Proverbs 19:22

“For their calamity shall rise suddenly, etc.] And come upon those that fear not God, and rebel against the king and the state, and innovate in matters of religion; and especially that bring in damnable heresies, and, while they cry Peace, peace, and are pleasing themselves with their new schemes and prosperous success, swift and sudden destruction comes upon them, (<610201>2 Peter 2:1 <520503>1 Thessalonians 5:3); and who knoweth the ruin of them both? of those that fear not the Lord, nor the king; or of those who are given to change, and innovate in things civil and religious; and of those who meddle with them and join themselves to them: the ruin of themselves and families, in a civil…”

“desire--that is, to do good, indicates a kind disposition (Pro 11:23); and the poor thus affected are better than liars, who say and do not.”

“The “liar” is probably the man, who makes false excuses for not giving, and so is inferior to the poor man, whose “desire,” the wish to do good, is taken, in the absence of means to carry it into effect, for the act of kindness itself. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The desire - The hearty desire of being kind is accepted by God, and should be owned by men as a real kindness. A poor man - Who is not able to give what he desires to do. A liar - Than a rich man who feeds the poor with fair promises, but doth not perform what he pretends. Proverbs 19:23”

“desire: Ch1 29:2, Ch1 29:3, Ch1 29:17; Ch2 6:8; Mar 12:41-44, Mar 14:6-8; Co2 8:2, Co2 8:3, Co2 8:12 and: Pro 19:1; Job 6:15, Job 17:5; Psa 62:9; Tit 1:2 Proverbs 19:23”

“The series makes a new departure with a proverb regarding the poor (cf. Pro 19:17): A man's delight is his beneficence; And better is a poor man than a liar. The right interpretation will be that which presses upon תּאות no strange meaning, and which places the two parts of the verse in an inner mutual relation ethically right. In any case it lies nearer to interpret תאות, in relation to man, actively than passively: that which makes man worthy of desire (Rashi), adorns and distinguishes him (Kimchi, Aben-Ezra); or, that which is desired by man, is above all things sought for (Luzzatto); and, in like manner, the Heb. meaning for חסדּו lies nearer than the Aram. (vid., Pro 14:34): the…”