div>(11) <span class= "bld">For the grace of his lips.—</span>Rather, <span class= "ital">who has grace of lips</span>; one who loves the truth and can speak it pleasantly.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-12.htm">Proverbs 22:12</a></div><div class="verse">The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.</div>(12) <span class= "bld">The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge</span>—<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>men who know and speak the truth. (See above on <a href="/proverbs/21-28.htm" title="A false witness shall perish: but the man that hears speaks constantly.">Proverbs 21:28</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">He overthroweth the words of the transgressor—</span><span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, the deceitful; He brings his lies to light.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-13.htm">Proverbs 22:13</a></div><div class="verse">The slothful <i>man</i> saith, <i>There is</i> a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.</div>(13) <span class= "bld">The slothful man saith, There is a lion without . . .</span>—No excuses are too absurd for him, he fears to meet a lion in the open country, or, he might be murdered in the streets.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-14.htm">Proverbs 22:14</a></div><div class="verse">The mouth of strange women <i>is</i> a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.</div>(14) <span class= "bld">Strange women.—</span>See above on <a href="/proverbs/2-16.htm" title="To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flatters with her words;">Proverbs 2:16</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-15.htm">Proverbs 22:15</a></div><div class="verse">Foolishness <i>is</i> bound in the heart of a child; <i>but</i> the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.</div>(15) <span class= "bld">Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child.</span>—Self-will is meant. (See above on <a href="/proverbs/1-7.htm" title="The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.">Proverbs 1:7</a>.) Children have to be taught to yield their wills to others.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-16.htm">Proverbs 22:16</a></div><div class="verse">He that oppresseth the poor to increase his <i>riches, and</i> he that giveth to the rich, <i>shall</i> surely <i>come</i> to want.</div>(16) <span class= "bld">He that oppresseth the poor . . .</span>—Rather, <span class= "ital">he that does so is </span>(<span class= "ital">thereby</span>)<span class= "ital"> giving to the rich, only to </span>(<span class= "ital">his own</span>)<span class= "ital"> loss. </span>That is, he shall be none the better for the act of oppression, but shall have to disgorge his prey to some one richer and more powerful than himself, and thereby be reduced to poverty.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-17.htm">Proverbs 22:17</a></div><div class="verse">Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.</div>4.AN INTRODUCTION, CONTAINING AN EXHORTATION TO “HEAR THE WORDS OF THE WISE,” SERVING AS A HEADING TO <a href="/proverbs/22-22.htm" title="Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:">Proverbs 22:22</a> to <a href="/proverbs/24-22.htm" title="For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?">Proverbs 24:22</a> (<a href="/context/proverbs/22-17.htm" title="Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge.">Proverbs 22:17-21</a>).<p>(17) <span class= "bld">Hear the words of the wise.—</span>Comp. chap 1:6. As “wise” is in the plural number, it would seem as if the following section contained proverbs written by others than Solomon, though they may have been collected by him. (Comp. <a href="/proverbs/24-23.htm" title="These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.">Proverbs 24:23</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-18.htm">Proverbs 22:18</a></div><div class="verse">For <i>it is</i> a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.</div>(18) <span class= "bld">They shall withal be fitted in thy lips.—</span>Rather, <span class= "ital">if they be established </span>(<span class= "ital">dwell constantly</span>) <span class= "ital">upon thy lips. </span>They are to be as a watch, and “keep the door of his lips” against sin (<a href="/psalms/141-3.htm" title="Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.">Psalm 141:3</a>), to teach him what to say in difficulty (<a href="/mark/13-11.htm" title="But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what you shall speak, neither do you premeditate: but whatever shall be given you in that hour, that speak you: for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Ghost.">Mark 13:11</a>), <span class= "ital">how </span>to speak without fear even before kings (<a href="/psalms/119-46.htm" title="I will speak of your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.">Psalm 119:46</a>); by them the “praises of God” will ever be in his mouth (<a href="/psalms/149-6.htm" title="Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;">Psalm 149:6</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-19.htm">Proverbs 22:19</a></div><div class="verse">That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.