EVERY WISE WOMAN— See chap. Proverbs 12:4 and Exodus 1:21. Though to _build the house_ is frequently used for increasing posterity, it seems in this place principally to refer to that oeconomy and good management by which a wise woman advantages her family. See Titus 2:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MOUTH OF THE FOOLISH— Fools often bring upon themselves, by their ungoverned tongues, the correction due to their crimes, their pride, and arrogance.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE NO OXEN ARE— This verse contains an admonition for the man without doors; as the first for the woman within; that he do not neglect his husbandry, of which, it is well known, oxen were the principal instruments, being not only employed in that country in plowing the ground, and carrying home t... [ Continue Reading ]
A SCORNER SEEKETH WISDOM, &C.— He that comes to seek after knowledge, says Lord Bacon, with a mind to scorn and censure, shall be sure to find matter enough for his humour, but none for instruction; one reason of which is, that this humour of deriding all things, in men of this kind, springs from a... [ Continue Reading ]
GO FROM THE PRESENCE OF A FOOLISH MAN— The LXX read, _All things are contrary to a foolish man; but wise lips are the arms of understanding._ We may, perhaps, read the passage thus: "Depart from the presence of a fool, and one who understands not, or regards not, the lips of knowledge." See Grey.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WISDOM OF THE PRUDENT— Lord Bacon renders this verse thus: _A wise man is wary of his way; a cunning fool seeks evasion._ There be two sorts of wisdom, says he; the one true and sound, the other counterfeit and false; which last Solomon hesitates not to call folly. He who applies himself to the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOOLS MAKE A MOCK AT SIN— Or, according to others, _Fools excuse_ or _palliate sin._ Houbigant reads the verses _The dwelling of fools is guilt, of the just is favour._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEART KNOWETH HIS OWN BITTERNESS— "Nobody can know what another suffers, so well as the sufferer himself; and he alone is privy to the greatness of that joy which springs from the happy conclusion of his sufferings." Houbigant renders the verse, _He who divulges the trouble of his soul, shall no... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS A WAY WHICH SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN— This is an admonition of the weakness of men's judgments, and of all human counsels, which mistake much, and lead men frequently into ruin: "Shadows too often cheat us of the reality," says one of the ancient Greeks; against which there is no remedy but... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A GOOD MAN SHALL BE SATISFIED FROM HIMSELF— _And a good man with his own works._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIMPLE BELIEVETH EVERY WORD— Bochart observes well upon this verse, that as prudence, without simplicity, degenerates into craft; so simplicity, without prudence, is no better than downright folly. We must follow our Saviour's counsel, and unite the serpent with the dove.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS SOON ANGRY DEALETH FOOLISHLY— _He who is soon angry will deal inconsiderately: a considerate man will endure patiently._ Houbigant. The LXX have it, _A hasty man acteth rashly, but a prudent man endureth many things._... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ALL LABOUR THERE IS PROFIT— _All labour will produce abundance, but garrulity nothing but want._ Houbigant. Solomon here separates the fruit of the labour of the tongue and the labour of the hands; as if want was the revenue of the one, and wealth the revenue of the other: for it commonly happens... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE FOOLISHNESS OF FOOLS IS FOLLY— _But their fortunes are a curse to fools._ Houbigant; thus preserving the opposition with the preceding clause.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MULTITUDE, &C.— _The more subjects a prince hath, the more glorious he is;_ but so much the more so, as he loves with more tenderness, as he preserves with more care, and as he governs with more mildness, the people under him. The Scripture and the ancients give kings the name of shepherds, t... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS SLOW TO WRATH, &C.— If we considered patience only as a moral virtue, or as a gracious sobriety and temper in subduing and regulating our affections and passions, as an absence of that anger and rage and fury, which usually transports us upon trivial occasions, we could not but acknowledg... [ Continue Reading ]
A SOUND HEART— _A joyful or congratulating heart;_ a heart which is rejoiced at the prosperity of others, and which derives from thence the greatest satisfaction to itself. This is the import of the word מרפא _marpei,_ which we render _sound,_ according to Schultens; and certainly the contrast to th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT A SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE— Schultens renders this, _And the beneficence of nations is their expiation;_ which appears to be perfectly agreeable to the Hebrew: nor can there be a more pleasing or a more just observation. According as nations exercise mercy, compassion, and justice, toward... [ Continue Reading ]