_A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000._ For the securing of the peace and happiness of a married life, which the wise man had recommended in the foregoing chapter, he here cautions his readers against two evils, which often cause great discontents in a family, by bringing it to poverty. (1,) _ Against suretiship,... [ Continue Reading ]
_My son, if thou be surety for_, or _to, thy friend_ Namely, rashly and unadvisedly, without considering for whom, or how the thou dost oblige thyself, or how thou shalt discharge the debt if occasion require it: otherwise suretiship, in some cases, may be not only lawful, but an act of justice and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do this now, my son_ Immediately follow the counsel which I now give thee, and _deliver thyself_ Use thy utmost endeavours to be discharged; _when_, or _since, thou art come into the hand_ That is, into the power; _of thy friend_ Of the debtor, for whom, as being thy friend, thou didst become suret... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go to the ant_, &c. “Nor are industry and diligence requisite in this alone, but in all thy affairs; to which, therefore, if thou art slothful, I must excite thee by the example of the ants; whose orderly and unanimous diligence, in collecting and preserving food for themselves, if thou wilt observ... [ Continue Reading ]
_How long_, &c. O the strange idleness of mankind! who have so many monitors and governors, that call upon them again and again, to excite them to diligence, but in vain! _Wilt thou sleep, O sluggard_ When the ants are so watchful, and labour not only in the day-time, but even by night, when the moo... [ Continue Reading ]
_A naughty person_ Hebrew, _a man of Belial, a wicked man_, whose continual practice it is, in one way or other, to work wickedness; _walketh with a froward mouth_ Makes it his business, by lies; or flatteries, or slanders, or perjuries, to maintain himself in his idle courses. And if the slothful a... [ Continue Reading ]
_These six things_ Generally found in those men of Belial, described in the foregoing verses; _doth the Lord hate_ Namely, above many other sins, which have a worse name in the world; _a proud look_ Pride of heart, which commonly discovers itself by a man's looks and gestures; _a lying tongue_ Lying... [ Continue Reading ]
_Keep thy father's commandment_ So far as it is not contrary to God's command. _And forsake not the law of thy mother_ Which children are too apt to despise. _Bind them continually upon thy heart_ Constantly remember and duly consider them; _tie them about thy neck_ See on Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 3:3... [ Continue Reading ]
_To keep thee from the evil woman_ Which is mentioned as a great commendation of God's word, because neither worldly discretion, nor a good education, nor moral precepts, nor any other considerations, are sufficient preservatives against this lust, as is manifest from daily experience. _Lust not aft... [ Continue Reading ]
_Men do not despise a thief_ That is, abhor or reproach him, but rather pity and pardon him, who is urged by mere necessity to these practices, but the adulterer is abhorred by all. _If he_ The thief; _be found, he shall restore seven-fold_ The law (Exo 22:1-4) did not oblige the thief to restore se... [ Continue Reading ]