The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 160

"hands shed innocent blood" are strongly condemned of him. 'l'hese include, noL only (1) men guilty of murder and manslaughter in the literal sense, but also (2) those who are responsible for the death of the innocent through culpable carelessness (e.g. an indifferent and negligent judge or reckless captain), and also (3) those who, by their heartlessness in family or social life, crush the spirit and shorten the life. IV. MEN THAT PLOT MISCHIEF. "A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations" (ver. 18). These are they who use their inventive faculties, not for the good of their race, nor for the maintenance of their families, but for the base and shameful purpose of bringing some of their fellows into distress, if not into ruin; they contrive their over- throw only to enjoy their discomfiture. V. CRuEr, EXECUTIONERS OF WRATH. "Those whose feet are swift in running to mischief" (ver. 18); these are they who take a savage delight in being the instruments of punishment-the gaoler, the soldier, the executioner, who gloat over their work of severity or blood. VI. FALSE WITNESSES. (Ver. 19.) One of the most solemn and responsible positions a man can occupy is the witness-box; he stands there, invoking the dread Name of the Eternal himself to cause justice to be done. If then he perjures himself, and "spea.keth lies" when actually under oath, he defies bis Maker, perverts justice, wrongs the innocent or releases the guilty, is disloyal to his country, outrages his own con- science. Well may he be among those whom God especially condemns. VII. MEN THAT DIS'l'URB HARMONY. "He that soweth discord among brethren" (ver. 19). "Blessed are the peacemakers," said the Master. "Cursed are the mischief- me.kers," says the text. If we do not actively promote peace and good will, surely we need not be the abettors of strife. There are two degrees of guilt here: there is the mischief-making which is due to culpable thoughtlessness, repeating words which should have been allowed to fall to the ground, unintentional but decided misrepresen- tation, etc.; and there is the darker wrong, to which a heavier penalty is due, delibe- rate and wanton disturbance of previous harmony. This is (1) bad in the social circle, (2) worse in the home, (3) worst in the Church of Christ. Let it be remembered that: 1. God bates thtJse things; they are utterly abhorrent to him. He cannot regard them without Divine repugnance. 2. God is" much dis- pleased" with those who do them; his holy and awful wrath must extend to those who "do such things." 3. God will surely punish those who impenitently persist in them (Rom. ii. 2-9).-C. Vers. 20-35.-Sin and 11afety. These verses may teach us- I. THAT MAN LIEB OPEN TO STRONG AND BAD TEMPTATIONS. The reference of the text is to the sin of sensuality; the wise man is warning against the wiles of " the evil woman," "the strange woman" (ver. 24). This sin of sensuality may consist in irregularities, or in things decidedly forbidden, or iu gross and shameful violations of law and decency; it may be secret and hidden from every eye, or it may be unblushing and may flaunt itself before high heaven. The words of the text may, in pa.rt, apply to other sins; e.g. to intemperance, and also to gambling. To all of these the strong passions of youth often urge the soul; it :finds itself drawn or driven by a powerful impulse which it is difficult to overcome. But the truth must be faced- II. THAT VICE LEADS DOWN BY .A SURE AND SHORT ROAD TO THE WORST INFLIOTIONB. It leads to: 1. Self-reproach. The sinner "shall not be innocent" (ver. 29), and ".9'ill carry the miserable consciousness of guilt with him into every place. 2. Corruption of character-such a one "lacketh heart" (marginal reading), "destroyet~ his. own soul" (ver. 32); losing all self-respect, his character is as a substance that 1s smitten, cracked through, ready to fall to pieces, worthless; "a wound" (ver. 33), a deep wound, it has gotten. 3. Shame. Men do not despise a thief who steals to allay the gnawing pangs of hunger; they may compel him to restore sevenfold, but they pity him as much as they despise him (vers. 30, 31). But the adulterer, or the confirmed drunkard or the man who is impoverishing his family to gratify his lust for gambling, him mer: do despise in their hearts; they dishonour him in their soul, they _cry "shame" upon him (ver. 33). 4. Impoverishment. Loss of money, of occupat10n, beggary, the humiliation of borrowing, pledging, etc. (ver. 26). 5. Penalty fr_om those Y,ho he,ve been wronged (vers. 34-, 35), Those who outrage the honour of then· fellow ■ CD, VII. 1-27.] THE PROVERBS. 158