Chap. IX. ver. 1. Wisdom hath builded her house, &c.] Wisdom is represented as a glorious queen, the daughter of heaven, adorned with all excellences and perfections, inviting all misguided souls to her stately palace, and promising to them the most delicious entertainment, if they will forsake their follies. By this notion of a feast the sacred writers are wont to express the high satisfaction, joy, and pleasure, with which the principles of virtue and wisdom fill the hearts of men when they have a true relish for them. This is the substance of the allegory here given, but the several parts of it are not to be too minutely scanned. Bp. Patrick.

2. She hath killed her beasts; &c.] She hath made a plentiful provision for all hungry and thirsty souls, who will find no less life, and vigour, and strength, and joy communicated to them from her sacred instructions, than the body does when it partakes of a liberal and delicious feast. Bp. Patrick.

3. She hath sent forth her maidens:] She hath sent forth her attendants and ministers, persons of uncorrupted purity and sincerity, to invite men with a loud voice, which cannot but be heard by whole cities and countries. This expression may be illustrated by a

doctrine of wisdom.

drink of the wine which I have mingled.

6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

Before CHRIST about 1000.

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he a Matt. 7. 6. hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Ps. 111. 10.

10 The fear of the LORD is b Job 28. 28. the beginning of wisdom: and the chap. 1.7. knowledge of the holy is understanding.

27.

11 For by me thy days shall be c Chap. 10. multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

13 ¶A foolish woman is clamor- d Chap. 7. 11. ous she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city.

passage from Hasselquist, who at Alexandria, in Egypt, saw ten or twelve women going about and inviting people to a banquet by a particular kind of cry or noise. Parkhurst.

upon the highest places of the city,] The schools of the Prophets were seated on "high places," as appears from 1 Sam. x. 5. 10, &c.; which seems to be the allusion here of wisdom crying upon the highest places of the city, to invite those who had a disposition towards her to come and hear her instructions. Bp. Patrick. Or the expression may allude merely to the tops of the houses and parapets, to which it was customary to go for the purpose of proclaiming any thing aloud, agreeably to the expression of our Saviour, "Preach ye upon the housetops," Matt. x. 27. Calmet.

7. He that reproveth a scorner &c.] He who performs the charitable office of reproving those who deride religion, and scoff at all good admonition, not only loses his labour, but will probably be requited with reproaches. Bp. Patrick.

-getteth himself a blot.] Suffers vile and unworthy usage. Dr. Wells.

10. — of the holy] Of sacred things, or Divine revelations. Dr. Isham.

12. If thou be wise, &c.] If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for the good of thyself; but if thou scornest religion, thou alone shalt bear the punishment of it.

Dr. Wells.

14. — on a seat in the high places] For the purpose of inveigling passengers. It is related by travellers in the East, that it is still the practice for prostitutes to sit at the doors of their houses, in the most alluring pomp that they can display. Harmer,

Moral virtues,

Before CHRIST about 1000.

+ Heb. of secrecies.

a Chap. 15. 20.

b Chap. 11. 4.

c Ps. 37. 25.

| Or, the wicked for their wicked

ness.

d Chap. 12. 24.

15 To call passengers who go right on their ways.

16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

CHAP. X.

From this chapter to the five and twentieth are sundry observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices.

a

THE proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away || the substance of the wicked.

4 d He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

17. Stolen waters are sweet, &c.] Forbidden pleasures are sweet when enjoyed in secret.

18.

he knoweth not that the dead are there;] He considers not all this while, that she invites him to his utter ruin both of body and soul, and sinks down all those who accept of her invitation to the pit of destruction. Bp. Patrick.

Chap. X. ver. 1. The proverbs of Solomon.] Here now properly begins the book of the Proverbs, as the title of this chapter tells us; what has been delivered hitherto being rather a preface, to awaken attention, and form sundry arguments to commend the wise instructions which now follow to every one's practice, and to caution those who would receive benefit by these instructions, to avoid such things as may hinder their edification in the school of wisdom. Bp. Patrick.

From this chapter to the twenty-fifth, are contained more particularly the theorems of the doctrine of morality; which, under sundry observations concerning virtue and vice, or moral good and evil, may form a full and complete system of Divine ethicks. The virtues and vices are for the most part set in opposition the one to the other, and compared together; that so the wisdom and beauty of the one, and the folly and deformity of the other, may the more convincingly appear. Wogan. 3.- he casteth away the substance of the wicked.] He dissipates or destroys the estate, the possessions of the wicked. Dr. Hammond.

4.—that dealeth with a slack hand:] That dealeth or worketh with a lazy hand. Dr. Wells.

6.- violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.] Their own wickedness shall violently overwhelm, to their utter confusion, those who wickedly defraud and oppress their neighbour. Bp. Patrick..

and their contrary vices.

