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Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Verse 1. House. Giving her children a proper education, and taking care of her house. Calmet. 12:4 and Titus 2:5. Calmet.
He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
Verse 2. And, is not in Heb.—Is. Hebrew “but the perverse in his ways despiseth him;” ( Bible.) shewing by his conduct that he cares not for the Lord. Calmet.—Septuagint “he shall be dishonoured, that,” and so forth
The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
Verse 3. Pride. He chastiseth with haughtiness, and is ever quarrelling.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Verse 4. Empty. As the land has not bee cultivated. Bible.—Strength, or number of oxen. Calmet.—“The virtue of the preachers is manifested where there are many converted to produce fruit.” Saint Gregory vii. ep. viii.
A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
Verse 6. Not. Because they seek it ill, like the pagan sages. Septuagint “thou shalt seek wisdom among the wicked, and shalt not find it,” and so forth
Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
Verse 7. Prudence. Thou wilt presently perceive his weakness. Hebrew “abandon a,” and so forth He is not capable of hearing reason: keep at a distance.
The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
Verse 8. Way. This science of the saints is the only true wisdom.—Erreth. They are inconstant. Hebrew “is deceit.” They are bent on it.
Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.
Verse 9. Sin. Calmet. 10:23. Hebrew “excuse sin,” ( Calmet.) or “mock at sin,” ( Bible.) committed by others. Menochius.—Grace, or good-will. They are agreeable to all. Calmet.
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
Verse 10. Stranger. Such cannot well comfort the afflicted. A man is alone acquainted with the affections of his own heart. Septuagint “he mixeth not insult” (Sym.) “with strangers.”
The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Verse 12. Death. How many, under the garb of piety, follow their passions! How many are misled by their singularity, or by unskilful directors! Calmet.—We must suspect our own judgment. Menochius.—If any Turks, Jews, or heretics, lead a moral good life, it seemeth both to themselves and to other ignorant people that they are in the right way to salvation; but their error in faith leadeth them to eternal damnation. Worthington.—The persecutors thought they did God a service by putting the apostles to death. Will they be excused? Bible.
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
Verse 13. Laughter. Septuagint “with his counsels,” enjoying the content of a good conscience, and a heavenly reward; while the wicked, with all his self-approbation, shall be punished.
The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
Verse 14. Above him, Septuagint “with content sorrow is not mixed.” Bible.—Joy. Such is the condition of earthly things. Pind. Pyth. viii.
A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
Verse 15. Innocent. Good and unsuspecting; (Joshua 9:14 and 1 Corinthians 13:7) or rather credulous. 1 John 4:1. Calmet.—Septuagint “the man who is not bad.”—Steps. Septuagint “repenteth.” Bible.—No, and so forth This occurs (Calmet. 13:13) in several copies: but here it is omitted in Hebrew and so forth
A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.
Verse 17. Folly. Wrath betrays us into great extravagances.—Hateful. Hebrew also, “hateth” folly. Septuagint “the prudent beareth much.” Job 5:2. Calmet.
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
Verse 20. Many. “Riches make friends, poverty tries them.” Syrus.—False friends resemble swallows, which retire at the approach of winter. Cic. ad Heren. iv.
He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
Verse 21. He … mercy, is not found in Hebrew Greek, or Lat. MSS. Calmet.
Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
Verse 22. Truth. Those who are kind and faithful. Bible. Calmet. 3:3.—Septuagint add, ( Calmet.) as a second version, (Grabe) “the workers of evils understand not mercy and truth: but kind and faithful actions are with those who do good.”
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
Verse 24. Imprudence. This they always betray, while the wise use their riches to assist their fellow-creatures, and receive a crown of glory. Bible.
A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.
In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
Verse 28. King. Who formerly was styled “a shepherd,” to remind him of the care with which he ought to seek the welfare of his subjects. Calmet.
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
Verse 30. Bones. As a sound heart preserves the rest of the body, so a good intention often excuses from mortal sin, when the error is not gross. But envy corrupts the works which seem good, and which cannot bear a strict examination. Saint Gregory Mor. verse 34. Worthington.—Envy ruins the health. Menan. ap. Grot.—Septuagint “a too sensible heart is the,” and so forth This is beautiful; but not quite conformable to the Heb.
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
Verse 31. Him. God takes the poor under his special protection, (Matthew 25:40) and is the distributor of all riches. What would the rich do without the poor? Calmet.
The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
Verse 33. And. Prot. “but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.” Bible.—A vessel full of gold makes no noise, while that which contains only a few pieces sounds much. Munster. Corn. a Lap.—Thus the fool makes a parade of all that he knows. Calmet.—Septuagint “but in the heart of fools, it is not known.” Bible.—Aquila and Theodotion have the negation, ( Calmet.) as well as the Syr. and Arab. See chapter 5:16. Kennicott.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Verse 34. Miserable. This sentence ought to be engraven in all public places. Hebrew “and mercy the sinful people,” whom God spares on account of their alms-deeds, (Daniel 4:24) or “sin is the shame of peoples.” Calmet.—Montanus renders chesed mercy, and Pagnin “ignominy.” The former is scarcely intelligible, et misericordia populorum peccatum, unless sin be here taken for a sin-offering, ( Bible.) as it is by Vatab. Grot. and so forth Calmet.
The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
Verse 35. Nothing. Lit. “useless,” which often means bad. Bible.—A servant who does not discharge his duty is such. Hebrew “he that causeth to blush,” and has no economy. Calmet.—Septuagint “He removes shame by his good management. Anger destroys the prudent; but a mild,” and so forth Bible.