The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 188

in the two clnuses. Vu1gnte, feBUhabit tbe sin, as it is expressed in Numb. ix. 13, atcipere; Septuagint," Instruct a wise me.n, " For every man shall bear his own burden" und he shall ham more given him." The (Gal. vi. 5). Thns Wisdom enrls her exhor- wise are thus rewarded with larger measures tation. Septuagint, "If thon tum out evil, of wisdom, because they are simple, humble, thou alone shalt bear (&vrl\,/u•is) evils." ond willing to learn, having that childlike And then is added the following para<?Taph, spirit which Christ commends (Matt. which may possibly be derived from 11 Hebrew xviii. 3). original, bot seems more like a congeries made Ver. 10.-Wisdom returns to the first apo- up from other passnges, and foisted by some thegrn and principle of the whole book (eh, means into the Gre~k text: •· He thnt i. 7). Without the fear of God no teaching stayeth himself on lies shepherdeth wincls, is of any avail. The knowledge of the holy and himself pursueth flying birds; for he is understanding. The word translated hath left the ways of his own vineyard, and "the holy" is D'\'1R, a plural of excel- bath gone astray with the wheels of his own lence (see on eh. xxx. 3) like Elohim, and husbandry; and he goeth through a water- equivalent to "the Most Holy One," Jehovah, less desert, and over a bnd set in thirsty to which it answers in the first hemistich. places, and with his hands he gathereth un- God is called" Holy, holy, holy" (Isa. vi. 3), fruitfulness." in his threefold nature, and as majestic Vera. 13-18.-This section contains the beyond expression. The only knowledge worth having, and which is of avail for the invitation of FoJJy, the rival of Wisdom, re- practica.l purposes of life, is the knowledge presented under tlie guise of an adulteress 9f God (see on eh. ii. 5). Septuagint, "The (eh. ii. 16; v. 3, etc.; vi. 24, etc.; vii.). counsel oft.be holy (a:ylc.,v) is understanding,'' with the explanatory clause; "for to know • Ver. 13.-A foolish woman; literally, the the Law is the character of good thought." woman of folly, the genitive being tho.t of .This occurs again at eh. xiii. 15, though in apposition, so that this may well he rendel'ed, the Hebrew in neither place. in order to make the contrast with ,Vbdom Ver. 11.-The parenthetical explanation more marked, "the woman Folly." She is being concluded, in which Wisdom has inti- regarde,i as a real person; ancl between her mated why it is useless to appeal to the and Virtue man has to make his choice. scorner and the wilful sinner, she now re- Is olamorous; turbulent and animated by sumes the direct address. interrupted at ver. passion (as eh. vii. 11), quite different from 7, presenting a forcible reason for the advice her calm, dignified rival She is simple; given in ver. 6, though there is still some Hebrew, "simplicity," in a had sense; she connection with ver. 10, as it is from the has no preservative ago.inst evil, no IUor-4 wisdom that comes from the fear of the fibre to resist temptation. And knoweth _Lord that the blessings now mentioned nothing which she ought to know. Ignor- spring. For by me thy days shall be multi- ance is the natural occompanimen t of Fully: :,;,Iiod (see eh. iii. 2, 16; iv. 10, where long in this case it is wilful and persistent; she life is promised as a reward for the posses- goes on hPJ: way. reckless of consequences. sion and practice of wisdom). The same Septuagint," A wornan foolish and bold, who result is attributed to the fear of God ( eh. x. knows not shame, comes to wnnt a worsel." 27 ; xiv. 27, etc.). In ver. 6 the address is Ver. 14.-She sitteth s.t the door of her in the plural; here it is singulur. A similar house. She, like ,Visdom, has a houss of interchange is found in eh. v. 7, 8 (where her own, and imitates her in inviting i!Uests soe note). to enter. Shodoes notseucl forth her maidens; Ver. 12.-If thou be wise, thou shalt :he she does not staiid in the streets and proclo.im wise for thyself. A transition verse. her mission. Vice hus un en•ier task; all Wisdom will bring theo good; as thou she h11.8 to do is to sit oncl bcrkou o.nd use a host laboured well, so will be thy reward few se<luctive words. Her house is not sup- (1 Cor. iii. 8). 'fhe LXX. (Syriac and ported by seven pillars. built on the grace of Amhic), with the id~&. of perfecting the God and upheld by tho gifts of the Holy 11.11tithesis, adds, '"" Toi'r 1rl\11uCov, "My Spirit, like thut of WisJom (ver. 1); it is an son, if thou art ,vise for thyself, thou shult ordinary habitation of no stately proportions, .be wise also for thy neighbours "-which but its meanness impedes not the uses to contoins the great truth 1hat good gifts which she puts it, her own charms causing i,hould not be selfishly enjoyed, but used hor victims to disregard her en vironruents. nnd dispensed for thu ndvuutugo of othe1·s On a scat in the high plaoes of the city. (Gal. vi. 6). In support of our text we m11.y Her house is in the highest and most con- quote Job xxii. 2, •· Cnu a man be profitnblo spicuous part of the city, 11,nd she sits before unto God? Surely he thnt is wise is pro- her door in reckless immodesty, plying her fitable unto himself." But if thou soomest, shamefultrade (comp. CTen. xxxviii. H; Jer. thou a.lone shalt bee.r it; i.e. ntone for it, bear iii. 2). Tho mimicry of her rival o.gain op-. 184 TRE PROVERBS. [cm. 1:t. 1-18,