[369] Prov. xxi. 10.
[370] Prov. xxv. 14.
[371] Prov. xvi. 18, 19.
[372] Prov. xviii. 12.
[373] Prov. xxvii. 2.
[374] Prov. xxi. 24.
[375] Prov. xxix. 23.
[376] Prov. xxvi. 12.
[377] Prov. xiii. 1; xv. 20.
[378] Prov. x. 17.
[379] Prov. xii. 1.
[380] Prov. xv. 8.
[381] Prov. xv. 32.
[382] Prov. xiii. 13 should be translated: "Whoso despiseth the word (_sc._ of warning and rebuke) shall be under a pledge to it (_i.e._ he has contracted an obligation to the word by hearing it, and in case of disobedience will have to redeem this implicit pledge by suffering and remorse), but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded."
[383] Prov. xiii. 17.
[384] Prov. xvii. 10.
[385] Prov. xxvii. 5.
[386] Prov. xxviii. 23.
[387] Prov. xxvii. 21: "The fining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, and a man for the mouth of his praise." This somewhat obscure aphorism is most simply explained thus:--A man should make his conscience a kind of furnace, in which he tries all the laudatory things which are said of him, accepting only the refined and pure metal which results from such a test, and rejecting the dross. This is simpler than, with Delitzsch, to explain, "a man is tested by the praise which is bestowed upon him as silver and gold are tested in the fire."
[388] Prov. xiii. 10.
[389] Prov. xxviii. 26.
[390] Prov. xi. 2.
[391] Prov. xii. 15_b_.
[392] Prov. xvi. 20.
[393] Prov. xv. 31, 33.
[394] Prov. xvii. 2.
[395] This is an addition of the LXX. to xiii. 13, and may represent an original Hebrew text. For the idea cp. Eccles. x. 25, "Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service."
[396] Prov. xiii. 10.
[397] Prov. xvii. 19.
[398] Prov. xiv. 3.
[399] Prov. xiv. 16.
[400] Prov. xvi. 5.
[401] Prov. xv. 25.
[402] Prov. xxi. 29.
[403] Prov. xxi. 4.
[404] Prov. xxii. 4. The probable rendering is, "The outcome of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches, honour, and life."
[405] Prov. xvi. 20.
[406] Prov. xviii. 12.
[407] The answer of the saint was very characteristic. Could he really believe that he was so vile as he said, when he compared himself with others who were obviously worse? "Ah," he said, "it is when I recount all God's exceptional mercies to me that I seem to myself the worst of men, for others have not had such favours at His hands."