*H A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
Ver. 1. Good. Heb. "a name," or reputation. H. — It is preferable to riches, but not to be compared with virtue, which is the only solid good; and even to be placed above riches, it must be well grounded. C. — Favour with all. H.
*H The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
Ver. 2. Another. They stand in need of one another. S. Chrys. hom. xxxiv. in 1 Cor. — They are equal in God's sight, who only values real virtue. He disposes of riches, so that the poor may one day become rich. C.
*H The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
Ver. 4. Fruit. Lit. "the end of modesty, (H.) or moderation, which must accompany every virtue.
*H Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul, departeth far from them.
Ver. 5. Perverse. They are always in danger and in trouble.
*H It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Ver. 6. It is a proverb, is added by S. Jerom, to make the sentence more striking. — It. He is like a tender plant, (C.) or wax, or a new vessel.
*H The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
Ver. 7. Servant. He might be sold, &c. Ex. xxii. 3. Matt. xviii. 25. Gell. xx. 1. Plato (Leg. viii.) would have nothing sold on credit. These laws appear to be severe; but they are founded on wisdom, as nothing impoverishes more than the facility of borrowing.
*H He that soweth iniquity, shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
Ver. 8. Consumed. Or beaten with the flail of God's anger.
*H He that is inclined to mercy, shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents, shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
Ver. 9. Is. Heb. "has a good eye," in opposition to the evil, or malicious one. Matt. xx. 15. — He, &c. is not in Heb. or in the Lat. edit. of Comp. and S. Jer.
*H He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
Ver. 11. He. Sept. "the Lord loveth pious hearts. All the irreproachable are acceptable to him. The king feeds with lips," by his just ordinances. H. — Kings hate duplicity; but require that the truth should be disclosed to them in a suitable manner.
*H The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
Ver. 13. Streets. Vain excuses of sloth!
*H The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
Ver. 14. It. Debauchery resembles hell. C. xxiii. 23. C. — Facilis descensus Averni, &c. Æn. vi.
*H Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
Ver. 15. Folly. Ignorance and innate corruption are corrected by a good education.
*H Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
Ver. 17. Incline. Thus Solomon concludes his discourse, (c. xxiv. 23.) in the same manner as he began it, to chap. x. Some commence the third book of Proverbs in this place; others, c. xxv. C.
*H Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
Ver. 18. Lips. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. H.
*H Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
Ver. 20. Ways. Repeatedly. Boss. T. 2 Cor. xii. 8. Amos i. 11. C. — Prot. "have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge?" "Shalishim," perfect, (Pagn.) or "three things," (Mont.) means also (H.) such as might suit princes and great officers. C.
*H That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
Ver. 21. Sent. Sept. "are sent to thee." Thou mayst become a teacher, (H.) or give satisfaction to thy parents, who have sent thee to my school. C.
*H Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
Ver. 22. Gate. Where judges passed sentence. M.
*H Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
Ver. 25. Soul. By imitating him, or by falling a victim to his rage.
*H Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
Ver. 26. Hands. Engaging to stand bond. H. c. vi. 1. — Such a one might be required to pay the debt. C. xx. 16.
*H Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
Ver. 28. Set. The pagans made a god of Terminus, to prevent disputes. Ovid. Fast. ii. — If it be unlawful to disturb land-marks, how much more so is it to give way to novelty in religion? Deut. xix. 14. C. — Solomon is addressing those who follow the true faith. Else the conduct of infidel ancestors should not deter any from embracing the truth. H.
*H Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
Ver. 29. Obscure. By industry he shall raise himself to notice. H. — Kings employ those who are most active. C.