Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. Ointment. A fly cannot live in it. Pliny xi. 19.—Hence the smallest faults must be avoided, ( Calmet.) and superfluous cares, (Saint Gregory) as well as the conversation of the wicked, (Thaumat.) particularly of heretics. Saint Augustine con. Fulg. 14.—Detractors may be compared to flies: they seek corruption, and so forth A little leaven corrupteth the whole lump. 1 Corinthians 5:6. Calmet.—The wicked infect their companions, and vice destroys all former virtues. Worthington.—Wisdom, or “a small … folly is more precious than wisdom,” and so forth of the world. 1 Corinthians 1:25 and 3:18. Dulce est desipere in loco. Hor. iv. ode 12.—Hebrew “folly spoils things more precious than wisdom.” A small fault is often attended with the worst consequences, (Calmet. 9:18) as David and Roboam experienced. 2 Kennicott. 24 and 3 Kennicott. 12:14. Calmet.—Septuagint “a little wisdom is to be honoured above the great glory of foolishness.” Prot. “dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking flavour; so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” Bible.