Bridges on Proverbs 20:10
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 20:10
 
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10.  Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. {Divers weights: Heb. A stone and a stone} {divers measures: Heb. an ephah and an ephah}
 
This probably refers to the iniquitous custom of having different weights and measures for buying and for selling — one stone too heavy — the other too light. Such practices seem to have been among the crying sins of the nation, that brought down the judgment of God upon it.† So opposite are they to the character of “a God of truth and without iniquity,”† that the very stone and ephah were abomination to him.† The disuse of barter, and the more accurate system of inspection, have in some measure restrained this gross form of fraud. But the cheats of trickery and close dealing, the evasion of legal duties, taking advantage of the ignorance of the unwary — all those deviations from the scriptural standard are alike abomination to the LORD. ‘A very grievous thing it is to think of the several kinds of frauds and deceits, wherein men are grown wondrous expert, and so shameless withal, that they think it rather a credit to them, as an argument of their perfect understanding in their several mysteries and particular professions, than any blemish to them in their Christian profession.’† What a fearful disclosure will the great day make, to the “shame and everlasting contempt” of the ungodly trafficker! Every man of moral integrity will scorn the flagrant breach of the golden rule. But let this, as every other temptation, be a matter of prayerful watchfulness. And be not satisfied with abstaining from this hateful vice. But blot out its darkness by the bright, steady shining of an upright profession, full of simplicity, love, self-forgetfulness, and active sympathy with our neighbor's wants. “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.” (Psalm 25:21.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Hosea 12:7. Amos 8:4, 5. Micah 6:10, 11.
 
 
Hosea 12:7
7 ¶ He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. {a merchant: or, Canaan} {oppress: or, deceive}
 
Amos 8:4, 5
4 ¶ Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? {new...: or, month} {set...: Heb. open} {falsifying...: Heb. perverting the balances of deceit}
 
Micah 6:10, 11
10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? {Are...: or, Is there yet unto every man an house of the, etc} {scant...: Heb. measure of leanness} 11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? {count...: or, be pure with, etc}
 
 
Footnote:
Deuteronomy 32:4.
 
 
Deuteronomy 32:4
4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
 
 
Footnote:
Verse 23; 11:1; Psalm 5.6.
 
 
Proverbs 20:23
23 ¶ Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. {a false...: Heb. balance of deceit}
 
Proverbs 11:1
1 ¶ A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. {A false...: Heb. Balances of deceit} {just...: Heb. perfect stone}
 
Psalm 5.6
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. {bloody...: Heb. man of bloods and deceit}
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Sanderson's Sermon on 1 Samuel 12:3.
 
 
1 Samuel 12:3
3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. {bribe: Heb. ransom} {to blind...: or, that I should hide mine eyes at him
 
 
Psalm 25:21
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.