_As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool _ HONOUR PAID TO THE WICKED UNSEEMLY AND PERNICIOUS The respect which man pays his fellow is often grounded on reasons immoral and absurd. Sometimes man is respected on the ground of his personal appearance, sometimes... [ Continue Reading ]
_As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come._ HUMAN ANATHEMAS Another, and perhaps a better, translation is this, “Unsteady as the sparrow, as the flight of the swallow, is a causeless curse; it cometh not to pass.” “There is a difficulty here,” says W... [ Continue Reading ]
_A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back._ ASPECTS OF A FOOL Sin is folly. It sacrifices the spiritual for the material, the temporal for the eternal, the pure joys of immortality for the gratification of an hour. I. He appears here as a servant. “A whip for the h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him _ ANSWERING A FOOL ACCORDING TO HIS FOLLY The ambiguity in these verses lies in the connecting words “according to,” which are here used in two different senses. “Answer not a fool according to,” _i.e.,_, not in a manner a... [ Continue Reading ]
_As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool._ THROWING A STONE AT AN IDOL The words should be translated, as Colonel Condor was the first to point out: “As he that throweth a stone at an idol, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.” The comparison refers to the uni... [ Continue Reading ]
_As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly._ THE ACCUSTOMED COURSE RESUMED Dost thou ever raise thy little dam across the streamlet, and think to dry the bed below? Hast thou accomplished thy work, and stood watching awhile thy success? Hast thou seen the water above deepen... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?_ there is more hope of a fool than of him THE FOLLY OF SELF-CONCEIT The Scriptures are full of denunciations against the self-sufficiency of man. The writings of Solomon are conspicuous for expressions which stigmatise the absurdity and the guilt of a sel... [ Continue Reading ]
_The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets._ A LION IN THE WAY The reprehensible sloth of the coward does not appear in what he says, but in what he leaves unsaid. He means, but is ashamed to say, “Because there is a lion in the way, I will shirk my duty.” The br... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife._ MISCHIEVOUS CITIZENS I. The meddler (Proverbs 26:17). 1. His conduct defined. 2. His mischief indicated. Renders himself liable to the anger of one, if not both, of the contending parties. II. The liar (Proverbs 26:18). 1. By his false representa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross._ PUTREFACTION PHOSPHORESCENT The illuminating power of phosphorus appears due to an extremely slow chemical reaction, and it is affirmed that vegetable and animal substances may grow phosphorescent at a certain stage of... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that hateth dissembleth with his lips._ CLANDESTINE HATRED I. It is often greatly disguised. “Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. II. It is excessively corrupt. “When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.”... [ Continue Reading ]
_A flattering mouth worketh ruin._ HOW MAY WE BEST CURE THE LOVE OF BEING FLATTERED I. What flattery is. Solomon calls it “a mouth that flatters.” All that comes from the flatterer is complaisant, only heartiness and sincerity are wanting. All that appears is “a fair semblance,” but very falsehood.... [ Continue Reading ]