Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. A luxurious thing. Hebrew “a scoffer.” Chal. “renders one a scoffer.”—Drunkenness. Hebrew ssocor, any strong drink, particularly palm-wine. Intemperance places the strongest obstacles in the way of wisdom. It causes a person to mock at all sacred things, and to be quarrelsome. Calmet. 23:29. Ephesians 5:18.
Verse 3. Reproaches. It is better not to commence a lawsuit, even when we are in the right. Calmet. 17:11. Calmet.—Plena victoria est ad clamantem tacere. Val. Max.
Verse 5. Out. So David discovered the meaning of the Thecuite, 2 Kennicott. 14:18. A wise politician carefully examines everything in a foreign court.
Verse 6. Faithful. Few continue steady to their engagements or friends, whom they will assist to a certain point. In God these two virtues always go together. Psalms 84:11. But they are rarely found in men. Calmet.
Verse 8. Look. It is the duty of kings to administer justice.
Verse 9. Sin. Prot. “my sin?” We know not when it is remitted. Bible.—Without a special revelation, no one can be secure, 1 John 1:8. Eccle. 9:1. Bayn. Saint Augustine in Ps. cxlix.
Verse 10. Measures. In commerce, ( Calmet.) as well as in judging. Saint Gregory in Ezekiel 4.
Verse 11. Right. We may form some judgment of his future conduct, from the inclinations which he manifests in his infancy.
Naturam expellas furca, tamen ipsa recurret,
Et mala perrumpet furtim fastidia victrix. Hor.
Verse 12. Both. Consequently he will know all our actions. Psalms 93:9. We must refer all to him, as he gives us the means of learning. Calmet.
Verse 13. Sleep. Septuagint “back-biting, that thou mayst not be taken off.” Bible.
Verse 14. Buyer. This is the common practice; yet it is not without exceptions. Saint Augustine (Trin. xiii. 3.) observes, that the mountebank having promised to tell what every person had in his heart, many came to the theatre, when he told them that they all wished to by cheap, and to sell dear. They all applauded the remark. Calmet.—Septuagint is here defective. Bible.
Verse 16. Strangers. For whom he has bound himself foolishly. Calmet. 6:1. All who have the care of others, must answer for them. Calmet.
Verse 17. Lying. Deceit, and unlawful pleasures. Calmet. 9:17. But God mingles disgust with them, and will punish the guilty, at least hereafter. Worldly enjoyments seem sweet, but they are full of gravel, and hurtful.
Verse 18. Governments. Or prudence, else the best designs may prove abortive.
Verse 19. Lips. And speaketh much. These people are unworthy of our friendship.
Verse 20. Lamp. Prosperity, or children.
Verse 21. Blessing. It is morally impossible that they should have been acquired justly. Calmet. 13:11 and 21:5.
Verse 22. Evil. And revenge myself. This belongs to the Lord. Deuteronomy 32:35. Man would be too favourable to himself, and would also pronounce his own condemnation, as he is also a sinner.
Verse 24. Way? Jeremiah 10:23. Independently of God, who can do any good? Calmet.
Verse 25. Ones. Hebrew “the saint or holy thing.” Bible.—Chal. “to make a vow for the sanctuary, and afterwards repent;” having acted inconsiderately at first. To attack the persons or relics of the saints, or to plunder what is consecrated to pious uses, will bring on destruction; so also to make vows, and then seek to evade them, will not pass unpunished. Calmet.
Verse 26. Wheel. Or triumphal arch, fornicem. Ven. Bede. Jans.—He will make his enemies lie prostrate under his chariot-wheels, 2 Kennicott. 12:31.
Verse 27. Lamp. The breath of life, (Genesis 2:7) and the light of man. 1 Corinthians 2:11.
Verse 28. Clemency. Such a king need not fear rebellion. Calmet.
Verse 29. Hairs, and experience. They have a greater contempt of death and pleasures. Saint Ambrose Hex. i. 8.
Verse 30. Evils. The wicked shall derive benefit from correction.—Belly. They shall feel the remorse of conscience, as Chal. seems to indicate. Calmet.—A serious illness often causes people to repent. Menochius.