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I enjoy three things, and they are beautiful before the Lord and men: the agreement of kindred, the friendship of neighbors, and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement.
Verse 1. Pleased. Wisdom still speaks. Solomon often makes similar division, to make the deeper impression. Proverbs 30:15. 24.
But my soul hates three sorts of people, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man who is arrogant, a rich man who is a liar, and an old fool who is an adulterer.
If you gathered nothing in your youth, how could you find anything in your old age?
How beautiful a thing is judgment in the gray-haired, and for elders to know good counsel!
Verse 4. Fool. Greek “adulterer, devoid of sense.” Isaiah 65:20. Calmet.—Luxuria … senectuti fœdissima. Cic. off. i.
How beautiful is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men who are in honor!
Verse 5. Age? Wisdom, says Bias, “is more durable than other possessions.” Laert.
Much experience is the crown of the aged. Their glory is the fear of the Lord.
There are nine things that I have thought of, and in my heart counted happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: a man who has joy with his children, and a man who lives and sees the fall of his enemies.
Happy is he who dwells with a wife of understanding, he who has not slipped with his tongue, and he who has not served a man who is unworthy of him.
Happy is he who has found prudence, and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen.
Verse 9. Things. Greek “nine suppositions I have blessed in my heart,” ( Bible.) or thought that they may confer felicity. But the tenth will certainly do it. Calmet. 14.
How great is he who has found wisdom! Yet there is none greater than one who fears the Lord.
Verse 10. Enemies. Not out of revenge, but for the glory of God. See Matthew 5:43.
The fear of the Lord surpasses all things. To whom shall he who holds it be likened?
Any wound but a wound of the heart! Any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman!
Any calamity but a calamity from those who hate me! Any vengeance but the vengeance of enemies!
Verse 14. Things. Greek adds, “for light (15) he that,” and so forth Bible.
There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom. There is no wrath worse than an enemy’s wrath.
I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than keep house with a wicked woman.
Verse 16. It. This is not in the edit. of Rome, or of Aldus: but it is in the rest. Fear commonly begins the work of salvation, and love perfects it. 1 Timothy 1:5. Calmet.—All happiness in this life is grounded on the fear of God. Worthington.
The wickedness of a woman changes her appearance, and darkens her countenance like that of a bear.
Verse 17. Evil. Greek reads not this; but the Syriac does, omitting the two next verses. Calmet.—Heresy is described under the idea of a wicked woman, concealing her malice. Worthington.
Her husband will sit among his neighbors, and when he hears it, he sighs bitterly.
Verse 18. Choose. Lit. “see.” Bible.—Some supply “send any plague,” and so forth
All malice is small compared to the malice of a woman. Let the portion of a sinner fall on her.
As walking up a sandy hill is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.
Don’t be ensnared by a woman’s beauty. Don’t desire a woman for her beauty.
Verse 21. Enemies. Which they wish, or may behold. Calmet. 18:31. Calmet.
There is anger, impudence, and great reproach if a woman supports her husband.
Verse 22. Head. Or poison, as the Hebrew rosh signifies both. Rondet.
A wicked woman is abasement of heart, sadness of countenance, and a wounded heart. A woman who won’t make her husband happy is like hands that hang down, and weak knees.
Verse 23. Woman. Greek “enemy.” Calmet.—Revenge is the passion of little souls, and of women. Juv. xiii.—Dragon. This is not exaggerated, if we reflect on the evils occasioned by Eve, Dalila, Athalia, and so forth Calmet.—“A woman is the greatest wild-beast.” Menander.
The beginning of sin came from a woman. Because of her, we all die.
Verse 24. Sackcloth. And is black when passion bursts forth, though women too frequently conceal their anger to take deeper vengeance.
Don’t give water an outlet, and don’t give a wicked woman freedom of speech.
Verse 25. Groaned. Greek “shall fall.”—Little. Greek “bitterly.” He cannot avoid hearing of his wife’s misconduct. Bible.—She will raise him enemies on all sides.
If she doesn’t go as you direct, cut her away from your flesh.
Verse 26. Her. I could wish no greater evil to the worst of enemies. Eccles. 7:27.
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.