Before CHRIST

5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son but he that sleepeth in about 1000. harvest is a son that causeth shame.

6 Blessings are upon the head of the just but violence covereth the e Ver. 11. mouth of the wicked.

7 The memory of the just is f Ps. 112. 6. blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool || shall fall.

Heb. a

fool of lips. Or, shall be beaten.

9 8 He that walketh uprightly g walketh surely but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

:

Ps. 23. 4.

10 h He that winketh with the eye h Chap. 6. 13.

causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

Or, shall be beaten.

14.

11 The mouth of a righteous man i Chap. 13. is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but k love covereth all sins.

13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

k 1 Pet. 4. 8. 1 Cor. 13. 4.

+ Heb. heart.

8. The wise in heart will receive &c.] It is the part of wisdom to open the ear and heart to all good advice, especially to the commandments of God; whereas they who keep no guard on their tongues, frequently discover things which bring ruin and mischief on themselves. Dr. Hammond.

9. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely:] "To walk surely," is to be in safe condition, to be out of danger of falling into any extreme calamity, and to have our main interest so secured, that, notwithstanding whatever may happen for a time, yet our chief and great design shall certainly succeed happily in the end. The sum therefore of Solomon's assertion is this: He that in the whole course of his life acts sincerely and justly, with a continual respect to the reason of things and the law of God, that carries on his undertakings by fair and equitable means, avoiding all fraud and deceit, all base and unworthy practice; this man takes the wisest and surest course to succeed in all his designs, respecting either his present, or his future happiness. Dr. S. Clarke.

10. He that winketh with the eye &c.] The double dealing and dissembling person causes much sorrow at the last, both to himself and to those who have been deceived by him. Bp. Hall.

11. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life:] The discourse of a good man, like a perpetual spring of wholesome water, always tends to the profit, comfort, and refreshment of those who receive it. Bp. Patrick.

12.. love covereth all sins.] Love induces men to cover or overlook several great offences. Dr. Wells. See James v. 20.

14. - the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.] The fool is always talking, and seldom opens his mouth but

Moral virtues,

Before

CHRIST

1 Chap. 18.

11.

16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that reOr, causeth fuseth reproof || erreth.

to err.

+ Heb. of heart.

m Chap. 14.

9.

18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver the heart of the wicked is little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many but fools die for want † of

Before CHRIST about 1000.

28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of Jobs. 13. & the wicked shall perish.

29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of inquity.

11. 20. Ps. 112. 10.

& 37. 22.

30 The righteous shall never be p Ps. 125. 1. removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh † frowardness. CHAP. XI.

+ Heb. froward

nesses.

27 " The fear of the LORD † pro

it proves a present mischief to himself or to others. Bp. Patrick.

15. The rich man's wealth &c.] Riches, being a powerful defence to their owners against numerous evils, naturally raise men's minds, and make them confident; whereas poverty exposes men to injuries and abuses, and is apt to depress and deject their spirits. Bp. Patrick.

19. In the multitude of words &c.] There are so many ways of offending God or man, by profanations, falsehoods, slanders, &c. that there cannot be a more necessary part of moral wisdom, or wherein the exercise of true piety is more concerned, than the art of restraining the tongue, and keeping it within proper bounds, as to all such matters. Dr. Hammond.

24. The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him:] The evil which the wicked fears shall come upon him. 26. As vinegar to the teeth, &c.] Vinegar is not more offensive to the teeth, nor smoke more vexatious to the eyes, than a remiss and negligent servant is to him that employs him, and relies on him in a weighty business. Bp. Patrick.

27. the years of the wicked shall be shortened.] See note at Prov. iii. 2. This truth here announced is confirmed by the nature

rectify.

6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but trans- e Chap. 5. 22.

of things, and the positive appointments of Providence. In the nature of things, men destroy themselves and shorten their days by many kinds of wickedness. By wars and desolations, they unpeople whole countries ; by private quarrels, they bring each other to untimely ends; by capital crimes, they cause themselves to be cut off by the hands of justice; by luxury and intemperance, they destroy their bodies; by envy and malice, they consume themselves in the midst of their iniquity. In like manner, according to the same tendency, by peace and charity, men are preserved from destruction; by temperance, their bodies are maintained in health by quiet of conscience, and satisfaction of mind, new life is added to their spirits. Dr. S. Clarke.

Moral virtues,

Before

CHRIST gressors shall be taken in their own about 1000. naughtiness.

f Chap. 21.

18.

g Job 8. 13.

+ Heb. destitute of heart.

+ Heb. He

7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be deli

vered.

10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He that is + void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: that walketh, but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

being a talebearer.

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour and strong men retain riches. 17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

7. — his expectation shall perish:] The wicked man, having no other expectation than in his own means of strength, will see all his projects dissipated by death. Calmet.

8.-the wicked cometh in his stead.] That is, the wicked falls into those very distresses from which the just is happily freed. Bp. Patrick. See Esther vii. 9.

