r Chap. 15.

22 The desire of a man is his kindness and a poor man is better than a liar.

:

:

23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

24 A slothful man hideth his hand 13. & 26. 13, in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

more persuasive argument," in this little sentence, than in a whole library." Bp. Horne.

19. A man of great wrath &c.] A man that is subject to frequent and extreme passions of anger, cannot avoid many and great inconveniences, which he brings on himself: and if thou do in a friendly manner free him from some dangerous effects of his intemperance, he will "do it again," he will repeat the same misconduct. Bp. Hall. 21.-the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.] That which God has in his everlasting counsels either determined to do Himself, or to suffer to be done by any of his creatures, shall, whether we will or not, undoubtedly so come to pass, as He hath appointed. Bp. Sanderson. 22. The desire of a man is his kindness:] There is nothing more desirable for a man than to have wherewithal to be kind to others, and to confer obligations on his friends and neighbours. Bp. Patrick.

- a poor man is better than a liar.] If a wealthy man promise much and perform nothing, a poor man, who is unable to undertake or to perform, is better than he. Bp. Hall.

24. A slothful man hideth &c.] The word which we translate "bosom" signifies more properly "a pan" or "dish." Thus the verse is rendered by many, "The slothful man hideth or plungeth his hand in the pan, and will not so much as (that is, it irketh or grieveth him to) bring it to his mouth again." In illustration of which sen se it is to be remarked, that, to this day, the Arabs and Moors make use at their meals of neither knives, forks, nor spoons, but only of their hands and fingers in eating pottage, or what we call spoon meats. To this purpose Le Bruyn says, "The Arabs in feeding on milk use no spoons. They dip their hands into the milk, which is placed before them in a wooden bowl, and

and their contrary vices.

27 Cease, my son, to hear the intruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

Before CHRIST

about 1000.

A witness of

28 + An ungodly witness scorneth + Heb. judgment: and the mouth of the Belial. wicked devoureth iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

CHAP. XX.

WINE is a mocker, strong drink

raging and whosoever is

deceived thereby is not wise.

14. & 19. 12.

2 The fear of a king is as the a Chap. 16, roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

4 The sluggard will not plow by b Chap. 10. 4. reason of the || cold; therefore shall he | Or, winter. beg in harvest, and have nothing.

5 Counsel in the heart of man is c Chap. 18. 4. like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faith- Or, bounty. ful man who can find?

sup it out of the palms of their hands." Parkhurst, Harmer.

25. Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware:] Punish severely a derider of religion; and, even if it do him no good, those incautious persons whom he hath deluded will be awakened by it to greater circumspection. Bp. Patrick.

27. that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.] By "the words of knowledge" we are here to understand, generally, the precepts of virtue and religion; and the sum of the advice given is, that we should be careful to guard against the arts and insinuations of such as set themselves up for teachers of infidelity and irreligion. Bp. Sherlock.

Chap. XX. ver. 1. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:] Excess of wine beguiles a man of his senses, and incites him to wanton wickedness and violence. Bp. Hall.

2. sinneth against his own soul.] Incurs the danger of death. Dr. Isham.

4. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold;] In Syria they begin to plow about the latter end of September, and sow their earliest wheat about the middle of October. The frosts are never severe enough to prevent their ploughing all the winter. Dr. Russell.

5. Counsel in the heart of man &c.] Though the designs and intentions of some men are as hard to be sounded as deep waters; yet there are persons of such penetrating understandings, and of so great a reach, that they will find means to discover them, and to draw them out. Bp. Patrick.

6.- but a faithful man who can find?] A faithful man, one who will steadily perform what he has pro

e Ps. 51. 5. Job 14. 4.

2 Chron. 6.

8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, I have made my 1 Kings 8. 46. heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10+ Divers weights, and + divers both of them are alike measures, abomination to the LORD.

36.

Eccles. 7. 20.

1 John 1. 8.
f Deut. 25.
13, &c.
chap. 11. 1.
& 16. 11.
↑ Heb. A
stone and a
stone.

+ Heb. an

ephah and an ephah.

11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even

g Exod. 4. 11. both of them.

Ps. 94. 9.

h Chap. 12. 11. & 19. 15.

i Chap. 27. 13.

k Chap. 9. 17. + Heb. Bread of lying, or, falsehood.

