John Wesley

to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints.

“Path of judgment - Righteous paths, judgment being here put for righteousness.”

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;

“My law - The law of God, which might be called his law, as the gospel is called Paul's gospel, 2Tim ii, 8, because delivered by him.”

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

“A tree - A pledge of everlasting life. He alludes to the tree of life, and intimates, that this is the only restorer of that life which we have lost by sin.”

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

“Stricken thy hand - Obliged thyself by giving thine hand, as the custom then was in such cases. With - With the creditor, whom he calls a stranger, because the usurers in Israel, who lent money to others, upon condition of paying use for it…”

Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:

“Gates - The places of judgment, and of the confluence of people. The entry - To invite passengers at their first coming and to conduct them to her house.”

when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

“Strengthened - When he shut up the fountains in the cavities of the earth, and kept them there as it were by a strong band.”

He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

“Surely - Or, securely, or confidently, as the word properly signifies; quietly resting upon God's favour and gracious providence for his protections. Known - His wickedness shall be publickly discovered.”

The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.

“Lay up - In their minds, to be brought forth upon fit occasions. Knowledge - Whereby they may be enabled to speak both what, and when it is seasonable.”

The labor of the righteous leads to life, but the gain of the wicked brings punishment.

“The labour - The fruit of his labour, to the preservation of this life, and obtaining eternal life. Fruit - The fruit of all their labour tends to sin, and serves only for fuel to mens pride and luxury.”

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

“Lemuel - Of Solomon, by the general consent both of Jewish and Christian writers; this name signifies one from God, or belonging to God, and such an one was Solomon eminently, being given by God to David and Bathsheba, as a pledge of his reconciliation…”

What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?

“My heart is full, but where shall I begin? Of my womb - My son, not by adoption, but whom I bare in the womb, and therefore it is my duty to give thee admonitions, and thine to receive them.”

She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.

“Perceiveth - She finds great comfort in her labours. Her candle - Which is not to be taken strictly, but only signifies her unwearied care and industry.”

She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

“She layeth - By her own example she provokes her servants to labour. And although in these latter and more delicate times, such mean employments are grown out of fashion among great persons, yet they were not so in former ages, neither in other countries…”

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

“In her tongue - Her speeches are guided by wisdom and grace, and not by inordinate passions. And this practice is called a law in her tongue, because it is constant and customary, and proceeds from an inward and powerful principle of true wisdom.”