Various observations of moral virtues and their contrary vices.
1BEa1not thou envious against 2evil men, neither desire to be with them.
a Psalm 37:1; Prov. 3:31; 23:17.
1 See Psalm 37 on verse 1.
2 Hebr. men of wickedness or of evil, that is, men who are committed unto wickedness, or who are inclined unto all evil. See Job 11 on verse 11.
2For their heart studieth 3destruction, andb their lips talk of mischief.
3 That is, harm and destruction, which they intend to do unto their neighbor, yea will also thereby bring the same upon themselves.
b Psalm 10:7.
3Through wisdom is an 4house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4 Understand this not only of a material house, but especially of the housekeeping and of the means, whereby an house or family is maintained. Also is the word house taken Gen. 39:4, and the verb to build Prov. 14:1, see the annotation. The meaning is: that a good housekeeping is ordered and managed by wisdom and understanding, and is thereby greatly advanced and maintained.
4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Ac wise man is 5strong; yea, a man of knowledge 6increaseth strength.
c Prov. 21:22.
5 Hebr. in strength, that is, endowed with strength. Understand not the outward and bodily strength, but the inward and spiritual strength.
6 That is, if he has outward strength, knowledge will make him yet stronger. Therefore he excels also a man who is strong, and yet has no understanding. In brief: wisdom is better than strength. Compare Prov. 21:22; Eccl. 9:15.
6Ford by 7wise counsel thou shalt make 8thy war: and in 9multitude of counsellors there is 10safety.
d Prov. 11:14; 15:22; 20:18.
7 See of the Hebrew word Job 37:12.
8 That is, for your good, or for your best and the welfare of the land.
9 Namely, of good counselors. See Prov. 18 on verse 22. Or, in the greatness, that is, its worthiness, ability and courage.
10 Or, salvation, or victory. See of the signification of the Hebrew word teschuah 2 Sam. 8 on verse 6.
711Wisdomeis 12too high for a fool: he 13openeth not his mouth in the 14gate.
11 Hebr. wisdoms.
e Prov. 14:6.
12 That is, is above his comprehension; but wisdom is easy to a man of understanding, Prov. 14:6.
13 Namely, to utter some special and excellent matter, forasmuch as he is without wisdom and counsel. Compare the annotation at Job 33 on verse 2.
14 That is, in the town hall or assembly of lords. See Gen. 22 on verse 17.
8He that deviseth to do 15evil shall be called a 16mischievous person.
15 That is, a practitioner and an artificer, who is prone to villainy and mischief and knows how to put it in practice. See of the Hebrew word baal Gen. 14 on verse 13.
16 See of the Hebrew word Job 21 on verse 27.
9The thought 17of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
17 That is, of the person who is foolish. Compare Job 24 on verse 20; Job 35 on verse 13. Or, the foolish thought.
10If thou 18faint in the day 19of adversity, thy strength is 20small.
18 Namely, so that you faint under adversity and temptations.
19 That is, when one should have the best evidence of his strength.
20 That is, small, inconsiderate, thin, shrunk, in restraint. This verse is also thus rendered: If thou shewest thy self slack, that is, negligent to learn wisdom and careless to fear God, thy strength shall be narrow or strained in the day of thy distress.
1121If thou forbear to 22deliverfthem that are 23drawn unto death, and those that are 24ready to be slain;
21 That is, they are in danger to be put to death. Other, For shouldest thou refrain thy self from those that are hauled away to be put to death? The question implies a strong denial, that this thing should be neglected by those, who by reason of their office are bound to use all good means for the performing of it.
22 This properly concerns judges and authorities, who by virtue of their office are bound to defend the innocent, yea even when they are condemned to die and have the sentence of death passed upon them, if so be that at last their innocence may appear. Moreover, it concerns also all godly people in general, who, according to the nature and condition of their calling and by lawful means, are bound to protect and help those who are innocent.
f Psalm 82:4.
23 Namely, wrongfully.
24 Or, are carried away or bend down to the slaughter.
12If thou sayest, Behold, 25we knew it not; doth not he 26that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy 27soul, doth 28not he know it? andg shall not 29he render to every man according to his works?
25 Namely, that he is innocent, or how we may be able to help him. Other, we know him not or we know not this man.
26 That is, God. See Prov. 16:2 and the annotations.
27 Namely, not only in respect of temporal, but also of eternal death.
28 Namely, whether your excuse is true and well-grounded.
g Job 34:11; Psalm 62:12; Jer. 32:19; Rom. 2:6; Rev. 22:12.
29 Namely, God, Who ponders the hearts, etc.
13My son, eat thou 30honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy 31taste:
30 Honey was a common and a very dainty and pleasant food in Palestine. Compare Exod. 3 on verse 8. The prophet now relates that it may indeed be eaten for the good, and nourishment of the body, but that one should chiefly and principally seek and endeavor after wisdom, which is a most pleasant and acceptable food for the soul.
31 That is, in your mouth. Taste is attributed and ascribed unto the palate, Job 12:11; 34:3.
1432Sohshall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast 33found it, theni there shall be a 34reward, and thy 35expectation shall not be cut off.
32 Other, Know also wisdom for thy soul.
h Psalm 19:10; 119:103.
33 That is, obtained or acquired. Also Prov. 8:9. See Gen. 26 on verse 12.
i Prov. 23:18.