13h Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 i Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

17+ Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

mised, and what he has boasted he would perform. Schultens.

8. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment &c.] A king who acts justly.

10. Divers weights, &c.] A fraudulent diversity of weights and measures is abominable unto the Lord. Bp. Hall.

and their contrary vices.

Before

181 Every purpose is established CHRIST by counsel: and with good advice about 1000. make war.

1 Chap. 15. m Chap. 11.

19 m He that goeth about as a tale- 22. bearer revealeth secrets: therefore 13. meddle not with him that || flattereth Or, enticeth. with his lips.

n

17.

20 Whoso curseth his father or n Exod. 21. his mother, his lamp shall be put Lev. 20. 9. out in obscure darkness.

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22°Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

23 P Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

12. The hearing ear, &c.] We are here reminded, that we derive from God all that we have, and all that we are, and that therefore none ought to take glory to himself for any excellent qualities of mind or body which he may possess. Calmet.

13.-open thine eyes,] That is, arise betimes in the morning, and follow some honest employment. Dr. Wells.

14. It is naught,-saith the buyer:] That is, the buyer unjustly tries to overreach the seller, by disparaging his goods: but when he has obtained them at his own price, he boasts of having tricked him. Dr. Wells.

16. Take his garment] Take a garment (take the uttermost security thou canst) from him who is so inconsiderate as to become surety for an utter stranger; and also take a present pledge of him who has the folly to become surety for a strange or infamous woman. Dr. Wells.

17. Bread of deceit] Under the name of the "bread

22. Say not thou, I will recompense &c.] Take not revenge for an injury received, where thou art not the proper judge, but leave thy cause to the Lord, and expect his righteous sentence. Bp. Patrick.

24. Man's goings are of the Lord;] No man can take one step towards any thing he designs, without the permission of the Lord; who sometimes overrules the motions of men unto ends so far distant from their thoughts, that it is impossible for them to know what the event shall be of any thing they undertake. Bp. Patrick.

25. It is a snare to the man &c.] That man entangleth his soul in the snares of death, who taketh back to a profane use that which is once consecrated to God, and who, after he has vowed any thing to the Lord, argues within himself how he may alter that holy purpose, and defraud God of his due. Bp. Hall.

26.—and bringeth the wheel over them.] A metaphor, to express the due punishment of the wicked, taken from the custom of threshing corn by means of a wheel drawn over it by oxen, Isa. xxviii. 27, 28. Bp. Patrick.

27. The spirit of man &c.] The soul is a principle of light to guide and direct man in all his motions, enabling him to reflect, not only on his own actions,

a Chap. 16. 2.

b 1 Sam. 15. 22.

Isa. 1. 11.

Hos. 6. 6.

Mic. 6. 7, 8. ch. 15. 8.

e Chap. 6. 17. † Heb. Haughtiness of eyes. Or, the light of the wicked.

d Chap. 10. 2. & 13. 11.

+ Heb. saw them, or, dwell with them.

e Chap. 19. 13. & 25. 24. & 27. 15.

29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

30 The blueness of a wound +cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

CHAP. XXI.

and their contrary vices.

ner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in † a wide house.

10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour + findeth no favour in his eyes.

Before CHRIST about 1000.

+ Heb. a

woman of

contentions. + Heb. an

house of

society.

+ Heb. is not

11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when James 4. 5. the wise is instructed, he receiveth favoured. knowledge.

12 The righteous man wisely con

the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

2 a Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponder

but on his most secret thoughts, and to discover the good or evil which is in them. Dr. Wells.

30. The blueness of a wound &c.] The meaning seems to be, 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 chiefly affect the body, yet they have likewise an effect on (the chambers of the belly) the inward recesses of the mind; restraining the offender by the fear of punishment. That this is the meaning of the Hebrew, rendered "the inward parts of the belly," appears from that elegant comparison of the conscience or spirit of a man, verse 27, to a light within him, searching out and discovering his most secret thoughts. Dr. Gray.

