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Don’t be jealous over the wife of your bosom, and don’t teach her an evil lesson against yourself.
Verse 1. Lest. “A husband should teach his wife to be chaste by his own example.” Lact. Relig. vi.
Ipse miser docui quo posset ludere pacto
Custodes eheu! nunc premor arte meâ. Tibul.
Don’t give your soul to a woman and let her trample down your strength.
Don’t go to meet a woman who plays the prostitute, lest perhaps you fall into her snares.
Don’t associate with a woman who is a singer, lest perhaps you be caught by her tricks.
Verse 4. Dancer. Greek “musician, lest,” and so forth Bible.—The same person is often given to both music and dancing, ( Menochius.) and these arts are very dangerous. Met. 14:6.—The dances in the East were more licentious than ours.
Don’t gaze at a virgin, lest perhaps you stumble and incur penalties for her.
Verse 5. Gaze. It is not always possible to avoid seeing them; but the greatest caution is requisite. Job 32:1. Matthew 5:28. Calmet.—Jealousy and all dangerous occasions must be avoided. Worthington.
Don’t give your soul to prostitutes, that you not lose your inheritance.
Don’t look around in the streets of the city. Don’t wander in its deserted places.
Verse 7. Streets. Greek “retired parts,” where bad women dwell. Calmet.
Turn your eye away from a beautiful woman, and don’t gaze at another’s beauty. Many have been led astray by the beauty of a woman; and with this, passion is kindled like a fire.
Verse 8. Up. Greek “of a fine appearance.” Grabe substitutes, “who has found favour.” Bible.—The Fathers condemn too much dressing as a mark of levity and incontinence.
Don’t dine at all with a woman who has a husband, or revel with her at wine, lest perhaps your soul turn away to her, and with your spirit you slide into destruction.
The preceding line of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
Don’t forsake an old friend; for a new one is not comparable to him. A new friend is like new wine: if it becomes old, you will drink it with gladness.
Don’t envy the success of a sinner; for you don’t know what his end will be.
Don’t delight in the delights of the ungodly. Remember they will not go unpunished to the grave.
Verse 12. Nor, and so forth is also admitted in many copies, though found in the Comp. and Ald edit. Calmet.—Grabe replaces it on the authority of Clem. (Pæd. ii. 7.) as he does many other passages, which are erroneously left out in several editions. Prolog. t. 4. chapter 3. It would therefore be injurious to the word of God, if we were always to reject the additions in the Vulg. which are not in the Vat. Greek copy; and they must not all at least be considered as interpolations.
Greek Hades.
Keep yourself far from the man who has power to kill, and you will not be troubled by the fear of death. If you come to him, commit no fault, lest he take away your life. Know surely that you go about in the midst of snares, and walk upon the battlements of a city.
Or, authority
As well as you can, aim to know your neighbors, and take counsel with the wise.
Let your conversation be with men of understanding. Let all your discourse be in the law of the Most High.
Let righteous people be companions at your table. Let your glorying be in the fear of the Lord.
Verse 16. Envy not. If thou hast faith and wisdom, thou wilt rather dread his punishment. Psalms 36:1 and Proverbs 3:31. Calmet.—He is like a summer flower, that is quickly cut down. Worthington.
A work is commended because of the skill of the artisan; so he who rules the people will be considered wise for his speech.
Verse 17. Wrong. Greek “applauses of the unjust. Remember that they will not be justified even to hell.” Bible.—The world itself will finally approve only of virtue. Calmet.—The wicked will be condemned both by God and man. Bible.
A loudmouthed man is dangerous in his city. He who is reckless in his speech will be hated.