Albert Barnes Commentary Proverbs 19

The “perverse” man is the rich fool, as contrasted with the poor man who is upright.

Proverbs 19:1–2 are missing in the Septuagint.

The non-wisdom which, having brought about disasters by its own perverseness, then turns around and “fretteth”—that is, angrily complains—against the Providence of God.

Perverteth—Rather, “overturns,” “makes to fail.”

Intreat the favor ... - literally, “stroke the face” of the man of princely nature, who gives generously.

It seems best to follow the Vulgate in taking the last clause as a separate maxim: He who pursues words, they are nothing; that is, the fair speeches and promises of help come to nothing. A variant reading in the Hebrew gives, “he pursues after words, and these he shall have”—that is, these, and nothing else.

This and other similar maxims do not in reality cast scorn and shame on a state which Christ has pronounced “blessed.” Side by side with them, Proverbs 19:1 sets forth the honor of an upright poverty.

But just as there is an honorable poverty, so there is one that is altogether inglorious, caused by sloth and folly, leading to shame and ignominy. It is well that the person who wishes to live rightly should avoid this.

The teaching of Christ is, of course, higher than that of the Book of Proverbs. It is based upon a fuller revelation of the divine will, pointing to a higher end and a nobler standard of duty, and transcending the common motives and common facts of life.

Wisdom - literally, as in the margin, to gain a “heart,” that is, the higher faculties both of reason and feeling, is identical with gaining wisdom, that is, the faculty which seeks and finds.