Chap. XXI. ver. 1. The king's heart is &c.] It is not in the power of kings, much less of other men, either to do or to design what they please, but their very wills are subject to the great Lord of all, who diverts them as easily from what they intend, or inclines them to that which they resolve against, as the gardener draws the streams of water, through the trenches he cuts, into what part of the ground he thinks good. Bp. Patrick. 4.- the plowing of the wicked,] The designs and contrivances of the wicked. Bp. Patrick.

that is hasty] Who hopes to get rich rapidly by improper means.

6. The getting of treasures &c.] Wealth acquired by falsehood and lying is altogether uncertain and un

God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

g Chap. 19.

25.

13h Whoso stoppeth his ears at the h Matt. 18. cry of the poor, he also shall cry him- 30. self, but shall not be heard.

& 18. 16.

14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: i Chap. 17. 8. and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

17 He that loveth || pleasure shall || Or, sport. be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

18 The wicked shall be a ransom k Chap. 11. 8. for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

stable; and will occasion utter destruction both of soul and body to him who unjustly acquires it. Bp. Hall. "Is a vanity tossed to and fro;" is not more durable than heaps of chaff or clouds of smoke, which are soon dissipated by the wind. Bp. Patrick.

8.- and strange :] ness. Dr. Isham. 9. in a corner of the housetop,] During the summer season it was usual to sleep on the tops of the houses, which were flat and properly guarded by a parapet wall; for which purpose little arbours were formed upon them. This, however pleasant in fine weather, must have been much otherwise in bad weather. Harmer.

Alienated from God and good

12. but God overthroweth &c.] The word "God" is not in the Hebrew, and is inserted to make up the sense still the meaning is sufficiently good without this insertion, if by the term "righteous man," we understand not a private person, but a just and upright magistrate. The sense may then be, A just judge makes a prudent but strict scrutiny into all the actions of a wicked man's family, that he may so punish them for their rapine, violence, and extortion, as to deprive them of all power to do further mischief." Bp. Patrick. 14. a reward in the bosom] See note at Ps. lxxix.

that those calamities which threatened to seize on the godly and righteous man, fall, in their stead, on the wicked and transgressors. Bp. Hall.

24. Proud and haughty scorner &c.] He that deals proudly in his anger, is worthy to be branded with the name of an insolent scorner. Bp. Hall.

25. The desire of the slothful killeth him;] The slothful man is consumed by vain longings.

27.when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?] When at the very time he is projecting some wicked design which he thinks to sanctify by his sacrifices. Bp. Patrick.

28. but the man that heareth] The man who heard, that is, who testifies only to what he heard, "speaketh convincingly, so as to carry his point. Bate, Parkhurst. 29. hardeneth his face:] He hardens his face against shame, laughs at correction, and impudently defends the evil he has done. The upright, on the contrary, watches over his ways, and corrects them when he is made aware of his errours. Calmet.

30. There is no wisdom &c.—against the Lord.] Wisdom, counsel, &c. avail nothing when they oppose the counsels and decrees of Heaven. Bp. Patrick.

u

and their contrary vices.

the day of battle: but "|| safety is of the LORD.

CHAP. XXII.

Before CHRIST about 1000.

u Ps. 3. 8. Or, victory.

GOOD name is rather to be a Eccles. 7. 1. 'A chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and Or. favour gold. 2 The rich and poor meet toge- b Chap. 29. ther: the LORD is the maker of them

all.

is better than, &c.

13.

12.

3A prudent man foreseeth thee Chap. 27.. evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Or, The

4 By humility and the fear of d Ps. 112. 3. the LORD are riches, honour, and reward of life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

humility, &c.

|| Or, Catechise.

6 | Train up a child + in the way he should go and when he is old, he + Heb. in his will not depart from it.

7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant

lender.

e

way.

to the man that lendeth.

to the

Heb.

8 He that soweth iniquity reap vanity and the rod of anger shall fail.

with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.

9 He that hath a bountiful shall be blessed; for he giveth of his f2 Cor. 9. 6. bread to the poor.

10

+ Heb. good. of eye.

Cast out the scorner, and con- g Ps. 101. 5.

and condition, but with a manifest equality, as to their nature and origin; "the Lord is maker of them all." Dean Moss.

3. — foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself:] Foresees a calamity before it comes, and withdraws himself from the danger into a place of safety. Bp. Patrick.

