Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Good. Hebrew “a name,” or reputation. Bible.—It is preferable to riches, but not to be compared with virtue, which is the only solid good; and even to be placed above riches, it must be well grounded. Calmet.—Favour with all. Bible.
Verse 2. Another. They stand in need of one another. Saint John Chrysostom hom. xxxiv. in 1 Cor.—They are equal in God’s sight, who only values real virtue. He disposes of riches, so that the poor may one day become rich. Calmet.
Verse 4. Fruit. Lit. “the end of modesty, ( Bible.) or moderation, which must accompany every virtue.
Verse 5. Perverse. They are always in danger and in trouble.
Verse 6. It is a proverb, is added by S. Jerom, to make the sentence more striking.—It. He is like a tender plant, ( Calmet.) or wax, or a new vessel.
Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem
Testa diu. Hor. ep. i. ad Lol.
—“Shall wool regain its whiteness after it has been dyed purple?” Saint Jerome ad Lætam.—Hebrew “initiate a young,” and so forth Proportion your lessons to his capacity, and make him relish them.
Verse 7. Servant. He might be sold, and so forth Exodus 22:3. Matthew 18:25. Gell. xx. 1. Plato (Leg. viii.) would have nothing sold on credit. These laws appear to be severe; but they are founded on wisdom, as nothing impoverishes more than the facility of borrowing.
Verse 8. Consumed. Or beaten with the flail of God’s anger.
Verse 9. Is. Hebrew “has a good eye,” in opposition to the evil, or malicious one. Matthew 20:15.—He, and so forth is not in Hebrew or in the Lat. edit. of Comp. and Saint Jerome
Verse 11. He. Septuagint “the Lord loveth pious hearts. All the irreproachable are acceptable to him. The king feeds with lips,” by his just ordinances. Bible.—Kings hate duplicity; but require that the truth should be disclosed to them in a suitable manner.
Verse 13. Streets. Vain excuses of sloth!
Verse 14. It. Debauchery resembles hell. Calmet. 23:23. Calmet.—Facilis descensus Averni, and so forth Æn. vi.
Verse 15. Folly. Ignorance and innate corruption are corrected by a good education.
Verse 17. Incline. Thus Solomon concludes his discourse, (chapter 24:23) in the same manner as he began it, to chap. 10. Some commence the third book of Proverbs in this place; others, chapter 25. Calmet.
Verse 18. Lips. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Verse 20. Ways. Repeatedly. Boss. Tirinus. 2 Corinthians 12:8. Amos 1:11. Calmet.—Prot. “have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge?” “Shalishim,” perfect, (Pagn.) or “three things,” (Mont.) means also ( Bible.) such as might suit princes and great officers. Calmet.
Verse 21. Sent. Septuagint “are sent to thee.” Thou mayst become a teacher, ( Bible.) or give satisfaction to thy parents, who have sent thee to my school. Calmet.
Verse 22. Gate. Where judges passed sentence. Menochius.
Verse 25. Soul. By imitating him, or by falling a victim to his rage.
Verse 26. Hands. Engaging to stand bond. Bible. chapter 6:1.—Such a one might be required to pay the debt. Calmet. 20:16.
Verse 28. Set. The pagans made a god of Terminus, to prevent disputes. Ovid. Fast. ii.—If it be unlawful to disturb land-marks, how much more so is it to give way to novelty in religion? Deuteronomy 19:14. Calmet.—Solomon is addressing those who follow the true faith. Else the conduct of infidel ancestors should not deter any from embracing the truth. Bible.
Verse 29. Obscure. By industry he shall raise himself to notice. Bible.—Kings employ those who are most active. Calmet.