Geneva Bible Notes on Proverbs
 
Geneva Bible Notes:
Proverbs Chapter 3:
 
(tap on a verse number below to return to Bridges' comments)
 
 
Verse 1:
1. My son, forget not thou my Law, but let thine heart keep my commandments.
 
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Verse 2:
2.For they shall increase the length of thy (a) days and the years of life, and thy prosperity.
 
(a) Long life is the blessing of God which he gives to his, so far as it is expedient for them.
 
Verse 3:
3. Let not (b) mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them on thy (c) neck, and write them upon the table of thine (d) heart.
 
(b) By mercy and truth he means the commandments of the first and second table, or else the mercy and faithfulness that we ought to use toward our neighbours.
(c) Keep them as a precious jewel.
(d) Have them ever in remembrance.
 
Verse 4:
4. So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
 
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Verse 5:
5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own wisdom.
 
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Verse 6:
6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy ways.
 
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Verse 7:
7. Be not wise in thine own eyes: but fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
 
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Verse 8:
8. So health shall be unto thy (e) navel, and marrow unto thy bones.
 
(e) By this part he comprehends the whole body, as by health he means all the benefits promised in the law both corporal and spiritual.
 
Verse 9:
9. (f)Honor the Lord with thy riches, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.
 
(f) As was commanded in the law, Exodus 23:19, Deuteronomy 26:2 and by this they acknowledged that God was the giver of all things, and that they were ready to bestow all at his commandment.
 
Verse 10:
10. So shall thy barns be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall (g) burst with new wine.
 
(g) For the faithful distributor God gives in greater abundance.
 
Verse 11:
11. My son, refuse not the chastening of the Lord, neither be grieved with his correction.
 
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Verse 12:
12. For the Lord correcteth him, whom he loveth, even as the father doeth the child in whom he delighteth.
 
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Verse 13:
13. Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
 
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Verse 14:
14. For the merchandise thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof is better than gold.
 
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Verse 15:
15. It is more precious than pearls: and all things that thou canst desire, are not to be compared unto her.
 
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Verse 16:
16. Length of days is in her right hand, (h) and in her left hand riches and glory.
 
(h) Meaning, that he seeks wisdom, that is, suffers himself to be governed by the Word of God, will have all prosperity both corporal and spiritual.
 
Verse 17:
17. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
 
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Verse 18:
18. She is a tree (i) of life to them that lay hold on her, and blessed is he that retaineth her.
 
(i) Which brings forth such fruit that they who eat of it have life and he alludes to the tree of life in paradise.
 
Verse 19:
19. The Lord by wisdom hath laid the (k) foundation of the earth, and hath established the heavens through understanding.
 
(k) By this he shows that this wisdom of which he speaks is everlasting, because it was before all creatures and that all things even the whole world were made by it.
 
Verse 20:
20. By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
 
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Verse 21:
21.    My son, let not these things depart from thine eyes, but observe wisdom, and counsel.
 
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Verse 22:
22.    So they shall be life to thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.
 
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Verse 23:
23.    Then shalt thou walk safely by thy way: and thy foot shall not stumble.
 
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Verse 24:
24.    If thou sleepest, thou shalt not be afraid, and when thou sleepest, thy sleep shall be sweet.
 
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Verse 25:
25.    (l)Thou shalt not fear for any sudden fear, neither for the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh.
 
(l) For when God destroys the wicked he will save his as he did Lot in Sodom.
 
Verse 26:
26.    For the Lord shall be for thine assurance, and shall preserve thy foot from taking.
 
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Verse 27:
27.    Withhold not the good from the (m) owners thereof, though there be power in thine hand to do it.
 
(m) Not only from them to whom the possession belongs but also you shall not keep it from them who have need of the use of it.
 
Verse 28:
28. Say not unto thy neighbor, Go and come again, and tomorrow will I give thee, if thou now have it.
 
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Verse 29:
29.    Intend none hurt against thy neighbor, seeing he doeth dwell (n) without fear by thee.
 
(n) That is, puts his trust in you.
 
Verse 30:
30.    Strive not with a man causeless, when he hath done thee no harm.
 
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Verse 31:
31.    (o)Be not envious for the wicked man, neither choose any of his ways.
 
(o) Do not wish to be like him.
 
Verse 32:
32.    For the froward is abomination unto the Lord: but his (p) secret is with the righteous.
 
(p) That is, his covenant and fatherly affection which is hid and secret from the world.
 
Verse 33:
33.    The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
 
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Verse 34:
34.    With the scornful (q) he scorneth, but he giveth grace unto the humble.
 
(q) He will show by his plagues that their scorn will turn to their own destruction, Proverbs 1:26.
 
Verse 35:
35.    The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. {shall be...: Heb. exalteth the fools}
 
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