Before CHRIST

about 1000. anguish cometh upon you.

e Job 27. 9. Isa. 1. 15. Jer. 11. 11. & 14. 12. Micah 3. 4.

|| Or, ease of the simple.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find

Y son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3 Yea, if thou criest after knowHeb. givest ledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

thy voice.

a Matt. 13. 44.

4 a If thou seekest her as silver,

Chap. II. ver. 1-6. Solomon in this passage teaches us, that God is the only fountain of all true wisdom; and that the only way by which we can draw wisdom out of this fountain is, by studying and practising the sacred law of God. Reading.

3.- if thou criest after knowledge,] If thou expressest such a desire of it, as men do of that for which they have the most ardent affection. Bp. Patrick. The Chaldee version expresses "criest" by a word which signifies the impatient crying of a child to its

sures;

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Before CHRIST about 1000.

6b For the LORD giveth wisdom: b Jam. 1.5. out of his mouth cometh knowledge 1 Kings 3. 9. and understanding.

7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

C

16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which e Chap. 5. 3. flattereth with her words;

& 7. 5.

mother, aptly describing that vehement desire of grace and wisdom here, which is a special ingredient in piety. Dr. Hammond.

4. If thou seekest her as silver,] If thou seekest her with as much earnestness as covetous men search for money. Perhaps it is a proverbial_expression, taken from those who dig in mines. Bp. Patrick.

8. He keepeth the paths of judgment,] He preserves pious men in their integrity, encouraging them not to swerve from the rules of justice, or to cease to exercise mercy and kindness, being their Keeper and Defender in all their proceedings. Bp. Patrick.

12.-from the man that speaketh froward things;] Not to suffer thee to be perverted by the mouth of him, who would subtilly insinuate his evil principles into thee. Bp. Patrick.

13.

-to walk in the ways of darkness;] In the melancholy gloomy crooked path that leads to eternal misery. Dr. Hammond.

16. - the strange woman,] The proper meaning of the Hebrew word is, one who is estranged or alienated in her affections from her husband or her God. Dr. Durell.

The practice here alluded to was chiefly and more openly carried on by women who came from neighbouring and heathen countries; and these being of another religion, if they were of any religion, would probably seduce those who frequented them into the additional

and direction in good ways.

Before

CHRIST

An exhortation to obedience.

d Ps. 37. 29.

e Job 18. 17.

d Ps. 104. 35.

| Or, plucked up.

of her God.

18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

22 e But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

CHAP. III.

1 An exhortation to obedience, 5 to faith, 7 to mortification, 9 to devotion, 11 to patience. 13 The happy gain of wisdom. 19 The power, 21 and the benefits of wisdom. 27 An exhortation to charitableness, 30 peaceableness, 31 and contentedness. 33 The cursed state of the wicked.

and heinous crime of idolatry, as Solomon afterwards knew by his own woful experience. Dr. Jortin.

17. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth,] The adulteress which forsakes her husband, to whom she was joined in her youth, and whom she took for her guide and governour when love was in its greatest warmth, and has wickedly broken the laws of God, and violated the solemn vow of fidelity which she formerly made. Bp. Patrick.

18.-her house inclineth unto death, &c.] Various plagues and miseries of this world attend upon this sin, which promises pleasure at a distance, but in reality ensnares men into an abyss of endless evils. Dr. Hammond.

22. But the wicked &c.] The proper portion of the wicked is, to be cut off and extirpated, either by the hand of human justice, or by the curse of God, which invisibly pursues them till they be rooted out. Dr. Hammond.

The happiness of good and bad men in this world has this signal and important difference: that of the righteous is chiefly internal; less visible, perhaps, but more perfect the other is only external; more dazzling and conspicuous, but never lasting nor sincere. When the good man dies, he passes to a state of most consummate felicity: when the wicked man departs, all his prosperity dies with him; he exchanges a mere empty shew of happiness for real and eternal misery. So that his end, whenever it comes, is indeed "a cutting off from the earth," earth being the only ground in which his happiness can grow; his end is indeed a "rooting out." Wogan.

