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A worker who is a drunkard will not become rich. He who despises small things will fall little by little.
Verse 1. Little. Small expenses, often repeated, will ruin an estate, ( Bible.) and the neglect of venial sins is of the most dangerous consequence. Calmet.—The best way to avoid great faults, is to guard against small ones. Worthington.
Wine and women will make men of understanding go astray. He who joins with prostitutes is reckless.
Verse 2. Off. From God ( Calmet.) and religion. See Genesis 19:33 and 2 Kennicott. 11:1. Os. 4:11.
Decay and worms will have him as their heritage. A reckless soul will be taken away.
Verse 3. Number. Of the living. Bible.—The venereal disease seems to be described.
He who is hasty to trust is shallow-hearted. He who sins offends against his own soul.
Verse 4. Credit. To harlots. 1 Corinthians 6:18. Calmet.
He who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned.
Verse 5. Hateth. Greek “resisteth pleasure, shall crown his life. He who guardeth his tongue, shall live without contention: and he,” and so forth Bible.
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
He who hates gossip has less wickedness.
Verse 6. He. Greek omits this explication of the preceding verse.
The preceding part of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
Never repeat what is told you, and you won’t lose anything.
Whether it is of friend or foe, don’t tell it. Unless it is a sin to you, don’t reveal it.
Verse 8. Not. Only to God and his minister. Friends do not require to be informed of such things. Greek “disclose not the conduct of others.”—Be. Greek “be not.” Do not boast of sins which thou hast not committed, ( Calmet.) as Saint Augustine did before his conversion. Bible.—But the Vulg. seems preferable. Calmet.—In ordinary conversation to reveal our faults would be dangerous, but not in confession, or in religious orders, for advancement in virtue. Worthington.
For if he has heard you and observed you, when the time comes, he will hate you.
Verse 9. Hate thee. Whether thou hast spoken of thy own or of others’ faults, he will distrust thee.
Have you heard something? Let it die with you. Be brave: it will not make you burst!
Verse 10. Burst thee. Like poison, or as new wine ( Calmet.) does a leathern bottle. Bible.—This expression well implies the eagerness which some manifest to divulge a secret injurious to their neighbour. Calmet.
A fool will travail in pain with a word, as a woman in labor with a child.
As an arrow that sticks in the flesh of the thigh, so is gossip in a fool.
Question a friend; it may be he didn’t do it. If he did something, it may be that he may do it no more.
Verse 13. Understood. Greek “done it.” Bible.—For want of coming to a timely explanation, many friendships are broken, owing to groundless surmises.
Question your neighbor; it may be he didn’t say it. If he has said it, it may be that he may not say it again.
Question a friend; for many times there is slander. Don’t trust every word.
Verse 15. Committed. Or “a false report,” commissio. Calmet.—Greek “a foolish calumny.” Bible.—Monere et moneri proprium est veræ amicitiæ. Cic.
There is one who slips, and not from the heart. Who is he who hasn’t sinned with his tongue?
Reprove your neighbor before you threaten him; and give place to the law of the Most High.
Verse 17. Him. Gentle means must be first tried. Matthew 18:15. Galatians 6:1. Bible.
All wisdom is the fear of the Lord. In all wisdom is the doing of the law.
The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom. The prudence of sinners is not counsel.
Verse 22. Unjust. Saint James (3:15) describes true and false wisdom. Romans 16:19. Calmet.
There is a wickedness, and it is an abomination. There is a fool lacking in wisdom.
Verse 23. Wickedly. Greek “in black,” ( Bible.) wearing the robes of mourning. Grot.
Better is one who has little understanding, and fears God, than one who has much intelligence and transgresses the law.
Verse 24. And. Greek “there,” and so forth Bible.—The hypocrite abstains from exterior crimes, only through fear. Calmet.—False pretence of piety, is hypocrisy; and it is wrong for a superior to reveal his secret faults to his subjects. Reason must direct. Worthington.
There is an exquisite subtlety, and it is unjust. And there is one who perverts favor to gain a judgment.
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
There is one who does wickedly, who hangs down his head with mourning; but inwardly he is full of deceit,
Verse 26. Countenance. Yet this is not always the case. verse 28. We may sometimes condemn a person unjustly, on such outward appearances. Calmet.
bowing down his face, and pretending to be deaf in one ear. Where he isn’t known, he will take advantage of you.
And if for lack of power he is hindered from sinning, if he finds opportunity, he will do mischief.
Verse 28. Lying. Greek “a reproof which is not seemly; and there is one,” and so forth Bible.
A man will be known by his appearance. One who has understanding will be known by his face when you meet him.
A man’s attire, grinning laughter, and the way he walks show what he is.