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Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Verse 1. Victims. Of which part was used for a feast. Calmet. 7:14. Calmet.—Septuagint add, “of many goods, and unjust victims.” Bible.
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
Verse 2. Brethren. Partaking with them, (Abenezra. Tirinus. Menochius.) or rather acting as his master’s executor; which evinces the advantages of wisdom, so as to raise a slave above those whom his station requires him to serve. Such was Joseph, who was tried.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.
An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Verse 4. Lips. They mutually deceive one another, as well as others.
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.
Verse 6. Fathers. Whose virtues they are bound to imitate.
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
Verse 7. Eloquent. Septuagint “faithful.” They cannot be expected from them.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
Verse 8. Expecteth heavenly things. Septuagint “instruction is the reward of good deeds to those who use it.”
He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
Verse 9. Friends. Detractors cause dissensions, and even wars.
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
Verse 10. Fools. “A word is enough for the wise.” Nobilis equus umbra virgæ regitur, ignavus ne calcari quidem. Q. Curt.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Verse 11. Angel. Messenger of death, ( Menochius.) which is sometimes inflicted by good, at others by bad, angels of death, or satan. 2 Corinthians 12:7. Psalms 77:49.
Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Verse 12. Fool. Hebrew “fool in his folly.” The danger is not greater in meeting ( Calmet.) a female bear, though it be the most terrible. Arist. Anim. ix. 1.
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
Verse 14. Water. It is scarcely possible to prevent the bad effects of detraction. Frequent quarrels have also risen on account of springs. Genesis 26:20.—Judgment. And gives up the cause, as being much more prudent. Matthew 5:25. 40.
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Verse 15. God. We ought to suspend our judgment, or incline to the more favourable side. Matthew 7:1. Romans 2:1.
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
Verse 16. He, and so forth is not here in Hebrew though it be equivalently (verse 19) where the Septuagint are silent. Calmet.
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
Verse 17. Distress. Like the real friend. Calmet. 18:24.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
Verse 18. Hands. Through joy, or as a mark of his consent.
He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
Verse 19. Door. Sixtus V. reads, “mouth:” as some explain the door to mean. A large door supposes that the house is elevated, and thus exposed to danger from winds, and so forth
One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
Verse 24. Earth. Wandering and insatiable, and deeming the acquisition of wisdom too difficult.
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
Verse 26. No good. But very criminal. See Jeremiah 7:31.
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
Verse 27. Precious and reserved spirit. This is a mark of wisdom. Calmet.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.