Proverbs
Verse 1. Victims. Of which part was used for a feast. Calmet. 7:14. Calmet.—Septuagint add, “of many goods, and unjust victims.” Bible.
EXPLANATIONS
Proverbs 17
Historical chapter commentary
Proverbs
Verse 2. Brethren. Partaking with them, (Abenezra. Tirinus. Menochius.) or rather acting as his master’s executor; which evinces the advantages of wisdom, so as to raise a slave above those whom his station requires him to serve. Such was Joseph, who was tried.
Proverbs
Verse 4. Lips. They mutually deceive one another, as well as others.
Proverbs
Verse 6. Fathers. Whose virtues they are bound to imitate.
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Verse 7. Eloquent. Septuagint “faithful.” They cannot be expected from them.
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Verse 8. Expecteth heavenly things. Septuagint “instruction is the reward of good deeds to those who use it.”
Proverbs
Verse 9. Friends. Detractors cause dissensions, and even wars.
Proverbs
Verse 10. Fools. “A word is enough for the wise.” Nobilis equus umbra virgæ regitur, ignavus ne calcari quidem. Q. Curt.
Proverbs
Verse 11. Angel. Messenger of death, ( Menochius.) which is sometimes inflicted by good, at others by bad, angels of death, or satan. 2 Corinthians 12:7. Psalms 77:49.
Proverbs
Verse 12. Fool. Hebrew “fool in his folly.” The danger is not greater in meeting ( Calmet.) a female bear, though it be the most terrible. Arist. Anim. ix. 1.
Proverbs
Verse 14. Water. It is scarcely possible to prevent the bad effects of detraction. Frequent quarrels have also risen on account of springs. Genesis 26:20.—Judgment. And gives up the cause, as being much more prudent. Matthew 5:25. 40.
Proverbs
Verse 15. God. We ought to suspend our judgment, or incline to the more favourable side. Matthew 7:1. Romans 2:1.
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Verse 16. He, and so forth is not here in Hebrew though it be equivalently (verse 19) where the Septuagint are silent. Calmet.
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Verse 17. Distress. Like the real friend. Calmet. 18:24.
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Verse 18. Hands. Through joy, or as a mark of his consent.
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Verse 19. Door. Sixtus V. reads, “mouth:” as some explain the door to mean. A large door supposes that the house is elevated, and thus exposed to danger from winds, and so forth
Proverbs
Verse 24. Earth. Wandering and insatiable, and deeming the acquisition of wisdom too difficult.
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Verse 26. No good. But very criminal. See Jeremiah 7:31.
Proverbs
Verse 27. Precious and reserved spirit. This is a mark of wisdom. Calmet.