_A.M. 3304. B.C. 700._ Sundry observations concerning fools, and rules how to conduct ourselves toward them, Proverbs 26:1. The slothful man described, Proverbs 26:13. The character of a contentious man, of a busy-body, and of a tale-bearer, Proverbs 26:17. The evil of hypocrisy and lying, Proverbs... [ Continue Reading ]
_As snow in summer_, &c. Unseasonable and unbecoming; _so honour is not seemly for a fool_ Because he neither deserves it, nor knows how to use it, and his folly is both increased and manifested by it. Bishop Patrick considers this as a tacit admonition to kings (for whose use principally, he thinks... [ Continue Reading ]
_As the bird by wandering_ Namely, from place to place: that is, as by its restlessness it secures itself from the fowler, that he cannot shoot at it, or spread his net over it; _so the curse causeless shall not come_ Namely, upon the innocent person, but he shall escape from it as the bird escapes... [ Continue Reading ]
_Answer not a fool_, &c. _Answer a fool_, &c. These contrary directions are easily reconciled, by considering the difference of persons, times, places, and other circumstances, and of the manner of answering. And such seemingly contradictory precepts are not only used by, but are esteemed elegant in... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool_ He that employs a fool upon any important business, which is too hard for him; _cutteth off the feet_ Namely, of his messenger: he bids one go that wants legs; he sends one that wants discretion, which is as necessary for that employment as legs are... [ Continue Reading ]
_The legs of the lame are not equal_ Hebrew, דליו, _are lifted up_, namely, in going, which is done with great inequality and uncomeliness; _so is a parable in the mouth of fools_ No less absurd and indecent are wise and pious speeches from a foolish and ungodly man, whose actions grossly contradict... [ Continue Reading ]
_As he that bindeth a stone in a sling_ Whereby he hinders his own design of throwing the stone out of it; _so is he_, &c. No less absurd is he that giveth to a fool that honour which he is not capable of using aright. Bishop Patrick and Houbigant give a different interpretation of the verse, thus:... [ Continue Reading ]
_As a thorn_, &c. “It is as dangerous for a fool to meddle with a proverb as for a drunkard to handle a thorn, wherewith he hurts himself: but the sharpest saying no more touches a fool with any compunction, though spoken by his own mouth, than the drunkard feels the thorn when it runs into his hand... [ Continue Reading ]
_The great God formed all things_, &c. The Hebrew text of this verse will admit of different translations, as the reader may see by the margin, and commentators are much divided in their opinions of its meaning. The Hebrew word רב, _rab_, here rendered _great_, may be applied either to God or to a p... [ Continue Reading ]
_The slothful man saith_, &c. “In this and the following verses, three degrees of sloth are represented; the first, when a man is loath to stir out of doors about his business in the field, Proverbs 26:13; the second, when he is loath so much as to leave his bed, Proverbs 26:14; and the third and hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that passeth by_ Who is going on the way about his business; _and meddleth with strife_, &c. In which he is not concerned, nor any way obliged to meddle; _is like one that taketh a dog by the ears_ Exposes himself to great and needless hazard, as a man that unnecessarily provoketh a mastiff dog... [ Continue Reading ]
_As a madman_ Hebrew, כמתלהלה, _as one that makes, or feigns himself mad_, in order that, under that pretence, he may do mischief with impunity; _casteth firebrands, arrows, and death_ Any instruments of death and destruction against his neighbour's person, house, or goods; _so is the man that decei... [ Continue Reading ]
_Where no wood is, the fire goeth out:_ &c. As the fire will soon be extinguished if you take away the fuel that feeds it; _so, where there is no tale-bearer_ To carry such reports from one to another as may provoke them to mutual anger, enmity, and contention; _the strife ceaseth _ Animosity, hatre... [ Continue Reading ]
_Burning lips_ Either, 1st, Lips pretending much love, that is, words delivered with a show of truth and fervent affection; or, rather, 2d, Burning with malice or hatred; that is, a slanderous or evil tongue; _and a wicked heart_ From whence evil thoughts and malicious words proceed; _are like a pot... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that hateth dissembleth with his lips_ Hebrew, ינכר, _carries himself like another man_, that is, pretends love and kindness; _and layeth up deceit within him_ Means, by counterfeiting kindness, only the more easily and securely to deceive thee. _When he speaketh fair _ Hebrew, יחנן קולו, uses... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whoso diggeth a pit_ That another may fall into it; _shall fall therein_ Himself. For, by the righteous judgment of God, the wicked are not only generally disappointed in their designs, but involve themselves in that mischief which they intended to do to others: see on Psalms 7:15; Psalms 9:15. _An... [ Continue Reading ]
_A lying tongue hateth_, &c. That is, he who slanders others hates those whom he slanders, because, by his calumnies, he hath made them his enemies. For “it is common for men to hate those to whom they have done evil: thus Tacitus, _Proprium humani ingenii est, odisse quem læseris_, ‘It is natural t... [ Continue Reading ]