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32:1 [Rectorem te posuerunt ? noli extolli : esto in illis quasi unus ex ipsis.
*H Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.


Ver. 1. Ruler. Or king of the feast, alluding to an ancient custom. Est. i. 8. C. — Nec regna vini sortiere talis. Hor. Athen. Dipn. Plut. Symp. i. q. 14. — Humility is most requisite for those in power, and it is most difficult to contemn vain honours, when enjoyed. S. Greg. pastor. W.

32:2 Curam illorum habe, et sic conside, et omni cura tua explicita recumbe :
Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:
32:3 ut laeteris propter illos, et ornamentum gratiae accipias coronam, et dignationem consequaris corrogationis.
*H That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.


Ver. 3. Contribution, towards the feast, (M.) or company. This sentence is not in Gr. "rejoice on their account, and for the excellent disposition, mayst receive a corner." H.

32:4 Loquere major natu : decet enim te
Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,
32:5 primum verbum diligenti scientia, et non impedias musicam.
*H To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not music.


Ver. 5. Music. Which usually accompanied the meals of the rich. Hor. ii. ode 11. — "A lyre is handed round, on which each one plays. When Themistocles confessed that he knew not how, he was deemed deficient." indoctior. Tusc. i. Quint. i.

32:6 Ubi auditus non est, non effundas sermonem, et importune noli extolli in sapientia tua.
*H Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted up out of season with thy wisdom.


Ver. 6. Words. Some Gr. copies have, "where there is a concert, pour," &c. C. — And be. Gr. "and utter not wise sayings out of season."

32:7 Gemmula carbunculi in ornamento auri, et comparatio musicorum in convivio vini.
*H A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.


Ver. 7. Wine was not used at all meals. C. — After they were ended, the pagans sung in honour of Bacchus, or of great men. Plut. Sym. — But the Jews directed their hymns to God. Mat. xxvi. 30. Philo Contemp.

32:8 Sicut in fabricatione auri signum est smaragdi, sic numerus musicorum in jucundo et moderato vino.
As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.
32:9 Audi tacens, et pro reverentia accedet tibi bona gratia.
*H Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.


Ver. 9. Hear. Gr. (10.) "young man speak if there be wanted of thee; scarcely twice if thou be asked. Sum up thy speech, much in few words. Be knowing and still silent. (11.) In the," &c. H.

32:10 Adolescens, loquere in tua causa vix.
Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.
32:11 Si bis interrogatus fueris, habeat caput responsum tuum.
If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.
32:12 In multis esto quasi inscius, et audi tacens simul et quaerens.
In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.
32:13 In medio magnatorum non praesumas : et ubi sunt senes non multum loquaris.
*H In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.


Ver. 13. Thee. Gr. implies to be equal. C.

32:14 Ante grandinem praeibit coruscatio : et ante verecundiam praeibit gratia, et pro reverentia accedet tibi bona gratia.
*H Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.


Ver. 14. Storm. Lit. "hail." Gr. "thunder." H. — It comes forth at the same time as the lightning, but travels slower. C. — For. Gr. (15.) "at," &c. H. — Young people must leave the table, and take recreation.

32:15 Et hora surgendi non te trices : praecurre autem prior in domum tuam, et illic avocare, et illic lude,
And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.
32:16 et age conceptiones tuas, et non in delictis et verbo superbo :
And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.
32:17 et super his omnibus benedicito Dominum, qui fecit, et inebriantem te ab omnibus bonis suis.]
*H And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.


Ver. 17. Bless. This is taught by the light of reason, (C. v. 7.) and the omission before or after meals betrays a want of faith and gratitude, particularly in Christians. — Replenisheth. Gr. "inebriateth thee with his goods." H.

32:18 [Qui timet Dominum excipiet doctrinam ejus : et qui vigilaverint ad illum invenient benedictionem.
He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.
32:19 Qui quaerit legem replebitur ab ea, et qui insidiose agit scandalizabitur in ea.
He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.
32:20 Qui timent Dominum invenient judicium justum, et justitias quasi lumen accendent.
*H They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.


Ver. 20. Light. They shall advance in virtue and glory. Prov. iv. 18. C.

32:21 Peccator homo vitabit correptionem, et secundum voluntatem suam inveniet comparationem.
*H A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.


Ver. 21. Excuse. Lit. "comparison." "He will bend the law to his desires." Thus heretics interpret Scripture. H. — Gr. "he will find condemnation."

32:22 Vir consilii non disperdet intelligentiam : alienus et superbus non pertimescet timorem :
A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:
32:23 etiam postquam fecit cum eo sine consilio, et suis insectationibus arguetur.
Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.
32:24 Fili, sine consilio nihil facias, et post factum non poenitebis.
*H My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.


Ver. 24. Without counsel; or "by himself," (C.) cum eo. — And. Gr. "do nothing without counsel, and in acting do not repent," (H.) but execute what has been prudently devised. C. — God directs; yet he would have us to ask advice. W.

32:25 In via ruinae non eas, et non offendes in lapides : nec credas te viae laboriosae, ne ponas animae tuae scandalum.
*H Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.


Ver. 25. Rugged way. The end of which is unknown. Lu. xiv. 28. C. — Lest. Gr. "and keep a guard over thy children. In every good work confide in thy soul; for," &c. H.

32:26 Et a filiis tuis cave, et a domesticis tuis attende.
And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.
32:27 In omni opere tuo crede ex fide animae tuae, hoc est enim conservatio mandatorum.
*H In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.


Ver. 27. In faith. That is, follow sincerely thy soul in her faith and conscience, (Ch.) when it is well informed. Gr. "in every good work believe thy soul; for," &c. C. — Act not in opposition to it. W. — Rondet and Grotius would read, "in every work believe in God with all thy soul." — All that is not of faith is sin, (Rom. xiv. 23.) inasmuch as it is against conscience. H.

32:28 Qui credit Deo attendit mandatis : et qui confidit in illo non minorabitur.]
He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.
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