Proverbs 31

Solomon says, wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7). 'Tis better than riches (Proverbs 31:14). Happy is the man that finds wisdom, for the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver.

An idle person stands for a cipher in the world, and God writes down no ciphers in the Book of Life. We read in Scripture of eating the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27), and drinking the wine of violence (Proverbs 4:17). It is as well a sin to eat the bread of idleness, as to…

Children must speak of their parents honorably; they ought to speak well of them if they deserve well. "Her children rise up and call her blessed" (Proverbs 31:28). And in case a parent betrays weakness and indiscretion, the child should make the best of it, and by his wise apol…

She (if a good wife) is of far greater value and estimate than the house. Proverbs 31:10: Her price is far above rubies. She is the furniture of the house, and this furniture is more worth than the house.

There are two sorts of bread that cannot properly be called our bread: (1.) The bread of idleness. (2.) The bread of violence. (1.) The bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27): She does not eat the bread of idleness. An idle person does vivere aliena quadra, he lives at another body'…

And whereas the Lord's prayer is a perfect platform of prayer, temporal blessing must have some place there, unless we will ascribe the having and enjoying of them to our own industry, as though they were no gifts of God: which to think were great impiety. By bread then we must…

3. A righteous person is of a more excellent beauty. How is worldly beauty courted by all, and what is it? (Proverbs 31:30) Beauty is vain; the bravest features of body, and the most lovely sanguine are no other than well-colored earth.

For a man to rise early, and go to bed late, and eat the bread of carefulness, not a sinful, but a provident care, and to avoid idleness, cannot endure to spend any idle time, takes all opportunities to be doing something, early and late, and loses no opportunity, go any way and…

Where are your words seasoned with salt, which have so often ministered grace to the hearers? You are degenerated in manners and corrupted in your speech, you speak now as one of the foolish women: intimating, that she used to speak wisely and discreetly, or as Solomon describes…

These will prize it, and improve it. We shall follow then that counsel, Proverbs 31:6. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of an heavy heart.

Now properly, bread imports that sustenance made of graine which is fit and conuenient for mans bodily nourishment, such as Melchisedek brought out to Abraham and his companie, with wine for their refreshing, Gen. 14. 18. and such is meant in Scripture where bread is opposed to…

And therefore here were good grounds to suppose a tacit and implicit consent to the action. The husband is the true and only proprietor of all: and though the wife has a right to all, yet it is only a right of use, and not of dominion; she ought not to dispose of his estate, or…

And as it is a reflection upon God to kill, so it is to curse men that are made after the image of God (James 3:9) — though never so much our inferiors — that is, to speak ill of them, or to wish ill to them. This is the disease which meekness prevents, and is in the tongue a la…

Observe further, we must not only have meekness, all meekness, but we must show it, by drawing out this grace into exercise, as there is occasion: in our words, in our looks, in our actions, in everything that falls under the observation of men, we must manifest that we have ind…

Drink no longer water, but use a little Wine, for your stomachs sake, and your often infirmities, says Paul to Timothy, 1 Timothy 5:23. mark; drink not water, but wine, sed modice (i. e.) medice; pro remedio, non pro delicius, says Ambrose: that is, use it modestly, namely Medic…

Indeed remembering also what the Apostle says (1 Timothy 2:14), The woman was first in the transgression, and first had her duty given to her, and was made for the man, and not man for the woman. Thus shall you deserve that commendation of good wives, Many have done virtuously,…

§. 18. Of husbands and wives mutual prayers. The matter about which husbands and wives mutual providence ought to be conversant, is in general the good of one another; that each of them does that for the other, which Solomon in particular applies to a wife, namely, good and not…

§. 32. Of examples and other reasons alleged for liberty of wives to dispose goods. 2. Abigail's example is alleged for a wife's liberty: and the example of the good housewife described by Solomon (1 Samuel 25:18, Proverbs 31:11). Answ. 1. Abigail's example was extraordinary; be…

2. Though she ought cheerfully to entertain whatever guests he brings into the house, yet ought not he to be grievous and burdensome therein to her: the greatest care and pains for entertaining guests lies on the wife: she ought therefore to be tendered therein. If he observe he…

The grandmother Lois, and mother Eunice, first taught Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15). Bathsheba taught Solomon when he was young (Proverbs 31:1). Often does Solomon warn children not to forsake their mother's teaching (Proverbs 1:8; 6:20).

Section 35. Of well employing servants. That charge which the master gave to his servants when he was going abroad (occupy till I come) shows that masters must keep their servants exercised and employed about some business or other: which is also implied under this part of a goo…

That the Gospel which has Advices, Commands and Threatenings belonging to it should be sometimes called a Law in Scripture is no Wonder, for the Word Law among the Jews, was in so frequent Use upon all Occasions, that not only Doctrines, Rules and Constitutions were called Laws,…

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” —Proverbs 31:6, 7. These somewhat singular sentences were spoken by the mother of Lemuel to her son, who was probably Solomon.

By it is meant carnal and worldly things, worldly pleasures, worldly honor, worldly profits — all these are called vanity, because they have no solid happiness in them, and do so easily fade and perish. Thus it is said (Proverbs 31:30): Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain. Th…

He suffered also in his senses, his feeling; could he be smitten, wounded, nailed and pierced, without feeling? His taste suffered, for they gave him (instead of strong drink and wine of consolation, which was usual to them ready to die (Proverbs 31:6)) instead of this they gave…

Though a King, he did not put it off to his Chaplins, but whetted it on him with his own lips. Neither was his Queen Bathsheba forgetful of her duty, her gracious counsel is upon record, Prov. 31. and that she may do it with the more seriousnesse and solemnity, we finde her stir…

When you were pleased to deny me counsel, you said you would be counsel for me; and I beseech you be so, for you are judges both of matter of law, and matter of fact. I may make use of that passage, Proverbs 31:8: Solomon says there, that rulers must open their mouths for the du…