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Every friend will say, “I also am his friend”; but there is a friend which is only a friend in name.
Verse 1. Death. Greek explains this: ( Calmet.) I mean (2.) “a companion and friend turned?” and so forth Bible.—True friendship is most necessary, and false most dangerous. Worthington.
Isn’t there a grief in it even to death when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy?
O wicked imagination, why were you formed to cover the dry land with deceit?
There is a companion who rejoices in the gladness of a friend, but in time of affliction will be against him.
There is a companion who for the belly’s sake labors with his friend, yet in the face of battle will carry his buckler.
Verse 5. Will. Grotius suspects that not is wanting. Yet, if a false friend take up arms, it will only be ( Calmet.) for his own belly. Menochius.—Not is ill-omitted in the Comp. edit. in the last part of the following verse.
Don’t forget a friend in your soul. Don’t be unmindful of him in your riches.
Every counselor extols counsel, but some give counsel in their own interest.
Verse 7. Snare. Greek Rom. and Alex. has at the end ( Calmet.) of verse 11, “with him that suspecteth thee.” Bible.
Let your soul beware of a counselor, and know in advance what is his interest (for he will take counsel for himself), lest he cast the lot against you,
and say to you, “Your way is good.” Then he will stand near you, to see what will happen to you.
Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you. Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you.
Verse 10. Stake, or stumbling-block. Calmet.
Don’t consult with a woman about her rival, with a coward about war, with a merchant about business, with a buyer about selling, with an envious man about thankfulness, with an unmerciful man about kindliness, with a sluggard about any kind of work, with a hireling in your house about finishing his work, or with an idle servant about much business. Pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel.
But rather be continually with a godly man, whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, who in his soul is as your own soul, and who will grieve with you, if you fail.
Verse 12. Treat not. The negation is omitted in the Vulg. ( Bible.) which speaks ironically in the three following verses. Greek “consult not with him who suspecteth thee, and hide thy counsel from those who are jealous of thee. With a woman,” and so forth Consult not, is always understood. Among the Jews, polygamy occasioned much jealousy.—Envious miser. Calmet.
Make the counsel of your heart stand, for there is no one more faithful to you than it.
Verse 13. Nor. Greek “with the merciless concerning kindness, with the sluggard concerning any work. With one hired for the year, concerning coming to an end:” συντελειας. Bible.—He will never finish his work, or think he has sufficient wages.
For a man’s soul is sometimes inclined to inform him better than seven watchmen who sit on high on a watch-tower.
Above all this ask the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.
Verse 15. God, and is enlightened, as well as a good friend, verse 16. Calmet.
Let reason be the beginning of every work. Let counsel go before every action.
As a token of the changing of the heart,
Verse 17. It. Greek “more faithful than it,” the well regulated heart. Bible.—It will give the best counsel, if we be not guided by passion.
four kinds of things rise up: good and evil, life and death. That which rules over them continually is the tongue.
Verse 18. Holy is not in Greek but must be understood. Calmet.—The soul or heart, which is attentive to God, (verse 17) will be the best guide. Bible.—All good advice proceeds from the Lord. Saint Augustine Doct. prol. 7.—We must always have recourse to him, though we must use our best endeavours. Worthington.
There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.
There is one who is subtle in words, and is hated. He will be destitute of all food.
Verse 20. In. Greek “Reason is chief of every work, and counsel must go before every action.” Bible.—We must distrust our own lights.
For grace was not given to him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.
Verse 21. Them. The heart gives birth to good or evil, which the tongue utters. Matthew 12:34 and 15:18.—Soul. What will science, without charity, profit him, if he should even gain the world? Matthew 16:26 and 1 Corinthians 13:1.
There is one who is wise to his own soul; and the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy in the mouth.
A wise man will instruct his own people. The fruits of his understanding are trustworthy.
Verse 23. Hateful. His sophisms are soon discovered. Greek “there is one wise, hateful in his discourses: he shall be devoid of all wisdom.”
A wise man will be filled with blessing. All those who see him will call him happy.
The life of a man is counted by days. The days of Israel are innumerable.
Verse 25. Soul. Being replenished with wisdom, he communicates it to others, and obtains an eternal reward. Calmet.
The wise man will inherit confidence among his people. His name will live forever.
My son, test your soul in your life. See what is evil for it, and don’t give in to it.
For not all things are profitable for all men. Not every soul has pleasure in everything.
Verse 28. But. Greek “And.” The wisest must soon die: Even the race of Israel shall end: But the virtuous shall be for ever remembered. verse 29. Bible.—The blessed in heaven live for ever. Worthington.
Don’t be insatiable in any luxury. Don’t be greedy in the things that you eat.
For overeating brings disease, and gluttony causes nausea.
Verse 30. Life. Attempt nothing above thy strength: or Greek try what agrees with thy health or soul, ( Calmet.) and see thou give it not what is hurtful to it.” Bible.—Saint Paul (1 Corinthians 11) exhorts every one to prove or try himself and his own conscience. Worthington.
Because of gluttony, many have perished, but he who takes heed shall prolong his life.
Verse 31. Soul. “We must not dispute about tastes.” Bible.—They are as various as men’s faces. All conditions do not suit every person.