_Most. Septuagint, "he whose face is impudent, shall be hated." The truly wise and virtuous man is always polite and affable. (Calmet) --- As we may form a probable conjecture of a person's disposition from his countenance, so we may judge of man's virtue by their actions. They are right and meritor... [ Continue Reading ]
_I. Protestants add, " counsel thee, to keep, &c. "Obey the king and God." (Haydock) (1 Peter ii. 17.) --- Solomon proposes his own example, or speaks in the name of the just. --- God. The law of Moses, confirmed with an oath, or the engagement to be faithful to the king, 2 Kings vi. 3., and 1 Paral... [ Continue Reading ]
_Face. This courtiers observe, while many Christians neglect God. --- Work. Defend not what has been said or done amiss._... [ Continue Reading ]
_So? The eastern kings rule with absolute sway, Proverbs xvi. 14._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Answer. Hebrew, "judgment." He knows when to reprove even kings with effect; like Nathan, Elias, or St. Ambrose, 2 Kings xii. 1., and 3 Kings xviii. 17._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Man. Solomon often reminds him of his misery. Septuagint and Theodotion, "man is possessed of much knowledge," as they read dahth for rahth. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Past. Protestants and Septuagint, "that shall be." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spirit from leaving the body, or the wind from blowing. There is no quarter given by death; so the wicked cannot escape vengeance._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hurt. Those who are despised in elevated situations, might have been happy in obscurity._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Works. In life and death hypocrites are mixed with the unjust; and this excites indignation._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fear. Thus they abuse the patience of God, and grow worse, because he is good. His time will come, Apocalypse xvi. 15, Ecclesiasticus v. 4., and 2 Peter iii. 10._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Face. If God shew such clemency to the wicked, will he disregard his servants? Greek interpreters have read in a different meaning. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "the sinner has done evil from that time, and for a long while," (Tirinus) &c. See St. Jerome. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let. Or, Hebrew, "it shall not," &c. (Protestants) (Haydock) --- Faith evinces that the wicked will be punished. --- But. Hebrew, "like a shadow." Septuagint, "under the shade," in prosperity._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vain, or afflicting. Hence some have denied Providence, Jeremias xii. 1. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_No good for a man, &c. Some commentators think the wise man here speaks in the person of the libertine, representing the objections of these men against divine Providence, and the inferences they draw from thence, which he takes care afterwards to refute. But it may also be said, that his meaning i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Distraction of politicians, (Grotius) and of all human affairs._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reason. We know in general that God does all for his own glory, and for the welfare of his elect. But we cannot account for his treatment of mankind in particular cases, Romans xi. 33. (St. Jerome) (Calmet) --- Say. Septuagint, "speak what thing soever, that he may know he," &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER VIII.... [ Continue Reading ]