Proverbs 29

Jerome says, "The Arrian faction pretended friendship; they," says he, "kissed my hands, but slandered me and sought my ruin." Many have dissembling tongues; they can say, "Your servant," and lay snares (Proverbs 29:5): "A man that flatters his neighbor spreads snares for his fe…

To sin is to do foolishly: therefore to depart from sin is to do wisely. Solomon says (Proverbs 29:6), In every transgression there is a snare. Is it not wisdom to avoid a snare?

So when the Israelites had committed idolatry by the golden calf, Moses tells them that they were naked, not only because they had spoiled themselves of their earrings, but especially because they were destitute of God's favor, and lay open and naked to all his judgments for tha…

We have hated our sinful neighbor as we hate ourselves, much more as to love of benevolence, we must neither hate ourselves, our neighbor, nor our enemy. But it is complacency we are speaking of, and so the wicked is an abomination to the righteous (Proverbs 29:26). The hatred o…

5. On the contrary, they are wretched and miserable that live without the Gospel (Proverbs 29:18; 2 Corinthians 4:3; 2 Timothy 3:7). 6.

There is an allusion and meeting together of words in this place, which has a very good grace; as if he should say, Your princes are pincers. Neither does he speak so of the princes as if the people were holy and blameless, but he touches the wellspring of the mischief: for even…

Also the ministry of the word does here receive its commendation, without which a commonwealth cannot long endure. For where no prophecy is (as Solomon says) there the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). Moreover, handicrafts, tillage, all occupations of whatever sort they be, as ca…

When we then are deprived of good pastors, and that either sots, or cruel wolves succeed them, let us see and acknowledge God's wrath therein; and let us assure ourselves that destruction is not far off. For from there, the Prophet gathers his threatenings, and denounces desolat…

(1.) That the use of those means to Men in the state of Sin, if they are not complyed withal, is sufficient on the grounds before laid down, to leave them by whom they are rejected inexcusable; so Isa. 5. 3, 4, 5. Prov. 29. 1. 2 Chron. 36. 14, 15. Joh.

This is to be an upright man, and so the prophet tells us (Isaiah 26:7): The way of the just is uprightness, that is, they are upright in their ways, and more, uprightness in the abstract. We have a like expression (Proverbs 29:27): Those that are upright in the way are an abomi…

But is it so indeed; that you have thus frequently been dealt withall, and do yet continue in an estate of irreconciliation; my heart is pained for you, to think of your wofull and almost remediless condition. If he that being often reproved, and yet stiffens his neck, shall per…

Second, it is the master's duty to correct those servants that are stubborn and disobedient. The wise man tells us (Proverbs 29:19): There is a servant who will not be corrected with words; for although he understand, he will not answer. Yet here prudence must be the measure of…

Surely the judgments intended purposely for the most ungodly, are not yet come; yet, as they are like to be exceeding great, because more of pure, and unmixed wrath will accompany them: so they are like to be very near; because they are filling up the measure of their wickedness…

Uprightness is a good means to evidence and increase your treasure (Proverbs 28:10). The upright shall have good things in possession. Alas, sirs, what will fair words, and a false heart advantage you? Fine flourishes and a filthy inside will render you odious: groundless brags…

Such as are again entangled and overcome of those lusts they once seemed to have clean escaped, these bring upon themselves swift damnation, and their judgment lingers not (2 Peter 2:3, 20). He that can endure no reproof or control in the way of his sin, but derides all counsel,…

It's necessary as the former rain at seed-time, it causes the first spring of grace in the heart (Psalm 19:7). And there could be, (in an ordinary way) no spring of grace without it (Proverbs 29:18). And as this former rain is necessary to cause the first spring of grace, so als…

The Sodomites were vexed at Lot's conversation as much as he was at their filthy conversation. Therefore does the blood-thirsty hate and revile the upright (Proverbs 29:10), while the just seek his soul, but for the same reason for which Cain hated Abel, because his own works we…

I have read of some barbarous Nations, who when the Sun shines hot upon them, they shoot up their arrows against it; so do wicked men at the light and heat of godliness. There is a natural antipathy between the spirits of godly men, and the wicked; Gen. 3:15 I will put enmity be…

