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He who touches pitch will be defiled. He who has fellowship with a proud man will become like him.
Verse 1. Pride. We are naturally prone to it, and the friendship and manners of the proud will increase it. Calmet.—If, therefore, the rich be not virtuous, it is dangerous to keep their company, ( Worthington.) both for this and the next world.
Don’t take up a burden above your strength. Have no fellowship with one who is mightier and richer than yourself. What fellowship would the earthen pot have with the kettle? The kettle will strike, and the pot will be dashed in pieces.
The rich man does a wrong and threatens. The poor is wronged and apologizes.
Verse 3. Kettle. Made of iron. It will presently be broken. So the poor must suffer, if they marry, or have society with those who are much above their rank. Calmet.
If you are profitable, he will exploit you. If you are in need, he will forsake you.
If you own something, he will live with you. He will drain your resources and will not be sorry.
Does he need you? Then he will deceive you, smile at you, and give you hope. He will speak kindly to you and say, “What do you need?”
He will shame you by his delicacies until he has made you bare twice or thrice, and in the end he will laugh you to scorn. Afterward he will see you, will forsake you, and shake his head at you.
Verse 7. Thou? Distrust those who promise much. Calmet.—Spem pretio non emo. Ter.
Beware that you are not deceived and brought low in your enjoyment.
Verse 8. Drawn. Lit. “exhaust.” Bible.—He will feast thee, while he wants thy service, or he will come to dine with thee, and thus reduce thee to distress. Proverbs 23:1. Calmet.
If a mighty man invites you, be reserved, and he will invite you more.
Don’t press him, lest you be thrust back. Don’t stand far off, lest you be forgotten.
Verse 10. Humbled. By foolishly attempting to rival the sumptuous feasts of the great. V. 9 and 11 are not in the Greek. Bible.
Don’t try to speak with him as an equal, and don’t believe his many words; for he will test you with much talk, and will examine you in a smiling manner.
Verse 11. Wisdom. Depend not on others’ bounty. Menochius.—When the cause of God is at stake, be firm, like Saint Paul. Calmet.—Pusillanimity in a superior might cause him to neglect his duty. Worthington.
He who doesn’t keep secrets to himself is unmerciful. He won’t hesitate to harm and to bind.
Keep them to yourself and be careful, for you walk in danger of falling.
Greek along with.
Every living creature loves its own kind, and every man loves his neighbor.
All flesh associates with their own kind. A man will stick to people like himself.
What fellowship would the wolf have with the lamb? So is the sinner to the godly.
Verse 17. Awake. Be cautious even in sleep, if possible; or seem not to hear what passes at court. Calmet.
What peace is there between a hyena and a dog? What peace is there between a rich man and the poor?
Wild donkeys are the prey of lions in the wilderness; likewise poor men are feeding grounds for the rich.
Verse 19. Himself. Similarity of manners and of condition is favourable to friendship. Calmet.—The good and bad cannot be friends, their manners are so different. Cic.
Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; likewise a poor man is an abomination to the rich.
When a rich man is shaken, he is supported by his friends, but when the humble is down, he is pushed away even by his friends.
Verse 21. Lamb. Christ has taught people of different tempers to embrace the faith, which shows his admirable power. Isaiah 11:6.
When a rich man falls, there are many helpers. He speaks things not to be spoken, and men justify him. A humble man falls, and men rebuke him. He utters wisdom, and is not listened to.
A rich man speaks, and all keep silence. They extol what he says to the clouds. A poor man speaks, and they say, “Who is this?” If he stumbles, they will help to overthrow him.
Riches are good if they have no sin. Poverty is evil only in the opinion of the ungodly.
The heart of a man changes his countenance, whether it is for good or for evil.
Verse 25. Away. Psalms 61:4. Calmet.—“It is human to push those who are falling.” Cic. pro Rabir.
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
A cheerful countenance is a sign of a prosperous heart. Devising proverbs takes strenuous thinking.
Verse 26. Helpers. Who prevent his ruin, ( Calmet.) and turn his words to good sense. Menochius.—Proud. Greek “what should not be disclosed,” απορρητα. Bible. Calmet.—Their “fault increases, being fed by applause.” Saint Gregory Mor. iv. 29.