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A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Verse 1. Fury. This was seen in Nabal and Roboam, while Gideon and Abigail shewed the good effects of a mild answer. Judith 8:1 and 1 Kennicott. 10:25 and 3 Kennicott. 12:11.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly.
Verse 2. Knowledge. It requires to be proposed in a proper manner.
The LORD’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
Verse 4. Life. This comparison was become proverbial for something very excellent. Immoderate. Hebrew “perverse.” Calmet.—Evil discourse kills the souls both of those who speak, and of those who pay attention to it. Bible.
A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
Verse 5. In abundant, and so forth Is omitted in Hebrew Chal. and many Greek and Latin copies. The same idea is expressed in the following verse.
In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
Verse 7. Unlike. The wise, or themselves. Hebrew and Septuagint “inconstant.”
The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Verse 8. Wicked. Still unconverted. Sirach 34:23. When they repent, and offer sacrifice with sincerity, they will obtain mercy. The Donatists abused this text, to prove that baptism conferred by wicked ministers was unavailing. But Saint Augustine shewed them, that Christ was the principal agent, and conferred grace, even though the minister might draw down judgments on his own head. Con. Parm. ii. 6.—Even pagans confessed, that sacrifices, without virtue, could afford no benefit. “God was more pleased with the prayers of the Lacedemonians, than with all the sacrifices of the Greeks,” say the idolatrous priests in Plato, Alcib. ii. Seneca de Ben. i. 5.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die.
Verse 10. Instruction. Hebrew “a heavy punishment.” Bible.—The mind which gives way to vice, must have embraced some false doctrine.
Sheol and Abaddon are before the LORD— how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
Verse 11. Before. Naked. The state of the damned is known to God. Calmet. 9:18. Calmet.
Sheol is the place of the dead.
A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
Verse 13. Down. Compunction is salutary, but worldly grief blameable. Calmet. 25:20 and 2 Corinthians 7:10. Saint Gregory past. ii. 10.
The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
Verse 15. Feast. Those who repine at their condition are miserable; while the poor may be delivered from many cares. Calmet.—
O vitæ tuta facultas
Pauperis angustique laris. Luc. Phar. v.
—Under affliction every thing displeases; but all delights the cheerful temper.
Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.
Verse 16. Content. Septuagint “fear.” Hebrew “with trouble,” which is preferable. 1 Timothy 6:6.
Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.
Verse 17. Calf. Or feast after sacrifice. 1 Kennicott. 17:19. Lu. 15:23.
A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.
Verse 19. Thorns. All seems to them impossible. Calmet.—In agriculture, however, ( Bible.) “in domestic affairs, negligence is attended with more labour than diligence.” Colum. 12:2.
A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.
Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
Verse 21. Fool. He thinks himself the most happy of mortals. Calmet.—Septuagint “the ways of the fools are senseless.” Bible.
Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
Verse 22. Counsel. Hebrew “secrecy.”—Established. We put in execution without fear, what has been resolved maturely. Calmet.
Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.
Verse 24. Above. Lit. “upon the learned.” Bible.—One path leads to the realms above. Calmet.—The wise must be intent on God. Menochius.
Sheol is the place of the dead.
The LORD will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
Verse 26. Shall by, and so forth is not added in Hebrew and so forth nor in several Latin MSS.
He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
Verse 27. Troubleth. With all sorts of temporal misfortunes. A judge who receives bribes, is accursed. Exodus 23:8.—By, and so forth is not here in Hebrew but chapter 16:6. S. Cyprian (3 Test.) found it in his copy.—Faith, or fidelity and truth, as it is elsewhere expressed. Calmet. 3:3. These virtues move God to pardon.
The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
Verse 28. Studieth. And speaks deliberately. Septuagint Rom. is more embarrassed in the rest of this, and the nine first verses of the following chapter, than the Complut. edition.
The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
Verse 30. Fat. And contributes to health. By less noble motives, the mind is gradually raised to the more excellent.
The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
Verse 33. Lesson. Or “what teacheth.” Humility, or docility, as those who acknowledge no master will never be wise. Matthew 23:12. Calmet.