</div>(19) <span class= "bld">I have made known to thee this day, even to thee </span>these counsels of the wise. The words, “this day,” recall the warning of <a href="/hebrews/3-13.htm" title="But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.">Hebrews 3:13</a>, and the emphatic “to thee, even to thee,” imply that the message of God, though it may be [general in its form, yet is addressed to each individual soul among His people (comp., “Ho, every one that thirsteth,” <a href="/isaiah/55-1.htm" title="Ho, every one that thirsts, come you to the waters, and he that has no money; come you, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.">Isaiah 55:1</a>); each being well known, and an object of love on the part of his Redeemer.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-21.htm">Proverbs 22:21</a></div><div class="verse">That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?</div>(21) <span class= "bld">That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?—</span>This rendering is somewhat doubtful, but seems to give the best sense to the passage. The scholar is to be instructed not for his own profit alone, but in order that he may be able to teach others also. (Comp. <a href="/1_peter/3-15.htm" title="But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:">1Peter 3:15</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-22.htm">Proverbs 22:22</a></div><div class="verse">Rob not the poor, because he <i>is</i> poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:</div>5. FIRST APPENDIX TO THE “PROVERBS OF SOLOMON” (<a href="/proverbs/10-1.htm" title="The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.">Proverbs 10:1</a> to <a href="/proverbs/22-16.htm" title="He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to want.">Proverbs 22:16</a>), CONTAINING PROVERBS OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS, FROM THE DISTICH TO THE LENGTHENED DIDACTIC POEM (<a href="/proverbs/22-22.htm" title="Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:">Proverbs 22:22</a> to <a href="/proverbs/24-22.htm" title="For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?">Proverbs 24:22</a>).<p>(22) <span class= "bld">Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate.—</span>The place of business (<a href="/genesis/34-20.htm" title="And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,">Genesis 34:20</a>) and of judgment (<a href="/deuteronomy/21-19.htm" title="Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out to the elders of his city, and to the gate of his place;">Deuteronomy 21:19</a>; <a href="/amos/5-15.htm" title="Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.">Amos 5:15</a>). (Comp. the title, “the Sublime Porte.”) This, with the following <a href="/proverbs/22-23.htm" title="For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.">Proverbs 22:23</a>, forms a tetrastich or verse of four lines, as do also <a href="/context/proverbs/22-24.htm" title="Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:">Proverbs 22:24-25</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-25.htm">Proverbs 22:25</a></div><div class="verse">Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.</div>(25) <span class= "bld">Lest thou . . . get a snare to thy soul—</span><span class= "ital">i.e., </span>lose thy life.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-26.htm">Proverbs 22:26</a></div><div class="verse">Be not thou <i>one</i> of them that strike hands, <i>or</i> of them that are sureties for debts.</div>(26) <span class= "bld">Be not thou one of them that strike hands.</span>—Another warning against suretiship. (See above, on <a href="/proverbs/6-1.htm" title="My son, if you be surety for your friend, if you have stricken your hand with a stranger,">Proverbs 6:1</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-27.htm">Proverbs 22:27</a></div><div class="verse">If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?</div>(27) <span class= "bld">Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?</span>—If the mantle was taken in pledge, it had to be restored before sundown for the poor man to sleep in; but this merciful provision of the Law was evidently evaded. (Comp. <a href="/ezekiel/18-12.htm" title="Has oppressed the poor and needy, has spoiled by violence, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination,">Ezekiel 18:12</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-28.htm">Proverbs 22:28</a></div><div class="verse">Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.</div>(28) <span class= "bld">Remove not the ancient landmark.—</span>The stones marking the boundaries of the fields: evidently a not uncommon crime, from the earnestness with which it is forbidden. (Comp. <a href="/proverbs/23-10.htm" title="Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:">Proverbs 23:10</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/19-14.htm" title="You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set in your inheritance, which you shall inherit in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess it.">Deuteronomy 19:14</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/27-17.htm" title="Cursed be he that removes his neighbor's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.">Deuteronomy 27:17</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/22-29.htm">Proverbs 22:29</a></div><div class="verse">Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean <i>men</i>.</div>(29) <span class= "bld">He shall stand before kings.—</span>Shall attend upon them as their minister. (Comp. <a href="/genesis/41-46.htm" title="And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. 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