The way of the slothful [man is] as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous [is] made plain.
Ver. 19. The way of a slothful man is as a hedge of thorns.] Perplexed and letsome, so that he gets no ground, makes no riddance; he goes as if he were shackled when he is to go upon any good course; so many perils he casts, and so many excuses he makes; this he wants, and that he wants, when in truth it is a heart only that he wants, being woefully hampered and enthralled in the invisible chains of the kingdom of darkness, and driven about by the devil at his pleasure. This will be a bodkin at these men's hearts one day, to think I had a price in my hand, but no heart to make use of it; I foolishly held that a little with ease was best, and so "neglected so great salvation," shifting off him that "spake to me from heaven," Heb 12:25 and pretending some "lion in the way," some ‘goose at the gate,' a When I was to do anything for my soul's health. Never any came to hell, saith one, but had some pretence for their coming thither.
But the way of the righteous is made plain.] Or, Is cast up as a causeway, b a Gabbatha, Joh 19:13 a road raised above the rest. There seems to be an illusion to that bank or causeway that went from the king's house to the temple; 1 Chronicles 26:16 ; 1 Chronicles 26:18 1Ki 10:5 2Ch 9:4 and the sense is, that the godly, by much practice of piety, having gotten a habit, despatch duty with delight, and come off with comfort. Isa 40:31
a Germani dicunt, Anser est in porta.
b Via strata.