Albert Barnes

A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—

“Continual dropping - Here, as in the marginal reference, the flat, earthen roof of Eastern houses, always liable to cracks and leakage, supplies the groundwork of the similitude.”

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

“The proverb expresses the gain of mutual counsel as found in clear, well-defined thoughts. Two minds, thus acting on each other, become more acute.”

Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.

“Waiteth - literally, “keepeth,” “observeth.” As the fig tree requires constant care but yields abundant crops, so the ministrations of a faithful servant will not be without their due reward. Compare 2Ti 2:6.”

As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.

“As we see our own face when we look on the mirror-like surface of the water, so in every heart of man we may see our own likeness.”

A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

“So is ... - Better, So let a man be to his praise, let him purify it from all the alloy of flattery and baseness with which it is too probably mixed up.”

Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;

“The verses sing the praises of the earlier patriarchal life, with its flocks and herds, and tillage of the ground, as compared with the commerce of a later time, with money as its chief or only wealth. Pro 27:23 The state - literally, face.”

Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully.

“The deep interdependence of morality and intellect. We have a right judgment in all things in proportion as our hearts seek to know God. Compare Jas 1:23-24.”

A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.

“The case of willful murder, not the lesser crime of manslaughter for which the cities of refuge were appointed. One, with that guilt on his soul, is simply hasting on to his own destruction.”

He who walks with integrity will be kept safe, but whoever is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

“In his ways - Rather “in his double ways” (as in Pro 28:6). The evil of vacillation rather than that of craft, the want of the one guiding principle of right, is contrasted with the straightforwardness of the man that “walketh uprightly.””

A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

“Not the possession of wealth, nor even the acquisition of it, is evil, but the eager haste of covetousness. Shall not be innocent - Better, as in the margin, in contrast with the many “blessings” of the “faithful.””

To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

“Dishonest partiality leads men who have enslaved themselves to it to transgress, even when the inducement is altogether disproportionate. A “piece of bread” was proverbial at all times as the most extreme point of poverty (compare the marginal reference).”

A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him.

“The covetous temper leads not only to dishonesty, but to the “evil eye” of envy; and the temper of grudging, carking care, leads him to poverty.”

A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.

“Shall be destroyed - literally, “shall be broken” Pro 6:15. Stress is laid on the suddenness in such a case of the long-delayed retribution.”

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

“Spendeth ... - The laws of parallelism would lead us to expect “troubleth his father,” but that is passed over as a thing about which the profligate would not care, and he is reminded of what comes home to him, that he is on the…”

An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.

“While the offence of the wicked, rising out of a confirmed habit of evil, becomes snare for his destruction; the righteous, even if he offend, is forgiven and can still rejoice in his freedom from condemnation.”

Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger.

“Scornful men - The men who head political or religious revolutions, who inflame (literally as in the margin) the minds of the people against the powers that be.”

If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.

“All modes of teaching - the stern rebuke or the smiling speech - are alike useless with the “foolish” man; there is “no rest.” The ceaseless cavilling goes on still.”

A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.

“Mind - The Hebrew word is used sometimes for “mind” or “reason,” sometimes for “passion,” or “wrath.” The reticence commended would include both; but the verb “keepeth it in” (rendered “stilleth,” in Psa 65:7) is slightly in favor of the second of the two senses.”

The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.

“Better, The poor and the oppressor. “Usurer,” as in the margin expresses the special form of oppression from which the poor suffer most at the hands of the rich. God has made them both and bestows His light equally on both.”

A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

“Left to himself - The condition of one who has been pampered and indulged. The mother who yields weakly is as guilty of abandoning the child she spoils, as if she cast him forth; and for her evil neglect, there shall fall upon her the…”

A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond.

“Servant - i. e., A slave, whose obedience is reluctant. He may “understand” the words, but they produce no good effect. There is still lacking the true “answer” of obedience.”

A servant pampered from his youth will bring grief in the end.

“Son - The Hebrew word occurs here only and is therefore of doubtful meaning. The favored slave, petted and pampered from boyhood, will claim at last the privilege, perhaps the inheritance, of sonship.”

The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.

“The confusion and wretchedness in which the fear of what men can do entangles us, is contrasted with the security of one, who not only “fears” the Lord, so as to avoid offending Him, but trusts in Him as his protector and guide.”

An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.

“The words point out not only the antagonism between the doers of good and evil, but the instinctive antipathy which the one feels toward the other.”

These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, and worn out.

“See the introduction to Proverbs. According to the different reading, there noted, the inscription ends with: “the man spake,” and the words that follow, are the beginning of the confession, “I have wearied myself after God and have fainted.””