Chap. III. ver. 2. For length of days, &c.] I can give thee all assurance from God, Solomon says, that, besides the endless advantage of another world, thou shalt thus obtain the blessings of this life, the prolonging of thy days here in peace and prosperity: not that the pious faithful servant of God will be exempt from afflictions in this world; but that, in the general course of things,

mandments:

Before CHRIST about 1000.

a Deut. 8. 1.

+ Heb. years

2 For length of days, and +long & 30. 16. life, and peace, shall they add to thee. of life. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; b Exod. 13.9. write them upon the table of thine heart:

Deut. 6. 8.

such a person will, by God's special blessing, and by the very temper of Christian virtues, have a security of much greater real worldly happiness, than those who use unlawful arts to obtain the riches and honours of the world. Dr. Hammond.

3.- bind them about thy neck;] Alluding to the custom of wearing on their foreheads and wrists the precepts of the Lord, written on slips of parchment. Dr. Isham.

5. —lean not unto thine own understanding.] Rely not on thy wisdom, contrivances, or artifices, to compass thy designs in this world, but keep thyself to the ways and means which God affords thee, and approves and this, beyond all worldly policy, will secure to thee a happy and easy passage through the dangers of this life. Dr. Hammond.

7. Be not wise in thine own eyes:] That is, Do not follow the dictates of worldly prudence in opposition to the commands of God.

-fear the Lord, and depart from evil.] We find these expressions frequently put together in Scripture, as having nearly the same import, differing only as cause and effect; the proper fear of the Lord producing a departure from evil. Abp. Tillotson.

8. It shall be health to thy navel, &c.] This is the means of preserving a good habit both of body and soul, and of remaining, under all circumstances, cheerful, happy, and without dejection. These peculiar expressions seem to be merely a metaphorical representation of that firmness, and vigorous health, and cheerfulness of mind, which virtue imparts. Bp. Patrick.

In the East, it is usual, for the most part, to apply medicines externally, and especially to the stomach. The expression "health to thy navel" seems to bear allusion to this custom. Harmer.

9. Honour the Lord with thy substance,] Honour the Lord in his ministers, by paying them their dues, and bringing oblations to his house at the three solemn feasts, (Exod. xxiii. 14, 15,) together with the firstfruits of all that thy estate produces, (Exod. xxii. 29, 30,) in

11 h My son, despise not the Rev. 3. 19. chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 ¶ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

token of thy gratitude to Him for his blessings. "So shall thy barns be filled, &c." So will God pour his blessings upon thee more abundantly, and convince thee, by sending a seasonable and plentiful harvest and vintage, that this is the method, not to diminish, but to increase the possessions which He hath given thee, Deut. xxviii. 4, 5; 2 Chron. xxxi. 10. Bp. Patrick.

11. My son, despise not the chastening] Neither disregard the chastening of the Lord, nor be impatient under it.

15. than rubies:] The meaning of the Hebrew word is not well ascertained; there are reasons for thinking that pearls are meant by it, as they were esteemed at a very high rate, not only by the Jews, but by the Romans, and even by the Medes, Persians, and Indians.

Bochart.

16. Length of days is in her right hand;] Wisdom is here represented figuratively as a queen, holding in one hand length of days, and in the other, riches and

honours.

17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness,] Thus it is most true that religion gives us the greatest delights and advantages in this life, even if there were no life hereafter; and hence is most apparent the extreme folly of Atheists, who, besides running a most desperate hazard after death, deprive themselves here of that very pleasure and tranquillity, for which they so anxiously

An exhortation to charitableness, &c.

Before CHRIST about 1000.

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 * Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not & 91. 11. stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be

sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

k

Ps. 37. 24.

owners

27¶ Withhold not good from +them+ Heb. the to whom it is due, when it is in the thereof. power of thine hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

Practise no

29 || Devise not evil against thy Or, neighbour, seeing he dwelleth se- evil. curely by thee.

30 ¶Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31 Envy thou not +the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

1 Ps. 37. 1. + Heb. a man of violence.

32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: m but his secret is with m Ps. 25. 14. the righteous.

