_sacrifices with strife_ Lit. SACRIFICES OF STRIFE, but better rendered, GOOD CHEER WITH STRIFE, A.V. marg.; or, FEASTING WITH STRIFE, R.V. text. This rendering, however, may be arrived at in either of two ways, (1) We may suppose that the ordinance of feasting on part of a sacrifice Leviticus 7:16;... [ Continue Reading ]
_a wise servant_ or, A SERVANT THAT DEALETH WISELY, R.V., in contrast with a son who causeth shame, or DEALETH SHAMEFULLY. Comp. "Free men shall minister unto a wise servant." Sir 10:25, R.V. The proverb is exemplified in Eliezer of Damascus (Genesis 15:2), and Ziba (2 Samuel 16:4 with 1 Chronicl... [ Continue Reading ]
_trieth the hearts_ q.d. man can try the precious metals, but only God the hearts (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The thought that He tries them to refine them, which is suggested here by the parallelism, is elsewhere expressed clearly. (Psalms 66:10-12; Malachi 3:3-4; 1 Peter 1:7. Comp. Sir 2:5.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_false_ Rather, WICKED, R.V., in a wider sense.... [ Continue Reading ]
_his Maker_ Comp. Proverbs 14:31. _glad at calamities_ "It belonged to the Greek mind in its fertility of combination, to express it (the temper here spoken of) by the single word ἐπιχαιρεκακία (Arist. _Eth. Nicom_. ii. 6), well rendered by the German -schadenfreude"." Dean Plumptre, _Speaker's Com... [ Continue Reading ]
"A beautiful family picture of linked and mutually blessed "generations." Horton.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Excellent_ Or, _arrogant_, R.V. marg.... [ Continue Reading ]
_him that hath it_ Lit. ITS LORD or POSSESSOR. This may mean either the giver, or the receiver of it. The former sense seems preferable. He who has a gift to bestow counts himself the possessor of that with which he can secure success in any direction he pleases, as though he turned in this directio... [ Continue Reading ]
_repeateth_ i.e. brings it up again and again, _harpeth on it_, as R.V. happily renders. Comp. Proverbs 26:11, "a fool repeateth his folly," R.V.; "Heb. iterateth his folly," A.V. marg. _very friends_ Rather, CHIEF FRIENDS, as the word is rendered, Proverbs 16:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
_more_ Rather, DEEPER, R.V.; as we say, makes a deeper impression. See Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 26:22. Maurer compares "altius in pectus descendit" (Sall. Judges 11; Judges 11), "curam in animos descensuram" (Liv. 2. 52); and for the sentiment, "nobilis equus umbra quoque virgæ regitur, ignavus ne ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_rebellion_ This, in its highest reference, is an anticipation of the divine philosophy of St John, "sin is lawlessness" (ἡ ἁμαρτία ἐστὶν ἡ ἀνομία). "Sin is lawlessness. Sin and lawlessness are convertible terms. Sin is not an arbitrary conception; it is the assertion of the selfish will against a p... [ Continue Reading ]
_a bear_&c. "The Syrian bear is fiercer than the brown bears to which we are accustomed. It attacks flocks (1 Samuel 17:34), and even oxen (Plin. viii. 64). The fierceness of the she-bear, _bereaved of her whelps_, became a proverb (2 Samuel 17:8)." Pusey on Hosea 13:8. _rather than_ Lit. AND NOT.... [ Continue Reading ]
_letteth out water_ by making ever so small a hole or fissure in a dam, or in the bank of a reservoir, such as Solomon himself constructed (Ecclesiastes 2:6). "aggeribus ruptis cum spumeus amnis Exiit, oppositasque evicit gurgite moles, Fertur in arva furens cumulo, camposque per omnes Cum stabu... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Isaiah 5:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
_heart_ i.e. UNDERSTANDING, R.V.; see Proverbs 15:32, note. We might almost render, CAPACITY. Wisdom cannot be bought for a price: it can only be assimilated by a wise, or wisdom-loving heart. Its words are φωνᾶντα συνετοῖσι; its teachers teach, πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες, "interpreting sp... [ Continue Reading ]
_a brother is born_ Or (making _a friend_the subject clauses) IS BORN AS A BROTHER, R.V. marg. A friend love friend's love always, but with the love of a born brother in adversity. So was it with Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 18-20.); but the proverb admits of the highest application. See _Introd_. p... [ Continue Reading ]
_understanding_ Lit. HEART, as in Proverbs 17:16. _surety_ See Proverbs 6:1 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_exalteth_ Or, RAISETH HIGH, R.V. Comp. Proverbs 16:18. See for illustrations of such "raising high the gate" and of the "destruction" that follows it, Jeremiah 22:13-19, and the case of Haman in the Book of Esther. The relation of _pride_to _strife_(Proverbs 13:10) supplies a connecting link betwe... [ Continue Reading ]
_a fool … a fool_ The Heb. word so rendered is not the same in the two clauses of the verse. The first word in the first clause describes the fool as _dull_or _senseless_, or as some think _obstinate_. The second word points him out as _shameless_, like Nabal, whose name (the Heb. word here) was des... [ Continue Reading ]
_doeth good_like _a medicine_ Rather, IS A GOOD MEDICINE, R.V. "Heb. _causeth good healing_," R.V. marg.; _giveth a happy healing_, Gesen.; εὐεκτεῖν ποιεῖ, LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
_out of the bosom_ i.e. the fold of the garment in which it had been concealed; denoting the stealthy action either of the suitor who proffers, or more probably of the judge who receives the bribe. Comp. Proverbs 21:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
_before_ More literally and forcibly, BEFORE THE FACE OF, R.V., as the object of his stedfast contemplation and pursuit, whereas "the eyes of a fool" seek the world over and find not. Comp. Proverbs 4:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Also_ beside other things that are "not good"; as "also" is used in Proverbs 19:2. _punish_ Lit. MULCT, or (as R.V. marg.) FINE. _strike_ i.e. inflict the severer punishment of scourging. Deuteronomy 25:1-3. _princes_ Rather, THE NOBLE, R.V. The Heb. word properly denotes _character_, liberal, fr... [ Continue Reading ]
_excellent_ Rather, COOL, A.V. marg. and R.V.; μακρόθυμος ἀνὴρ, LXX. It is better with LXX. and R.V. to invert the order of subject and predicate in this verse and render: HE THAT SPARETH HIS WORDS HATH KNOWLEDGE: And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he that shutteth_&c. Or, with R.V. text, _when he_(i.e. _the fool_of the former clause of the verse) _shutteth … he is_esteemed _as prudent_. Mr Horton (_Book of Proverbs_, p. 177) quotes the old Norse proverb, "An unwise man when he comes among the people Had best be silent: no one knows That h... [ Continue Reading ]