Proverbs 19:20

Pro 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Ver. 20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction.] Or, Correction. Here he directs his speech to the younger sort, and exhorts them. (1.) To hear counsel, that is, to keep the commandment, as Pro 19:16 : (2.) To receive correction of parents, as Pro 19:18, as the only way to sound and lasting wisdom: for Vexatio dat intellectum; Piscator ictus sapit; Quae nocent docent. Or Solomon may here bring in the father, thus lessoning his untoward child, whom he hath lashed. For to correct, and not to instruct, is to snuff the lamp, but not pour in oil to feed it.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro_19:20

Hear counsel and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Instruction and counsel placed before the young

I. The advice given. These two things in the text will be found to imply all that is valuable in principle and all that is useful in practice. What is here meant is not the history of the world, the instructions of science, or the general field of literature; but the principles and instructions of religion. The Word of God discovers evidences of the fact that there must be such a being as God. It gives instruction concerning the government of God and concerning man. What is the distinction between counsel and instruction? Instruction consists in the communication of right principles; counsel in the advice by which you may apply these principles practically.

II. Look to the end to be obtained by receiving the instruction, and hearing the counsel. The benefit here stated--wisdom in the latter end--is a benefit of the greatest importance; it delivers you from the disgrace of sin, of growing up a foolish old man in the midst of so many opportunities of acquiring the blessings of instruction. (J. Burnet.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro 19:20. Hear counsel, &c. — Be willing to be taught and ruled; to be advised and reproved, when thou art young; that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end — Before thy death come. Which he adds, not exclusively, as if a man ought not to be wise before, but emphatically, to show that how foolishly soever he may have spent his former and younger years, it highly and especially concerns him to be wise before it is too late, or before death comes.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

III. INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO SOLOMON

CHAPTER 19:20-29

Beginning with the twentieth verse of chapter 19 the personal address begins again and we read repeatedly the phrase “My son” up to the twenty-fifth chapter. This section corresponds therefore with the first nine chapters, containing the instructions which Solomon received from the Lord and which he records in these chapters.

Once more there is the call, like in the opening chapters, to hear, to give attention. “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” The Lord knew beforehand what “the latter end” of Solomon would be. The wise man who warned against the fool, the backslider, the unjust and the man who forsakes counsel and the Lord, himself illustrates the truths given in these proverbs by turning away from the Lord. Alas! he did not hear counsel, and therefore instead of being wise in his latter days he became a fool. The truth expressed in Pro 19:22 was Solomon’s portion as long as the fear of the Lord governed his conduct. He was satisfied, had peace and prosperity; but when he no longer feared the Lord, evil came upon his kingdom and it was divided. “Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou has not kept My covenant and My statutes which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant” 1Ki 11:11).

Arno C. Gaebelein, The Annotated Bible (1913–1922) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Note, 1. It is well with those that are wise in their latter end, wise for their latter end, for their future state, wise for another world, that are found wise when their latter end comes, wise virgins, wise builders, wise stewards, that are wise at length, and understand the things that belong to their peace, before they be hidden from their eyes. A carnal worldling at his end shall be a fool (Jer 17:11), but godliness will prove wisdom at last. 2. Those that would be wise in their latter end must hear counsel and receive instruction, in their beginnings must be willing to be taught and ruled, willing to be advised and reproved, when they are young. Those that would be stored in winter must gather in summer.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(Compare Pro 13:18-20).

latter end-- (Pro 5:11). In youth prepare for age.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(20) That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.—That “though thy beginning might be small, yet that thy latter end should greatly increase” (Job_8:7)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Hear counsel, and receive instruction,.... Of parents, masters, and ministers; especially the counsel and instruction of Wisdom, of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, the wonderful Counsellor; and of his Gospel and of the Scriptures, which are able to make a man wise unto salvation;

that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end; in the latter end of life, at death; that then it may appear a man has been so wise as to be concerned for a future state, for the good of his soul in another world; by listening to the counsel and instruction of Christ, in his word; by looking to him, and believing in him, for life and salvation; by leaning and living upon him; and committing the affairs of his soul, and the salvation of it, to him.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Before thy death come; which he adds not exclusively, as if he ought not to be wish before, but emphatically, to show that how foolishly soever he had spent his former and younger years, it highly concerned him to be wise before it was too late, or before death came.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

20. In thy latter end — Thy hereafter, which may mean in the after-part of this life, or in the future life. The interpreters generally favour the sense, in thy after years. “Get instruction and counsel when young, that you may be wise when you grow old.” — Stuart. Compare Proverbs 42:12, for same word.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Comp. Pro_8:10 Pro_12:15. The Septuagint directs the maxim to children, "Hear, O son, the instruction of thy father." That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. Wisdom gathered and digested in youth is seen in the prudence and intelligence of manhood and old age. Job_8:7, "Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase." Ecc 25:6, "O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honour! Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory." "Wer nicht horen will," say the Germans, "muss fuhlen," "He that will not hear must feel." Among Pythagoras"s golden words we read Bouleuou de pro ergou opwv mh mwra telhtai . "Before thou doest aught, deliberate, Lest folly thee befall.

