[280] Prov. xxv. 15.
[281] Prov. xiii. 2.
[282] Prov. xviii. 20.
[283] Prov. xviii. 21.
[284] Prov. x. 14.
[285] Prov. xii. 18.
[286] Prov. xviii. 6, 7.
[287] Prov. xii. 13.
[288] Prov. xiv. 3.
[289] Prov. xv. 23.
[290] Prov. xxi. 23.
[291] Prov. xxi. 28.
[292] Prov. xvii. 20.
[293] Prov. xviii. 4.
[294] Prov. xxii. 11.
[295] Prov. xxii. 18.
[296] Prov. xix. 1, 22.
[297] Prov. xxiii. 16.
[298] Prov. xii. 16.
[299] Prov. xxix. 11.
[300] Prov. xix. 7. All the Proverbs in this selection are in the form of a distich. This affords a fair presumption that this verse with its three clauses is mutilated; and the presumption is confirmed by the fact that the third clause adds nothing of value, even if it be intelligible at all, to the sense. There is good reason, therefore, for believing that this third clause is the half of a distich which has not been preserved in its integrity; all the more because the LXX. have a complete proverb which runs thus: ὁ πολλὰ κακοποιῶν τελεσιουργεῖ κακίαν, ὃς δὲ ἐρεθίζει λόγους οὐ σωθήσεται. "He that does much evil is a craftsman of iniquity, and he that uses provoking words shall not escape." Perhaps in the Hebrew text which was before the Greek translators מְנַדֵּף appeared instead of מְרַדֵּף, and הָיָה לֹא instead of לֹא־הֵמָּה.
[301] Prov. xxvi. 21.
[302] Prov. xxx. 32, 33.
[303] Prov. xii. 18.
[304] Prov. xii. 17.
[305] Prov. xix. 28.
[306] Prov. xix. 5, rep. ver. 9.
[307] Prov. xxi. 28.
[308] Prov. xxv. 18.
[309] Prov. xxvi. 23-28.
[310] Prov. xiii. 5.
[311] Prov. xii. 19.
[312] Prov. xii. 22.
[313] Prov. xx. 17.
[314] Prov. xxvi. 2.
[315] Prov. xxviii. 23.
[316] Prov. xxix. 5.
[317] Prov. xi. 13 and xx. 19; xxv. 2, 23. _Cf._ "Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit and shall never find friend to his mind" (Eccles. xxvii. 16).
[318] Prov. xviii. 8, rep. xxvi. 22.
[319] Prov. xvi. 28.
[320] Prov. xxvi. 20.
[321] Prov. xvii. 9.
[322] Prov. xi. 9.
[323] Prov. xii. 6.
[324] Prov. xv. 28.
[325] Prov. xvi. 28.
[326] Prov. xxvi. 18, 19.
[327] Prov. xviii. 13.
[328] Prov. xxix. 20.
[329] Prov. xxiii. 9.
[330] Prov. x. 19.
[331] Prov. xiii. 3, 16.
[332] Prov. xiv. 23.
[333] Prov. xiv. 33.
[334] Prov. xiv. 7. There is a quaint and pertinent passage in Lyly's Euphues:--"We may see the cunning and curious work of Nature, which hath barred and hedged nothing in so strongly as the tongue, with two rowes of teeth, and therewith two lips, besides she hath placed it farre from the heart, that it should not utter that which the heart had conceived; this also should cause us to be silent, seeinge those that use much talke, though they speake truly, are never beleeved."
[335] Prov. xv. 2.
[336] Prov. xviii. 2.
[337] Prov. xii. 18.
[338] Eccl. x. 4.
[339] Prov. xv. 4. מַרְפֵּא is best rendered here and in Eccl. x. 4 by "gentleness." It is just that quality of humility and submission and tranquillity which our Lord blessed as meekness.
[340] Prov. xv. 1.
[341] Prov. xv. 26.
[342] Prov. xvi. 24.
[343] Prov. xii. 25.
[344] Prov. xv. 23.
[345] Prov. xxv. 20.
[346] Prov. xxv. 11.
[347] _Cf._ Eccles. xx. 20: "A wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool's mouth, for he will not speak it in due season."
[348] Prov. xxv. 12.
[349] Prov. xxviii. 23.
[350] Prov. xv. 7.
[351] Prov. xvi. 21.
[352] Prov. xvi. 23.
[353] Prov. xx. 15.
[354] Prov. xv. 28.
[355] Prov. xxiv. 26.
[356] Prov. xi. 9.
[357] Prov. xii. 6.
[358] Prov. xiv. 3.
[359] Prov. xiv. 5, 25.