The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 198

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER X. cerding to specify three outward acts ae, Yer. 1-ch. xxii. 16.-Pe.rt III. FIRST coming under this term, viz. alms)?ivino-, prayer, and fasting. In some analogo~ GREAT COLLECTION (375) OF SoLOMONIO passages the LXX. rendns the worn bv PROVERBS, b,,71µorrw11, e.g. Ps. cxi. 9; Dan. iv. 27; 'fobft Ver. 1-cb. xii. 28.-First section. The xii. 9 (comp. 2 Cor. ix. 10). Deliverath sections a.re noted by their commencing from death, shows that a man's heart is right usually with the words, "e. wise son." towards God. and calls down special grace. Such a man lays up in store for himself a. Ver. 1.-The proverbs of Solomon. This good foundation, that he may attain eternal is the title of the new pa.rt of the book; it life (1 Tim. vi. 19; see on eh. xvi. 6). is omitted in the Septuagint. There is some Ver. 3.-The Lord will not suffer the soul kind of loose connection in the grouping of of the righteous to famish (comp. eh. xix. these proverbs, but it is difficult to follow. 23). Tbe soul is the life (comp.eh. xiii. 25). "Ordo frustra qureritur ubi nullus fuit So the psalmist says {Pd. xxxvii. 25), "I observe.tus," says Mart. Geier. Wordsworth have been young, and now nm old; yet have considers the present chapter to contain ex- I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his emplifications of the principles and results seed begging their bread." Christ speaks of the two ways of life displayed in the of the providence that watches over the preceding nine chapters. The antithetical lower creatnres, and draws thence e. lesson character of the sentences is most marked of trust in his care of man, concluding, and well-sustained. As the book is specially "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and h13 designed for the edification of youth, it ril!'hteousness, Q.Di[ all these things shall be begins with an appropriate saying. A wise added unto yon" (Matt. vi. 26, 33). But son maketh a glad father. As wisdom com- he casteth away the substance of the wicked; prises all moral excellence, and folly is vice Septuagint, "He will overthrow the life or and perversity, the opposite characters attri- the wicked;" Vulgnte, "He overturns the buted to the son are obvious. The mother plots of sinners." The word rendered "sub- is introduced for the sake of panulelism; stance" (ham,ah) is better understood as though some commentators suggest that, e.s "desire." God frustrates the eager lon_g-ing the father would be naturally elated by his (fo1· food or other good things) of the wicked; son's virtues, which would conduce to honour they are never satisfied, and get no ree.l and high estate, so the mother would be enjoyment out of what they crave (comp. eh. grieved at vices which her tmining had not xiii. 25). subdued, and her indulgence had fostered. Ver. 4.-The.t dee.lath with a slack hand; If this seems somewhat for-fetched, we may that iR lazy and indolent (comp. eh. vi. 10, consider that tho father in the maxim in- 11; see on eh. xix. 15). 'fhe Septnagint, cludes the mother, and the mother the father, with a different pointing, reads, "Poverty the two being separated for the purpose of humbleth a m1m." The hand of the diligent contrast (see on eh. xxvi. 3). The word for (eh. xii. 24) maketh rich. The words for heaviness occurs in eh. xiv. 13 and xvii. 21. "hand" are different in the two clanses Ver. 2.-Treasures of wiokedness; trea- as Wordsworth remarks. The first word sures acquired by wrong-doing (Micah vi. is caph, the open, ineffective, hand or palm : 10). Profit nothing" in the day of calamity" the second term is yad, the hand tense and (Ecclus. v. 8; oomp. eh. xi. 4). The LXX. braced for vigorot1s W()rk. The LXX. in- renders, " Treasures will not profit the troduces a ale.use here which seems t.o wicked;" so Aqui11t. "For wh11t sh11ll a interfere with the connection: 'rios .,,.,,,.a,o<:r man be profited, if he shall gain the whole }L<vos <TO</>OS lrrTat, Trj 6~ i«ppov, 6ta1<6vcp world, ancl forfeit his soul?" (Matt. xvi. 26). xp-frrr<Ta,, "A well-instructed son will be Righteousness (oh. xiv. 34); not simply wise, and he will use a fool as his minister;" justice and moral goodness, but more espe- i.e. he is able to make even the foolish cially liberality, benevolence. So in Matt. subserve bis ends. The sentence is quoteil vi. 1 the Revised Version (in accordance by St. Au!!'ustine, 'Do Civit. Dei,' xvi. 2. with the best manuscripts) reads, "Tnko The Vulgate inserts another paragraph, heed that ye do not your righteousness be- which is also found in some manuscripts fore men, to be seen of them," Ohrist pro- of the Septuagint 11t eh. ix. 12: Qui 11il-it11r  196 THE PROVERDS. [en. x. 1-32.' -- ~---------------------------- mendacii~. hie pmdt vento~; idem mtfem Ver. 9.-He that walketh uprightly (eh. ipse sequitnr aves volantes. "He who relieth ii. 7); Vulgato and Septuagint, "in sim- on lies fecdolh on the winds, and pursueth plicity," having nothing to oonccal or to fl,ino- birds" fear. So Christ enjoins his followers to be • Ve~-. 