*H A mild answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury.
Ver. 1. Fury. This was seen in Nabal and Roboam, while Gideon and Abigail shewed the good effects of a mild answer. Jud. viii. 1. and 1 K. x. 25. and 3 K. xii. 11.
*H The tongue of the wise adorneth knowledge: but the mouth of fools bubbleth out folly.
Ver. 2. Knowledge. It requires to be proposed in a proper manner.
*H A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is immoderate, shall crush the spirit.
Ver. 4. Life. This comparison was become proverbial for something very excellent. Immoderate. Heb. "perverse." C. — Evil discourse kills the souls both of those who speak, and of those who pay attention to it. H.
*H A fool laugheth at the instruction of his father: but he that regardeth reproofs shall become prudent. In abundant justice there is the greatest strength: but the devices of the wicked shall be rooted out.
Ver. 5. In abundant, &c. Is omitted in Heb. Chal. and many Greek and Latin copies. The same idea is expressed in the following verse.
*H The lips of the wise shall disperse knowledge: the heart of fools shall be unlike.
Ver. 7. Unlike. The wise, or themselves. Heb. and Sept. "inconstant."
*H The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord: the vows of the just are acceptable.
Ver. 8. Wicked. Still unconverted. Eccli. xxxiv. 23. When they repent, and offer sacrifice with sincerity, they will obtain mercy. The Donatists abused this text, to prove that baptism conferred by wicked ministers was unavailing. But S. Aug. shewed them, that Christ was the principal agent, and conferred grace, even though the minister might draw down judgments on his own head. Con. Parm. ii. 6. — Even pagans confessed, that sacrifices, without virtue, could afford no benefit. "God was more pleased with the prayers of the Lacedemonians, than with all the sacrifices of the Greeks," say the idolatrous priests in Plato, Alcib. ii. Seneca de Ben. i. 5.
*H Instruction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way of life: he that hateth reproof shall die.
Ver. 10. Instruction. Heb. "a heavy punishment." H. — The mind which gives way to vice, must have embraced some false doctrine.
*H Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more the hearts of the children of men?
Ver. 11. Before. Naked. The state of the damned is known to God. C. ix. 18. C.
*H A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind the spirit is cast down.
Ver. 13. Down. Compunction is salutary, but worldly grief blameable. C. xxv. 20. and 2 Cor. vii. 10. S. Greg. past. ii. 10.
*H All the days of the poor are evil: a secure mind is like a continual feast.
Ver. 15. Feast. Those who repine at their condition are miserable; while the poor may be delivered from many cares. C. —
*H Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content.
Ver. 16. Content. Sept. "fear." Heb. "with trouble," which is preferable. 1 Ti. vi. 6.
*H It is better to be invited to herbs with love, than to a fatted calf with hatred.
Ver. 17. Calf. Or feast after sacrifice. 1 K. xvii. 19. Lu. xv. 23.
*H The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns: the way of the just is without offence.
Ver. 19. Thorns. All seems to them impossible. C. — In agriculture, however, (H.) "in domestic affairs, negligence is attended with more labour than diligence." Colum. xii. 2.
*H Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his steps.
Ver. 21. Fool. He thinks himself the most happy of mortals. C. — Sept. "the ways of the fools are senseless." H.
*H Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but where there are many counsellors, they are established.
Ver. 22. Counsel. Heb. "secrecy." — Established. We put in execution without fear, what has been resolved maturely. C.
*H The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from the lowest hell.
Ver. 24. Above. Lit. "upon the learned." H. — One path leads to the realms above. C. — The wise must be intent on God. M.
*H Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord: and pure words most beautiful shall be confirmed by him.
Ver. 26. Shall by, &c. is not added in Heb. &c. nor in several Latin MSS.
*H He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house: but he that hateth bribes shall live. By mercy and faith sins are purged away: and by the fear of the Lord every one declineth from evil.
Ver. 27. Troubleth. With all sorts of temporal misfortunes. A judge who receives bribes, is accursed. Ex. xxiii. 8. — By, &c. is not here in Heb. but c. xvi. 6. S. Cyprian (3 Test.) found it in his copy. — Faith, or fidelity and truth, as it is elsewhere expressed. C. iii. 3. These virtues move God to pardon.
*H The mind of the just studieth obedience: the mouth of the wicked overfloweth with evils.
Ver. 28. Studieth. And speaks deliberately. Sept. Rom. is more embarrassed in the rest of this, and the nine first verses of the following chapter, than the Complut. edition.
*H The light of the eyes rejoiceth the soul: a good name maketh the bones fat.
Ver. 30. Fat. And contributes to health. By less noble motives, the mind is gradually raised to the more excellent.
*H The fear of the Lord is the lesson of wisdom: and humility goeth before glory.
Ver. 33. Lesson. Or "what teacheth." Humility, or docility, as those who acknowledge no master will never become wise. Matt. xxiii. 12. C.