As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 20. And. Prot. “as he that taketh away a, and so forth and as vinegar … to a heavy heart.” Bible.—The former sentence may be joined with the preceding, as it is improper to deprive a person of his garment, no less than to trust in the faithless; though some would suppose ( Calmet.) that this conduct, as well as the mixing of vinegar with nitre, is no less absurd than to attempt to relieve by music those who are extremely afflicted. Sirach 22:6. Tirinus.—But Solomon does not speak of such, but only of those who are “heavy;” and we know that music has wonderful efficacy in relieving them, (1 Kennicott. 16:17) in like manner as this mixture serves to cleanse the skin and garments, (Jeremiah 2:22. Calmet.) and to purify the ears, when they are deafish. Pliny xxxi. 10. Vales. lx.—As a, and so forth is not in Hebrew Saint Jerome and so forth Calmet.—The Chal. has the latter part, ( Bible.) “grief tries the heart, as fire does silver. As the worm eats wood, so folly,” and so forth Calmet.