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9:1 [Non zeles mulierem sinus tui, ne ostendat super te malitiam doctrinae nequam.
*H Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, lest she shew in thy regard the malice of a wicked lesson.


Ver. 1. Lest. "A husband should teach his wife to be chaste by his own example." Lact. Relig. vi.

9:2 Non des mulieri potestatem animae tuae, ne ingrediatur in virtutem tuam, et confundaris.
Give not the power of thy soul to a woman, lest she enter upon thy strength, and thou be confounded.
9:3 Ne respicias mulierem multivolam, ne forte incidas in laqueos illius.
Look not upon a woman that hath a mind for many: lest thou fall into her snares.
9:4 Cum saltatrice ne assiduus sis, nec audias illam, ne forte pereas in efficacia illius.
*H Use not much the company of her that is a dancer, and hearken not to her, lest thou perish by the force of her charms.


Ver. 4. Dancer. Gr. "musician, lest," &c. H. — The same person is often given to both music and dancing, (M.) and these arts are very dangerous. Met. xiv. 6. — The dances in the East were more licentious than ours.

9:5 Virginem ne conspicias, ne forte scandalizeris in decore illius.
*H Gaze not upon a maiden, lest her beauty be a stumblingblock to thee.


Ver. 5. Gaze. It is not always possible to avoid seeing them; but the greatest caution is requisite. Job xxxii. 1. Mat. v. 28. C. — Jealousy and all dangerous occasions must be avoided. W.

* Footnote * Genesis 6 : 2 The sons of God seeing the daughters of men, that they were fair, took to themselves wives of all which they chose.
9:6 Ne des fornicariis animam tuam in ullo, ne perdas te et haereditatem tuam.
Give not thy soul to harlots in any point: lest thou destroy thyself and thy inheritance.
* Footnote * Proverbs 5 : 2 That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman.
9:7 Noli circumspicere in vicis civitatis, nec oberraveris in plateis illius.
*H Look not round about thee in the ways of the city, nor wander up and down in the streets thereof.


Ver. 7. Streets. Gr. "retired parts," where bad women dwell. C.

9:8 Averte faciem tuam a muliere compta, et ne circumspicias speciem alienam.
*H Turn away thy face from a woman dressed up, and gaze not about upon another's beauty.


Ver. 8. Up. Gr. "of a fine appearance." Grabe substitutes, "who has found favour." H. — The Fathers condemn too much dressing as a mark of levity and incontinence.

* Footnote * Genesis 34 : 1 And Dina the daughter of Lia went out to see the women of that country.
* Footnote * 2_Kings 11 : 4 And David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, and he slept with her: and presently she was purified from her uncleanness:
* Footnote * 2_Kings 13 : 1 And it came to pass after this that Ammon the son of David loved the sister of Absalom the son of David, who was very beautiful, and her name was Thamar.
* Footnote * Matthew 5 : 28 But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
9:9 Propter speciem mulieris multi perierunt : et ex hoc concupiscentia quasi ignis exardescit.
For many have perished by the beauty of a woman, and hereby lust is enkindled as a fire.
9:10 Omnis mulier quae est fornicaria, quasi stercus in via conculcabitur.
Every woman that is a harlot, shall be trodden upon as dung in the way.
9:11 Speciem mulieris alienae multi admirati, reprobi facti sunt : colloquium enim illius quasi ignis exardescit.
Many by admiring the beauty of another man's wife, have become reprobate, for her conversation burneth as fire.
9:12 Cum aliena muliere ne sedeas omnino, nec accumbas cum ea super cubitum :
*H Sit not at all with another man's wife, nor repose upon the bed with her:


Ver. 12. Nor, &c. is also admitted in many copies, though found in the Comp. and Ald edit. C. — Grabe replaces it on the authority of Clem. (Pæd. ii. 7.) as he does many other passages, which are erroneously left out in several editions. Prolog. t. 4. c. 3. It would therefore be injurious to the word of God, if we were always to reject the additions in the Vulg. which are not in the Vat. Gr. copy; and they must not all at least be considered as interpolations.

9:13 et non alterceris cum illa in vino, ne forte declinet cor tuum in illam, et sanguine tuo labaris in perditionem.]
And strive not with her over wine, lest thy heart decline towards her and by thy blood thou fall into destruction.
9:14 [Ne derelinquas amicum antiquum : novus enim non erit similis illi.
Forsake not an old friend, for the new will not be like to him.
9:15 Vinum novum amicus novus : veterascet, et cum suavitate bibes illud.
A new friend is as new wine: it shall grow old, and thou shalt drink it with pleasure.
9:16 Non zeles gloriam et opes peccatoris : non enim scis quae futura sit illius subversio.
*H Envy not the glory and riches of a sinner: for thou knowest not what his ruin shall be.


Ver. 16. Envy not. If thou hast faith and wisdom, thou wilt rather dread his punishment. Ps. xxxvi. 1. Prov. iii. 31. C. — He is like a summer flower, that is quickly cut down. W.

* Footnote * Judges 9 : 4 And they gave him seventy weight of silver out of the temple of Baalberith: wherewith he hired to himself men that were needy, and vagabonds, and they followed him.
* Footnote * 2_Kings 15 : 10 And Absalom sent spies into all the tribes of Israel, saying: As soon as you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, say ye: Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
9:17 Non placeat tibi injuria injustorum, sciens quoniam usque ad inferos non placebit impius.
*H Be not pleased with the wrong done by the unjust, knowing that even to hell the wicked shall not please.


Ver. 17. Wrong. Gr. "applauses of the unjust. Remember that they will not be justified even to hell." H. — The world itself will finally approve only of virtue. C. — The wicked will be condemned both by God and man. H.

9:18 Longe abesto ab homine potestatem habente occidendi, et non suspicaberis timorem mortis.
Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill, so thou shalt not suspect the fear of death.
9:19 Et si accesseris ad illum, noli aliquid committere, ne forte auferat vitam tuam.
And if thou come to him, commit no fault, lest he take away thy life.
9:20 Communionem mortis scito, quoniam in medio laqueorum ingredieris, et super dolentium arma ambulabis.
*H Know it to be a communication with death: for thou art going in the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of them that are grieved.


Ver. 20. It. Gr. "Know what thou art...walking on the pinnacles of the city." H. — The same sense is given in the Vulg. as people walking among armed men in a rage, are exposed to imminent danger. M.

9:21 Secundum virtutem tuam cave te a proximo tuo, et cum sapientibus et prudentibus tracta.
*H According to thy power beware of thy neighbour, and treat with the wise and prudent.


Ver. 21. Beware. Gr. "aim at." Examine the person to whom thou intrusteth a secret.

9:22 Viri justi sint tibi convivae, et in timore Dei sit tibi gloriatio :
Let just men be thy guests, and let thy glory be in the fear of God.
9:23 et in sensu sit tibi cogitatus Dei, et omnis enarratio tua in praeceptis Altissimi.
And let the thought of God be in thy mind, and all thy discourse on the commandments of the Highest.
9:24 In manu artificum opera laudabuntur, et princeps populi in sapientia sermonis sui, in sensu vero seniorum verbum.
*H Works shall be praised for the hand of the artificers, and the prince of the people for the wisdom of his speech, but the word of the ancients for the sense.


Ver. 24. Artificers. All strive to excel in their profession.

9:25 Terribilis est in civitate sua homo linguosus : et temerarius in verbo suo odibilis erit.]
*H A man full of tongue is terrible in his city, and he that is rash in his word shall be hateful.


Ver. 25. Hateful. Satirists are dangerous. C. —

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