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The king’s heart is in the LORD’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
Verse 1. It. Though it be free, and may resist grace or embrace virtue. Isaiah 45:22. Jeremiah 3:14 and 7:3. Joshua 24:23. Calmet.—Yet God knows how to turn the heart even of a king, so as to preserve his liberty, with the same ease as a gardener brings the streams of water to his plants. Menochius.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Verse 3. Mercy. Septuagint “justice and truth.” Bible. See Os. 6:6. Menochius.
A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Verse 4. Heart. Or when it is proud, it causes the eyes to appear so too. Calmet.—Lamp. Prot. “ploughing of the wicked is sin.” When it is done with a bad motive, out of pride. Hebrew “the haughtiness of the eyes, and the enlarging of the heart, are the labour (“tillage.” Mont. “thought.” Pagn.) of the wicked; yea, sin.” Bible.—Those things are their employment, and their sin. Calmet.—Septuagint and Vulg. may also mean, “sin is the lamp and exultation of the wicked.” Bible.
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
Verse 5. Sluggard. Hebrew “hasty man,” as the slothful is ironically styled. He would see his desires accomplished without labouring; and will never stick to work. This levity is most injurious to his advancement.
Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
Verse 6. Death. Their injustice shall be punished.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Verse 8. Strange. Unknown, impure way. Leviticus 10:1. Deuteronomy 17:15. Calmet.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Verse 9. Top, (domatis) as the roofs in Palestine were flat. Saint Jerome ad Sun.—Any inconvenience had better be endured, than to live with the quarrelsome. Menochius.
The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
Verse 10. Neighbour. Sym. “he has no idea of friendship.” Septuagint “he shall not be treated with mercy by any man.” Bible.
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Verse 11. Knowledge. These are the effects of chastisements and good company.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
Verse 12. Evil. He tries every expedient to save him.—That. Septuagint “he despises.” Sym. “throws down.”
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
Verse 14. Bosom. In private. Calmet.—They put all valuable things in the bosom. Bible.
It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
Verse 15. To do judgment. Or to see it done, while the wicked depend only on the corruption of their judges.
The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
Verse 16. Giants, in hell. Calmet. 15:11. Job 26:5. Ezekiel 22:21.
He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
Verse 17. Rich. Economy is constantly recommended. Calmet.—Those who squandered away their goods, were fined by the Areopagites. Athen. iv. 19.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
Verse 18. Righteous. Many are deterred from wickedness by the punishment of malefactors, whose injuries are frequently irreparable. God abandoned Pharao and Aman to save his people. He treated them as victims of wrath. Isaiah 43:3.
It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
Verse 20. Treasure of provisions. Temporal blessings were promised as a figure of more lasting ones, which are set before Christians.
He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
Verse 22. Thereof. Nothing can resist. Matthew 12:29. Eccle. 9:16. Calmet.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Verse 23. Mouth, from eating too much. Lyran.
The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
Verse 24. Ignorant. Hebrew “a scoffer.” Septuagint “pestilent.” Bible.—Such a one is always actuated by pride, when he attempts to turn good advice and religion to ridicule.
The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
Verse 25. At all. Hence his desires of riches and wisdom prove fruitless. Calmet. 13:4.
There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
Verse 27. Wickedness. Hebrew “with an evil thought.” Mont. Sirach 34:24. Bible.
A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
Verse 28. Obedient. Attentive, faithful witness, shall speak with triumph, or he who obeys the law, shall gain the victory over the devil, and so forth Philippians 2:8.
A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
Verse 29. Face. Never blushing, or yielding to good advice.
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
Verse 31. Battle. It was kept for no other purpose by the eastern nations, who used oxen to till the land; asses and camels to carry burdens. Job 39:18. Psalms 19:8 and 32:17. Calmet.