Proverbs 19:1
BETTER IS THE POOR, &C.— _Better is a poor man who is upright in his way, than a rich man who is perverse in his path._ Houbigant. Thus preserving the antithesis, and following the Syriac.... [ Continue Reading ]
BETTER IS THE POOR, &C.— _Better is a poor man who is upright in his way, than a rich man who is perverse in his path._ Houbigant. Thus preserving the antithesis, and following the Syriac.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO, THAT THE SOUL BE, &C.— The Chaldee renders this, _He that knoweth not his soul, it is not good for him; he that hasteth with his feet into evil is a sinner._ Solomon in this verse, says Bishop Patrick, observes two great springs of all our miscarriages; want of understanding, and want of delib... [ Continue Reading ]
HE PURSUETH THEM WITH WORDS— Most interpretations of this verse seem forced and unnatural; I think Le Clerc's the best, says Dr. Grey, which applies the phrase to _pursue with words,_ to him that seeks after those friends who fly from him, and were only nominal friends. Thus, Hosea 12:1 to _pursue_... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CONTENTIONS OF A WIFE, &C.— The author of the _Observations_ remarks, that it is no wonder the easterns sleep on the tops of houses only in summer, since, however agreeable their arbours and wicker-work closets may be in the dry part of the year, they must be very disagreeable in the wet, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LET NOT, &C.— _But suffer not thyself to be transported to cause him to die._ The LXX read, _Chasten thy son, so shall he be hopeful; but be not raised in thy wrath to the provocation of him._ See Colossians 3:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DESIRE OF A MAN IS HIS KINDNESS— This will admit of several interpretations. The LXX read, _Alms-giving,_ or _charity, bringeth fruit to a man; and a poor just man is better than a rich man who is a liar._ Le Clerc gives this meaning of the first clause, That there is no virtue which a man shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR OF THE LORD TENDETH TO LIFE— _The fear of the Lord tendeth to life; he who is filled with it shall sleep, or pass his nights free from all evil._ Houbigant. Schultens, whom Dr. Grey follows, renders it, _The fear of Jehovah indeed is life; but he who sleeps in carnal security shall not be f... [ Continue Reading ]
A SLOTHFUL MAN— This verse contains a most elegant but hyperbolical description of a man who has given himself up to sloth; who refuses to do things as easy pulling his hand out of his bosom, and as necessary as eating and drinking. See Psalms 74:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
CEASE, MY SON, &C.— _My son, that thou mayest hear instruction, cease to wander from the discourses of wisdom._ Houbigant. Bishop Patrick's paraphrase of the verse runs thus, "My son, beware of their discourse, who, under the shew of greater learning, seduce thee from the plain doctrine of virtue [a... [ Continue Reading ]