16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. 17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. 19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. 20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. 21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. 22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles. 24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. [proverbs. him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long but the righteous giveth and spareth not. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? 28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. 29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. 30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. (X) CHAP. XXII. A GOOD name is rather 2 The rich and poor meet together: 25 The desire of the slothful killeth the LORD is the maker of them all. CHAP. XXI. EXPOSITION. (X) More miscellaneous proverbs.-Solomon adverts to the doctrine of providence frequently, and apparently with peculiar pleasure. "A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps." (Chap. xvi. 9.) So here, even "the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, ... . as the rivers of water, he turneth it whither soever he will." This is an evident allusion to the antient method of watering gardens, by directing small streams through the grounds by the foot. (Deut. xi. 10.) So with the same ease doth the Lord dispose of the hearts of men of all ranks in society, to fulfil his purposes; for "he doeth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." (Dan. iv. 35.) A most important sentiment occurs near the close of this chapter; namely, "The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination," meaning, in the sight of God; and for this plain reason-wicked men themselves are at enmity with God; and as he reads the heart, he knows this; and that their sacrifice is brought neither from a sense of love nor gratitude, and therefore it cannot be acceptable. Much less can it be so when brought with "a wicked mind," or " in wickedness," as the Hebrew reads; that is, from motives of hypocrisy, or to answer some sinister design. See Ps. 1. 7-23. NOTES-Chap. XXI. Con. Ver. 16. The congregation of the dead.-See Note on chap. ii. 18, Ver. 17. He that loveth pleasure-Marg. " Sport;" but the Hebrew rather means joy and festivity, which agrees with the latter part of the verse. Ver. 18. The wicked shall be a ransom, &c.-See chap, xi. 8. Ver. 19. In the wilderness-Heb. "In the land of the desert." See ver. 9. Ver. 24. In proud wrath-Heb. "In the wrath of pride;" i. e. in the excess, or ontrage of pride. Ver. 28. A false witness- Heb. "A witness of lies."--But the man that heareth, &c.--The sense is, the false witness (Heb. "the witness of lies ") shall be confronted and confounded by the true witness, who, having heard to the end, (as the Hebrew implies) speaketh constantly;" ie, gives a trae and consistent evidence. Ver. 29. He directeth-Marg, "Considereth." More miscellaneous] THE CHAP. XXI. CHAP. XXI. HE king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. 5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. 7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. [proverbs. his work strange: but as for the pure, 9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. 10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. 11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. 12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.: 13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger : and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. 15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the 8 The way of man is froward and workers of iniquity. EXPOSITION. scoffers at religion and all sobriety."-Bp. Patrick. "Counsel in the heart of man," that is, his plans and designs, (says Solomon) "is like deep water" in a well; "but a man of understanding" and penetration, "will draw," or wind "it out" of him. Lord Bacon, who was a second Solomon, gives six rules, whereby the secrets of public men may be discovered; namely, their countenances, words, (rather accidental than deliberate) actions, dispositions, the ends or objects they are known to have in view, and the relations of other persons. The question, (ver. 9.) "Who can say, I have made my heart clean?" evidently implies its depravity, and the impossibility of cleansing our own hearts, as well as the folly of pretending to perfection in the present life; a doctrine which we shall find Solomon inculcating with equal decision in other places. (See 1 Kings viii. 46; 2 Chron. vi. 36; Eccles. vii. 20.) The maxim (ver. 27.) that "the spirit of man is the candle (or lamp) of the Lord," is more disputed. The word here rendered "spirit," is the same as is used for the breath of life, which constituted man a living animal; but it seems here to refer particularly to the conscience, which as the lamp of God in the temple, (the sacred chandelier) illuminated the holy place, and showed all the sacred furniture; so the conscience of man, when not put out by sin, discovers all the secret recesses of the human heart. (See Note on ver. 30, and compare 1 Cor. ii. 11.) NOTES. Ver. 9. A corner of the house top. It was common to form little closets, like arbours, in a corner of the flat roofs, where persons sometimes slept, in the summer time.—Than with a brawling woman, &c.-Heb. "A woman of contentions in a house of society;" i. e, a large house, in which several families reside. Orient. Cust. No. 203. Orient. Lit. No. 839. Ver. 12. The righteous wisely considereth the house of the wicked-that is, investigates their conduct. But God overthroweth the wicked.-The words" but Ged," seem an unnecessary supplement : the Heb. literally reads, "overthrowing the wicked," &c. See Bp. Patrick, 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and know ledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? 22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor neither oppress the afflicted in the gate. 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. 26. Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. 29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. (Z) [strongly recommended. CHAP. XXIII. WHEN thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. 4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. 9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. 10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: 11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. 