*H The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their generation, obedience and love.
Ver. 1. Love. The progeny of God's children brings forth the fruits of obedience and love. W. — Wisdom teaches every virtue. C. — This verse is not in Greek.
*H For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children.
Ver. 3. Seeking. Greek, "and hath confirmed the judgment," &c. H. — God will revenge any disrespect shewn to parents. M.
*H He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.
Ver. 7. Father. Greek, "Lord...mother (8.) and will serve them," &c. H. — Though you may feed your parents, you are still much in their debt. S. Amb. in Lu. ii. and xviii. Ex. xx. 12. Job iv. 3.
*H Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience,
Ver. 9. Father. Greek adds, "and thy mother." C. — Grabe marks this in another character, and substitutes "them" for him. v. 10. — And his, &c. is wholly omitted. H.
* Footnote * Exodus 20 : 12
Honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayst be longlived upon the land which the Lord thy God will give thee.* Footnote * Deuteronomy 5 : 16
Honour thy father and mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee, that thou mayst live a long time, and it may be well with thee in the land, which the Lord thy God will give thee.* Footnote * Matthew 15 : 4
Honour thy father and mother: And: He that shall curse father or mother, let him die the death.* Footnote * Mark 7 : 10
For Moses said: Honour thy father and thy mother. And He that shall curse father or mother, dying let him die.* Footnote * Ephesians 6 : 2
Honour thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with a promise:*H The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation.
Ver. 11. Foundations. S. Aug. (de Civ. Dei. xxii. 8.) gives a memorable instance. The pagans deemed such curses most terrible. Orpheus. Gen. ix. 25. — They are executed upon the wicked.
* Footnote * Genesis 27 : 27
He came near, and kissed him. And immediately as he smelled the fragrant smell of his garments, blessing him, he said: Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord hath blessed.* Footnote * Genesis 49 : 2
Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken to Israel, your father:*H Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory to thee.
Ver. 12. Thee. Boast not of thy superior talents, nor say any thing disrespectful.
*H For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a father without honour is the disgrace of the son.
Ver. 13. A father. Greek, "mother." Alexander was ashamed of having Philip for his father, pretending that he was the son of Jupiter Ammon. His mother Olympias, with much ingenuity, wrote to him, that he would thus make Juno her powerful rival!
*H And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotten.
Ver. 15. Fail. Bis pueri senes. They do not lose the character of fathers, how infirm soever, (C.) and those can never truly serve the invisible Deity, who despise their fathers, his visible images on the earth. Philo. Decal.
*H For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.
Ver. 16. Sin. Or ill-nature. Greek, "instead of sins, (17.) a house shall be built up for thee." H. — Thy family shall increase. Ex. i. 21. C. — Alms, prayer, and sacrifice for parents merit reward. W.
*H Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is cursed of God that angereth his mother.
Ver. 18. Of. Greek, "Like a blasphemer is," &c. C. — He who reviles his father, meditates blasphemy against the Deity. Menander.
*H My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above the glory of men.
Ver. 19. Meekness. Here a new subject begins. Goodness begets love. S. Amb. Off. ii. 7.
*H The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and thou shalt find grace before God:
Ver. 20. Greater. The dignity of a person should be the measure of his humility, (S. Amb. de virg. 31.) as the most elevated are the most exposed to pride. Humility is taught only by true wisdom and the gospel. Matt. xi. 29. Philosophy may inspire us with the contempt of riches, &c. C. — Yet humility is the most indispensable duty, and no less essential than delivery to an orator. S. Aug. ep. 118. ad Diosc. — All human greatness comes from God, who requires us to shew our gratitude by humility. W.
* Footnote * Philippians 2 : 3
Let nothing be done through contention: neither by vain glory. But in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves:*H Seek not the things that are too high for thee, and search not into things above thy ability: but the things that God hath commanded thee, think on them always, and in many of his works be not curious.
Ver. 22. In, &c. The mysterious nature of God and providence, cannot be comprehended: and in many things we must confess our ignorance. Life is often spent in idle researches.
* Footnote * Proverbs 25 : 27
As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty shall be overwhelmed by glory.*H And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained their minds in vanity.
Ver. 26. Suspicion. Gr. Comp. "their vain suspicion hath deceived many and their wicked thought has ruined their judgment. Not having the apples of the eye, thou wilt be deprived of light; and being ignorant, do not speak." The latter sentence is marked by Grabe as wanting in his copy, as it is in the Vat. if we may believe the London edit. (H.) which, however, is not an exact copy, no more than any of the other editions, of that famous MS. Grabe.
*H A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth danger shall perish in it.
Ver. 27. Heart. Which fears neither God nor man. S. Bern. cons. 1. — Those who have not shewn mercy, can expect none. H. — The impenitent see their folly, like Antiochus, when it is too late. C. — They have loved the danger, which shall overtake them. Prov. i. 26. He seems to refute those who believed in fate, and would take no precautions. C. — Those who live in sin, tempting God to the last hour, generally perish. W.
*H A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will add sin to sin.
Ver. 29. Wicked. Greek, "hard," obdurate in sin, like Pharao. Rom. ii. 5. H. — Sorrows. Or crimes, as the word often implies, and the punishment thereof. C. — "Sin, by its own weight, leads to another, (S. Greg. Mor. xxv. 12.) and while custom is not resisted, a necessity arises." S. Aug. Conf. viii. 5.
*H The congregation of the proud shall not be healed: for the plant of wickedness shall take root in them, and it shall not be perceived.
Ver. 30. Congregation. The proud or obstinate sinner will take no advice. Prov. xviii. 3. C.
*H The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear will hear wisdom with all desire.
Ver. 31. Understand. Greek, "shall devise a parable, and the ear of the hearer is the desire of a wise man." H.
*H Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins:
Ver. 33. Water, &c. He delights to instruct the attentive. C. — Resist. Greek, "shall expiate, or obtain pardon for sins." Dan. iv. 24. and Lu. xi. 41. "Alms-deeds are a sort of baptism, which may be often repeated" to advantage. S. Amb. or. Max. — "When we bestow any thing, it is not of our own, but the gift of Christ. We give bread...He, the poor, renders us the kingdom of heaven." S. Jer. in Ps. cxxxiii. God becomes our debtor. S. Chrys. hom. liii. and lviii. — Our inheritance is secured. S. Cyp. de Op. — But then charity and repentance must accompany our alms. S. Aug. de Civ. Dei. 21. ult.