9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; and the sweetness of one's friend is [the fruit] of hearty counsel.
How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] spouse! How much better is thy love than wine! And the fragrance of thine ointments than all spices!
Like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, upon Aaron's beard, that ran down to the hem of his garments;
For we are a sweet odour of Christ to God, in the saved and in those that perish: to the one an odour from death unto death, but to the others an odour from life unto life; and who [is] sufficient for these things?
And thence the brethren, having heard about us, came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Tres Tabernae, whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage.
Who is this, [she] that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant? ...
Thine ointments savour sweetly; Thy name is an ointment poured forth: Therefore do the virgins love thee.
And Moses' father-in-law said to him, The thing that thou art doing is not good. Thou wilt be quite exhausted, both thou and this people that is with thee; for the thing is too heavy for thee: thou canst not perform it alone. Hearken now to my voice: I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Be thou for the people with God, and bring the matters before God; and teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do. But do thou provide among all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [them] over them, chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens, that they may judge the people at all times; and it shall be [that] they shall bring to thee every great matter, and that they shall judge every small matter, and they shall lighten [the task] on thee, and they shall bear [it] with thee. If thou do this thing, and God command thee [so], thou wilt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. And Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word in its season, how good is it!
And wine which gladdeneth the heart of man; making [his] face shine with oil; and with bread he strengtheneth man's heart.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy companions. Myrrh and aloes, cassia, are all thy garments; out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made thee glad.
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have acted unfaithfully toward our God, and have taken foreign wives of the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. And now let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of [my] lord, and of those that tremble at the commandments of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise, for this matter is incumbent on thee, and we will be with thee: be of good courage, and do [it].
And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father will not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next to thee; and that also Saul my father knows.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 27
Commentary on Proverbs 27 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 27
Pr 27:1-27.
1. Do not confide implicitly in your plans (Pr 16:9; 19:21; Jas 4:13-15).
2. Avoid self-praise.
3. heavy—The literal sense of "heavy," applied to material subjects, illustrates its figurative, "grievous," applied to moral.
a fool's wrath—is unreasonable and excessive.
4. envy—or, "jealousy" (compare Margin; Pr 6:34), is more unappeasable than the simpler bad passions.
5, 6. secret love—not manifested in acts is useless; and even, if its exhibition by rebukes wounds us, such love is preferable to the frequent (compare Margin), and hence deceitful, kisses of an enemy.
7. The luxury of wealth confers less happiness than the healthy appetite of labor.
8. Such are not only out of place, but out of duty and in danger.
9. rejoice the heart—the organ of perceiving what pleases the senses.
sweetness … counsel—or, "wise counsel is also pleasing."
10. Adhere to tried friends. The ties of blood may be less reliable than those of genuine friendship.
11. The wisdom of children both reflects credit on parents and contributes to their aid in difficulties.
12, 13. (Compare Pr 20:16; 22:3).
14. Excessive zeal in praising raises suspicions of selfishness.
15. (Compare Pr 19:13).
very … day—literally, "a day of showers."
16. hideth—or, "restrains" (that is, tries to do it); is as fruitless an effort, as that of holding the wind.
the ointment of his right hand—the organ of power (Ps 17:7; 18:35). His right hand endeavors to repress perfume, but vainly. Some prefer: "His right hand comes on oil," that is, "cannot take hold." Such a woman cannot be tamed.
17. a man sharpeneth … friend—that is, conversation promotes intelligence, which the face exhibits.
18. Diligence secures a reward, even for the humble servant.
19. We may see our characters in the developed tempers of others.
20. Men's cupidity is as insatiable as the grave.
21. Praise tests character.
a man to his praise—according to his praise, as he bears it. Thus vain men seek it, weak men are inflated by it, wise men disregard it, &c.
22. The obstinate wickedness of such is incurable by the heaviest inflictions.
23, 24. flocks—constituted the staple of wealth. It is only by care and diligence that the most solid possessions can be perpetuated (Pr 23:5).
25-27. The fact that providential arrangements furnish the means of competence to those who properly use them is another motive to diligence (compare Ps 65:9-13).
The hay appeareth—literally, "Grass appeareth" (Job 40:15; Ps 104:14).
27. household—literally, "house," the family (Ac 16:15; 1Co 1:16).