33 The curse of the LORD is in n Mal. 2. 2. the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

seek. Dr. Bentley. When Solomon observes that the ways of wisdom, that is, of piety, are ways of pleasantness, he means, that this is not only the excellence, but the peculiar excellence of religion; and consequently that the ways of folly and vice, all things considered, are not ways of pleasantness. Thus the sense of this text is, that the good will infallibly enjoy a satisfaction and delight, of which the wicked will as certainly be deprived. Dr. Jortin. See note on ver. 2.

18. She is a tree of life] This seems an allusion to the tree of life which God planted at first in paradise, and which was to give to man life, health, and immortality. Such is wisdom to those who possess it; it preserves to them a long and happy life in this world, and a blessed immortality in the next. Calmet.

29. Devise not evil-seeing he dwelleth securely] Let not the quietness of any man's temper, much less the confidence he has in thy honesty and goodness, tempt thee to contrive any mischief against him; for the more securely he relies on thy virtue, and the less mistrust he has of any harm from thee, the greater wickedness will it be to entertain even the thought of doing him an injury. Bp. Patrick.

Solomon sheweth what instruction

Before CHRIST about 1000.

o Jam. 4. 6.

1 Pet. 5. 5. + Heb. exalleth the fools.

a 1 Chron. 29. 1.

b1 Chron. 28.9.

e Chap. 1. 9.

34 °

Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame † shall be the promotion of fools.

CHAP. IV.

1 Solomon, to persuade to obedience, 3 sheweth what instruction he had of his parents, 5 to study wisdom, 14 and to shun the path of the wicked. 20 He exhorteth to faith, 23 and sanctification.

he had of his parents.

ornament of grace: || a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Before CHRIST about 1000.

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy shall compass life shall be many.

Or, she thee with a crown of

tion of a father, and attend to

know understanding.

2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

3 For I was my father's son, a tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 b He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She shall give to thine head can

admit, and as the Greek translators give the sense. Dr. Hammond. "His secret counsel is with the righteous." Schultens.

35. — shall inherit glory:] The glory here mentioned as the inheritance of the wise is threefold; the approbation of their own minds, of their fellow-creatures, and of the Supreme Being, the great Searcher of hearts. Dr. J. Balguy.

shame shall be the promotion of fools.] "The branding of infamy ennobles or distinguishes fools." Schultens.

Chap. IV. ver. 1. Hear, ye children, &c.] So great are the sluggishness and forgetfulness of mankind in their principal concernments, that we need not wonder the wise man repeats nearly the same things, and quickens our attention to them in the beginning of this chapter. The very first step to wisdom is to have a mind to be wise. Bp. Patrick.

3.—and only beloved] According to some readings of the Hebrew Bible, the expression is, "only beloved among the sons of my mother." Dr. Hammond.

8. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee:] Whatever value or love thou expressest for this sort of wisdom, shall be abundantly repaid to thee by her. Dr. Hammond.

VOL. II.

thy life.

e

15. Ps. 1. 1.

14 Enter not into the path of e Chap. 1. 10, the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

12. When thou goest, &c.] If thy actions and designs have no other rule than this which I give thee, thou shalt be at ease and free from those straits and difficulties with which others meet if thy business should require haste, this will be the safest, as well as the most inoffensive way to accomplish thy ends. Bp. Patrick.

17.-they eat the bread of wickedness,] They live by robbery and spoil; having no other meat and drink but that which is the fruit of their rapine and violence, and not of their honest labours. Bp. Patrick.

the shining light, that shineth more and more &c.] The whole course of righteous men, the beginning, progress, and consummation, is all imitable and exemplary, fit to attract all others to it, whether in respect to its inward lustre and excellency, or the present satisfaction and peace which attends it. In all these respects it cannot better be represented than by the light of the sun, when it is come above the horizon, continually increasing till it come to perfect noon, the day continually arraying and adorning itself, and putting on new lustre, till the whole face of nature is fully illuminated, no degree of shade or darkness any where remaining. Dr. Hammond.

21.keep them in the midst of thine heart.] Preserve them studiously, and lay them up as a most precious L