Proverbs 1 - Introduction
_THE USE OF THE PROVERBS. AN EXHORTATION TO FEAR GOD AND BELIEVE HIS WORD: TO AVOID THE ENTICINGS OF SINNERS. WISDOM COMPLAINETH OF CONTEMPT: SHE THREATENETH HER CONTEMNERS._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE USE OF THE PROVERBS. AN EXHORTATION TO FEAR GOD AND BELIEVE HIS WORD: TO AVOID THE ENTICINGS OF SINNERS. WISDOM COMPLAINETH OF CONTEMPT: SHE THREATENETH HER CONTEMNERS._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON— Solomon is the first of the sacred writers whose name appears at the head of his works. The name alone of so wise and so great a prince, is a sufficient recommendation to engage men to hear and to read. We naturally love to see and to listen to persons of illustrious name an... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KNOW WISDOM—TO PERCEIVE— _To give the knowledge of wisdom—the perception of,_ &c. and so on. The first six verses contain the author's design; wherein he uses several synonymous words to express the matter of which he intends to treat, as _wisdom, instruction, understanding, knowledge,_ &c. By wh... [ Continue Reading ]
TO RECEIVE THE INSTRUCTION— Or, _to learn the discipline._ Schultens paraphrases the clause thus: "To conceive and cherish in the inmost heart, as a heavenly seed, the discipline of perfection, by which both thy prudence and happiness may be completed." According to Grotius, by _justice_ is meant wh... [ Continue Reading ]
TO UNDERSTAND A PROVERB, &C.— _By understanding a proverb,_ or, _That he may understand a proverb._ Schultens and Houb. "My lessons," says Wisdom, "will discover to him the sense of parables and enigmas." This study was very much the fashion in Solomon's time, as appears plainly from the queen of Sh... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR OF THE LORD— See Psalms 111:10. As the first lesson, the wise man tells us, that the fear of the Lord is the principle of wisdom. All wisdom which is not founded in religion, in the fear of God, is vain: piety, religion, the fear of God, are here synonimous. The prudence of the flesh, the p... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SON, HEAR, &C.— It is very observable, how much human laws differ from divine. The former generally provides only that due regard be given by children to their fathers, but takes no notice of mothers; as may be seen in the _Persian_ laws mentioned by Aristotle: the _Roman,_ described in the Diges... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY IN VAIN, &C.— The Syriac, which omits Proverbs 1:16., connects this with the 15th verse in this manner; _And they fraudulently stretch and cast their net upon the bird._ It reads, _For the nets are not spread for the birds in vain:_ the LXX read _unjustly_ instead of _in vain;_ but that versi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LIFE OF THE OWNERS THEREOF— The Hebrew is not well translated here; בעל _bangal,_ which often occurs in this book, signifies not only being _lord_ or _owner_ of a thing, but also under the dominion of it; given or addicted to it. So chap. Proverbs 18:9. לשׁון בעל _bangal lashon,_ signifies _a ta... [ Continue Reading ]
WISDOM CRIETH WITHOUT, &C.— _Wisdom elevates her voice in the streets. She uttereth forth her voice in the public places._ Schultens and Calmet. Solomon opposes the voice of wisdom and her agreeable invitations to the seducing discourse of sinners. "The latter lay snares for you in secret; they conc... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE CHIEF PLACE OF CONCOURSE— _On the tops of the walls,_ according to the LXX; which Houbigant and Dr. Grey approve. Schultens renders it, _at the head_ or _beginning of the most frequented streets._... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD I WILL POUR OUT, &C.— _I will communicate my Spirit to you, and cause you to comprehend my words._ "I will open my heart, explain my sentiments, set my counsels before your eyes: I demand only your attention, and your sincere return to me, to truth, to wisdom." The Hebrew is literally, _If y... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BE FILLED— Or, _And shall be surfeited._... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE TURNING AWAY OF THE SIMPLE— The _simple,_ the _unfeeling:_ The men who have neglected my instructions, and who have been so void of reason as to deliver themselves up to the example and the advice of the wicked, shall be brought to death by their own folly: their prosperity, their happiness,... [ Continue Reading ]