My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: Ver. 1. _My son, forget not._] We should be able to say to wisdom, as Coenis did to her Lady Antonia, _Frustra, domina, iussisti: haec enim atque caetera omnia quae mihi imperas, ira semper in memoria habeo ut ex ea deleri non pos... [ Continue Reading ]
_For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee._ Ver. 2. _For length of days._] A sweet mercy, and generally desired. Psa 34:12 Short life is reckoned as a curse, Psa 89:47 yet in some cases it is a blessing. 1Ki 14:13 Isa 57:1 Wκυμοροι οι θεοφιλεις - God taketh away his from... [ Continue Reading ]
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: Ver. 3. _Let not mercy and truth forsake thee,_] That is, True mercy; not that which is natural or moral only, but that which is right, both _quoad fontem,_ and _quoad finem._ They that do othe... [ Continue Reading ]
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Ver. 4. _So shalt thou find favour._] As did Joseph, Moses, David. He was a man after God's own heart, and whatsoever he did pleased the people. It is God that gives credit; he fashioneth men's opinions, and inclineth the... [ Continue Reading ]
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Ver. 5. _Trust in the Lord._] To trust in God is to be unbottomed of thyself, and of every creature, and so to lean upon God, that if he fail thee thou sinkest. Confidence is the least, and yet the best we can render... [ Continue Reading ]
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Ver. 6. _In all thy ways acknowledge him._] Ask counsel at his mouth, aim at his glory, be evermore in the sense of his presence, and light of his countenance. It is reported of a worthy divine of Scotland, _a_ that he did even eat and... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Ver. 7. _Be not wise in thine own eyes._] _Bis desipit qui sibi sapit._ He is two fools that is wise in his own eyes. This δοκησισοφια mars all. Socrates's _Hoc scio quod nihil scio,_ got him the name of the wisest among men. _Cons... [ Continue Reading ]
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Ver. 8. _It shall be health to thy navel._] That is, Thou shalt be in good plight both for the outward and inward man: Thy bones full of marrow, thy breasts full of milk, thy spirit also lively and lifted up in the ways of the Lord. And as i... [ Continue Reading ]
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: Ver. 9. _Honour the Lord with thy substance._] Freely expending it in pious and charitable uses. Exo 25:19 Deu 26:2 _See Trapp on "_ Exo 25:19 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Deu 26:2 _"_ See also my "Commonplace of Alms.... [ Continue Reading ]
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Ver. 10. _So shall thy barns be filled._] The Jews at this day, though not in their own country, nor have a Levitical priesthood, yet those who will be reputed religious among them do distribute the tenth of th... [ Continue Reading ]
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: Ver. 11. _Despise not the chastening of the Lord._] Slight it not, but "sit alone," Lam 3:28 and "consider." Ecc 7:14 Some think it a goodly thing to bear out a cross by head and shoulders, and wear it out as they m... [ Continue Reading ]
_For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth._ Ver. 12. _For whom the Lord loveth._] The saints' afflictions proceed oft from love displeased, offended. And yet we have some now that tell us that God is never displeased with his people, though they fall... [ Continue Reading ]
Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding. Ver. 13. _Happy is the man._] Though afflicted, if with it instructed, _si vexatio det intellectum._ Bought wit is ever best prized. "Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and thereby teachest him out of... [ Continue Reading ]
For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. Ver. 14. _For the merchandise of._] That is, The profit that is gotten by making use of it. Kερδανοντες ου κοπιωμεν, saith a father. Seldom is any man weary of making money. Sing a song of _ut... [ Continue Reading ]
She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Ver. 15. _She is more precious than rubies._] Or, Pearls, which of old were most highly esteemed, _a_ as Pliny testifieth; _nostra etate multis aliis gemmis post ponunter._ Today, there are man... [ Continue Reading ]
Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand riches and honour. Ver. 16. _Length of days is in her right hand._] This is the same in effect with Proverbs 3:2. _See Trapp on "_ Pro 3:2 _"_ Oυ μονον ταυτα αλλα και περι ταυτων, said Socrates. The same again may be profitably said over... [ Continue Reading ]
Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, and all her paths [are] peace. Ver. 17. _Her ways are ways of pleasantness._] Such as were those of Adam before his fall, strewed with roses, paved with peace. Some degree of comfort follows every good action, as heat accompanies fire, as beams and influences is... [ Continue Reading ]
