Proverbs
Verse 1. Glory and power. A fool in a high office will endanger himself and the public; ( Calmet.) while the virtuous, seeing that merit is not regarded, will not push themselves forward. Æschines.
EXPLANATIONS
Proverbs 26
Historical chapter commentary
Proverbs
Verse 2. As a bird, and so forth The meaning is, that a curse uttered without cause shall do no harm to the person that is cursed, but will return upon him that curseth; as whithersoever a bird flies, it returns to its own nest. Challoner.—Come. Chal. “shall not come in vain,” if it be just, like that of Noe, Josue, and so forth Hebrew “shall not come” ( Calmet.) to the person against whom it is uttered, though God will not hold the curser guiltless, as the Vulg. intimates. Bible. Curses, anathemas, and so forth vented without reason, do not injure any but those who denounce them. Yet out of respect for ecclesiastical authority, those who are under censures, must abstain from their functions till they be absolved. Calmet.
Proverbs
Verse 3. Snaffle. “Bit,” or muzzle, (camus) to prevent the animal from biting. Bible.—Septuagint Arab. and so forth “a goad for an ass.” But metheg denotes a bridle. (Mont. Bible.) asses being there very large, and commonly used for riding. Calmet. 13:13. Calmet.
Proverbs
Verse 4. Answer not a fool, and so forth that is so as to imitate him; but only so as to reprove his folly. Challoner.—If thou answer at all, (verse 5) do it to the purpose, and to prevent others from taking scandal, ( Calmet.) as well as to humble the wicked, for his good. Bible.
Proverbs
Verse 6. Iniquity. He is exposed to shame, (Sept.) and must condemn his own folly. Calmet.
Proverbs
Verse 7. Fair. Hebrew “unequal legs,” or “lifted up,” so, and so forth Bible.
Proverbs
Verse 8. Mercury. The god of travellers, who were wont to throw a stone at the foot of his statue, as the Indians (Vincent. Bellor. xxiv.) and Arabs did. Mahomet would not disturb this superstitious custom. The Rabbins style these statues Mercolis. But Septuagint and so forth give another sense, “as he that bindeth a stone ( Calmet.) in the boss of a ring, σφενδονη, ( Menochius.) or in a sling,” can do no good, but only endanger himself or others, “so,” and so forth Yet margema is never used elsewhere for a sling, and it means undoubtedly “a heap of stones,” ( Calmet.) as Mont. substitutes instead of “the sling,” in Pagn. “As a small piece of precious stone in a heap of stones is lost, so,” and so forth Pole. Syn. Parkhurst in rogom. Bible.—Honour, or an office, in which he may do harm. Calmet.
Proverbs
Verse 9. If. Hebrew “as a thorn goeth up into the,” and so forth Prot. Bible.—If he attempt to handle or to extract one, he will wound himself the more, as the fool would render truth and wisdom contemptible. Calmet.—Parable. Septuagint “but slavery in the hands of fools” groweth up. Bible.
Proverbs
Verse 10. Anger, and prevent lawsuits. Hebrew is variously read and translated. Calmet.—Prot. “the great God, that formed all things, both rewardeth the fool and rewardeth the transgressors.” Marg. “a great man giveth all, and he hireth the fool,” and so forth Septuagint “all the flesh of fools is exposed to many storms, for their excess is punished.” Bible.
Proverbs
Verse 11. Dog. This is the only animal which is known to do so. Saint Peter uses this comparison to deter any from renouncing the faith; as the Fathers do, to shew the misery attending a relapse. Septuagint here add, “there is a confusion,” and so forth taken from Sirach 4:25. Calmet.
Proverbs
Verse 12. Fool. The ignorant may be convinced that he wants instruction. Calmet.—But “none are worse than the half-learned.” Quintil. i. John 5:21.
Proverbs
Verse 14. Bed, which he will scarcely leave, though avarice push him forward. Saint Augustine ser. xxii. or clxiv.
Proverbs
Verse 16. Seven, or many wise men, who used to speak in a sententious manner. Calmet.—So seven is used, verse 25.
Proverbs
Verse 17. Anger. Hebrew “passeth by, and meddleth with a quarrel not ot him” pertaining. Bible.—Such expose themselves foolishly to danger. Great discretion is requisite to reconcile those at variance.
Proverbs
Verse 19. Jest. He will not escape, no more than the person who had committed murder involuntarily, if he were not in a city of refuge. Numbers 35:22.
Proverbs
Verse 20. Faileth. Hebrew Sym. Calmet. “aboundeth, the fire is bright, or flourisheth.” Septuagint Bible.
Proverbs
Verse 23. Dross. Hence the proud will be detested, and appear contemptible.
Proverbs
Verse 24. Lips. He will speak of what he hates much.
Proverbs
Verse 26. Deceitfully. Hebrew “in desolation.” He will cringe, but when he finds an opportunity, he will discover his evil designs. Calmet.
Proverbs
Verse 27. Him. “Bad advice is worst to him who gives it.” Varro. Rust. iii. 22.