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25:1 [In tribus placitum est spiritui meo, quae sunt probata coram Deo et hominibus :
*H With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:


Ver. 1. Pleased. Wisdom still speaks. Solomon often makes similar divisions, to make the deeper impression. Prov. xxx. 15. 24.

25:2 concordia fratrum, et amor proximorum, et vir et mulier bene sibi consentientes.
The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and wife that agree well together.
25:3 Tres species odivit anima mea, et aggravor valde animae illorum :
Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:
25:4 pauperem superbum, divitem mendacem, senem fatuum et insensatum.]
*H A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.


Ver. 4. Fool. Gr. "adulterer, devoid of sense." Is. lxv. 20. C. — Luxuria...senectuti fœdissima. Cic. off. i.

25:5 [Quae in juventute tua non congregasti, quomodo in senectute tua invenies ?
*H The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?


Ver. 5. Age? Wisdom, says Bias, "is more durable than other possessions." Laert.

25:6 Quam speciosum canitiei judicium, et presbyteris cognoscere consilium !
O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!
25:7 Quam speciosa veteranis sapientia, et gloriosus intellectus et consilium !
O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honour!
25:8 Corona senum multa peritia, et gloria illorum timor Dei.]
Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.
25:9 [Novem insuspicabilia cordis magnificavi : et decimum dicam in lingua hominibus :
*H Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue.


Ver. 9. Things. Gr. "nine suppositions I have blessed in my heart," (H.) or thought that they may confer felicity. But the tenth will certainly do it. C. xiv.

25:10 homo qui jucundatur in filiis, vivens et videns subversionem inimicorum suorum.
*H A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.


Ver. 10. Enemies. Not out of revenge, but for the glory of God. See Matt. v. 43.

25:11 Beatus qui habitat cum muliere sensata, et qui lingua sua non est lapsus, et qui non servivit indignis se.
Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman, and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served such as are unworthy of him.
* Footnote ** James 3 : 2 For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body.
25:12 Beatus qui invenit amicum verum, et qui enarrat justitiam auri audienti.
*H Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.


Ver. 12. A true. Gr. "prudence." C.

25:13 Quam magnus qui invenit sapientiam et scientiam ! sed non est super timentem Dominum.
How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is none above him that feareth the Lord.
25:14 Timor Dei super omnia se superposuit.
*H The fear of God hath set itself above all things:


Ver. 14. Things. Gr. adds, "for light (15.) he that," &c. H.

25:15 Beatus homo cui donatum est habere timorem Dei : qui tenet illum, cui assimilabitur ?
Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?
25:16 Timor Dei initium dilectionis ejus : fidei autem initium agglutinandum est ei.]
*H The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.


Ver. 16. It. This is not in the edit. of Rome, or of Aldus: but it is in the rest. Fear commonly begins the work of salvation, and love perfects it. 1 Tim. i. 5. C. — All happiness in this life is grounded on the fear of God. W.

25:17 [Omnis plaga tristitia cordis est, et omnis malitia nequitia mulieris.
*H The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.


Ver. 17. Evil. Gr. reads not this; but the Syriac does, omitting the two next verses. C. — Heresy is described under the idea of a wicked woman, concealing her malice. W.

25:18 Et omnem plagam, et non plagam videbit cordis :
*H And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:


Ver. 18. Choose. Lit. "see." H. — Some supply "send any plague," &c.

25:19 et omnem nequitiam, et non nequitiam mulieris :
And any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:
25:20 et omnem obductum, et non obductum odientium :
And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:
25:21 et omnem vindictam, et non vindictam inimicorum.
*H And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.


Ver. 21. Enemies. Which they wish, or may behold. C. xviii. 31. C.

25:22 Non est caput nequius super caput colubri,
*H There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:


Ver. 22. Head. Or poison, as the Heb. rosh signifies both. Rondet.

25:23 et non est ira super iram mulieris. Commorari leoni et draconi placebit, quam habitare cum muliere nequam.
*H And there is no anger above the anger of a woman. It will be more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon, than to dwell with a wicked woman.


Ver. 23. Woman. Gr. "enemy." C. — Revenge is the passion of little souls, and of women. Juv. xiii. — Dragon. This is not exaggerated, if we reflect on the evils occasioned by Eve, Dalila, Athalia, &c. C. — "A woman is the greatest wild-beast." Menander.

* Footnote * Proverbs 21 : 19 It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and passionate woman.
25:24 Nequitia mulieris immutat faciem ejus : et obcaecat vultum suum tamquam ursus, et quasi saccum ostendit. In medio proximorum ejus
*H The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and she darkeneth her countenance as a bear: and sheweth it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbours,


Ver. 24. Sackcloth. And is black when passion bursts forth, though women too frequently conceal their anger to take deeper vengeance.

25:25 ingemuit vir ejus, et audiens suspiravit modicum.
*H Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.


Ver. 25. Groaned. Gr. "shall fall." — Little. Gr. "bitterly." He cannot avoid hearing of his wife's misconduct. H. — She will raise him enemies on all sides.

25:26 Brevis omnis malitia super malitiam mulieris : sors peccatorum cadat super illam.
*H All malice is short to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her.


Ver. 26. Her. I could wish no greater evil to the worst of enemies. Eccles. vii. 27.

25:27 Sicut ascensus arenosus in pedibus veterani, sic mulier linguata homini quieto.
*H As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of tongue to a quiet man.


Ver. 27. Man. He cannot advance. C. — Semper habet lites. Juv. vi.

25:28 Ne respicias in mulieris speciem, et non concupiscas mulierem in specie.
*H Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.


Ver. 28. Beauty. Other qualifications of more importance must be regarded. H. — He should choose one who may be a companion and assistant in domestic concerns. Grot.

25:29 Mulieris ira, et irreverentia, et confusio magna.
A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.
25:30 Mulier si primatum habeat, contraria est viro suo.
*H A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.


Ver. 30. A. Gr. "If she bring a fortune to her husband," (H.) she will continually upbraid him with it, and cover him with confusion. v. 29. C. — Lay-leadership in spiritual things is so unreasonable, that few heretics will endure it. W.

25:31 Cor humile, et facies tristis, et plaga cordis, mulier nequam.
A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart.
25:32 Manus debiles et genua dissoluta, mulier quae non beatificat virum suum.
*H Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.


Ver. 32. Happy. A lazy wife will give no content.

25:33 A muliere initium factum est peccati, et per illam omnes morimur.
*H From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die.


Ver. 33. Die. Eve tempted her husband, and thus we are all involved in sin. 1 Tim. ii. 14.

* Footnote * Genesis 3 : 6 And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightful to behold: and she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave to her husband, who did eat.
25:34 Non des aquae tuae exitum, nec modicum : nec mulieri nequam veniam prodeundi.
*H Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.


Ver. 34. Water. Incontinency. C. xxvi. 15. Prov. v. 15. If water find a hole, it will presently flow away. Women were kept much at home in the East, as they are in many parts of Europe. C. — Retirement and silence are the characteristics of a wise woman. Æschyl. Thebas.

25:35 Si non ambulaverit ad manum tuam, confundet te in conspectu inimicorum.
*H If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies.


Ver. 35. She will. Gr. "cut her off from thy flesh." Grabe and Comp. add, (H.) "give a bill of divorce or her dowry, and send her away." C.

25:36 A carnibus tuis abscinde illam, ne semper te abutatur.]
Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.
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