Proverbs 20:26

A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

Ver. 26. A wise king scattereth the wicked.] Drains the country of them by his just severity, yet with due discretion, as appears by the latter words, "and bringeth the wheel over them," compared with Isaiah 28:27,28. The Turks' justice will rather cut off two innocent men, than let one offender escape. a The Venetians punish with death whosoever shall misappropiated a penny of the public money to his own private profit. b Durescite, durescite, o infaelix Lantgravic, said the poor smith to the Landgrave of Thuring, that was more mild than was for his people's good. The sword of justice must, I confess, be furbished with the oil of mercy; but yet there are cases wherein severity ought to cast the scale.

a Blunt's Voyage, p. 12.

b Zevecat. in Observ. Polit.