5.-He that gathereth the harvest guileless ns childreu, and h11rmlcss as doves into the barn at the right season. The idea (l\latt. x. 16; Mark x. 15). Su1·ely; equiva- of husbandry is continued from the preceding lent to " securely: " d.µ,p,µ.11ws, Aquila, verse. Son is here equivalent to "man," having no fear of inopportune exposure, the maxim being addressed to the young. because he has no secret sin. He the.t por- That sleepeth; litera.lly, that snoreth; Vul- vcrteth his ways; deals in crooked practices. gate, qni sf;!r/it (Judg. iv. 21). A son that Shall be known (eh. xii. 16'. He shall be canseth sha.me. The phrase is found in eh. exposed and punished, nnd put to open xvi i. 2; rix. 26; xxix. 15. The Septuagiut shame. Ha.ving this apprehension always has, "The son of understanding is saved present, he cannot we.lk with confidence WI from the heat; but the sinful son is blasted the innocent does. Hence the antithesis in by the wind in harvest." the text. Ver. 6.-Violenoe oovereth the mouth of Ver. 10.-He that winketh with the eye the wicked. So ver. ll. This is usually (eh. vi. 13). This is a sign of craft, malice, explained to mean either that the conscious- e.nd complicity with other wicked comrades. ness of his own iniquity silences the sinner Ecclus. xxvii. 22, "He that winketh with when he "ould speak against the righteous, the eyes worketh evil." Ca.useth sorrow (eh. or liis violence and injustice, returning on xv. 13). He co.uses trouble e.nd vexation by his own head, are like a bandage over his his cunning e.nd secrecy. A prating fool (as mouth (Lev. rii..i. 45; Micah iii. 7), reducing ver. 8). The two clauses are intended to him to shame and silence. Others, again, teach that the garrulous fool is even more consider the signification to be-in default certain to bring ruin on himself e.nd others of the good, honest words which should pro- than the crafty plotter. 'l'he Septuagint and ceed from a man's month, the sinner pours Syriac have changed the latter clause into forth injustice and wickedness. But it is a sentence supposed to be more forcibly anti- best (e.s in ver. 14) to take "month" as the thetical, "He who reproveth with boldness i!Ilbject: " The month of the wicked con- maketh peace." But there are sentences cee.leth violenee," that he may wait for the not strictly antithetical in this chapter, e.g. opportunity of practising it. The contrast vers. 18, 22 (comp. eh. xi. 10). is between the manifest blessedness of the Ver. 11.-A well of life (eh. xiii. 14: righteous and the secret sinister proceedings xviii. 4). The good me.n utters words of of the evil. The Vnlgate and Septuagint wisdom, comfort, and edification. God him- give," the blessing of the Lord." For" vio- self is said to have "the well of life" (Pa. lence" the Septuagint has 1d116os l'iwpo11, xxxvi. 9), and to be "the Fountain of living "untimely grief;" the Hebrew word chamaB waters" (Jer. ii. 13); and the holy man, bearing also tl.ie sense of" misery." drawing from this supply, sheds life a.nd Ver. 7.-The memory. The lasting, fra- health around. The second clause should grant perfume of a holy life is contrasted be tBken as in ver. 6, but the mouth of the with the noisomeness and quick decay of wicked ooncealeth violence, the contrast an evil name (comp. Pa. lxx.ii. 17). As a being between the open usefulness of the commentator asks, "Who ever thinks of good man's words e.nd the harmful reticence calling e. child Judas or Nero?" of the malicious sinner. The Septuagint Ver. 8.-Willreceive commandments. The has, "A fountain of life is in the hand of wise in heart is not proud or conceited ; he the righteous; but destruction shall cover accepts the Divine Law with all its direc- the mouth of the wicked." Thie is ex- tions (observe the plural "commandments"), plained to mean that o. good man's words and e.nd is not above learning from others; at actions tend to spiritual health; a be.d man's tl.ie same time, he makes no rlisplay of his wor,ls b1·ing down sorrow and punishment. wisdom. The fool of lips (ver. 10); one Ver. 12.-Hatred stirreth up strife (eh. who is always exposing his folly. The vi. 14). Love covereth all sins (eh. xvii. literal antithesis is better shown by ren- 9). The reference is primarily to the blood- dering "the solid in heart," and "the loose feud, the existence of which led to the in lips." So Wordsworth. The Vulgate establishment of the cities of refuge. Hatred translates, "The fool is chastised by his keeps alive the old feeling of revenge, and lips;" i.e. the folly which he has uttered seeks opportunities of satisfying it; but love falls back upon him, and causes him to puts a.side, forgets and forgives all offences suffer punishment. The LXX. renders the e.gainst itself. This sentiment comes very le.at clause, "He wlio is given to pre.ting near the great Christi:in principle, "Love (6.u-re-yos x•[Mu,), walking tortuously, shall covereth a multitude of sins" (1 Pet. iv. 8; be tripped np." comp. 1 Cor. xiii. 4; Jas. v. 20). The To.l- , Olt, X. 1-82.J THE PROVERBS. 197