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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Proverbs 30:18 - 30:33
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Deducing Truths from Common Experience
v. 18. There be three things which are too wonderful for me, beyond the explanation of an ordinary mind, yea, four which I know not, cannot understand, which are incomprehensible:
v. 19. the way of an eagle in the air, both its manner and the fact that the air shows no trace of his having passed through; the way of a serpent upon a rock, which also leaves no marks; the way of a ship In the midst of the sea, whose wake is swiftly obliterated by the waves; and the way of a man with a maid, for such intercourse also leaves no traces which are immediately and directly apparent. Even so can hypocrisy conceal the real condition of the heart and mind, at least for a while.
v. 20. Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who eagerly makes use of such concealment; she eateth, enjoying the sinful act, and wipeth her mouth, boldly professing innocence, and saith, I have done no wickedness, feeling sure that she is safe against detection.
v. 21. For three things the earth is disquieted, trembling as under an unbearable burden, and for four which it cannot bear:
v. 22. for a servant, a man of the lowest condition and status in life, when he reigneth, when lie suddenly finds himself elevated to the position of ruler and then follows his caprice; and a fool when he is filled with meat, since lie, being surfeited, becomes insolent;
v. 23. for an odious woman when she is married, for an old maid, disagreeable in disposition, is apt to repay the contempt which she suffered from others in the same coin, and with full interest; and an handmaid, a house slave or nurse, that is heir to her mistress, such a piece of good fortune tending to make her insolent and presumptuous in her behavior.
v. 24. There be four things which are little upon the earth, inconspicuous and therefore ordinarily overlooked, but they are exceeding wise:
v. 25. The ants are a people not strong, not powerful in size, yet they prepare their meat in the summer, their diligence and thrift laying up a store for the time of need;
v. 26. the conies, the cliff-badgers of Palestine, are but a feeble folk, also lacking in strength, yet make they their houses in the rocks, thus exhibiting a shrewdness which is worthy of imitation;
v. 27. the locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands, their swarms migrating in perfect harmony and order;
v. 28. the spider, rather, the gecko, a poisonous spotted lizard, taketh hold with her hands, being able to cling to, and even move forward upon, the flat surfaces, and is in kings' palaces, able to adapt herself to every situation. These virtues, as taught by the animals mentioned, are to be applied by men in their domestic, social, and political life.
v. 29. There be three things which go well, creatures that move with a stately bearing, yea, four are comely in going, showing dignity and power in every stride:
v. 30. a lion, which is strongest among beasts, commonly acknowledged as the king of wild beasts, and turneth not away for any, being a stranger to fear;
v. 31. a greyhound, slender in his loins and possessed of great and graceful speed; an he-goat also, known for strength and courage; and a king against whom there is no rising up, who exercises the authority of calling his men to battle and with becoming dignity marches at their head.
v. 32. If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, self-exaltation being evidence of unusual denseness, or if thou hast thought evil, in wicked plotting against a neighbor, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, refraining from further speech and thus from further sinning.
v. 33. Surely the churning of milk, the Oriental method being that of squeezing and wringing in a skin or bottle of leather, bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose, if it is pressed too hard, bringeth forth blood; so the forcing of wrath, when one or both parties to a quarrel are highly irritated, bringeth forth strife, the proper course for a Christian therefore being that of refraining from anger and provocation and of living peaceably with all men, Rom_12:18.