2. (Compare ).
causeth shame— ().
shall . . . inheritance—that
is, share a brother's part (compare Numbers 27:4;
Numbers 27:7).
4. Wicked doers and speakers
alike delight in calumny.
5. (Compare ).
glad at calamities—rejoicing
in others' evil. Such are rightly punished by God, who knows their
hearts.
7. Excellent speech—(Compare
Margin). Such language as ill suits a fool, as lying (ought to
suit) a prince (Proverbs 16:12;
Proverbs 16:13).
9. seeketh love—(Compare
Margin). The contrast is between the peace-maker and
tale-bearer.
10. Reproof more affects the
wise than severe scourging, fools.
11. Such meet just retribution
(1 Kings 2:25).
a cruel messenger—one
to inflict it.
12. They are less rational in
anger than wild beasts.
14. letteth . . . water—as a
breach in a dam.
before . . . meddled
with—before strife has become sharp, or, by an explanation
better suiting the figure, before it rolls on, or increases.
17. To the second of these
parallel clauses, there is an accession of meaning, that is, that a
brother's love is specially seen in adversity.
19. strife—contention is, and
leads to, sin.
he that exalteth his
gate—gratifies a vain love of costly building.
seeketh—or, "findeth,"
as if he sought (compare "loveth death," ).
20. The second clause advances
on the first. The ill-natured fail of good, and the cavilling and
fault-finding incur evil.
21. (Compare ). Different words are rendered by "fool," both
denoting stupidity and impiety.
22. (Compare Proverbs 14:30;
Proverbs 15:13). The effect of the
mind on the body is well known.
medicine—or, "body,"
which better corresponds with "bone."
drieth—as if the marrow
were exhausted.
23. a gift . . . bosom—Money
and other valuables were borne in a fold of the garment, called the
bosom.
to pervert—that is, by
bribery.
24. Wisdom . . . him—ever an
object of regard, while a fool's affections are unsettled.
26. Also—that is, Equally to
be avoided are other sins: punishing good subjects, or resisting good
rulers.
27, 28. Prudence of speech is
commended as is an excellent or calm spirit, not excited to vain
conversation.
CHAPTER 17
.
1. sacrifices—or, "feasts" made with part of them (compare Proverbs 7:14; Leviticus 2:3; Leviticus 7:31).
with—literally, "of."
strife—its product, or attendant.
2. (Compare ).
causeth shame— ().
shall . . . inheritance—that is, share a brother's part (compare Numbers 27:4; Numbers 27:7).
3. God only knows, as He tries (Psalms 12:6; Psalms 66:10) the heart.
4. Wicked doers and speakers alike delight in calumny.
5. (Compare ).
glad at calamities—rejoicing in others' evil. Such are rightly punished by God, who knows their hearts.
6. Prolonged posterity is a blessing, its cutting off a curse (Proverbs 13:22; Psalms 109:13-15), hence children may glory in virtuous ancestry.
7. Excellent speech—(Compare Margin). Such language as ill suits a fool, as lying (ought to suit) a prince (Proverbs 16:12; Proverbs 16:13).
8. One so corrupt as to take a bribe evinces his high estimate of it by subjection to its influence (Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 19:6).
9. seeketh love—(Compare Margin). The contrast is between the peace-maker and tale-bearer.
10. Reproof more affects the wise than severe scourging, fools.
11. Such meet just retribution (1 Kings 2:25).
a cruel messenger—one to inflict it.
12. They are less rational in anger than wild beasts.
13. (Compare Psalms 7:4; Psalms 35:12).
evil—injury to another (Proverbs 13:21).
14. letteth . . . water—as a breach in a dam.
before . . . meddled with—before strife has become sharp, or, by an explanation better suiting the figure, before it rolls on, or increases.
15. abomination . . . Lord—as reversing His method of acting (Proverbs 3:32; Proverbs 12:2).
16. Though wealth cannot buy wisdom for those who do not love it, yet wisdom procures wealth (Proverbs 3:16; Proverbs 14:24).
17. To the second of these parallel clauses, there is an accession of meaning, that is, that a brother's love is specially seen in adversity.
18. (Compare Proverbs 6:1-5; Proverbs 11:15).
in the presence, &c.—that is, he either fails to consult his friend, or to follow his advice.
19. strife—contention is, and leads to, sin.
he that exalteth his gate—gratifies a vain love of costly building.
seeketh—or, "findeth," as if he sought (compare "loveth death," ).
20. The second clause advances on the first. The ill-natured fail of good, and the cavilling and fault-finding incur evil.
21. (Compare ). Different words are rendered by "fool," both denoting stupidity and impiety.
22. (Compare Proverbs 14:30; Proverbs 15:13). The effect of the mind on the body is well known.
medicine—or, "body," which better corresponds with "bone."
drieth—as if the marrow were exhausted.
23. a gift . . . bosom—Money and other valuables were borne in a fold of the garment, called the bosom.
to pervert—that is, by bribery.
24. Wisdom . . . him—ever an object of regard, while a fool's affections are unsettled.
25. a grief—or cross, vexation (compare Proverbs 17:21; Proverbs 10:1).
26. Also—that is, Equally to be avoided are other sins: punishing good subjects, or resisting good rulers.
27, 28. Prudence of speech is commended as is an excellent or calm spirit, not excited to vain conversation.