Proverbs
Verse 1. Sit. Saul sat at table, and the custom of lying down was adopted only a little while before the captivity. It was recent among the Romans. Calmet.—Soliti patres considere mensis. Æn. vii. 170.
EXPLANATIONS
Proverbs 23
Historical chapter commentary
Proverbs
Verse 2. Throat. Restrain intemperance and talkativeness. Sirach 31:12. Septuagint “stretch forth thy hand, knowing that thou must prepare the like; but if thou be more insatiable, (3.) desire not his meats, for he has them of deceitful life.” They cannot afford real happiness, ( Bible.) and to vie with the rich would only reduce them to poverty. Sirach 13:2. Saint Augustine (tr. xlvii. in Joan.) explains this text of the blessed Eucharist, observing, that we must give our life for our brethren, as Christ did for us. Before communion, we must slay the old man, and subdue our passions. Calmet.—Power. Prot. “if thou be a man given to appetite.” The situation of a courtier is very critical. Bible.—Those who eat with the kings of Persia, were nicely observed by an eunuch, lest they should cast their eyes on any of his concubines. Lucian. de Merced.
Proverbs
Verse 3. Deceit. Poison. He wishes to discover thy secret.
Proverbs
Verse 4. Prudence. Be more solicitous for this, than to acquire riches. Calmet.—Yet this wisdom must be sober. Romans 12:3. 1 Timothy 6:9. Septuagint “being poor, do not stretch forth thyself to the rich, but prudently retire. verse 2. Bible.
Proverbs
Verse 5. Riches. Septuagint “to him, the rich man, he no where appears. He has prepared,” and so forth Bible.—Like. Hebrew “as the eagle, it will fly,” and so forth Bible.—We must therefore fix our hearts on more durable goods.
Proverbs
Verse 6. Man. Hebrew “eat not bread of an evil eye,” the envious, or rather the sordid miser.
Proverbs
Verse 7. Like. Prot. “as he thinketh is his heart, so is he: eat,” and so forth Bible.—He is still convinced that his guests will ruin him: or “like one guarding, or trembling for his soul.” Septuagint “swallowing a hair, he saith,” and so forth He is afraid of expense, and would allow himself as little as possible.—Diviner. Such endeavour to speak what may come to pass, but are full of anxiety; so the miser’s words are contrary to his real sentiments, ( Calmet.) as the diviner knows that he is imposing on mankind. Bible.
Proverbs
Verse 8. Words. Thou wilt be disgusted, and repine. Sirach 31:25.
Proverbs
Verse 10. Ones. Hebrew and Septuagint “ancient boundaries.”
Proverbs
Verse 11. Kinsman. Hebrew Gaal, “tutor, defendant, or redeemer,” the Lord ( Bible.) himself. Leviticus 25:25.
Proverbs
Verse 16. Reins. Inmost affections.
Proverbs
Verse 18. Thou. Prot. “surely there is an end.” Marg. “reward.” Bible.—The testimony of a good conscience affords the greatest comfort in death. Septuagint “if thou observe these things, thou shalt have posterity.” Hebrew “hopes.”
Proverbs
Verse 20. Eat. Such feasts tend to corrupt the morals, and to misspend time.
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Verse 21. Rags. At death the insolent shall be exposed to shame.
Proverbs
Verse 23. Sell. Acquire as much wisdom as possible, and keep it with care. Calmet.—Septuagint “do not drive wisdom from thee.”
Proverbs
Verse 27. Pit. It is difficult to overcome this passion, when once it has got possession of the heart. We must therefore watch over it, and consecrate it in variably to wisdom. verse 26.
Proverbs
Verse 28. Him. Prot. “increaseth the transgressors among men,” ( Bible.) and like a harpy, kills all whom she can entrap.
Proverbs
Verse 29. Whose father. S. Jerom has read ab avi, instead of abo, ( Calmet.) which is an interjection, (Boch.) alas! or it means, “trouble.” Septuagint “drunkenness,” (Chal. Calmet.) or “sorrow.” Prot.—Falls. Septuagint “hath sorrows.” Hebrew “babbling,” (Prot. Bible.) or discontents of mind. Calmet.—Cause. Drunkards often fall upon their best friends, as Alexander did on Clytus. Menochius.
Proverbs
Verse 31. Yellow. Or bright, as it is said there is only one red wine in Palestine.—Pleasantly. Hebrew “it goeth right,” and is excellent. Calmet.
Proverbs
Verse 32. Basilisk, (regulus). Hebrew Tsiphoni, ( Bible.) as asp. Cerastes, and so forth Psalms 90:13.
Proverbs
Verse 33. Women. Wine excites to lust. Calmet. See chapter 20:1.—Shall. Septuagint “shall these.” Bible.
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Verse 34. When. Septuagint “in a great wave.” Never is reason more wanted, nor less able to perform her duty.
Proverbs
Verse 35. Drew. Chal. “plundered.” Septuagint “mocked at me.”—Again. This is the woeful effect of drunkenness, that men are not deterred from it, though they be sensible of its dreadful consequences. Menochius.
Proverbs
Sheol is the place of the dead.