STRONG DRINK IS RAGING— The first precept in this chapter is against drunkenness, as an enemy to wisdom even in common things, much more in those of everlasting concernment; for that commonly expels out of men's minds all reverence both to God and to others; inclining them to say or do any thing wit... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR OF A KING, &C.— Or, _The terror of a king is as the roaring of a young lion: he who rageth against him, sinneth,_ &c. Houbigant renders it, _The threatening of a king._... [ Continue Reading ]
COUNSEL IN THE HEART OF MAN, &C.— There is hardly any thing but may be compassed by wisdom: for though the designs and intentions of another man, especially one who has a deep understanding, are as hard to be founded as waters which lie in the secret caverns of the earth; yet there are persons of su... [ Continue Reading ]
MOST MEN WILL PROCLAIM EVERY ONE HIS OWN GOODNESS— "Most men are ready enough to claim to themselves a large share of virtue and piety; but where is the man of true and undissembled virtue and holiness, who studies rather to be than to seem good?_"_ See Schultens.... [ Continue Reading ]
A KING, &C.— The wise man excites monarchs to hear causes in person, as the best means of preventing abuses, and acquiring a true state of their nation. Agreeably to this, we find Herodotus asserting, that kings were originally constituted for this very purpose. This also was Cicero's opinion, and w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAN SAY, I HAVE MADE MY HEART CLEAN— _If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,_ says St. John. But here is our comfort, _If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us form all unrighteousness. Though I be nothing... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TAKE A PLEDGE OF HIM FOR A STRANGE WOMAN— _And pawn him to foreigners._... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAD OF DECEIT— _Bread gained by fraud._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS A SNARE TO THE MAN WHO DEVOURETH THAT WHICH IS HOLY— _It is a snare to a man, if he swallow down a vow, or an oath._ Or, as Houbigant renders it, _The man is ensnared who rashly vows a holy thing, and shall delay, retracting his vow._ The verse is generally understood to be directed against sa... [ Continue Reading ]
A WISE KING SCATTERETH THE WICKED— The plain meaning seems to be, that a good king separates the bad from the good by a due execution of his laws; which is like the winnowing the corn after the chaff is separated from it, by drawing the wheel over it. See Isaiah 28:27 and Fuller's Miscellanies, book... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT OF MAN.— The soul of man is as a burning lamp, which God hath kindled in the midst of us, which enlightens us, and discovers to us all that passes; it is that breath of life which the Lord hath breathed into us. Lord Bacon refers the latter part of this verse to the inquisitive search of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLUENESS OF A WOUND— This is a very obscure passage. I think, says Dr. Grey, Le Clerc's interpretation the best I have met with; that a wicked man, who has received due correction for his crimes, will be cured of them, or will not so easily fall into the like again; and that though _stripes_ chi... [ Continue Reading ]