The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of his fury will fail.
Whoever has a bountiful[b] eye will be blessed,
for he shares his bread with the poor.
Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
and quarrelling and abuse will cease.
He who loves purity of heart,
and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.Proverbs 22:7-11
The message in 7, making a practical observation without necessarily commending it, seems to be: beware of falling into debt. The question arises as to why the borrower had to borrow, and whether he ought, in the first place, to have allowed himself into such a position. We may recall Paul's words in Ephesians 4:28 in this connection: hard work and diligence should not only keep a man out of debt, but put him in a position to help those who are more needy than himself. In 8 and 9 we are given a contrast in life-styles; and harvest-time will be very revealing in either case. Again, the stress is on the moral order in the universe. We should note particularly what is said in 9 about the 'bountiful eye'. It is the generous spirit, not the rich, that gives bountifully. The heart for it must be there, before true generosity can be seen. The scoffer (10) is one who can work untold mischief in a fellowship, and his influence is so pervasive that, if unchecked, will act with leaven, leavening the whole lump. It is for this reason that both our Lord and Paul recognised that in some situations the firm discipline of excommunication may be necessary (cf Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:11-13). This is the only way for the fellowship to be preserved from falling into unholy ways, and for the name of Christ to be kept from dishonour. The peace and well-being that ensues when such drastic action is taken should be a considerable assurance that the action was both right and justified. In 11 the RSV rendering clarifies the AV. Kidner refers to 'the equal partnership of integrity and charm' that is indicated. Integrity of life and grace of demeanour constitute a combination that makes a man kingly in bearing, and he can command the best kind of friendship. Well might he number royalty among those who will love and cherish him.