Proverbs
Verse 2. Lips. All hate affectation and vanity. John 5:41.
EXPLANATIONS
Proverbs 27
Historical chapter commentary
Proverbs
Verse 3. Both. He is insupportable to himself and to others. Sirach 22:17.
Proverbs
Verse 4. And who. Septuagint “but envy (zeal) beareth nothing.” The more we yield to the envious, the more he is offended at our good behaviour.
Proverbs
Verse 5. Love. Which can be of no service to us, while reproof may cause us to amend.
Proverbs
Verse 6. Enemy. Joab slew Amasa, while he kissed him. 2 Kennicott. 20:9. Matthew 26:48. True friendship is not attentive to outward appearances.
Proverbs
Verse 8. Place, or vocation, like the prodigal son, Lu. 15. The Israelites were much attached to their own country, where they might practise the true religion. Calmet.
Proverbs
Verse 9. And. Septuagint add, “wine and incense … but accidents tear the soul.” Bible.
Proverbs
Verse 10. Affliction. He will be less compassionate than a tried friend.—Better, and so forth This daily experience evinces. “Those who purchase land, should consider if there be plenty of water, and a neighbour.” Pliny xviii. 5.—The Persians honour most those who live nearest to them. Herod. i. 134.
Proverbs
Verse 11. Thou. Hebrew Complut. and Sixtus V. “I may,” and so forth Septuagint “and cast reproaches from thee.”
Proverbs
Verse 14. In the night. Or “early in the morning,” de nocte, as the Hebrew implies.—Curseth. His importunity will be equally displeasing. Bible.—Flattery is dangerous, ( Calmet.) and unworthy of a free man. Cic. de Amic.
Proverbs
Verse 16. Hand. As it will flow away, such as woman is commonly incorrigible. Calmet.
Proverbs
Verse 17. Sharpeneth. Or instructeth. Fungar vice cotis. Hor. Art.
Proverbs
Verse 18. Glorified. He who serves his master well shall be promoted.
Proverbs
Verse 19. Are. Hebrew “to men.” Our hearts have all something similar. Calmet.—Septuagint “as faces are not like each other, so neither are the hearts of men.” They have all come peculiarity. Bible.—But this agrees not with the original.
Proverbs
Verse 20. Destruction. Hebrew abaddo, or abadon. Calmet. 15:11. Revelation 9:11. People die, and are plunged in hell daily.—Eyes. Avarice and ambition. Sirach 14:9.
Proverbs
Verse 21. Praiseth. If he be not puffed up, or if all agree in his praises, we may conclude that they are well founded.—The, and so forth is not in Hebrew Comp. Saint Jerome or Chal. and destroys the connection.
Proverbs
Verse 22. Mortar. Such were used by those who could not afford handmills. Calmet.
Proverbs
Verse 23. Flocks. John 10:3. Sirach 7:24. This may be applied to pastors.
Proverbs
Verse 24. Generation. Thou wilt be cited as an example of prudence, if thou hast forseen the change of thy affairs, and provided for it. In the east it was not unusual to see a general of an army reduced to the meanest condition, and economy is necessary for all.
Proverbs
Verse 26. Field. If thou wishest to purchase, or to pay the workmen.
Proverbs
Verse 27. Milk. We cannot but admire such frugality. Septuagint are rather different. Calmet. verse 25, “Be careful of the grass of thy field … that thou mayst have lambs for thy clothing. Honour the field, that there may be lambs for thee. 27 Son, thou hast from me solid instructions for thy life, and for that of thy servants.” Bible.
Proverbs
Sheol is the place of the dead.