Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Pride. We are naturally prone to it, and the friendship and manners of the proud will increase it. Calmet.—If, therefore, the rich be not virtuous, it is dangerous to keep their company, ( Worthington.) both for this and the next world.
Verse 3. Kettle. Made of iron. It will presently be broken. So the poor must suffer, if they marry, or have society with those who are much above their rank. Calmet.
Verse 7. Thou? Distrust those who promise much. Calmet.—Spem pretio non emo. Ter.
Verse 8. Drawn. Lit. “exhaust.” Bible.—He will feast thee, while he wants thy service, or he will come to dine with thee, and thus reduce thee to distress. Proverbs 23:1. Calmet.
Verse 10. Humbled. By foolishly attempting to rival the sumptuous feasts of the great. V. 9 and 11 are not in the Greek. Bible.
Verse 11. Wisdom. Depend not on others’ bounty. Menochius.—When the cause of God is at stake, be firm, like Saint Paul. Calmet.—Pusillanimity in a superior might cause him to neglect his duty. Worthington.
Verse 14. Concerning, and so forth is not expressed in Greek Bible.—If a person be so weak as to disclose his secret to a great man, he will never be trusted by him. Calmet.
Verse 17. Awake. Be cautious even in sleep, if possible; or seem not to hear what passes at court. Calmet.
Verse 19. Himself. Similarity of manners and of condition is favourable to friendship. Calmet.—The good and bad cannot be friends, their manners are so different. Cic.
Verse 21. Lamb. Christ has taught people of different tempers to embrace the faith, which shows his admirable power. Isaiah 11:6.
Verse 25. Away. Psalms 61:4. Calmet.—“It is human to push those who are falling.” Cic. pro Rabir.
Verse 26. Helpers. Who prevent his ruin, ( Calmet.) and turn his words to good sense. Menochius.—Proud. Greek “what should not be disclosed,” απορρητα. Bible. Calmet.—Their “fault increases, being fed by applause.” Saint Gregory Mor. iv. 29.
Verse 28. Clouds. People suppose that the rich must possess genius. Hor. ii. Sat. iii.—“Every one honours the rich.” Theog. Calmet.—Exception of persons hinders many good counsels, and promotes evil. Worthington.
Verse 30. Ungodly. The abuse of riches is alone blameable. All things are clean for the clean, while the wicked perverts every advantage.
Verse 31. Evil. Sorrow will manifest itself. Calmet.—Imago animi vultus. Cic. Decorat. iii.
Verse 32. Find. Few are perfectly sincere. Calmet.—Greek “a cheerful countenance is the vestige of a heart in good things, ( Bible. prosperity. Menochius.) and the discovery of parables is the effect of laborious enquiries.” Bible.—Study makes the countenance serious. Calmet.
Greek along with.
The remainder of verse 13, and verse 14, are omitted by the best authorities.
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.