Ready at the end.

The wise man always shows his wisdom by looking well before him. It is the sure mark of a fool to content himself with the immediate present. We do not wonder that proverbs should deal much with the future. "Passion and Patience" is the picture which is always being exhibited before the eyes of men.

I THE NEED OF READINESS AT THE END. "How shall we enjoy the present time?" asks one; "How shall we make ready for the end?" asks another and a wiser soul. The question presents itself to the youth, as he looks forward to the end of the term and the coming of the examination or the writing of the report; to the young man the apprentice, the articled clerk, the student as he considers how he shall go through his trial hour and be prepared for his business or profession; to the man in middle life, as he foresees the time coming when he can no longer do as he is doing now, and must have something to fall back upon in his declining days; to the man in later life, as he is compelled to feel that his powers are fast failing, and that the hour is not distant when he will stand on the very verge of life and confront the long and solemn future. It should also be present in the mind of those who are soon to go forth into the sterner conflict of life, to meet alone, away from home influences, the serious and strong temptations of an evil world. Whatever the stage through which we are now passing, it moves towards its close an end which is sure to open out into something beyond, and, most likely, something more important, weighted with graver responsibilities and leading to larger issues. Are we so living, the wise will ask, that we shall be ready for that end when it comes?

II THE CONSEQUENT NEED TO LEARN OF GOD. "Hear counsel," etc.

1. There is much need to learn of men from our parents, from our teachers, from every form of instructive literature, from all that the experiences of men, as we watch their life, are saying to us. Whoso would be wise at the end of his career should have an open mind that everyone and everything may teach him. Lessons are to be learnt from every event, however simple and humble it may be. The wide world is the school which the wise will never "leave.

2. There is much more need to learn of God, to learn of Christ. For:

a. He can speak authoritatively, as man cannot.

b. He gives us wisdom unmingled with error, as man does not.

c. He can tell us how to find his Divine favour and how to reach his nearer presence, as no man can.

Let us learn of Christ and be wise. C.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

We have just had a word for parents, directing their Christian discipline. Here the children are exhorted to humility. Again are they awakened to hear counsel and instruction.†1 And constantly do they need the word. "Childhood and youth are vanity."†2 Present gratification is the main object. Oh! remember that the seed, now sown in the season of youth, will produce either blessed or bitter fruit in the latter end. Rich indeed was the harvest from Timothy’s early attention to instruction.†3 Fearful indeed was the judgment upon the scoffers,†4 the awful death of the profligate,†5 the ruin of the holy nation†6 — all the fruit of despising timely wisdom and instruction. Might not Rehoboam†7 and Amaziah†8 have escaped the ruin of their kingdom, had they heard counsel, and thus obtained wisdom in their latter end? ’I am going to die,’ said a thoughtless King on his death-bed; ’and yet I have not begun to live.’ How does the wisdom of mature age depend upon diligence in hearing counsel and instruction! Hence we value "the yoke" — specially of affliction — "borne in youth" — a "good" thing indeed, fraught with profit. (Lam 3:27 .) In this yoke Joseph heard from his God much counsel and instruction, that eminently qualified him with wisdom for his high responsibility. (Genesis 37. 39.-41.) Daniel, thus early instructed, found wisdom in the latter end of a life protracted beyond the ordinary term, that enabled him to superintend a hundred and twenty provinces with singular honour to his profession. (Dan 1:4-9 ; Dan 6:3-4 .)

And then as regards the latter end — "the end of all things," — the wisdom to meet the great crisis is not to be found in thoughtless disregard. Counsel and instruction are largely given. But alas! of the most the Lord is constrained to complain — "My people doth not consider." (Isa 1:3 .) And who, in the sight of the mass of ungodliness, can refrain from the weeping lamentation of the man of God, — "Oh! that they were wise! that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!" (Deu 32:29 .)

Footnotes:

†1 Pro 4:1-2; Pro 5:1-2 ; Pro 7:1-2 .

†2 Ecc 11:10.

†3 2Ti 3:14-15 .

†4 Pro 1:26; Pro 29:1 .

†5 Pro 5:9-14.

†6 Mat 23:37-39. Luk 19:41-42 .

†7 1Ki 12:12-19 .

†8 2Ch 25:15-20 .

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

v. 20. Hear counsel and receive instruction, in effecting the moral training which every person needs for true wisdom, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end, in the future; for the conduct of the truly wise will grow nearer perfection as they grow in years.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.