34 Hebr. a last, or, hindermost, that is, a good reward afterwards. See verse 20.
35 That is, the good which you await of God’s free grace. See Job 5 on verse 16.
15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; 36spoil not his resting place:
36 He forbids, next to crafty devices, also public violence.
16For a just man 37falleth 38sevenj times, and 39riseth up again: but thek wicked shall fall into 40mischief.
37 Namely, into miseries and troubles. In the next verse also. Likewise Psalm 37:24. Or also into sins and infirmities, where into the godly are also said to fall, 1 Cor. 10:12.
38 That is, often. A certain number for an uncertain. See Lev. 26 on verse 8.
j Job 5:19; Psalm 34:19.
39 That is, be delivered and helped out, namely, by God’s gracious assistance, Job 5:19; Psalm 34:19.
k Amos 5:2; 8:14.
40 Namely, into the evil of punishment and of adversity; that is, they shall be so cast down as that they shall not be able to rise again.
17Rejoicel not when thine enemy 41falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
l Job 31:29; Prov. 17:5.
41 Namely, into any mischief or trouble.
18Lest the LORD see it, and it 42displease him, and he 43turn away his wrath from him.
42 Or, and it be evil in his eyes. See Gen. 21 on verse 11.
43 Namely, to send the same over you.
19Fretm not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
m verse 1; Psalm 37:1; 73:3; Prov. 3:31; 23:17.
20For there shall be no 44reward to the evil man; 45then candle of the wicked shall be put out.
44 Understand no good or desired reward, or no good end. See Prov. 18 on verse 22. Hebr. hindermost, or uttermost, or end. But the Hebrew word is also taken for reward. See Prov. 23 on verse 18. Other, posterity; shall have no posterity, and if he gets any, they shall perish; whereunto the following verse is applied to some.
45 See Job 18 on verse 6; Prov. 20 on verse 20.
n Job 18:5, 6; Prov. 13:9; 20:20.
21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with 46them that are given to change:
46 Hebr. with them that change, that is, those who seek for changes and novelties, departing from the obedience which they owe unto God and to their lawful authority, and rising up in rebellion against them.
22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and 47who knoweth the ruin of them 48both?
47 As if he had said: A judgment shall light upon them, whereof they had not thought the least; or whereof a man is not able to know or conjecture, how heavy it shall be.
48 As well of those who do not fear God, as of those who do not stand in awe of the civil authority. Or, the mischief of those two, namely, which shall be sent upon them both by God and the king.
23These things also belong 49to the wise. Ito50is not good to have 51respect of persons in judgment.
49 Or, These proverbs are also from the wise, or are for the wise, or concern the wise.
o Exod. 23:3, 6; Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:17; 16:19; Prov. 18:5; 28:21; John 7:24; James 2:1.
50 See Deut. 1:17 and the annotation; Deut. 16:19. The same is called elsewhere accepting and honoring the face. See Lev. 19:15 and the annotation.
51 That is, it is good for nothing; it is very evil. See Prov. 17 on verse 26.
24Hep that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the 52people curse, nations shall abhor him:
p Prov. 17:15; Isa. 5:23.
52 Namely, who are good, fear God, hate wickedness, and love virtue and piety. Compare Prov. 18:22 on the word wife.
25But to them that rebuke 53him shall be 54delight, and a good 55blessing shall come upon 56them.
53 Namely, the wicked.
54 That is, it shall go well with them, matter of joy and comfort shall be given unto them.
55 That is, all good shall happen unto them, both from God and men.
56 Namely, upon those who rebuke the wicked.
26Every 57man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
57 The meaning is: that he, who brings forth good matter, and true and profitable words in due season, shall be honored and loved of those who hear him, even as if they received and entertained him with a friendly kiss. In old time kissing was a sign of reverence and a manifestation of good will. See Gen. 27 on verse 26; Gen. 41 on verse 40. Other, he kisseth the lips, that answereth right words, that is, he shows the most or the greatest friendship.
2758Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards 59build thine house.
58 That is, remember first to furnish your house with what is most needful to obtain your living in an honest way, as by means of agriculture; thereafter one may think of what may tend to the recreation and delight of those who are of the family or to the beautifying of the house.
59 Understand this not so much of the building of an house, as of the finishing and furnishing the same.
28Be not a witness against thy neighbour 60without cause; and 61deceive not with thy 62lips.
60 That is, without reasonable and apparent necessity which engages a man to give evidence, or, without good certainty and assurance of the thing that is to be witnessed.
61 That is, by giving false or uncertain evidence, or else by the subornment of witnesses.
62 That is, with your words and speeches. See Job 2 on verse 10.
29Sayq not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
q Rom. 12:17, 19.
30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of 63the man void of understanding;
63 See Prov. 6 on verse 32.
31And, lo, 64it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the 65stone wall thereof was broken down.
64 Namely, the field or vineyard.
65 In Palestine the fields, farms and vineyards were for the most part separated and divided one from another by some slight kind of walls made of stones heaped and piled up together, without any lime or mortar at all, in order that wild beasts would not damage them. Compare Num. 22:24; Ezra 9 on verse 9; Psalm 80:12.
32Then I saw, and 66considered it well: I looked upon it, and 67received instruction.
66 Hebr. set my heart upon it, that is, I observed and practiced it. Compare the phrase with Job 1:8 and the annotation thereon.
67 That is, I became wiser by another man’s harm.
33Yet 68a littler sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
68 See the exposition of this verse and of the next that follows Prov. 6 on verses 10, 11.
r Prov. 6:10, 11.
34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as 69an armed man.
69 Hebr. a man of the shield.