THE KING'S HEART IS IN THE HAND OF THE LORD— The author of the _Observations_ informs us, that in Judea their watering canals are artificially divided into several small streams, which render the country exceedingly fruitful. To these canals, and the fertility produced by them, says he, I imagine So... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PLOUGHING OF THE WICKED— Dr. Grey is for taking the two parts of the verse separately, thus, "A lofty look and a proud heart go generally together; i.e. the countenance shews the disposition of the mind, the lamp of the wicked is sin." _The lamp_ seems to signify that which men make the rule... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GETTING OF TREASURES BY A LYING TONGUE— _He who gathers treasures by a deceitful tongue, pursues vain things. He shall be driven into the snares of death._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ROBBERY OF THE WICKED SHALL DESTROY THEM— _The ruin_ or _desolation of the wicked shall affright them_ (they shall be desolated, ruined, ravaged, and terrified); _because they would not follow justice._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WAY OF MAN IS FROWARD AND STRANGE— The true rendering is this, _The way of the strange man is froward, but as for the pure his work is right._ Grey.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE SCORNER IS PUNISHED— _When the scorner is punished, the humble is made more wise; when the wise man prospers, the same person will acquire knowledge._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS— _The just_ [_Judge_] _makes exact scrutiny into the house of the wicked, to bring the wicked to punishment._ Dr. Grey would read, _The righteous prospereth in his house, but wickedness overthroweth the wicked._ We have the phrase of the first hemistich, in 1 Samuel 18:14 and the secon... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MAN THAT WANDERETH, &C.— _He who deviates from the way of religion, shall remain in the congregation of the Rephaim:_ His lot shall be among those wicked souls hereafter; i.e. in the depths of _sheol_ [_hell_], or the lowermost or most wretched parts of it; where the lewd and dissolute go, as he... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT LOVETH WINE AND OIL— Dr. Pococke, in describing his journey to Jerusalem, after his landing at Joppa, tells us, that he was conveyed to an encampment of Arabs, who entertained him as well as they could, making him cakes, and bringing him fine oil, in which _they usually dip their bread._ Whe... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS A TREASURE, &C.— _Desirable treasure and oil are in the dwelling,_ &c. Houbigant renders the last clause, _But a foolish man will dissipate these:_ and Schultens, _But a foolish man,_ or a man given to luxury or extravagance, _absorbs it; i.e_. all that desirable treasure and opulence which... [ Continue Reading ]
FINDETH LIFE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND HONOUR— _Shall find life and glory._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROUD AND HAUGHTY SCORNER— _As to the proud and haughty,_ or _arrogant, Scorner is his name, dealing in proud wrath._ Houbigant reads, _He who is proud and contemptuous, is called a scorner. He behaves himself fiercely and arrogantly._... [ Continue Reading ]
HE COVETETH GREEDILY— Though _he_ in this verse may refer to _the slothful_ in the preceding one; yet the LXX, who are followed by several other versions, read, _The wicked coveteth._ Schultens renders it, _Concupiscence,_ or _the covetous man, coveteth; omni die concupiscit cupiditas._... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE MAN THAT HEARETH— Dr. Grey would render this, _But an obedient or good man will be careful of what he speaks._ Houbigant has it, _He who hearkeneth to justice shall be victorious in his cause._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HORSE IS PREPARED AGAINST THE DAY OF BATTLE— Solomon mentions the _horse,_ instead of all warlike preparations, because it was the chief, and all nations placed much of their confidence in the number and strength of their horses. Indeed horses were then used chiefly for war. See Calmet.... [ Continue Reading ]