The eyes of the Lord keep watch.
v.8 Injustice. If you sow injustice (or, iniquity), you will harvest disaster and your ability to oppress others will come to an end. The wicked reap what they sow. See Jb 4:8 and especially Gal 6:7-8. (In the LXX there is an additional proverb after this verse: “God loves a cheerful giver….” quoted in 2 Cor 9:7.)
v.9 Bountiful giving. Whoever gives bountifully to the poor (i.e., food) will be blessed (enriched). See 19:17 (the Lord will repay) and 2 Cor 9:6 (reap bountifully). Compare Dt 15:7-11. Give to the poor generously.
v.10 The scoffer. The scoffer, who cannot be changed with discipline or instruction, must be driven out to end strife, quarreling and abuse.
v.11 The pure in heart. In contrast to the scoffer of the last verse, the pure in heart and gracious in speech will have the king as a friend (even a bad king wants someone with these traits as his counselor). Cf. Mt 5:8. It starts with a pure heart because words are a reflection of what is in the heart (16:23).
v.12 The eyes of the Lord. The Lord keeps watch over (protects) knowledge (teachings of wisdom) and so he overthrows the words of the faithless (so that truth alone endures). See 15:3.
v.13 The sluggard. “There is a lion outside, I’ll be killed, so I think I’ll take a nap.” Lazy people will come up with any excuse for not working. (The reality of poverty is what will devour him not his imaginary lion.) See 26:13.
v.14 Forbidden woman. The mouth of the forbidden woman (her seductive words) is a deep pit (or dangerous trap) and he whom the Lord is angry with will fall into it. See also Eccl 7:26.
v.15 Discipline. A child’s heart is bound up with folly, but the rod of discipline drives it from him. It takes discipline to turn foolishness into wisdom. See 13:24 (love disciplines).
v.16 Oppression of the poor. If you oppress the poor to increase your own wealth, or shower the rich with gifts (bribes?), you will come to poverty in the end. The only way to get ahead is hard work.
This ends the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs (15:30-22:16).