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He who takes vengeance will find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely make his sins firm.
Verse 1. Sins. To seek revenge out of rancour, or contrary to justice, is a grievous sin. Worthington.—Retaliation was tolerated, (Exodus 21:24) but love was not to be laid aside. Deuteronomy 33:3–5. Leviticus 21:17. Psalms 7:5. Matthew 7:2.
Forgive your neighbor the hurt that he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
Verse 2. Forgive. This charity enforces, when the offender is penitent, if the remission of punishment be not contrary to justice and discipline. Worthington.—Matthew 6:12,. and 18:32. Lu. 6:37. We all stand in need of pardon. Calmet.
Does anyone harbor anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?
Upon a man like himself he has no mercy, and does he make supplication for his own sins?
He himself, being flesh, nourishes wrath. Who will make atonement for his sins?
Verse 5. And doth. Greek “who will expiate his sins?” Is God bound to receive his victims or prayers while he entertains such dispositions? Calmet.
Remember your last end, and stop enmity. Remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.
Remember the commandments, and don’t be angry with your neighbor. Remember the covenant of the Highest, and overlook ignorance.
Verse 7. In his commandments. Supply the sentence out of the Greek thus: Remember corruption, and death, and abide in the commandments, ( Challoner.) which condemn revenge. Exodus 23:4. Calmet.—Comp. “and do not rage or menace thy neighbour with destruction and death; yea, stick to the commandments. Be mindful of the precepts, and be not angry with thy neighbour; and of the covenant,” and so forth verse 9. Bible.
Abstain from strife, and you will diminish your sins, for a passionate man will kindle strife.
A man who is a sinner will trouble friends and sow discord among those who are at peace.
Verse 9. Ignorance. He uses a softer term. In effect, most quarrels proceed from a misunderstanding. “Every sinner is ignorant.”
As is the fuel of the fire, so it will burn; and as the stoutness of the strife is, so it will burn. As is the strength of the man, so will be his wrath; and as is his wealth, so he will exalt his anger.
A contention begun in haste kindles a fire; and hasty fighting sheds blood.
If you blow on a spark, it will burn; and if you spit upon it, it will be quenched. Both of these come out of your mouth.
Verse 12. Burneth. The more fuel, the greater will be the blaze.
Curse the whisperer and double-tongued, for he has destroyed many who were at peace.
Verse 13. And a, and so forth is not in Greek Proverbs 19:12 and 26:21.
A slanderer has shaken many, and dispersed them from nation to nation. It has pulled down strong cities and overthrown the houses of great men.
A slanderer has cast out brave women and deprived them of their labors.
He who listens to it will not find rest, nor will he live quietly.
Verse 16. Third. Who carries stories between friends, to set them at variance. Calmet.
The stroke of a whip makes a mark in the flesh, but the stroke of a tongue will break bones.
Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, yet not so many as those who have fallen because of the tongue.
Verse 18. It, and so forth is omitted in Greek. Bible.—Indiscreet reports often cause dissensions. Worthington.
Happy is he who is sheltered from it, who has not passed through its wrath, who has not drawn its yoke, and has not been bound with its bands.
Verse 19. Labours. Causing their husbands to suspect them.
For its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its bands are bands of brass.
Its death is an evil death, and Hades is better than it.
It will not have rule over godly men. They will not be burned in its flame.
Verse 22. Their own. Greek “the.” Detraction separates many friends. Calmet.
Those who forsake the Lord will fall into it. It will burn among them, and won’t be quenched. It will be sent against them like a lion. It will destroy them like a leopard.
As you hedge your possession about with thorns, and secure your silver and your gold,
so make a balance and a weight for your words, and make a door and a bar for your mouth.
Verse 25. Hell. Or rather “the grave.”
Take heed lest you slip with it, lest you fall before one who lies in wait.
Verse 26. Its. Greek “it shall not take hold of the pious, and they shall not,” and so forth Bible.—Their virtue shall quickly shine forth. Calmet.