Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Rich, is not in Hebrew Septuagint Compl. or S. Jerom. Calmet.—But as there is not antithesis between a poor man and a fool, it ought to be inserted, as it is in the Syriac, which reads, “than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” The MS. 2 confirms “ways.” Kennicott.
Verse 2. Soul. Wholesome and spiritual. Hebrew “the soul or life is not good.”—Stumble. “The more I make haste, the less I advance,” said Plato; (Rep. 7.) and Augustus often repeated; Sat cito, si sat benè. Sueton.
Verse 3. Fretteth. Lit. “burneth.” Septuagint “blameth.” Hebrew “his heart rageth against the Lord.” Bible.—Thus Adam tacitly laid the blame on him, as all those who excuse themselves on account of their temper, habits, stars, the violence of temptation, and so forth Calmet.
Verse 7. Only. Hebrew has lo, and the marg. lu, with the Vulg. Calmet.—The former word intimates that the words have no solidity, and the latter that they shall be his only portion who is so foolish as to trust in them. Sequens dicta non ispa; (Mont.) or ei ipsa, if we follow the margin. Bible.
Verse 8. Mind. Hebrew “heart,” intelligence. Calmet. 15:32.—Loveth. This does not contradict the gospel; (John 12:25) as those who refrain from what the soul would crave to its own detriment, truly love it.
Verse 10. Fool. He would eat them, so as to prejudice his health.—Princes. Calmet. 30:21. Such are commonly insolent, and should attend to Ausonius. Fortunam reverenter habe.
Verse 11. Wrongs. The wise man is not vindictive or punctilious.
Verse 12. Anger. Is not their dominion enough? Having none to admonish them, they do not perceive their excesses.
Verse 13. Through. It cannot be endured long. Calmet.—Dos est uxoria lites. Ovid. Art. 1.—“Quarrels are a wife’s dowry.”
Verse 14. Properly. Septuagint “fitted by.” Bible.—Hence the Fathers dissuade marrying with infidels. Saint Ambrose in Lu. xvi.—All good comes from God.
Verse 15. Hunger. Both temporal and eternal. Calmet.—Non progredi, regredi est. Saint Bernard says, “Not to advance, is to go back.”
Verse 16. Neglecteth. Hebrew “contemneth.” In the law of Moses, many transgressions are punished with death, but here that of the soul is meant. Calmet.
Verse 17. Lendeth. To receive interest, fœneratur. Bible.—Such usury is lawful, and God will abundantly reward acts of mercy. Calmet.—He engages his word for the poor. Saint Augustine in Ps. xxxvi.
Verse 18. Killing. Prot. “crying;” or by his complaint be not deterred. Bible.—Chal. agrees with us. The law permitted parents to sell their children, and to have them stoned to death, if they declared them disobedient, (Deuteronomy 21:18. Calmet.) and riotous, verse 20. Timely chastisement may prevent such extremities. Bible.—Saint Paul dissuades unnecessary severity. Colossians 3:21.
Verse 19. Thing. A child neglected will continue to steal, or to offend; ( Calmet.) while too much harshness will do no good, but tend to the damage of all parties. Bible.—Anger is productive of the worst effects.
Verse 21. Firm. Ignorance and weakness cause men to change.
Verse 22. Merciful. Hebrews 2:17. Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco. Æn. 4.—Hebrew “the desire of a man is his mercy,” (Mont. Bible.) or “shame,” (R. Levi) as it leads to sin. Genesis 6:5. All wish to be esteemed merciful.—Man of quality. Hebrew meish, “prœ viro.” Mont.—“Rich man.” Septuagint Bible.
Verse 23. Life. Both temporal and eternal. Calmet. 10:27. Calmet.—With evil. Lit. “the worst,” pessima. Bible.—Sixtus V. “by the most wicked one.” The devil shall have no power over him.
Verse 24. Arm-pit. Or Hebrew tsallachath, “in the pot,” out of which he eats; which shews his negligence.—Mouth, to eat. This hyperbole indicates that he is too lazy to take the necessary sustenance. Calmet. 26:15. Calmet.—Septuagint “in his breast unjustly. Neither will he bring them to his mouth.” Bible.—He will bestow nothing, and shall reap no benefit from his avarice. Saint Bernard—He will not practise what he teaches. Saint Gregory Mor. xii. 10.
Verse 25. Wicked. Hebrew “scoffer.” Chastisements have always some good effect either on the sufferer, or on the spectators, who will be cautioned not to imitate what is wrong.
Verse 26. Infamous. Hebrew “a son of confusion and reproach;” a spendthrift.
Verse 27. Not. Hebrew seems to say the reverse. Calmet.—But we may read it with an interrogation. “Wilt thou cease?” and so forth Or the instruction here meant is of a dangerous nature. Prot. “that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” Septuagint “a son who neglects to keep the instruction of his father, shall muse on bad sayings.” Bible.
Verse 29. Hammers, (Sym.) “punishments.” Septuagint See Judges 5:25. Calmet.