It is the last remedy which a parent can use: a remedy which may do good when nothing else can. It is by the Holy Spirit both expressly commanded, and also very often pressed under these and such like phrases, Chasten your son: correct your son: withhold not correction from the…

But words whether of rebuke, or threatening, do much more declare the same. This phrase which Solomon uses (Proverbs 29:19) — a servant will not be corrected with words — shows that there is a correction by words: and though it be negatively propounded, yet does it not imply tha…

Delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on Lord's Day evening, March 29th, 1874. “The fear of man brings a snare; but whoso puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” —Proverbs 29:25. We have two ancient proverbs here; each of them is true as a sepa…

With what diligence will men court an outward preferment, which is yet very uncertain? Proverbs 29:26: All men seek the ruler's face, but every man's judgment is of the Lord. What a deal of observance and waiting is there for the ruler's face and favour, and yet God disposes of…

We must not perplex weak souls with doubtful disputations, till they be established in greater things, neither must the peace of the church be troubled with nice debates, but all things must give way to the profit and general edification. 3. When the unseasonable venting of thin…

It is not carnal policy which helps them out in their work, but trust in God in their high calling. Whoever will improve his power for God, will meet with many discouragements: now that which supports his heart in his work, is this holy trust (Proverbs 29:25): The fear of man br…

The meaning is, that God according to his promise would graciously help him. 1. For the first, I entreated your favor; or as it is in the Hebrew, I painfully sought your face; meaning that he did with importunate and humble suit beg the smile of God's countenance: by face is mea…

In opposition to complacency we may hate our sinful neighbor, as we must ourselves. The wicked is an abomination to the righteous, (Proverbs 29:26) the hatred of abomination is opposite to the love of complacency, as odium inimicitiae, to amor benevolentiae. So David says, (Psal…

And that we may be quickened to a greater mindfulness of heavenly things, the best of us when we get a carnal pillow under our heads are apt to sleep secure; God will not let us alone to our ruin, but afflicts us that we may be refined from the dregs of the flesh, and that our t…

2. By concealing that which we ought to discover and make known, as may be easily proved from (Leviticus 5:1): if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of it, if he does not utter it, then shall he bear his iniquity. And (Prov…

Know therefore your case is almost desperate, and beyond cure, your doom draws on and hastens, which you can [illegible] escape, your plagues are beyond the utmost of all extremity, which you cannot conceive, much less endure. First, your case to common reason (leaving secret th…

And look here (2 Thessalonians 1:8): The Lord Jesus will come in flaming fire to render vengeance against all that know not God, and obey not the Gospel; take heed therefore of this disobedience against the Gospel, you will rue it eternally else. And lo here again (Proverbs 29:1…

The fearful man studies compliance rather than conscience. Proverbs 29:25: The fear of man brings a snare. What made Abraham equivocate, David feign himself mad, Peter deny Christ?

The fearful are unfit to fight in Christ's wars; a man possessed with fear, does not consult what is best, but what is safest. If he may save his estate, he will snare his conscience (Proverbs 29:25). In the fear of man there is a snare.

It makes men depart from the blessed God; he that believes nor God's mercy, will not dread His Justice; Infidelity is the Nurse of Apostasy; therefore unbelieving and unstable go together, Psalm 78:22. They believed not in God, verse 41. They turned back and tempted God. 3. Take…

It may be inquired, what are those sins, that have brought this City, and Nation so low? 1. The first sin that has brought us low, is Pride, Proverbs 29.23. A man's pride shall bring him low.

Did not the shepherds bid us beware of the Flatterer? As is the saying of the wise man, so we have found it this day: “A man that flatters his neighbor, spreads a net for his feet.” (Proverbs 29:5). Hopeful: They also gave us a note of directions about the way, for our more sure…

They haven't rejoiced with a reverential trembling, in a proper sense of the awful majesty of God, and the awful distance between God and them. And there has also been an improper boldness before men, that has been encouraged and defended, by a misapplication of that Scripture i…

It makes all those that have eyes open and judgments rectified to abhor it in others. The wicked is an abomination to the righteous (Proverbs 29:27). When desperate wretches pour out their [reconstructed: oaths] and [reconstructed: execrations] against heaven, scorn and persecut…