Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Sundry Observations of J/ocoZ Virtues, PROVERBS XX, XXI. and of their Contrary Vice*, tell news will hardly keep secrets, flattereth . . . lips— tioj of servants. Let each abide in liis calling (I Corintliians 7.20). 11. (Cf. cli. li. 29; 16. 32.) Tills inculcation of a forgiving spirit siiows that true religion IsalvVays the same (Matthew 5. 22-24). la. (Cf. ch. IG. 14, 15; 20. 2.) A motive to suljmission to lawful authority. 13. calamity —lit., calamities, varied and many, continual dropping —a perpetual annoyance, wearing out patience. 14. A contrast of men's gifts and God's, who, though author of both blessings, confers tlie latter by His morespecial providence, and—or, but, implying tliat the evils of v. 13 are only avoided by His care. 15. a deep sleep—a state of utter indiflei-ence. Idle soul—or, person (cf. ch. 10. 4; 12.
(cf. Margin; €li. 1. 10). meddle . . . him lit., join. or associate with. 20. ills lamp—(Cf. ch. 13.9; 24. 20.) 21. gotten hastily—contrary to God's providence (ch. 28. 20), implying its unjust or easy attainment; hence the man ici punished, or spends freely what he got easily (cf. v. 17). 22. (Cf. Psalm 27. 14; Romans 12. 17-19.) 23. (Cf. v. 10; ch.
11. 1.) 24. Man's goings lit.. Stalely stcjpings of a strong man. a man—any common man. understand [or, perceive] his . . . way. 25. devouretli . . . holy—or, better, who rashly speaks promises, or devotes what is holy, consecrating any thing. This suits better the last clause, which expres.ses a similar view of the results of rashly vowing. 26. (Cf. V. 8.) brlngeth . .'. over them — the wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity (cf. Amos 1. 3). 27. The spirit . . . Ijord—men's minds are God's gifts, and thus able to search one another
24). IG. (Cf. ch. 10. 17 ; 13. 13.) despisetli . . . way—opposed to keeping or observing, neglects (ch. IG. 17) (as unwortliy of regard) his moral conduct. 17. (Cf. ch. 14. 21
Psalm 37. 20). hath pity—shown by acts (cf. ilfar-<;m). 18.
(Cf. ch. 13. 24; 23. 13.) let not . . . spare— do not lift up tliy soul (Vaalm 24. 4 ; 25. 1), i. e., do not desire to his death
(cf. V. 5; ch. 18. 8, 17; 1 Corinthians 2. 11). 28. (Cf. ch. 3. 3;
16. 6, 1'2.) 29. Each age has Its peculiar excellence (ch. Ifl.
a caution to passionate parents against angry chastisement. 19. Repeated efforts of kindness are lost on illnatured persons. 20. (Cf. ch. 13. 18-20.) latter end—(Ch.
31). 30. blueness lit., joining, the process of uniting tiie edges of a wound throws off purulent matter, stripes . . , belly—so punishment provides healing of soul (ch. 18.8), by deterring from evil courses.
5. 11.) In youtli prepare for age. 21. (Cf. ch. 16. 1, 9; Psalm
33. 10. 11.) The failure of man's devices is implied. 32. desire i.e., to do good, indicates a kind disposition (ch.
CHAPTER XXI.
11. 23j; and tlie poor thus affected are better than liars, who say and do not. 23. The fear . . . life—(Cf. ch. 3. 2.) abide—or, remain contented (1 Timothy 4.8). not visited
Ver. 1-31. 1. rivers—Irrigating channels (Psalm 1. 3), whose course was easily turned (cf. Deuteronomy 11. 10). God disposes even kings as He pleases (ch. 16. 9; Psalm 33.
, . . evil-(ch. 10. 3; Psalm 37. 2.5), as a judgment, in which sense visit is often used (Psalm 89. 32; Jeremiah 6. 15). 24. bosom lit., a wide dish in which the hand was plunged in
15). 2. (Cf. ch. 14. 2; IG. 2-25.) 3. (Cf. Psalm 50. 7-15 ; Isaiah
1. 11, 17.) 4. high look-(Cf. Margin; Psalm 131. 1.) proud heart—or, heart of breadth, one that is swollen (cf. Psalm eatinij (Matthew 26. 23). Cf. ch. 26. 15, the sentiment expressed with equal irony and less exaggeration. 25. Such
101. 5). ploughing—better lamp, a frequent figure for prosperity (ch. 20. 20), hence joy or delight. 5. The contrast is between steady industry and rashness (cf. ch. 19. 2). 6. The getting— or, what Is obtained (cf. Job 7. 2; Jeremiah '22. 13, Hebrew), vanity ... to and fro—as fleeting as chaff or stubble in the wind (cf. ch. 20. 17-21 ; Psalm is the benefit of reproof, even the simple profit, much more tlie wise. 26. Unfilial conduct often condemned (ch. 17.
