Proverbs 1:31
31. fruit . . . way—result of conduct (Isa 3:10; Eze 11:21; Ro 6:21; Ga 6:7, 8).
be filled—even to repletion (Ps 123:4). Isaiah 3:11
11. ill—antithesis to "well" (Isa 3:10); emphatic ellipsis of the words italicized. "Ill!"
hands—his conduct; "hands" being the instrument of acts (Ec 8:12, 13). Jeremiah 6:19
19. (Isa 1:2).
fruit of . . . thoughts— (Pr 1:31). nor to my law, but rejected it—literally, "and (as to) My law they have rejected it." The same construction occurs in Ge 22:24.20. Literally, "To what purpose is this to Me, that incense cometh to Me?"
incense . . . cane— (Isa 43:24; 60:6). No external services are accepted by God without obedience of the heart and life (Jer 7:21; Ps 50:7-9; Isa 1:11; Mic 6:6, &c.). sweet . . . sweet—antithesis. Your sweet cane is not sweet to Me. The calamus. Ezekiel 9:10
10. mine eye—to show them their mistake in saying, "The Lord seeth not."
recompense their way upon their head— (Pr 1:31). Retribution in kind. Ezekiel 11:21
21. whose heart . . . after . . . heart of . . . detestable things—The repetition of "heart" is emphatic, signifying that the heart of those who so obstinately clung to idols, impelled itself to fresh superstitions in one continuous tenor [CALVIN]. Perhaps it is implied that they and their idols are much alike in character (Ps 115:8). The heart walks astray first, the feet follow.
recompense . . . way upon . . . heads—They have abandoned Me, so will I abandon them; they profaned My temple, so will I profane it by the Chaldeans (Eze 9:10). Ezekiel 16:43
43. (Eze 16:22; Ps 78:42). In gratitude for God's favors to her in her early history.
fretted me— (Isa 63:10; Eph 4:30). thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations—that is, this the wickedness (compare Zec 5:8), peculiarly hateful to God, namely, spiritual unchastity or idolatry, over and "above" (that is, besides) all thine other abominations. I will put it out of thy power to commit it by cutting thee off. FAIRBAIRN translates, "I will not do what is scandalous (namely, encouraging thee in thy sin by letting it pass with impunity) upon all thine abominations"; referring to Le 19:29, the conduct of a father who encouraged his daughter in harlotry. English Version is much better.