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A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but accurate weights are his delight.
Verse 1. Balance. Both in commerce, (Deuteronomy 25:13. Calmet.) and in passing sentence on others. Ven. Bede.
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
Verse 2. Wisdom. God resists the proud. chapter 16:18 and 18:12 and Jam. 4:6.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
Verse 7. Solicitous. Or ambitious. Hebrew “the potent,” or Septuagint “the impious.”
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
Verse 8. For him. As comparatively nothing worth to his master. Calmet. 21:18. Isaiah 43:3
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
Verse 11. Overthrown. Ten just men would have saved Sodom. Achan alone threw all Israel into confusion. Calmet.
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
Verse 12. Mean. Lit. “indigent” of sense. Bible.—We must put up with some faults, as none are without. Hor. i. Sat. 3. Calmet.
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
Verse 13. Walketh. Septuagint “the double-tongued,” dissembler, or great talker. Calmet.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
Verse 15. That is. Hebrew “that hateth those who make agreements is secure.” Mont.
A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.
Verse 16. Gracious. Virtuous and beautiful, as God hath granted beauty also for good purposes. This and virtue tend to the advancement of women, while men can use their strength to acquire riches. Calmet.—Glory. Septuagint Syr. and Arab. add, “of her husband. But she that hateth righteousness is a throne of disgrace. The slothful, though rich, shall come to poverty; but the laborious shall retain their riches.” Two hemistics seem to be lost in Hebrew Kennicott.—Most of the additions in the Septuagint are only glosses, or useless repetitions, ( Calmet.) though they seem not to be so in this place. Bible.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
Verse 17. Kindred. Hebrew “flesh.” Genesis 29:14. The miser is cruel even to himself.
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
Verse 21. In hand. At rest, or making agreements. God will punish the race of the wicked.
or, seed
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
Verse 22. Foolish. Beauty, without prudence, leads to ruin, as ornaments are ill bestowed on swine. The women in the east sometimes wore rings in their noses, (Genesis 24:22. Calmet.) or hanging down upon them. Isaiah 3:21. Menochius.
The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
Verse 24. Others. Moderation is always requisite. Hebrew “there is one withholding from rectitude, yet for a defect,” (Mont.) being too saving, he is a loser. Bible.—Avarice does not always increase riches. Calmet.
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
Verse 25. Himself. He shall receive abundantly. 2 Corinthians 9:6. The beneficent shall be amply rewarded both in this world and in the next.
People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
Verse 26. Corn. In times of scarcity. See Amos 8:7.
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
Verse 29. House. By his profligacy, or law-suits, shall be impoverished, (verse 17. Calmet.) or if he act with violence, he will make his house empty. Sirach 4:35. Menochius.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
Verse 30. Life. Producing excellent fruits of virtue and edification.
Behold, the righteous shall be repaid on the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Verse 31. Receive. Punishment, for almost inevitable faults, or be treated according to his deserts. Septuagint Syr. and Arab. “if the just be hardly saved, where shall the impious and the sinner appear?” 1 Peter 4:18. Calmet.—Afflictions attend the just in this life. Shall the wicked escape? Menochius.