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Hear me, your father, O my children, and do what you hear, that you all may be safe.
Verse 1. Love. The progeny of God’s children brings forth the fruits of obedience and love. Worthington.—Wisdom teaches every virtue. Calmet.—This verse is not in Greek.
For the Lord honors the father over the children, and has confirmed the judgment of the mother over her sons.
He who honors his father will make atonement for sins.
Verse 3. Seeking. Greek, “and hath confirmed the judgment,” and so forth Bible.—God will revenge any disrespect shewn to parents. Menochius.
He who gives glory to his mother is as one who lays up treasure.
Whoever honors his father will have joy in his own children. He will be heard in the day of his prayer.
He who gives glory to his father will have length of days. He who listens to the Lord will bring rest to his mother,
and will serve under his parents, as to masters.
Verse 7. Father. Greek, “Lord … mother (8) and will serve them,” and so forth Bible.—Though you may feed your parents, you are still much in their debt. Saint Ambrose in Lu. 2. and 18. Exodus 20:12. Job 4:3.
Some manuscripts add those who fear the Lord honor their father,
Honor your father in deed and word, that a blessing may come upon you from him.
For the blessing of the father establishes the houses of children, but the curse of the mother roots out the foundations.
Verse 9. Father. Greek adds, “and thy mother.” Calmet.—Grabe marks this in another character, and substitutes “them” for him. verse 10.—And his, and so forth is wholly omitted. Bible.
Don’t glorify yourself in the dishonor of your father, for your father’s dishonor is no glory to you.
For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father, and a mother in dishonor is a reproach to her children.
Verse 11. Foundations. Saint Augustine (de Civ. Dei. xxii. 8.) gives a memorable instance. The pagans deemed such curses most terrible. Orpheus. Genesis 9:25.—They are executed upon the wicked.
My son, help your father in his old age, and don’t grieve him as long as he lives.
Verse 12. Thee. Boast not of thy superior talents, nor say any thing disrespectful.
If he fails in understanding, have patience with him. Don’t dishonor him in your full strength.
Verse 13. A father. Greek, “mother.” Alexander was ashamed of having Philip for his father, pretending that he was the son of Jupiter Ammon. His mother Olympias, with much ingenuity, wrote to him, that he would thus make Juno her powerful rival!
For the kindness to your father will not be forgotten. Instead of sins it will be added to build you up.
In the day of your affliction it will be remembered for you, as fair weather upon ice, so your sins will also melt away.
Verse 15. Fail. Bis pueri senes. They do not lose the character of fathers, how infirm soever, ( Calmet.) and those can never truly serve the invisible Deity, who despise their fathers, his visible images on the earth. Philo. Decal.
He who forsakes his father is as a blasphemer. He who provokes his mother is cursed by the Lord.
Verse 16. Sin. Or ill-nature. Greek, “instead of sins, (17) a house shall be built up for thee.” Bible.—Thy family shall increase. Exodus 1:21. Calmet.—Alms, prayer, and sacrifice for parents merit reward. Worthington.
My son, go on with your business in humility; so you will be loved by an acceptable man.
The greater you are, humble yourself the more, and you will find favor before the Lord.
Verse 18. Of. Greek, “Like a blasphemer is,” and so forth Calmet.—He who reviles his father, meditates blasphemy against the Deity. Menander.
For the power of the Lord is great, and he is glorified by those who are lowly.
Verse 20. Greater. The dignity of a person should be the measure of his humility, (Saint Ambrose de virg. 31.) as the most elevated are the most exposed to pride. Humility is taught only by true wisdom and the gospel. Matthew 11:29. Philosophy may inspire us with the contempt of riches, and so forth Calmet.—Yet humility is the most indispensable duty, and no less essential than delivery to an orator. Saint Augustine ep. 118. ad Diosc.—All human greatness comes from God, who requires us to shew our gratitude by humility. Worthington.
Don’t seek things that are too hard for you, and don’t search out things that are above your strength.
Think about the things that have been commanded you, for you have no need of the things that are secret.
Verse 22. In, and so forth The mysterious nature of God and providence, cannot be comprehended: and in many things we must confess our ignorance. Life is often spent in idle researches.
Don’t be overly busy in tasks that are beyond you, for more things are shown to you than men can understand.
For the conceit of many has led them astray. Evil opinion has caused their judgment to slip.
There is no light without eyes. There is no wisdom without knowledge.
Some manuscripts omit verse 25.
A stubborn heart will do badly at the end. He who loves danger will perish in it.
Verse 26. Suspicion. Greek Comp. “their vain suspicion hath deceived many and their wicked thought has ruined their judgment. Not having the apples of the eye, thou wilt be deprived of light; and being ignorant, do not speak.” The latter sentence is marked by Grabe as wanting in his copy, as it is in the Vat. if we may believe the London edit. ( Bible.) which, however, is not an exact copy, no more than any of the other editions, of that famous MS. Grabe.
A stubborn heart will be burdened with troubles. The sinner will heap sin upon sins.
Verse 27. Heart. Which fears neither God nor man. Saint Bernard cons. 1.—Those who have not shewn mercy, can expect none. Bible.—The impenitent see their folly, like Antiochus, when it is too late. Calmet.—They have loved the danger, which shall overtake them. Proverbs 1:26. He seems to refute those who believed in fate, and would take no precautions. Calmet.—Those who live in sin, tempting God to the last hour, generally perish. Worthington.
The calamity of the proud has no healing, for a weed of wickedness has taken root in him.
The heart of the prudent will understand a proverb. A wise man desires the ear of a listener.
Verse 29. Wicked. Greek, “hard,” obdurate in sin, like Pharao. Romans 2:5. Bible.—Sorrows. Or crimes, as the word often implies, and the punishment thereof. Calmet.—“Sin, by its own weight, leads to another, (Saint Gregory Mor. xxv. 12.) and while custom is not resisted, a necessity arises.” Saint Augustine Conf. viii. 5.
Water will quench a flaming fire; almsgiving will make atonement for sins.
Verse 30. Congregation. The proud or obstinate sinner will take no advice. Proverbs 18:3. Calmet.
He who repays good turns is mindful of that which comes afterward. In the time of his falling he will find a support.
Verse 31. Understand. Greek, “shall devise a parable, and the ear of the hearer is the desire of a wise man.” Bible.