She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her. Ver. 18. _She is a tree of life._] A tree that giveth life and quickeneth: or, as one interprets it, a most assured sign of eternal life; whatsoever it is, he alludeth, no doubt, to the tree mention... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. Ver. 19. _The Lord by wisdom._] By his essential Wisdom, by his Eternal Word; Pro 8:30 the Lord Christ, who is "the beginning of the creation of God." Rev 3:14 _See Trapp on "_ Joh 1:3 _"_ "In the beginning... [ Continue Reading ]
_By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew._ Ver. 20. _The depths are broken up,_] viz., Those great channels and hollow places made in the earth, to hold the waters, Gen 1:9 that they may not overflow the earth; and this the very philosophers are forced to confess... [ Continue Reading ]
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: Ver. 21. _Let not them depart._] _Ne effluant haec ab oculis tuis,_ saith the Vulgate. _Ne haec a tuis oculis deflectant in obliquum huc et illuc; _ so Mercer. Let the eyes look right on, σκοπουντων, Pro 4:25 look wistfu... [ Continue Reading ]
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Ver. 22. _So shall they be life unto thy soul._] For "by these men live, and this is the spirit of my life," saith Hezekiah; Isa 38:16 even what God hath spoken and done. Pro 3:15 A godly man differs from a wicked, as much as a living man... [ Continue Reading ]
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. Ver. 23. _Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely._] _Fiducialiter,_ saith the Vulgate - confidently and securely. Every malvoy shall be a salvoy to thee: thou shalt ever go under a double guard, the "peace of God" within thee,... [ Continue Reading ]
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Ver. 24. _Thou shalt not be afraid._] See this exemplified in David; Psa 3:5-6 Peter; Act 12:6 and Mr Rogers, our late protomartyr, who when he was warned suddenly to prepare for the fire, he the... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. Ver. 25. _Be not afraid._] Or, Thou shalt not be afraid. _Nec si fractus illabatur orbis._ Sudden evils do commonly disspirit people, and expectorate their abilities; they be at their wits' end. But let a David ... [ Continue Reading ]
For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. Ver. 26. _For the Lord shall be thy confidence._] The Hebrew word here used signifies both unconstant folly, Ecc 7:28 and constant hope. Psa 77:7 And Rabbi Solomon saith, that he had found in the Jerusalem Targum this t... [ Continue Reading ]
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do [it]. Ver. 27. _Withhold not good from them to whom it is due._] Either by the law of equity, or of charity. For there is a debt of love Rom 13:8 that we must ever be owing and ever pay. And as we say of than... [ Continue Reading ]
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. Ver. 28. _Tomorrow._] _Bis dat qui cito dat._ While ye have time, do good to all; your beneficence must be prompt and present; who can tell what a day may bring forth? "Ethiopia shall soon stretch... [ Continue Reading ]
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. Ver. 29. _Devise not evil against thy neighbour._] Heb. Plow not evil - _i.e., _ plot not. One of the Rabbis renders it, suspect not; shun "evil surmises." 1Ti 6:4 Most unkindnesses among friends grow upon mistakes, mispris... [ Continue Reading ]
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. Ver. 30. _Strive not with a man without cause._] If men's hurts were not bigger than their suits, there would not be half so many. It is a fault to go lightly to law, but especially with such as have done thee no harm. Zuinglius ren... [ Continue Reading ]
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. Ver. 31. _Envy not the oppressor._] That grows rich by unjust quarrels and vexatious lawsuits. It is not for nothing surely that our Saviour, Luk 12:15 after "who made me a judge?" adds, "Take heed and beware of covetousness." Implying that... [ Continue Reading ]
For the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the righteous. Ver. 32. _For the froward is abomination._] The _vitilitigator,_ the wrangler, the common barreter, though he may prosper in the world, yet God cannot abide him; his money will perish with him. He will one day say... [ Continue Reading ]
The curse of the LORD [is] in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. Ver. 33. _In the house of the wicked._] His wife, children, family, possessions, all are accursed; his fine clothes have the plague in them: or his house, which is his castle, the flying roll of curse... [ Continue Reading ]
Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. Ver. 34. _Surely he scorneth the scorners._] Those proud haughty scorners Proverbs 21:24 1Pe 5:5 who jeer at this doctrine, and at those who believe it. Surely God scorneth these scorners, for he loves to retaliate; he that sittet... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools._ Ver. 35. _The wise shall inherit glory._] Not have it only, but inherit it - _Hoc est, proprio, perfecto et perpetuo iure possidebunt,_ as Pellican; they shall have it as their proper, perfect, and perpetual right. _ But sh... [ Continue Reading ]