Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 21

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 21 Do justice and judgment—Follow after righteousness and mercy—Safety is of the Lord.
1 THE ^aking's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his ^aown eyes: but the LORD ^bpondereth the ^chearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than ^asacrifice.		1^a Prov. 8:15 2^a Prov. 16:2 ^b Prov. 24:12 ^c Luke 16:15 3^a 1 Sam. 15:22
4 ^aAn high look, and a ^bproud heart, and ^cthe plowing of the wicked, is sin. 5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is ^ahasty only to want. 6 The getting of ^atreasures by a lying tongue is a ^bvanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.		4^a OR Haughty eyes ^b 2 Ne. 28:14 ^c OR the cultivating of wickedness 5^a TG Haste 6^a TG Treasure ^b TG Vanity
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. 8 ^aThe way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. 9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, ^athan with a brawling ^bwoman in a ^cwide house.		8^a OR Perverse in the way of a man of crime; Prov. 11:20 9^a IE than with a contentious wife as a companion ^b Prov. 19:13 ^c Prov. 25:24
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his ^aneighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. 11 When the ^ascorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. 12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the ^awicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.		10^a Prov. 3:29 11^a Prov. 19:25 12^a 2 Ne. 23:11
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the ^apoor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifieth ^aanger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. 15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of ^ainiquity.		13^a Mosiah 4:16-18 14^a TG Anger 15^a TG Injustice
16 The man that ^awandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. 17 He that loveth ^apleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be ^brich. 18 The wicked shall be a ^aransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.		16^a Isa. 53:6 (21-23); 2 Pet. 2:15 (12-15) 17^a TG Pleasure ^b TG Treasure 18^a Isa. 43:3 (1-3)
19 It is better to ^adwell in the wilderness, than with a ^bcontentious and an angry woman. 20 There is ^atreasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man ^bspendeth it up. 21 He that followeth after ^arighteousness and mercy findeth ^blife^a, righteousness, and honour.	21^a He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life This is an important relationship to understand and from a slightly different perspective it can be lost in some meaning. But righteousness without mercy is incomplete. That is there is no room for the 'self-righteous' who see in themselves righteousness only and does but see in others no righteousness at all. The accompanying perspective that looses some meaning is even if you do all things but have not charity, you are nothing. No man is perfect to the point that they are without sin, for if they presume such the truth is not in them. If we expect to gain forgiveness for ourselves we must forgive others as well. Each of these perspective does but speak of the same thing. Even when one considers that saying that 'love covers up a multitude of sins'. There is no room in the gospel and eternity for the self-righteous person who think that he is better than others because of his righteousness. Like the Pharisee at the temple who prayed that he was better than the Publican. He was not justified before the Lord. He could have actually done all those righteous things but he certainly lacked 'mercy' in how he looked at his fellow man in such eye as made them out to be less than he himself was before the Lord. We are all the same before God—beggers all, for without the mercy of Jesus Christ, our redeemer we are not redeemed and are but nothing. We all must have mercy and show forth charity and love and forgiveness toward all our fellow men.	19^a Prov. 25:24 ^b Prov. 27:15-16; 3 Ne. 11:29 20^a TG Treasure ^b TG Waste 21^a matt. 6:33; 3 Ne. 12:6 ^b Prov. 8:35
22 A ^awise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. 23 Whoso keepeth his ^amouth and his ^btongue keepeth his soul from troubles. 24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.		22^a Eccl. 7:19 23^a James 3:2 ^b TG Gossip
25 The desire of the ^aslothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to ^blabour. 26 He ^acoveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous ^bgiveth and spareth not. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?		25^a TG Apathy; TG Laziness ^b TG Labor 26^a TG Covetousness ^b Prov. 3:27-28; Luke 6:30; Eph. 4:28
28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. 29 A wicked man ^ahardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.		29^a TG Hardheartedness
30 There is no wisdom nor ^aunderstanding nor counsel against the LORD. 31 The ^ahorse is prepared against the day of battle: but ^bsafety is of the LORD.		30^a TG Understanding 31^a Ps. 33:17 ^b OR victory