Глава 21

1–3. The universality of God's Providence, which governs the ways of the world and man. 4–8. Against arrogance, greed, deception and violence. 9–18. Against unmercifulness and other vices towards others. 19–26. Instructions of the same moralizing content. 27–31. Reward from the Lord to the righteous and sinners. Proverbs 21:1. The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord, like streams of water: wherever He wants, He directs it. Proverbs 21:2. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the Lord weighs the hearts. Proverbs 21:3. Observance of truth and justice is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice. The image of “a stream of waters (or canals)” (v. 1) is borrowed from the custom of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Chaldea - to fertilize the land for bread, fruits and vegetables through artificial irrigation - by irrigating small canals in gardens, orchards and fields. The idea of ​​comparison is that, just as these channels depend entirely in their direction on the discretion of their organizer, so the heart of the king in his activities for the benefit of the people is not left to his own arbitrariness, but receives suggestions from the All-Wise Ruler of the World, God. At the same time, the mention of the flow of water gives the idea of ​​​​the beneficence of royal power (cf. Ps 1.3; Is 32.2), - a thought that is completely consistent with the ideal concept of it in the Wise One (cf. Proverbs 20.2, 8, 28, etc.). Art. 2 dn. Proverbs 16.2, 25). Thought Art. 3 about the preference before God of works of truth and justice over sacrifices (fn. Proverbs 15.8) is common to teaching books (see, for example, Ps 49.7 ff.) with prophetic ones (Micah 6.6-8, Isa 1.11 ff. fn. 1 Sam. 15.22) and constitutes a harbinger of the teaching of the Savior that “she who gives the law - judgment, mercy and faith" - (Matthew 23.23). Proverbs 21:4. The pride of the eyes and the arrogance of the heart, which characterizes the wicked, is sin. Proverbs 21:5. The thoughts of the diligent man strive towards abundance, but everyone who is hasty suffers deprivation. Proverbs 21:6. The acquisition of treasure with a lying tongue is a fleeting breath of those who seek death. Proverbs 21:7. The violence of the wicked will come upon them because they have refused to observe righteousness. Proverbs 21:8. The way of the corrupt man is corrupt; and whoever is pure, the action is direct. Arrogance and pride are condemned (Article 4), the fruits of which are declared to be a complete sin (Slavic translation “luminary”, corresponding Greek λαμπτὴρ, Latin lucerna, Hebrew Nir or Ner, more precisely Russian synod. “distinguishing”; Archim. Macarius better, “lamp”), from a practical point of view, the result of human activity is approved prudent and diligent, and the behavior of the careless is condemned (v. 5, cf. Proverbs 19.2), but from a moral point of view, unrighteous acquisition is now condemned (v. 6), indicating the judgment of God and destruction awaiting the wicked (vv. 7-8). Proverbs 21:9. It is better to live in a corner on the roof than with a grumpy wife in a spacious house. Proverbs 21:10. The soul of the wicked desires evil: neither will his friend find mercy in his eyes. Proverbs 21:11. When a blasphemer is punished, the simple becomes wise; and when a wise man comes to his senses, he acquires knowledge. Proverbs 21:12. The righteous watches the house of the wicked: how the wicked are thrown into misfortune. Proverbs 21:13. He who stops his ear from the cry of the poor will also cry and will not be heard. Proverbs 21:14. A secret gift extinguishes anger, and a gift in the bosom – strong rage. Proverbs 21:15. Compliance with justice is joy for the righteous and fear for those who do evil. Proverbs 21:16. A man who has strayed from the path of reason will find his home in the assembly of the dead. Proverbs 21:17. He who loves fun will become poor; but whoever loves wine and fat will not become rich. Proverbs 21:18. The wicked will be a ransom for the righteous and the evil one for the upright. According to the thought of the Wise One (v. 9), expressed more than once by him (Proverbs 17.1) and in general in the teaching Old Testament writing (Sir 25.18), the moral benefits of family life: love, peace, etc. stand above all material benefits; hence cohabitation with an evil wife cannot be covered by any external pleasure in life. Art. 10. You should not enter into any kind of friendship with evil people at all. 11. Sn. Proverbs 19.25, 9.9. It further says: about the opposite external fate of the righteous and the wicked (vv. 12, 18), about the sin of unmercifulness towards one’s neighbor (vv. 13, cf. Mt 25.41 fn. Mt 18.23–35), about justice and deviations from it (vv. 14–15, cf. Proverbs 17.8, 19.6), about deviating from the true path wisdom and the sad fate of those who shirk (v. 16: Russian synod. translation “in the assembly of the dead”, from Archim. Macarius - more precisely: “in the society of the Rephaims”, LXX: εν᾿ συναγωγῆ γιγάντων, Vulg.: in coetu gigantum, slav.: “ in a host of giants”, cf. Gen. 6.4; Proverbs 2.18, 9.18), finally about the harm of a luxurious and intemperate life (v. 17, cf. Proverbs 23.29 ff.). Proverbs 21:19. It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and angry wife. Proverbs 21:20. The desired treasure and fat are in the house of the wise; but a foolish man wastes them. Proverbs 21:21. He who follows righteousness and mercy will find life, righteousness and glory. Proverbs 21:22. The wise man enters the city of the mighty and overthrows the fortress in which they hoped. Proverbs 21:23. He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:24. An arrogant villain - his name is a blasphemer - acts in the heat of pride. Proverbs 21:25. The sloth's greed will kill him, because his hands refuse to work; Proverbs 21:26. every day he hungers greatly, but the righteous gives and does not regret. In Art. 19 one of the frequently repeated images or comparisons in the book. A parable in relation to evil wives (fn. v. 9, Proverbs 25.24; cf. Sir 25.21). Art. 20 dn. Art. 17. Art. 21 dn. Proverbs 19.17. Thought Art. 22 about the superiority of wisdom over strength is found in Ecclesiastes 9.16. On guarding the tongue and the gift of speech - Art. 23 – stated above: Proverbs 13:3, 19:6; Matthew 12.36. Image in article 24 impudent and blasphemous is similar to Hab 2.5. In Art. 25–26 contrasting the lazy on the one hand, the diligent, righteous and merciful on the other (cf. Ps 37.26). Proverbs 21:27. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, especially when brought with deceit. Proverbs 21:28. The false witness will perish; and the person who says he knows will always talk. Proverbs 21:29. The wicked man is bold in his countenance, but the righteous man keeps his way straight. Proverbs 21:30. There is no wisdom, and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel contrary to the Lord. Proverbs 21:31. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is from the Lord. The idea that God dislikes the sacrifice of the wicked (27a), already expressed earlier (Proverbs 15.6), is now strengthened by the addition that this sacrifice is usually combined “with wickedness” (27b, Heb. bezimma), that is, for unclean motives, even for criminal purposes (LXX: παρανόμως, Vulg.: ex scelere), cf. Sir 34.18 ff. Small 1.3. Next, we talk about a shameless, false witness and a truthful witness (vv. 23–29, fn. Proverbs 19.5), about the lack of true wisdom in the wicked (v. 30, fn. Ezekiel 28.5; Job 5.13), finally, about the fact that the source of all wisdom and strength is in God and His help (v. 31, fn. Ps. 19.8–9, 32.17 ). You might be interested in: