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A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
Verse 1. Good. Hebrew “a name,” or reputation. Bible.—It is preferable to riches, but not to be compared with virtue, which is the only solid good; and even to be placed above riches, it must be well grounded. Calmet.—Favour with all. Bible.
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is the maker of them all.
Verse 2. Another. They stand in need of one another. Saint John Chrysostom hom. xxxiv. in 1 Cor.—They are equal in God’s sight, who only values real virtue. He disposes of riches, so that the poor may one day become rich. Calmet.
A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
Verse 4. Fruit. Lit. “the end of modesty, ( Bible.) or moderation, which must accompany every virtue.
Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.
Verse 5. Perverse. They are always in danger and in trouble.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Verse 6. It is a proverb, is added by S. Jerom, to make the sentence more striking.—It. He is like a tender plant, ( Calmet.) or wax, or a new vessel.
Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem
Testa diu. Hor. ep. i. ad Lol.
—“Shall wool regain its whiteness after it has been dyed purple?” Saint Jerome ad Lætam.—Hebrew “initiate a young,” and so forth Proportion your lessons to his capacity, and make him relish them.
The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
Verse 7. Servant. He might be sold, and so forth Exodus 22:3. Matthew 18:25. Gell. xx. 1. Plato (Leg. viii.) would have nothing sold on credit. These laws appear to be severe; but they are founded on wisdom, as nothing impoverishes more than the facility of borrowing.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
Verse 8. Consumed. Or beaten with the flail of God’s anger.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
Verse 9. Is. Hebrew “has a good eye,” in opposition to the evil, or malicious one. Matthew 20:15.—He, and so forth is not in Hebrew or in the Lat. edit. of Comp. and Saint Jerome
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
Verse 11. He. Septuagint “the Lord loveth pious hearts. All the irreproachable are acceptable to him. The king feeds with lips,” by his just ordinances. Bible.—Kings hate duplicity; but require that the truth should be disclosed to them in a suitable manner.
The LORD’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
Verse 13. Streets. Vain excuses of sloth!
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.
Verse 14. It. Debauchery resembles hell. Calmet. 23:23. Calmet.—Facilis descensus Averni, and so forth Æn. vi.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Verse 15. Folly. Ignorance and innate corruption are corrected by a good education.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
Verse 17. Incline. Thus Solomon concludes his discourse, (chapter 24:23) in the same manner as he began it, to chap. 10. Some commence the third book of Proverbs in this place; others, chapter 25. Calmet.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
Verse 18. Lips. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the LORD.
Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Verse 20. Ways. Repeatedly. Boss. Tirinus. 2 Corinthians 12:8. Amos 1:11. Calmet.—Prot. “have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge?” “Shalishim,” perfect, (Pagn.) or “three things,” (Mont.) means also ( Bible.) such as might suit princes and great officers. Calmet.
To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
Verse 21. Sent. Septuagint “are sent to thee.” Thou mayst become a teacher, ( Bible.) or give satisfaction to thy parents, who have sent thee to my school. Calmet.
Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
Verse 22. Gate. Where judges passed sentence. Menochius.
for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
Verse 25. Soul. By imitating him, or by falling a victim to his rage.
Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Verse 26. Hands. Engaging to stand bond. Bible. chapter 6:1.—Such a one might be required to pay the debt. Calmet. 20:16.
If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
Verse 28. Set. The pagans made a god of Terminus, to prevent disputes. Ovid. Fast. ii.—If it be unlawful to disturb land-marks, how much more so is it to give way to novelty in religion? Deuteronomy 19:14. Calmet.—Solomon is addressing those who follow the true faith. Else the conduct of infidel ancestors should not deter any from embracing the truth. Bible.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
Verse 29. Obscure. By industry he shall raise himself to notice. Bible.—Kings employ those who are most active. Calmet.