12 Apply thine heart unto instruc EXPOSITION—Chap. XXII. Continued. (Z) Ver. 17-29. A continued discourse on wisdom and prudence.-This, as remarked in our Introduction, commences the third part of the Proverbs; but instead of distinct apothegms, Solomon now addresses his readers as a master his pupils, in a connected series of precepts, to the end of the 24th chapter. He insists on the pleasantness and certainty of wisdom and truth, which, when adhered to, will encourage trust in God, and create coufidence in man. There is, indeed, not much_novelty of remark in the few verses before us, except in the 24th verse, which advises his pupils to make "no friendship," to form no intimacy, with " an angry or passionate man, lest his manners should become "a snare "to them, and lead them into the same sin and folly. It is, indeed, not easy to calculate the evils which arise from passion, either to the angry man himself, or to the unhappy subjects of his rage. Many fatal disorders originate in the convulsions which anger raises in the human breast; many fatal accidents of manslaughter, and even murder, result from the consequence of this fatal passion upon others. (See Matt. v. 22.) NOTES. CHAP. XXIII. Ver. 5. Wilt thou set (Hebrew, "dart") thine eyes? -Alluding to an eagle darting on its prey. But while the covetous man is darting his eye upon his prey of expected riches, behold, they take to their wings, the strong and rapid wings of the eagle, and fly away. Is there not something designed and beautiful in omitting the word riches in the original, to be supplied, having just before called them that which is not "" Ver. 8. And lose-Holden," Retract" thy sweet words. را Temperance, justice, &c.] CHAP. XXIII. tion, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from bell. 15 My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. 16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. 17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. 18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. 19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh : 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty : and drowsi ness shall clothe a man with rags. 22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. CHAP. XXIII. - [strongly recommended. 25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. 26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. 27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. 28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. 29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow ? who hath contentions ? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause ? who hath redness of eyes ? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour. in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. (A) EXPOSITION. (A) Temperance, justice, and other virtues, strongly recommended. The first virtue upon the list is temperance, especially at the tables of the great, who were too apt to press their inferiors to indulge in luxuries, which at the same time they grudge them; and perhaps despise, if they do not reproach them, for complying with their importunities. He therefore counsels such as are fond of the indulgences of the table, to place a powerful restraint upon their appetites, which is the obvious meaning of the metaphorical expression, "Put a knife to thy throat ;" though others extend it to imply a guard upon their words or conversation, which may be equally necessary, though perhaps not here intended. NOTES. Ver. 18. There is an end-Marg. "A reward;" rather, "an issue" of punishment to the wicked, and of happiness to the righteous. Ver.20. Riotous eaters of flesh.-The Arabs eat bot little filesh, and so did the Hebrews, probably, except at their great festivities: gluttons in flesh are here classed with winebibbers and drunkards. Marg. Of their flesh." Some render it (says Mr. Holden) “ among themselves;" (so Theodotian) 1. e. in their convivial parties. Ver. 28. As for a prey-Marg. "As a robber." Ver. 30. Mixed wine-that is, mixed with intoxicating ingredients. Ver. 31. When it giveth his colour - Heb. " Its eye;" i. e. when it sparkles. So Holden, &c.When it moveth itself aright-Holden, “When it gorth down sweetly." Ver. 32. An adder-Marg. “A cockatrice." Bochart, "A basilisk:" some serpent, whose bite was fatal. PROVERBS. E not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. 2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. 3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. 8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. 10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12 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? [envy and fretfulness ; and shall not he render to every man according to his works? 13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it; then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. 15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: 16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth. 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked. 20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. 21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king and meddle not with them that are given to change. 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? ance. A harlot is a deep pit and narrow, closing upon the unhappy man that may be taken in her snare. EXPOSITION-Chap. XXIII. Continued. Equally pointed is his caution against that old trick of the oppressor, removing the ancient landmarks, that form the boundaries of their ground, so as to add the fields of the poor to their own domains; a crime expressly forbidden in the Mosaic law, and visited with the curses of the people. (Deut. xix. 14.-xxvii. 17.) Nor is this all: "their Redeemer is mighty,' and will assuredly plead the cause of the poor. The latter part of the chapter again cautions against lewdness aud intemper The following caveat against intemperance is remarkably beautiful and poetical. "The drunkard is exposed to the same dangers as the mariner, without being able to guard against them: frequently does he get insulted and beaten, without knowing the cause; and so bewitched is he with the vice, that he no sooner recovers from his stupor, than he plunges into it again." NOTES. CHAP. XXIV. Ver. 5. A wise man is strongHeb. "In strength." Increaseth strength -Marg, Strengtheneth might." Ver. 10 Thy strength is small-Heb. " Narrow," or contracted. Ver 11. Drawn-Holden," Hurried away." Ver. 13. My son, eat thou-Rather," thou eatest" honey, &c. .... So, &c. Ver. 16. Fall into mischief- Holden," Are over |