Proverbs 26:1
_Glory and power. A fool in a high office will endanger himself and the public; (Calmet) while the virtuous, seeing that merit is not regarded, will not push themselves forward. (\'c6schines.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Glory and power. A fool in a high office will endanger himself and the public; (Calmet) while the virtuous, seeing that merit is not regarded, will not push themselves forward. (\'c6schines.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_As a bird, &c. The meaning is, that a curse uttered without cause shall do no harm to the person that is cursed, but will return upon him that curseth; as whithersoever a bird flies, it returns to its own nest. (Challoner) --- Come. Chaldean, "shall not come in vain," if it be just, like that of No... [ Continue Reading ]
_Snaffle. "Bit," or muzzle, ( camus) to prevent the animal from biting. (Haydock) --- Septuagint, Arabic, &c., "a goad for an ass." But metheg denotes a bridle. (Montanus; Haydock) asses being there very large, and commonly used for riding, chap. xiii. 13. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Answer not a fool, &c. Viz., so as to imitate him; but only so as to reprove his folly. (Challoner) --- If thou answer at all, (ver. 5.) do it to the purpose, and to prevent others from taking scandal, (Calmet) as well as to humble the wicked, for his good. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Iniquity. He is exposed to shame, (Septuagint) and must condemn his own folly. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fair. Hebrew, "unequal legs," or "lifted up," so, &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mercury. The god of travellers, who were wont to throw a stone at the foot of his statue, as the Indians (Vincent. Bellor. xxiv.) and Arabs did. Mahomet would not disturb this superstitious custom. The Rabbins style these statues Mercolis. But Septuagint, &c., give another sense, "as he that bindet... [ Continue Reading ]
_If. Hebrew, " as a thorn goeth up into the," &c. (Protestants) (Haydock) --- If he attempt to handle or to extract one, he will wound himself the more, as the fool would render truth and wisdom contemptible. (Calmet) --- Parable. Septuagint, "but slavery in the hands of fools" groweth up. (Haydock)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Anger, and prevent lawsuits. Hebrew is variously read and translated. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "the great God, that formed all things, both rewardeth the fool and rewardeth the transgressors." Marginal note, "a great man giveth all, and he hireth the fool," &c. Septuagint, "all the flesh of fools... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dog. This is the only animal which is known to do so. St. Peter uses this comparison to deter any from renouncing the faith; as the Fathers do, to shew the misery attending a relapse. Septuagint here add, "there is a confusion," &c., taken from Ecclesiasticus iv. 25. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fool. The ignorant may be convinced that he wants instruction. (Calmet) --- But "none are worse than the half-learned." (Quintil. i. Jo. v. 21.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bed, which he will scarcely leave, though avarice push him forward. (St. Augustine, ser. xxii. or clxiv.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seven, or many wise men, who used to speak in a sententious manner. (Calmet) --- So seven is used, ver. 25._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Anger. Hebrew, "passeth by, and meddleth with a quarrel not ot him" pertaining. (Haydock) --- Such expose themselves foolishly to danger. Great discretion is requisite to reconcile those at variance._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jest. He will not escape, no more than the person who had committed murder involuntarily, if he were not in a city of refuge, Numbers xxxv. 22._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Faileth. Hebrew, Symmachus, Calmet, "aboundeth, the fire is bright, or flourisheth" (Septuagint) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dross. Hence the proud will be detested, and appear contemptible._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lips. He will speak of what he hates much._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deceitfully. Hebrew, "in desolation." He will cringe, but when he finds an opportunity, he will discover his evil designs. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him. "Bad advice is worst to him who gives it." (Varro. Rust. iii. 22.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXVI.... [ Continue Reading ]