21-25; 20. 20; Deuteronomy 21. 18,21). 27. Avoid whatever leads from truth. 28. ungodly witness—(cf. Margin), one false by bad principles (cf. ch. 0. 12). scornetln judgment —sets at naught tlie dictates of justice, devouretli lit., hwalloweth, as sometliing delightful. 29. Their punishment is sure, fixed and ready (cf. ch.3. 34; 10. 13).
6'2. 10). Such gettings are unsatisfactory, them . . , death—act as if they did (ch. 8. 36; 17. 19). 7. robbery— or, destruction, especially oppression, of which they are authors, slinll destroy lit., cut with a saiv (I Kings 7. 9),
CHAPTER XX.
i. e., utterly ruin them. Their sins shall be visited on them in kind, to do Judgment—what is just and right. 8. of man—any one, his way is opposed to truth, and also estranged from it. The pure proves himself such by his right conduct. 9. corner—a turret or arbour on the roof, brawling— or contentious, wide house— lit., house of fellowship, or large enough for several families. 10. So strongly does he desire to do evil (Psalm 10.3; Ecclesiastes 8.11), that he will not even spare his friend if in his way. 11. (Cf. ch. 19. 25.) That which the simple learn by the terrors of punishment, the wise learn by teaching. 12. (Cf. Psalm 37.35-38 ; 73.17, 20.) house—family or interests, overthroweth—either supply God (cf. ch. 10. 24), or the word is used impersonally. 13. The principles of retribution, often taught (cf. Psalm 18. 26; Matthew 7. 1-12). 14. The effect of bribery (ch. 17. 23) is enhanced by secresy, as the bribed person does not wish his motives made known. 15. But the just love right, anil neA no bribes. The wicked at last meet destruction, though for a time happy in concealing corruption. 16. the way of understanding—(Cf. ch. 12. 26; 14. 22.) remain i. e., rest as at a journey's end; death will be his unchanging home. 17. Costly luxuries impoverish. 18. (Cf. ch. 11. 8.) By suffering what they had devised for the righteous, or brought on them, the wicked became their ransom, in the usual sense of substitutes (cf. Joshua 7. 26; Esther 7. 9). 19. (Cf.
Ver. 1-30. 1. mocker—or, scorner. Such men are made by wine, raging—or, boisterous as a drunkard, strong driiiSc—made by spicing wine (cf. Isaiah 5. 11, 22); and it may include wine. AcceWeA~lit., erring, or reeling. 2.
(Cf. ch. 10. 12.) Men who resist authority injure themselves (Romans 13. 2). 3. to cease . . . strife—or, better, "tod Weil from or witliout strife," denoting the habit of life, fool . . . medc Ulng—(Ch. 17. 14.) 4. shall . . . beg
—lit., ask (in this sense. Psalm 109. 10). 5. Counsel . . . water i. e., deeply hidden (cli. 18. i; Psalm 13. 2). Tlie wise can discern well. 6. Boasters are unreliable, goodness—or, kind disposition. 7. The conduct of good men proclaims tlieir sou*id principles. God's covenant and their good example .secure blessing to their children (ch.
4. 26 ; Psalm 112. 1, 2). 8. As ch. 14. 35; 16. 10, 15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings. 9. The interrogation in the afliniative strengthens tlie implied negation (cf. Jol) 15.14; Ecclesiastes 7.20). 10. Various measures, implying that some are wrong (cf. ch. 11. 1 ; 16. 11). 11. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (cf. Matthew 7. 16). 12. Hence, of course, God will know all you do (Psalm 94. 9). 13. Activity and diligence contrasted witli sloth (ch. 6. 9; 10. 11). lest . . . poverty— lit., be deprived of inheritance. 14. when . . . his way Implying tliat he goes about boasting of his bargains. 15. The contrast denotes tlie greater value of knowledge (cf. ch.3. 14-16). 10. To take the (;aj-nie?i< Implies severe exac-
V. 9.) wilderness—pasture, though uninhabitable ground (Psalm 6.5. 12). 20. The wise, by diligence and care, lay up and Increase wealth, while fools spend lit., sivalloio it up, greedily. 21. He who tries to act justly and kindly (I'salm 34. 14) will prosper and obtain justice and honour. 22. " Wisdom is better than strength" (Ecclesiastes 7. 19; tion, j.usti fled by the surety's rashness, a strange woman —by some readings, strangers, but the former here, and ch.
27. 13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debiiuciiee is less reliabh; than the merely careless. 17. Hread . . . sweet—either as unlawfully (ch. 9. 17) or easily' obtained, mouth . . . gravel—well expresses the pain ond grief given at last. 18. (Cf. ch. 15. 2*2.) Btj careful and ooimidoiate in important plans. 19. Those who love to 398
9. 15). strength . . . thereof—that In which they confide, 23. (Cf. ch. 13. '2, 3; James 3. 6-10.) 24. The reproachful name is deserved by those who treat others with anger and contempt. 25. desire i.e. of ease and idleness