Open an explanation beneath verses with notes. Your notes and highlights stay on this device.
Many have sinned for profit. He who seeks to multiply wealth will turn his eye away.
Verse 1. Poverty. Greek “the indifferent thing,” as the Stoics represented money. Calmet. 7:20.—Sinned. Hence proceeds the danger to which little merchants are exposed. Involuntary povery is very miserable. Proverbs 30:9
As a nail will stick fast between the joinings of stones, so sin will thrust itself in between buying and selling.
Verse 2. Fast. Anacharsis styled “the market-place the receptacle of mutual cheating.” Laert. 1.—The seller praises his goods to get them off: (Hor.) the buyer says it is bad. Proverbs 20:14. The next verse is a gloss omitted in Greek Calmet.
Unless a person holds on diligently to the fear of the Lord, his house will be overthrown quickly.
In the shaking of a sieve, the refuse remains, so does the filth of man in his thoughts.
Verse 4. Fear. By this the soul is preserved in a good state. Worthington.
The furnace tests the potter’s vessels; so the test of a person is in his thoughts.
Verse 5. Thoughts. The more he thinks on some things, the more is he perplexed. Calmet.—After sin is purged away, there remains some defects like dust. Psalms 50:4. Worthington.
The fruit of a tree discloses its cultivation, so is the utterance of the thought of a person’s heart.
Verse 6. Affliction. Greek “thought,” ( Bible.) or speech. Calmet.—A young man being brought to Socrates, that he might pass judgment on his dispositions, the philosopher ordered him to “speak.” Cic.
Praise no man before you hear his thoughts, for this is how people are tested.
Verse 7. As. Greek “the fruit shews the dressing,” and so forth
If you follow righteousness, you will obtain it, and put it on like a long robe of glory.
Birds will return to their own kind, so truth will return to those who practice it.
Verse 9. Honour. The desire of justice is the sure method to obtain it. The rest is not in Greek Bible.
The lion lies in wait for prey. So does sin for those who do evil.
The discourse of a godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon.
Verse 11. Iniquities. They fall deeper, or sin entails punishment. Calmet.
Limit your time among people void of understanding, but persevere among the thoughtful.
Verse 12. A. Greek “the speech of the wise man is wisdom throughout: but,” and so forth Bible.—The fool always mixes something improper with what good he speaks. Calmet.—Sun. The wise man preserves his virtue, whether it appear or not. Worthington.
The talk of fools is offensive. Their laughter is wantonly sinful.
Verse 13. Keep. Greek “wait an opportunity.” Bible.—Go but seldom. Their discourse tends to promote iniquity, (verse 14) and blasphemous oaths, (verse 15) and bloodshed. verse 16. Calmet.
Their talk with much swearing makes hair stand upright. Their strife makes others plug their ears.
The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed. Their abuse of each other is a grievous thing to hear.
Verse 15. Ears. The Jews did so, when they heard blasphemy. Acts 7:56. Menochius.
He who reveals secrets destroys trust, and will not find a close friend.
Love a friend, and keep faith with him; but if you reveal his secrets, you shall not follow him;
Verse 17. Mind. In Egypt, those who disclosed a secret to the enemy, were condemned to have their tongues cut out. Diod. ii. 2.
for as a man has destroyed his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.
As a bird which you have released out of your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again.
Verse 19. Him. He will never trust thee more. verse 22.
Don’t pursue him, for he has gone far away, and has escaped like a gazelle out of the snare.
Verse 20. Friend. Septuagint Rom. and Alex. “enemy.” Bible.—This crime is like murder. The Romans sometimes solemnly renounced the friendship of those who had offended them, as Germanicus and Caius did that of Piso. Tacit. An. 2. Suet. 3.
For a wound may be bound up, and after abuse there may be reconciliation; but he who reveals secrets is without hope.
One who winks the eye contrives evil things; and those who know him will keep their distance.
Verse 22. Because. Greek “for one may bind up a wound, and an insult may be pardoned. But he who hath revealed secrets, hath lost all hope,” ( Bible.) or “confidence.” verse 24 chapter 22:27.
When you are present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire your words; but afterward he will twist his speech and set a trap in your words.
I have hated many things, but nothing like him. The Lord will hate him.
One who casts a stone straight up casts it on his own head. A deceitful blow opens wounds.
Verse 25. Off. Some Greek copies have, “he who knows him will depart from him.” It is difficult to guard against a false friend, who winks as if he desired to please us, ( Calmet.) while he really seeks our ruin. verse 26.
He who digs a pit will fall into it. He who sets a snare will be caught in it.
He who does evil things, they will roll back upon him, and he will not know where they came from.
Mockery and reproach are from the arrogant. Vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.
Verse 28. Wound. Greek “deal wounds. He,” and so forth Bible.—Traitors, in the dark, often wound their fellows, ( Calmet.) or themselves. Menochius.
Those who rejoice at the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare. Anguish will consume them before they die.
Verse 29. Setteth. Greek “layeth a snare, shall perish in it.”
Wrath and anger, these also are abominations. A sinner will possess them.
Verse 30. Him. God will punish, when the sinner has perhaps forgotten his offence. Calmet.—Such are often chastised here, and always hereafter. Worthington.