Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.

“A faithful witness, &c.--one tested to be such. utter lies--or, "breathe out lies"--that is, habitually lies (Pr 6:19; compare Ac 9:1). Or the sense is, that habitual truthfulness, or lying, will be evinced in witness-bearing.”

A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.

“He . . . angry--literally, "short of anger" (compare Pr 14:29, opposite idea). man . . . hated--that is, the deliberate evildoer is more hated than the rash.”

A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

“A wholesome tongue--(Compare Margin), pacifying and soothing language. tree of life-- (Pr 3:18; 11:30). perverseness therein--cross, ill-natured language. breach . . . spirit--(compare Isa 65:14, Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasing.”

The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow.

“The most desolate who have God's aid have more permanent good than the self-reliant sinner (Pr 2:22; 12:7). border--or, "boundary for possessions" (Ps 78:54).”

The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones.

“53:1), maketh . . . fat--or, "gives prosperity" (Pr 3:13-17; The last clause is illustrated by the first. (Compare Pr 10:17). reproof of life--which leads to life. abideth . . . wise--is numbered among them.”

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

“To the second of these parallel clauses, there is an accession of meaning, that is, that a brother's love is specially seen in adversity.”

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

“The effect of the mind on the body is well known. medicine--or, "body," which better corresponds with "bone." drieth--as if the marrow were exhausted.”

He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.

“Through desire . . . seeketh--that is, seeks selfish gratification. intermeddleth . . . wisdom--or, "rushes on" (Pr 17:14) against all wisdom, or what is valuable (Pr 2:7).”

With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.

“So surely are sin and punishment connected (Pr 16:4). wicked, for "wickedness," answers to ignominy, or the state of such; and contempt, the feeling of others to them; and to reproach, a manifestation of contempt.”

Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

“The fool is incapable of properly using pleasure as knowledge, yet for him to have it is less incongruous than the undue elevation of servants. Let each abide in his calling (1Co 7:20).”

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

“Such men are made by wine. strong drink--made by spicing wine (compare Isa 5:11, 22); and it may include wine. raging--or boisterous as a drunkard. deceived--literally, "erring," or reeling.”

Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

“Take his garment--implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness. a strange woman--by some readings "strangers," but the former here, and in Pr 27:13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless.”

A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.

“(Compare Pr 20:8). bringeth . . . over them--The wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity (compare Am 1:3).”

Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

“While there is little danger that the use of the "divine ordinance of the rod" will produce bodily harm, there is great hope of spiritual good. The pleasure afforded the teacher by the pupil's progress is a motive to diligence.”

If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!

“Literally, "If thou fail in the day of straits (adversity), strait (or, small) is thy strength," which is then truly tested. Neglect of known duty is sin (Jas 4:17). ready--literally, "bowing down" to be slain--that is, unjustly.”

These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.

“These . . . wise--literally, "are of the wise," as authors (compare "Psalms of David," Hebrew). "These" refers to the verses following, Pr 24:24-34. to have respect--literally, "to discern faces," show partiality, 24, 25.”

These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

“The character of these proverbs sustains the title (see Introduction). also--refers to the former part of the book. copied out--literally, "transferred," that is, from some other book to this; not given from memory.”

do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

“(Compare Pr 3:30). lest . . . shame--lest you do what you ought not, when shamed by defeat, or "lest thou art shut out from doing any thing." 9, 10. (Compare Mt 5:25, Margin).”

Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

“A false witness is as destructive to reputation, as such weapons to the body (Pr 24:28). beareth . . . witness--literally, "answereth questions," as before a judge, against his neighbor.”

It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

“Satiety surfeits (Pr 25:16); so men who are self-glorious find shame. is not glory--"not" is supplied from the first clause, or "is grievous," in which sense a similar word is used (Pr 27:2).”

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

“The rod is as much needed by fools and as well suited to them, as whips and bridles are for beasts. Answer not--that is, approvingly by like folly.”

Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.

“Various versions of this are proposed (compare Margin). Better perhaps--"Much He injures (or literally, "wounds") all who reward," &c., that is, society is injured by encouraging evil men. transgressors--may be rendered "vagrants." The word "God" is improperly supplied.”

A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

“Anarchy producing contending rulers shortens the reign of each. but by a man . . . prolonged--or, "by a man of understanding--that is, a good ruler--he who knows or regards the right, that is, a good citizen, shall prolong (his days)."”

He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

“Concealment of sin delivers none from God's wrath, but He shows mercy to the humble penitent (Ps 51:4).”

A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.

“The prince . . . understanding--that is, He does not perceive that oppression jeopards his success. Covetousness often produces oppression, hence the contrast.”