Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 22

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 22 A good name is better than riches—Train up a child in the way he should go.
1 A GOOD ^aname is rather to be chosen than great ^briches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. 2 The ^arich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. 3 A ^aprudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.		1^a Eccl. 7:1; 1 Ne. 1:1 ^b TG Treasure 2^a Mosiah 4:19 3^a TG Prudence
4 By ^ahumility and the ^bfear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the ^afroward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. 6 ^aTrain up a ^bchild in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.		4^a TG Humility ^b OR reverence of the LORD; 2 Ne. 1:20; Mosiah 2:24 (21-25); TG Reverence 5^a OR perverse 6^a Eph. 6:4 (1-4); TG Education TG Family, Children, Responsibilities Toward; TG Marriage, Fatherhood; TG Teaching ^b TG Children
7 The ^arich ruleth over the poor, and the ^bborrower is ^cservant to the lender. 8 He that ^asoweth iniquity shall ^breap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. 9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his ^abread to the ^bpoor.		7^a D&C 19:35 ^b TG Borrowing; TG Debt ^c TG Servant 8^a 2 Ne. 9:16 ^b TG Harvest 9^a TG Bread ^b TG Almsgiving
10 Cast out the scorner, and ^acontention shall go out; yea, ^bstrife and reproach shall cease. 11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.		10^a TG Contention ^b TG Strife
13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. 14 The mouth of ^astrange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. 15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.		14^a TG Fornication
16 He that ^aoppresseth the poor to increase his ^briches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. 17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge^a. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.	17^a apply thine heart unto my knowledge The 'knowledge of the world' is not where one's efforts ought to be but unto learning as so subjected to the guidance of the Lord. It is God's knowledge that bring salvation and eternal life unto man. All the wisdom of philosophy and that of man will not but lead you astray it that is what one attains unto without the priority of the guidance and the assurance to the word of God. If it is at odds with the knowledge of God it will not stand and there is for sure some flaw in it and following it will lead man astray. Stay to the Word of God and follow its directions and keep thyself unto the Lord only. Let no man be you guide unless he does lead by the inspiration and word of God.	16^a TG Oppression ^b TG Treasure
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the ^awords of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?		21^a D&C 18:3; D&C 98:11
22 Rob not the ^apoor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the LORD will ^aplead their ^bcause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 24 Make no ^afriendship with an ^bangry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.		22^a Zech. 7:10 23^a Ps. 35:10; Prov. 23:11 ^b D&C 124:75 24^a TG Friendship ^b TG Anger
26 Be not thou one of them that ^astrike hands, or of them that are ^bsureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?		26^a IE shake hands, showing agreement ^b Prov. 6:1; Prov. 11:15
28 Remove not the ancient ^alandmark, which thy fathers have set. 29 Seest thou a man ^adiligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before ^bmean men.		28^a Deut. 19:14; Job 24:2; Prov. 23:10; Hosea 5:10 ^b OR obscure, or wicked (men)