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A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
Verse 1. Doctrine. Or he gives proof of his good education, ( Calmet.) and excites even his father to advance in piety. Ven. Bede.—Septuagint “is obedient to his father; but the disobedient son is in destruction.” Bible.
By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.
Verse 2. Mouth. In reward of his good speeches. Calmet.—Septuagint “of justice the good man eateth; but the souls of the lawless perish before the time.” Calmet. 12:13.
He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Verse 3. Hath. Hebrew “who openeth his lips inconsiderately, is lost. Judges 11:35. Bible.
The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
Verse 4. Willeth not. Hebrew “hath not.” He only desires riches, or to be converted, and will not labour. Calmet. 21:25. Sirach 5:8.
A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
Verse 5. Confounded. The detractor is like swine, stirring up dirt. Saint John Chrysostom 32. ad Pop.—The liar is not believed, even when he speaks the truth. Aristot.
Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
Verse 6. Sinner. Sym. “draweth on sin.” Virtue is the best safeguard.
There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
Verse 7. Riches. Such was Saint Paul. 2 Corinthians 6:10. Some affect to be rich, while others are never satisfied. Semper avarus eget. Lazarus was very rich in God’s sight.
The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.
Verse 8. Reprehension. Or is not able to defend himself, like the rich. Calmet.—He is not exposed so much to great revolutions. Bayn.
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
Verse 9. Out. They are hated as well as their offspring. Calmet.
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.
Verse 10. Contentions. As none will yield. Menochius.—Hebrew “only by pride cometh contention.” Prot.—“Pride is the mother of all sects.” Saint Augustine
Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
Verse 11. Haste. Hebrew “by vanity,” and injustice. Those who become rich on a sudden fall under suspicion, as a Roman objected to Sylla, who had inherited nothing. Plut.—By little. Hebrew “he that gathereth by labour, (Septuagint piety) shall increase.” Prot. Bible.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
Verse 12. Hope. Septuagint “(the just shews mercy and lends) better is he who begins heartily to assist, than he who promises and leads to hope. For a bad (Grabe substitutes good) desire is a tree of life.”—Soul. Prot. “maketh the heart sick.” Bible.—The pain increases in proportion to our eager desire. Calvin maintains, that the souls of the blessed are not yet in heaven, but hope: and of course he would establish a sort of purgatory for them. Bible.
Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
Verse 13. Come. To defend what he has asserted, or to pass for a liar. Hebrew “shall be destroyed by it.” Mont. Bible.—Those who despise God’s order shall perish.—Deceitful, and so forth This is not in Hebrew nor in some of the Lat. edit. Calmet.—Septuagint “to the deceitful son nothing shall be good. But the ways of the wise servant shall prosper, and his paths shall be made straight.” Calmet. 14:15. Bible.
The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.
Verse 14. That. Septuagint “but the fool is slain in the snare.” Bible.
Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
Verse 15. Grace. God assists those who strive to be well instructed. Calmet.
Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
Verse 17. Of the. Hebrew “a wicked ambassador.” A king generally chooses people like himself. Menochius.—Septuagint have read melec. “A rash king shall,” and so forth
Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
Verse 18. To him. Hebrew “destroy discipline,” so that the most wretched are often noted for immorality. Septuagint “instruction takes away poverty,” as “the whole earth supports the man that has a trade,” τεχνιον, according to the Greek proverb. Calmet.
Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
Verse 19. That is. Septuagint “of the pious, but the works of the impious are far from knowledge.” Bible.
One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Verse 20. Become. Septuagint “be known.” A person’s disposition may be seen by the company which he frequents.
Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
Verse 22. Heirs. This was more observable under the old law: yet we often seem the distress to which the unjust are exposed. De male quæsitis non gaudet tertius hæres. Calmet.
An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.
Verse 23. Fathers. Heirs often lose their property by their misconduct. Hebrew and ( Bible.) Chal. read, “of the poor,” who till their land better than those who have too large farms. Menochius.—Nature requires but little. Calmet.—Septuagint “the just shall spend many years in affluence: but the unjust are cut off at once.” Bible.
One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
Verse 24. Betimes. God has always treated his friends in this manner, to preserve them from sin, or to increase their reward. Calmet.
The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.