He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
Ver. 29. He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance, &c.] If he be rich, it is for a mischief, neither is it likely long to continue with him, for God will blow upon and blast his substance, which is the fort and strength, Isaiah 10:14. He resolves he will be rich, 1 Timothy 6:9, and is set upon it. God, to cross him, saith here, He shall not be rich, but I will make a poor fool of him, according to that Jeremiah 17:11, "As the partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool." There is a curse upon unlawful practices, though men be industrious, as in Jehoiakim, Jer 22:19 It is God that giveth power to get wealth, Deuteronomy 8:18. Our care can no more add a penny to our estate than it can a cubit to our stature, Matthew 6:27 .
He shall not prolong the perfection thereof] Vulgate, He shall not send forth his root in the earth. "A man shall not be established by wickedness," saith Solomon: "but the root of the righteous shall continue," Proverbs 12:3; See Trapp on " Pro 12:3 "