CHAPTER XXX _Agur's confession of faith_, 1-6. _His prayer_, 7-9. _Of wicked generations_, 10-14. _Things that are never satisfied_, 15, 16. _Of him who despises his parents_, 17. _Three wonderful things_, 18-20. _Three things that disquiet the land_, 21-23. _Four little but very intelligent... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:2. _SURELY I_ AM _MORE BRUTISH_] These words can in no sense, nor by any mode of speech, be true of Solomon: for while he was the _wisest of men_, he could not have said that he _was more brutish_ _than_ any _man, and had not the understanding of a man_. It is saying nothing to th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:3. _I NEITHER LEARNED WISDOM_] I have never been a scholar in any of those schools of the _wise men_, nor _have the knowledge of_ _the holy_, קדשים kedoshim, of the _saints_ or _holy persons_. The _Septuagint_ give this a different turn: θεος δεδιδαχε με σοφιαν και γνωσιν αγιων εγ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:4. _WHO HATH ASCENDED UP INTO HEAVEN, OR DESCENDED?_] Calmet paraphrases this passage thus: "_Who hath_ descended, c. In order to show the truth of what he was about to say, he observes: _I have_ _not the science of the saints_ for how could I have acquired it? Who is he who could... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:5. _EVERY WORD OF GOD_ is _pure_] כל אמרת אלוה צרופה _col_ _imrath eloah tseruphah_, "Every oracle of God is purified." A metaphor taken from the _purifying of metals_. Every thing that God has pronounced, every inspiration which the prophets have received, is pure, without mixture... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:6. _ADD NOT THOU UNTO HIS WORDS_] You can no more increase their _value_ by any _addition_, than you can that of _gold_ by adding any _other metal to it_. Take care that you _do not_ any thing that this word _forbids_, nor leave _undone_ any thing that it _commands_: for this is _a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:7. _TWO_ THINGS _HAVE I REQUIRED OF THEE_] These _two petitions_ are mentioned in the next verse; and he wishes to have them answered _before he should die_. That is, he wishes the answer _now_, that he may live the rest of his life in the _state_ he describes.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:8. _REMOVE FAR FROM ME VANITY AND LIES._] 1. שוא shav, all _false shows_, all _false appearances_ of happiness, every _vain_ _expectation_. Let me not set my heart on any thing that is not _solid, true, durable_, and _eternal_. 2. _Lies_, דבר כזב debar _cazab_, all _words of dece... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:10. _ACCUSE NOT A SERVANT_] Do not bring a _false_ accusation against a _servant_, lest _thou be found guilty_ of the falsehood, and he _curse thee_ for having traduced his character, and in his turn traduce thine. In general, do not meddle with other people's servants.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:11. THERE IS _A GENERATION_] There are _such persons_ in the world. In this and the three following verses the wise man points out _four grand evils_ that prevailed in his time. The _first_, Those who not only did not _honour_, but who _evil-treated_, their _parents_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:12. The _second_, Those who were _self-righteous_, supposing themselves _pure_, and were _not so_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:13. The _third_, Those who were _full of vanity, pride_, and _insolence_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:14. The _fourth_, The _greedy, cruel_, and _oppressive_, and, especially, _oppressive to the poor_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:15. _THE HORSELEECH HATH TWO DAUGHTERS_, CRYING, _GIVE,_ _GIVE._] "This horseleech," says _Calmet_, "is COVETOUSNESS, and her two daughters are _Avarice_ and _Ambition_. They never say, It is enough; they are never satisfied; they are never contented." Many explanations have been... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:17. _THE EYE_ THAT _MOCKETH AT_ HIS _FATHER_] This seems to be spoken against those who _curse their father_, and _do not bless_ _their mother_, Proverbs 30:11. _THE RAVENS OF THE VALLEY_] Those which frequent the places where dead carcasses and offal are most likely to be found.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:19. _THE WAY OF AN EAGLE_] I borrow, with thanks, the very sensible note of the Rev. Mr. Holden on this passage. "The particle כן _ken_ plainly shows that Proverbs 30:19 are to be taken in connection; consequently, it is a comparison between the _way of an adulterous woman_, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:21. _FOR THREE_ THINGS _THE EARTH IS DISQUIETED, AND FOR FOUR_ WHICH _IT CANNOT BEAR_] This is another enigma. _Four_ things _insupportable to men_. 1. A _slave, when he becomes ruler_. 2. An _overfed fool_. 3. An _ill-tempered woman, when mistress of a_ _family_. And, 4. A _servan... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:24. _THERE BE FOUR_ THINGS] Of which it is said, they are _very little_ but _very wise_. 1. The _ants_. 2. The _rabbits_. 3. The _locusts_. 4. The _spider_. 1. The _ants_ show their wisdom by _preparing their meat in the_ _summer_; seeking for it and storing it when it may be had;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:29. _THERE BE THREE_ THINGS _WHICH GO WELL_] Here is another set of _emblems; four_ things which _walk beautifully_ and _with_ _majesty_. 1. The Lamentations 2, Lamentations 2. The _greyhound_. 3. The _he-goat_. And, 4. A _king_. 1. Nothing can be more majestic than the _walk of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:32. _IF THOU HAST DONE FOOLISHLY_] And who has not, at one time or other of his life? Lay _THINE HAND UPON THY MOUTH._] Like the _leper_; and cry to God, _Unclean! unclean_! and _keep silence_ to all besides. God will blot out thy offence, and neither the world nor the Church ever... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Proverbs 30:33. _AND THE WRINGING_] _Who hugeli snytith drawith out_ _blood_. - Old MS. Bible. This is well expressed in homely phrase. The _Septuagint_ have, "draw the milk, and you may have butter; if you press the nostrils you may bring out blood; and if you draw out your discourse to a gre... [ Continue Reading ]