_rain in harvest_ "For six months in the year no rain falls [in Palestine], and the harvests are gathered in without any of the anxiety with which we are so familiar lest the work be interrupted by unseasonable storms. In this respect at least the climate has remained unchanged since the time when B... [ Continue Reading ]
_bird_ Rather, SPARROW. The mention of a particular bird, the swallow, in the next clause makes it probable that a particular bird is intended here also. _come_ Rather, LIGHT. The whole proverb gains by the rendering of R.V.: AS THE SPARROW IN HER WANDERING, AS THE SWALLOW IN HER FLYING, SO TH... [ Continue Reading ]
_according to_ Let not your answer be according to his folly in foolishness; but let it be according to it in appositeness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the feet_ Rather _his own_ FEET, R.V. By choosing such a messenger he robs himself by his own act of the means of attaining his end, and suffers accordingly.... [ Continue Reading ]
_are not equal_ Rather, HANG LOOSE, R.V. The strongest members of the body and the weightiest aphorisms of wisdom are alike useless appendages to one who lacks the power to turn them to account.... [ Continue Reading ]
_bindeth a stone in a sling_ This, which is the rendering of the LXX. (ὅς ἀποδεσμεύει λίθον ἐν σφενδόνῃ), must be taken to mean, he who "bindeth fast" (R.V. marg.) a stone so that it cannot come out, thus frustrating by his action the very purpose for which a stone is put into a sling. Such a procee... [ Continue Reading ]
As _a thorn goeth up into the hand_ i.e. as a thorn or thornbush taken up by a drunkard wounds himself. This proverb carries the thought of Proverbs 26:7 a step further. A parable, or proverb, in the mouth of fools is not only useless but injurious. They take up a sharp, pointed saying, and instead... [ Continue Reading ]
The number and variety of interpretations which have been given to this verse justify the remark of R.V. marg. that "The Hebrew is obscure." The rendering of R.V. text is: As _an archer_(comp. Job 16:13, where the same Heb. word is so rendered) _that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool_and... [ Continue Reading ]
So _a fool returneth to_ Rather, _So is_ A FOOL THAT REPEATETH, R.V.; _iterat_, Vulg. The Heb. word is not the same as in the first clause of the verse. Comp. on the proverb 2 Peter 2:22. Proverbs 26:13. Another small group of four proverbs, of which the "sluggard" is the subject.... [ Continue Reading ]
Almost identical with Proverbs 22:13, where see note. _the slothful_man] Rather, THE SLUGGARD. See Proverbs 26:16, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
"He will not get up in the morning; he turns from side to side, just like a door which swings backward and forward upon its hinges, but of course never gets any further." Horton, ch. xx. p. 263, where a graphic picture of the sluggard is drawn by bringing together the different notices of him in the... [ Continue Reading ]
his _bosom_ Rather, THE DISH, as in Proverbs 19:24, where see note. _grieveth_ Rather, WEARIETH. It is too much trouble to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_sluggard_ The A.V. after rendering the Heb. word (which is the same in all four verses), _slothful_, three times, here changes it to _sluggard_. It is better to keep one word throughout. _render a reason_ Or, _answer discreetly_, R.V. marg.... [ Continue Reading ]
_meddleth_ Rather, VEXETH HIMSELF, R.V. See Proverbs 20:2, where the same word is rendered, _provoketh to anger_, A.V. and R.V. text, or _angereth himself against_, R.V. marg. Of course in this place the "meddling" is implied as the consequence of his "vexing himself." He is provoked to interfere.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in sport_ Fatal mischief may come of thoughtlessness apart from malice.... [ Continue Reading ]
_talebearer_ Rather, WHISPERER, as the word is rendered in Proverbs 16:28. The Vulg. has _susurro_here and in Proverbs 26:22 below, but _verbosus_in Proverbs 16:28, and _bilinguis_in Proverbs 18:8. The LXX. have here δίθυμος, _a man of strife_or _discord_, but in Proverbs 26:22, κέρκωψ, _a jackanape... [ Continue Reading ]
_kindle_ Better, INFLAME, R.V.... [ Continue Reading ]
_wounds_ Rather, DAINTY MORSELS; λόγοι μαλακοί, LXX. The proverb is repeated from Proverbs 18:8, where see note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_burning_ Better, FERVENT, R.V., with protestations of affection. _a potsherd covered_ The rendering, AN EARTHEN VESSEL OVERLAID, R.V. makes the meaning clearer.... [ Continue Reading ]
_and_ BUT _he layeth up_&c. (R.V.) gives the sense more forcibly. Comp. 2 Samuel 3:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whose] i.e. _whose-ever. Qui operit odium_, Vulg. This makes the statement general, whereas it is really a continuation of the preceding verses. Render, with R.V., THOUGH _his_ HATRED COVER ITSELF WITH GUILE, HIS WICKEDNESS SHALL BE OPENLY SHEWED BEFORE THE CONGREGATION.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Psalms 7:15-16; Sir 27:25-27.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. "Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem læseris." Tacitus, _Agric_., cap. 42.... [ Continue Reading ]