_A luxurious thing. Hebrew, "a scoffer." Chaldean, "renders one a scoffer." --- Drunkenness. Hebrew ssocor, any strong drink, particularly palm-wine. Intemperance places the strongest obstacles in the way of wisdom. It causes a person to mock at all sacred things, and to be quarrelsome, chap. xxiii.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reproaches. It is better not to commence a lawsuit, even when we are in the right, chap. xvii. 11. (Calmet) --- Plena victoria est ad clamantem tacere. (Val. Max.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Out. So David discovered the meaning of the Thecuite, 2 Kings xiv. 18. A wise politician carefully examines everything in a foreign court._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Faithful. Few continue steady to their engagements or friends, whom they will assist to a certain point. In God these two virtues always go together, Psalm lxxxiv. 11. But they are rarely found in men. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Look. It is the duty of kings to administer justice._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sin. Protestants, "my sin?" We know not when it is remitted. (Haydock) --- Without a special revelation, no one can be secure, 1 John i. 8., and Ecclesiastes ix. 1. (Bayn.) (St. Augustine in Psalm cxlix.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Measures. In commerce, (Calmet) as well as in judging. (St. Gregory in Ezechiel iv.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Right. We may form some judgment of his future conduct, from the inclinations which he manifests in his infancy. Naturam expellas furca, tamen ipsa recurret,_ Et mala perrumpet furtim fastidia victrix. (Horace)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Both. Consequently he will know all our actions, Psalm xciii. 9. We must refer all to him, as he gives us the means of learning. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sleep. Septuagint, "back-biting, that thou mayst not be taken off." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Buyer. This is the common practice; yet it is not without exceptions. St. Augustine (Trin. xiii. 3.) observes, that the mountebank having promised to tell what every person had in his heart, many came to the theatre, when he told them that they all wished to by cheap, and to sell dear. They all app... [ Continue Reading ]
_Strangers. For whom he has bound himself foolishly, chap. vi. 1. All who have the care of others, must answer for them. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lying. Deceit, and unlawful pleasures, chap. ix. 17. But God mingles disgust with them, and will punish the guilty, at least hereafter. Worldly enjoyments seem sweet, but they are full of gravel, and hurtful._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Governments. Or prudence, else the best designs may prove abortive._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lips. And speaketh much. These people are unworthy of our friendship._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lamp. Prosperity, or children._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessing. It is morally impossible that they should have been acquired justly, chap. xiii. 11., and xxi. 5._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Evil. And revenge myself. This belongs to the Lord, Deuteronomy xxxii. 35. Man would be too favourable to himself, and would also pronounce his own condemnation, as he is also a sinner._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Way? Jeremias x. 23. Independently of God, who can do any good? (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ones. Hebrew, "the saint or holy thing." (Haydock) --- Chaldean, "to make a vow for the sanctuary, and afterwards repent;" having acted inconsiderately at first. To attack the persons or relics of the saints, or to plunder what is consecrated to pious uses, will bring on destruction; so also to mak... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wheel. Or triumphal arch, fornicem. (Ven. Bede; Jansenius) --- He will make his enemies lie prostrate under his chariot-wheels, 2 Kings xii. 31._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lamp. The breath of life, (Genesis ii. 7.) and the light of man, 1 Corinthians ii. 11._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Clemency. Such a king need not fear rebellion. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XX. _ Hairs, and experience. They have a greater contempt of death and pleasures. (St. Ambrose, Hex. i. 8.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Evils. The wicked shall derive benefit from correction. --- Belly. They shall feel the remorse of conscience, as Chaldean seems to indicate. (Calmet) --- A serious illness often causes people to repent. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]