6. Train up a child &c.] In these words are contained, 1st, the duty of parents and instructors, "Train up a child in the way he should go;" that is, in the course of life which he ought to lead; instruct him carefully in the knowledge and practice of his whole duty to God and man, which he ought to perform and observe all the days of his life: 2nd, the fruit and benefit of good education, that, "when he is old, he will not depart from it." This we must understand according to the moral probability of things, not as if this happy effect did always and infallibly follow upon the good education of a child, but that this very frequently is, and may probably be hoped and presumed to be, the fruit and effect of a pious and prudent education : though exceptions may occur, yet they are not sufficient to infringe the general truth of the assertion. Abp. Tillotson.

7.—and the borrower &c.] Loses his liberty, and depends on the will and pleasure of the lender. Bp.

Patrick.

9. He that hath a bountiful eye] He who freely gives, and delights to afford pleasure to others; opposed to him who has an evil eye. "Is thine eye evil, &c." Matt. xx. 15. Calmet.

"Good of eye," as in the margin, denotes kindness

Or, and hath grace in his lips.

I Or, the matters.

h Chap. 26.

13.

i Chap. 2. 16. & 5.3. & 7.5. & 23. 27.

k Chap. 13. 24. & 19. 18. & 23. 13. & 29. 15, 17.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, || for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

and their contrary vices.

21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth || to them that send unto thee?

Before CHRIST

about 1000.

Or, to those

that send thee.

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come

or benevolence in heart, which quality is usually accompanied with a good-natured benevolent eye or look. On the contrary, "evil in eye," is equivalent to envious, grudging, chap. xxiii. 6; xxviii. 22. Parkhurst.

13. The slothful man saith, &c.] The slothful man feigns idle excuses, and pretences of danger, when he ought to be employed on his business. Bp. Hall.

14. The mouth of strange women &c.] The plausible and smooth tongue of a harlot is no less dangerous than a deep pit fairly covered, into which if a man fall, there is small hope of his recovering himself; and it is a fearful sign and effect of God's anger to be given over to her enticements. Bp. Hall.

15. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;] There is a foolish waywardness, which is natural to the child, and cleaves close to its disposition. Bp. Hall. 16.—and he that giveth to the rich,] He that giveth to the rich and powerful, to induce them to wink at his oppression of others. Dr. Wells.

17. Bow down thine ear, &c.] From this verse, all interpreters have observed, that another form of speech, different from the preceding, begins and continues to the twenty-fifth chapter. From the beginning of the tenth chapter, to this place, the instructions of wisdom, are delivered in short sentences, and proverbs properly so called, which have seldom any connexion. But now follow exhortations and precepts in the imperative mood, and those comprehended in two, three, or more verses. Bp. Patrick,

18. — they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.] "They

---

the gate:

11.

23 For the LORD will plead their m Chap. 23. cause, and spoil the soul of those that Job 31. 14. spoiled them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

& 11. 15.

26 Be not thou one of them that n Chap. 6. 1. strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

10.

28 Remove not the ancient || land- o Chap. 23. mark, which thy fathers have set.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before +mean + men.

Deut. 19. 14. & 27. 17.

Or, bound.

Heb.

obscure men.

in the gate:] The gate of the city where publick justice was administered. See notes at Deut. xxi. 19; xxii. 9; xxv. 7; Ruth iv. 1, 2.

24. -thou shalt not go:] Rather, "Go not," for both parts of the sentence are expressed in the same tense. Dr. Durell.

27. If thou hast nothing to pay, &c.] If thou hast nothing to pay, why shouldest thou be so egregiously foolish as only to incense the creditor against thee, by taking upon thee to pay what thou art not able, and so provoke him to shew thee no pity, but even to take away thy bed from under thee? Dr. Wells.

29. — he shall stand before kings ;] He shall soon be preferred to the service of his prince, and shall not continue long in the service of a private person. Dr. Wells.

Chap. XXIII, ver. 1. When thou sittest to eat with a ruler,] As the foregoing chapter closes with an observation concerning the qualities of a person who is most likely to come to preferment, so this begins with a caution to him, as to his behaviour when he is promoted to it. Solomon advises such a person very considerate on such occasions who and what is before him, and to be always on his guard lest he commit excess, or betray want of respect. Bp. Patrick.

to be