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He who fears the Lord will do this. He who has possession of the law will obtain her.
Verse 1. Good. Greek “these things, and he who possess the knowledge of the law will find her,” ( Calmet.) or, “he who keeps the law, will receive her.” Grabe. 1 Corinthians 4:20. Bible.—All who resolve to be virtuous, will have God’s grace, which preventeth them, and continueth to afford them assistance. Worthington.
She will meet him like a mother, and receive him like a wife married in her virginity.
Verse 2. Married. Lit. “from virginity.” Bible.—Those who have been espoused in youth have the most durable love for one another. Proverbs 2:17. Malachi 2:14. Calmet.
She will feed him with bread of understanding and give him water of wisdom to drink.
He will be stayed upon her, and will not be moved. He will rely upon her, and will not be confounded.
She will exalt him above his neighbors. She will open his mouth in the midst of the congregation.
Verse 5. She. Or Greek “he shall open his mouth, (6) he shall find joy and a crown of exultation, and shall inherit,” and so forth Bible.—Church, or assembly of the people. In both, the wise shall be heard with respect. Calmet.
He will inherit joy, a crown of gladness, and an everlasting name.
Foolish men will not obtain her. Sinners will not see her.
She is far from pride. Liars will not remember her.
Praise is not attractive in the mouth of a sinner; for it was not sent to him from the Lord.
Verse 9. Praise. Or Greek “a proverb,” Proverbs 17:7 and 26:7. Calmet.—David invites even dragons to praise God, but sinners never. Saint John Chrysostom orat. prebyt. Psalms 49:16.—The person who preaches will, and lives not accordingly, injures God. Worthington.
For praise will be spoken in wisdom; The Lord will prosper it.
Verse 10. Wisdom. Greek “it was not sent to him, ( Calmet.) or he was not commissioned by the Lord. For praise shall be spoken in wisdom, and the Lord will give him success.”
Don’t say, “It is through the Lord that I fell away;” for you shall not do the things that he hates.
Verse 11. She. Ignorance and vice are defects, and consequently not the work of God, but of the perversion of free-will. See Jam. 1:13. Ezekiel 33:11. Saint Augustine Grat. &. lib. ii. Calmet.—Beza says, that God ordained Adam’s fall, but for a good end; and decreed justly what men unjustly perform, (ref. Castel. ii.) which is refuted here, and Deuteronomy 7:11. and so forth Worthington.
Don’t say, “It is he that caused me to err;” for he has no need of a sinful man.
The Lord hates every abomination; and those who fear him don’t love them.
He himself made man from the beginning and left him in the hand of his own counsel.
Verse 14. Counsel. Many explain this of Adam, before his fall, when he stood not in need of asking continually for God’s assistance. Saint Augustine correp. ii. n. 35.—But if we examine the context, it shews that man, in his present state, is declared inexcusable if he yield to sin, as he has still free-will, which may avoid it, with the grace of God, ( Calmet.) which is always ready to support us. Greek subjoins, (verse 16.) “if thou wilt, thou shall keep the commandments, even to execute faithfully the good pleasure. (17.) He.” and so forth Bible.
If you choose, you can keep the commandments. To be faithful is a matter of your choice.
Verse 15. Precepts. These would never be imposed, if man were not free. Calmet.
He has set fire and water before you. You will stretch forth your hand to whichever you desire.
Before man is life and death. Whichever he likes, it will be given to him.
Verse 17. And fire. Or, good and evil, as the Vulg. explains it, (verse 18) though the Greek be silent. Bible.—The law written on the heart, as well as on the tables of stone, shews man his duty; and he has free-will to comply with it. Deuteronomy 30:15. Jeremiah 21:8. Calmet.—He may enjoy every advantage of life, denoted by these two elements. Lyr.
An quod in his vitæ causa est, hæc perdidit exul
His nova fit conjux; hæc duo magna putant. Ovid, Fast. 4.
For the wisdom of the Lord is great. He is mighty in power, and sees all things.
His eyes are upon those who fear him. He knows every act of man.
He has not commanded any man to be ungodly. He has not given any man license to sin.