The True Honour of Man
Hugh Blair, D. D. Proverbs 4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor, when you do embrace her. The love of honour is one of the strongest passions in the human heart. All wish, by some means or other, to acquire respect from those among whom they live. Among the advantages which attend religion and virtue, the honour which they confer on man is frequently mentioned in Scripture. By the true honour of man is to be understood, not what merely commands external respect, but what commands the respect of the heart, what raises one to acknowledged eminence above others of the same species. From what cause does this eminence arise? 1. Not from riches. 2. Not from rank or office. 3. Not from splendid actions and abilities which excite high admiration. 4. Not in reputation derived from civil accomplishments. 5. Not from any adventitious circumstances of fortune.We must look to the mind and the soul. The honour which man acquires by religion and virtue is more independent and more complete than what can be acquired by any other means. The universal consent of mankind in honouring real virtue is sufficient to show what the genuine sense of human nature is on this subject. The honour acquired by religion and virtue is honour Divine and immortal. (Hugh Blair, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. WEB: Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.