Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. Ver. 1. _Be not thou envious against evil men._] Heb., Men of evil - such as are set upon sin; as are like Caracalla, _qui nihil cogitabat boni, qui id non didicerat; quod ipse fatebatur,_ saith Dio, Who never thought of any good... [ Continue Reading ]
For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. Ver. 2. _For their heart studieth destruction._] Great students they are; wittily wicked; but they consult shame and confusion to them and theirs. _ And their lips talk of mischief._] The mischief that they machinate budgeth an... [ Continue Reading ]
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: Ver. 3. _Through wisdom is an house builded._] _q.d., _ I will show thee a better project; wouldst thou thrive and grow great? Exercise godliness, wish not wickedness. _See Trapp on "_ Pro 3:16 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Pro 3:17... [ Continue Reading ]
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Ver. 4. _With all precious and pleasant riches._] Riches imply (1.) Plenty of that which is precious and pleasant. (2.) Propriety; they must be good things that are our own; and hereunto economical prudence much co... [ Continue Reading ]
A wise man [is] strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. Ver. 5. _A wise man is strong._] _See Trapp on "_ Pro 21:22 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety. Ver. 6. _For by wise counsel._] _See Trapp on "_ Pro 20:18 _"_ This Salust delivers as the sentence of the wisest sages, but Solomon said it long before.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. Ver. 7. _Wisdom is too hard for a fool._] Heb., Too high; his _pericranium_ comprehends it not, "neither indeed can" do. 1Co 2:14 He puts off the study of it, pretending the impossibility of reaching to it. _ He openeth not his... [ Continue Reading ]
He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. Ver. 8. _Shall be called a mischievous person._] Heb., A master of sinful musings, an artist at any evil. Josephus saith of Antipater, that his course of life might fitly be called a mystery of mischief, _a_ _quae altissimas egerat r... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the scorner [is] an abomination to men. Ver. 9. _The thought of foolishness is sin._] The schools do well observe, that outward sins are _maioris infamiae,_ of greater infamy; but inward heart sins are _maioris reatus,_ of greater guilt, as we see in devils.... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 24:10 [If] thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small. Ver. 10. _If thou faint in the day of adversity._] Afflictions try what sap we have, as hard weather tries what health. Withered leaves fall off in a wind: rotten boughs break when weight is laid on them; so do earthen... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou forbear to deliver [them that are] drawn unto death, and [those that are] ready to be slain; Ver. 11. _If thou forbear to deliver them, &c._] That is, That are wrongfully butchered. Here, not to save a man, if it be in our power, is to destroy him. Mar 3:4 Job "brake the jaws of the wicked,... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider [it]? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he know [it]? and shall [not] he render to [every] man according to his works? Ver. 12. _If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, &c._] As no wool is so coarse but wil... [ Continue Reading ]
My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste: Ver. 13. _My son, eat thou honey, because it is good._] Profitable and pleasant, wholesome and toothsome. So, and much more than so, is divine knowledge. Plutarch tells of Eudoxus, that he would be willi... [ Continue Reading ]
Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: Ver. 15. _Lay not wait, O wicked man, &c._] Eνθα γαρ οι Yεοι, as that heathen said - God dwells with the righteous; molest him not therefore, beat not up his quarters. The Scythians, saith he in Plutar... [ Continue Reading ]
For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Ver. 16. _For a just man falleth seven times,_] _i.e., _ Often. Seven times a day, as the Vulgate and many of the Fathers read it, who also understand this text as falling into sin, and rising again... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Ver. 17. _Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth._] If thou dost, it is a sure sign of devilish hatred - επιχαιρεκακια being the devil's disease - what goodwill, innocence, or ignoscency soever thou makest show o... [ Continue Reading ]
Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Ver. 18. _Lest the Lord see it,_] viz., Thy pride and cruelty, as he will, for he is ολοφθαλμος, all eye, and εχει Yεος εκδικον ομμα, if he see, he will kindle and turn the wheel upon thee, as he threatened to do upo... [ Continue Reading ]
Fret not thyself because of evil [men], neither be thou envious at the wicked; Ver. 19. _Fret not thyself because of evil men._] We are wondrous apt to be sick of the fret; hence so many precepts to this purpose. See Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:1 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For there shall be no reward to the evil [man]; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. Ver. 20. _For there shall be no reward._] He shall suffer both pain of loss, and pain of sense, which whether is the more grievous, is hard to determine. Sure it is, that the tears of hell are not sufficient... [ Continue Reading ]
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change: Ver. 21. _My son, fear the Lord and the king._] "Who would not fear thee, O king of nations? for unto thee doth it appertain." Jer 10:7 God is the prime and proper object of fear. Psa 76:11 Whence, by an a... [ Continue Reading ]
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? Ver. 22. _For their calamity shall rise suddenly._] When they think they have made all cock sure. "Had Zimri peace that killed his master?" Had Absalom; Sheba; Rodolphus, Duke of Suevia; Sanders; Story; Parry; Campian; t... [ Continue Reading ]
_These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment._ Ver. 23. _These things also belong to the wise._] As subjects must know their duties, so magistrates theirs; neither may they hold themselves too wise to learn. God can send even a Solomon to school... [ Continue Reading ]
He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: Ver. 24. _Him shall the people curse._] Heb., They shall run him through; with their evil wishes for his evil sentence. He shall be generally hated, and set against, as was Herod, Pilate, Festu... [ Continue Reading ]
But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. Ver. 25. _But to them that rebuke him shall be delight._] Those judges that reprove and punish the wicked shall - besides the _Euge_ of a good conscience, which is far better than the world's _plaudite_ - deli... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 24:26 [Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer. Ver. 26. _Every man shall kiss his lips._] That is, Shall do him honour, as Genesis 41:40. All the people shall kiss at thy mouth, saith Pharaoh to Joseph; and Samuel kissed Saul when he anointed him king; 1Sa 10:1 and, "K... [ Continue Reading ]
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. Ver. 27. _Prepare thy work without, &c._] God would have all his to be not good men only, but good husbands too; to order their affairs with discretion, and to take their fittest opportunities for... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips. Ver. 28. _Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause._] That is, Without calling, being not thereunto required; for this would speak thee spiteful, rash, and revengeful, as in the next verse. _ And dec... [ Continue Reading ]
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. Ver. 29. _Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me._] Nothing is more natural than revenge of wrongs, and the world approves it as right temper, true touch, as to put up wrongs is held cowa... [ Continue Reading ]
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; Ver. 30. _I went by the field of the slothful._] Not purposely to spy faults - for _Nemo curiosus quin malevolus_ - but my business lay that way, and I was willing to make the best of everything that came bef... [ Continue Reading ]
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Ver. 31. _And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns._] So is the spiritual sluggard's soul with lusts and sins, under the which lurketh that old serpent.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it, and] received instruction. Ver. 32. _Then I saw and considered it well._] I made my best use of it for mine own instruction. A bee can suck honey out of a flower, which a fly cannot do; so a spiritual mind can extract good out of every obje... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 24:33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: Ver. 33. _Yet a little sleep._] Mercer makes this to be the lesson that the wise man both learnt himself and also lays before others - viz., to be content with a little sleep - to be up and at it early, &... [ Continue Reading ]
So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. Ver. 34. _So shall thy poverty come._] Swiftly and irresistibly. Seneca calls sloth the nurse of beggary - the mother of misery.... [ Continue Reading ]