9. An hypocrite &c.] A dissembling friend, with fair and false words, and semblances, draws his neighbour into some dangerous inconvenience; but a wise and just man will soon perceive his fraud, and will avoid the mischief plotted against him. Bp. Hall.

11. By the blessing of the upright &c.] By God's benediction for their sakes. Dr. Isham.

12. despiseth his neighbour: &c.] That is, speaks contemptuously of him, or ridicules him. Dr. Wells. Speaks spitefully or scornfully of him; but a man of understanding conceals his thoughts, and will not utter any thing to the reproach of another. Bp. Hall.

14. in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.] A country is safe when there are many wise men to govern affairs; for, if one fail, others still remain; and what one or two discover not, others may be able to discern. Bp. Patrick.

16. A gracious woman &c.] Beauty and virtue in a woman advance her to honour, as formidable power and strength in men advance them to riches: and, as their

and their contrary vices.

Before CHRIST

18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work but to him that soweth about 1000. righteousness shall be a sure reward. 19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is + Heb. without discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

25 +The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

principal care is to keep their treasures, so should her's be to preserve her reputation. Bp. Patrick.

21. Though hand join in hand, &c.] Though the wicked man endeavour to strengthen himself and his family by powerful leagues and confederations, he shall not be able to escape the punishment his iniquity deserves. Bp. Patrick. To join hands was anciently, and still continues in the East, a solemn method of taking an oath on making an engagement. To this circumstance allusion seems clearly to be made in these words of Solomon.

22. As a jewel of gold &c.] Allusion is here made to the Eastern custom of wearing valuable rings in the nostril. As such an ornament would be very ill placed in the snout of a swine which grovels continually in the mire, so beauty is equally misplaced in a woman who is without virtue and discretion. Bp. Patrick. See Sir J. Chardin's note on Gen. xxiv. 22.

24. There is that scattereth,] That is, that giveth liberally on all proper occasions. Dr. Wells.

25. The liberal soul shall be made fat:] The liberal "soul," or the liberal "man;" "soul" being often in Hebrew put for "man." Dr. Durell. "Shall be made fat," or rich; and he that "watereth," or giveth plenteously to others, shall be watered, or receive plentifully from God himself. Dr. Wells.

26. He that withholdeth corn,] He that hoardeth up

Moral virtues,

Before

CHRIST

a Chap. 10.

25.

b 1 Cor. 11. 7.

c Chap. 1. 11, 18.

d Ps. 37. 37. ch. 11. 21.

31 m Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

WH

CHAP. XII.

HOSO loveth instruction loveth knowledge but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

2 A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

4 b A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. 5 The thoughts of the righteous are right but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth. of the upright shall deliver them.

7 d The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

spised.

Before CHRIST

about 1000.

+ Heb.

heart.

9 He that is despised, and hath a perverse of servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the || tender Or, bowels. mercies of the wicked are cruel.

16 A fool's wrath is presently Heb. in known but a prudent man covereth shame.

17 He that speaketh truth shew- i Chap. 14. 5. eth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

& 59. 7.

corn in a time of scarcity, on purpose to raise the price. Bp. Patrick.

29. He that troubleth &c.] He that troubleth his own house or family, or whatever else he holds under his authority, by making or fomenting dissensions therein, "shall inherit the wind," shall be deceived as to any advantage he may expect thereby, and gain nothing; and the fool of this description shall be, as is often found by experience, "servant to the wise of heart," who manages his affairs after a prudent manner. Wells. He that troubleth his own house," either by improvidently dissipating his property, or by sowing divisions and discord among the members of his family. Calmet.

abroad, but wants bread to eat when he is at home. Bp. Patrick.

10.the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.] The very kindnesses pretended by the wicked are intended only for a cover to bring about their mischievous designs the more securely and effectually. Dr. Wells.

11. - he that followeth vain persons] He that followeth idle persons. Dr. Wells. In some translations it is given, "He that followeth idleness." Calmet.

12. The wicked desireth the net of evil men:] The wicked man desires to employ those means of fraudulent circumvention, which he sees some crafty oppressors use to their advantage. Bp. Hall.

14. A man shall &c.] A good man shall, by God's merciful retribution, find comfort and benefit, both to himself and others, from the gracious words of holy counsel, which proceed from his mouth, and also from the holy works of his hands. Bp. Hall.

15. The way of a fool is right &c.] Whoever is wise, is apt to suspect and be diffident of himself, and upon that account is willing to "hearken unto counsel;" whereas the foolish man, being in proportion to his folly full of himself, and swallowed up in conceit, will seldom take any counsel but his own, and for that very reason, because it is his own. Dr. J. Balguy.

16. A fool's wrath &c.] A fool is soon provoked, and shews his anger in an indecent manner by his countenance, words, or actions; but a prudent man covereth