Proverbs 11:29 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He that troubleth his own house— That is, either dissipates his substance by extravagance, or sows division and discord among his friends and relations. Lord Bacon takes this for a profitable admonition touching discords in families, and domestic breaches [but it may as well be applied to whole kingdoms, which are larger families]; which whosoever cherishes among his children, or servants, or people, as a means to have his affairs better administered when they have an evil eye upon and hate one another, commonly finds his hopes turn into wind. For those alterations and changes generally succeed ill, and those disturbers of their own families oftentimes meet with vexations and ingratitude from those very persons whom, passing by others, they adopt as the objects of their especial favour: nay, by this means they often draw upon themselves ill reports and doubtful rumours; for it is not ill observed by Cicero, that all reports, both good and bad fame, come from domestics; which two evils Solomon expresses by inheriting the wind: for the frustrating of expectations, and raising of rumours, are rightly compared to winds. See A Discourse of Learning, as above, and chap. Proverbs 15:7.