Albert Barnes

I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.

“He found, when he looked within, that all his learning was as nothing. He had heard of God only “by the hearing of the ear” Job 42:5, and now he discovered how little that availed. The holy - The Holy One. Compare Pro 9:10.”

Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

“Out of this consciousness of the impotence of all man’s efforts after the knowledge of God rises the sense of the preciousness of every living word that God has Himself revealed, whether through “the Law and the prophets” or through “wise men and scribes.””

Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.

“The special dangers of the two extremes. Wealth tempts to pride, unbelief, and a scorn like that of Pharaoh Exo 5:2; poverty to, dishonesty, and then to perjury, or to the hypocritical profession of religion which is practically identical with it.”

There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.

“As the teacher had uttered what he most desired, so now he tells what he most abhorred; and in true-harmony with the teaching of the Ten Commandments places in the foremost rank those who rise against the Fifth.”

The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:

“Note the numeration mounting to a climax, the two, the three, the four (Amo 1:3 etc.). The word rendered “horseleach” is found nowhere else, and its etymology is doubtful; but there are good grounds for taking the word in its literal sense, as giving an…”

There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:

“Another enigma. The four things of Pro 30:16 agreed in the common point of insatiableness; the four now mentioned agree in this, that they leave no trace behind them.”

Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:

“For four which it cannot bear - Better: four it cannot bear. Here the common element is that of being intolerable, and the four examples are divided equally between the two sexes.”

an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.

“Odious woman - One in whom there is nothing loveable. Marriage, which to most women is the state in which they find scope for their highest qualities, becomes to her only a sphere in which to make herself and others miserable.”

The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

“See the marginal reference note. Note the word “people” applied here to ants, as to locusts in Joe 1:6. The marvel lies in their collective, and, as it were, organized action.”

the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;

“Compare Joe 2:7-8; the most striking fact in the flight of the locust-swarms was their apparent order and discipline, sweeping over the land like the invasion of a great army.”

and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.

“Spider - Rather, the Gecko (or Stellio), a genus of the lizard tribe, many species of which haunt houses, make their way through crevices in the walls, and with feet that secrete a venomous exudation catch the spiders or the flies they find there.”

a strutting rooster; a he-goat; and a king with his army around him.

“A greyhound - The Hebrew word occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament. The literal meaning is: “one with loins girded;” and some have referred this to the stripes of the zebra, others to the “war-horse” (compare Job 39:19, Job 39:25), as he is represented…”

For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”

“Churning ... wringing ... forcing - In the Hebrew text it is one and the same word. “The pressure of milk produces curds, the pressure of the nose produces blood, the pressure of wrath (i.”

These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

“That his mother taught him - Compare Pro 1:8; Pro 6:20. If we refer the chapter to Israelite authorship, we may remember the honor paid to the wisdom of Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah; if it was the honor paid to an Edomite or an Arabian…”

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

“Some read: “nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?” The “strong drink” Pro 20:1 was distilled from barley, or honey, or dates.”

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

“Worketh willingly with her hands - Or, worketh with willing hands. The stress laid upon the industrial habits of Israelite matrons may perhaps belong to a time when, as under the monarchy of Judah, those habits were passing away.”

She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.

“A portion to her maidens - The daily task assigned to each at the same time as the daily food. Compare Pro 30:8; Exo 5:14.”

When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.

“Scarlet - Probably some well-known articles of dress, at once conspicuous for their color, or, as some think, for their double texture and warmth.”

Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.

“Shall rejoice in time to come - Better, rejoiceth over the time to come; i. e., looks forward to the future, not with anxious care, but with confident gladness.”

“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”

“The words of praise which the husband Pro 31:28 is supposed to have addressed to the ideal wife. Virtuously - The Hebrew word has primarily (like “virtus”) the idea of “strength,” but is used with various shades of meaning.”