The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 218

gint renders the Inst clause, "but the seed laboriom emploj'ment exercises it. As of the 1ightcous is o. true reword (µur0b• though he were saying, "Even when the d>..118ela,)." band rests from sinful deeds, yet the wicked Ver. 19.-This verso is not to be connectc<l by reason of bis thoughts, is not innocent': with the preceding, as in the rno.rgin of the (Oxford transl.). This exposition is, of Revised Versi()n, " so rightcoueness," etc., course, divorced from the context. The seed ea.eh couplet in these chapters being in- of the righteous, This is not "the pos- dependent, the connection, such ns it is, terity of the righteous," but is a periphrasis being maintained by the usc of c;itchwords, for "the righteous," as in Pd. xxiv. 6; cxii. such as "righteous," "wicked," "upright," 2, "the generation of the righteous" (comp. etc. As righteousness tendeth to life. 'l'he Isa. lxv. 23). The climax which some see various uses of the first word p. (ken) have here-as if the author inte;nded to say, led to different renderings. The Authorized "Not only the good themsel ve~, but their Version takes it for "as ; " the Revised descendants also shall be delivered "-is Version as an adjective: He that is steadfast non-existent and unnecessary. Septua~nt, in righteousness. It is, perhaps, better, with " But he that soweth righteousness shall Nowack, to regard it as an abverb: "He receive a sure reward," which is another who is honestly, strictly, of righteousness, rendering of the second member of ver. 18. is to life." The meaning is plain: real, Shall be delivered ; i.e. in the time of God's genuine righteousness hath the promise of wrath (vers. 4, 23; eh. ii. 22). this life and of that which is to come Ver. 22.-This is the first instance of (1 Tim. iv. 8). The LXX., reading J;\ (ben), c!trect "similitude" in the book. As a translate, "A righteons son is born for jewel [a ring] of gold in a swine's snout. life." He that pursneth evil (eh. xiii. The greatest incongruity is thus expressed. 21); Septuagint, "the persecution of the Wumen in the East wore, and &till some- impious," i.e. that which an impious man times wear, a ring run through the nostril, inflicts. But the Authorized Version is and hanging over the mouth, so that it fa oouect, and the clause means that he who necessary to hold it up when taking food. practises evil brings ruin eventually on Such a nezem Abraham's servant gave to himself-a warning trite, but unheeded Rebekah (Gen. xxiv. 22; comp. Isa. iii. 21; (comp. eh. i. 18), Ezek. xvi. 12). The Septuagint has ,vC:mav, Ver. 20.-They that are of a froward heart " an ear-ring." So is a fair woman which is (eh. xvii. 20); Septuagint," perverse ways." without disoretion; withont taste, deprived The word means "distorted from the right," of the faculty of saying and doing who.t is "obstinate in error." Upright in their way seemly and fitting. The external beo.uty of (eh. ii. 21; xxix. 27; Ps. oxix. 1). such a woman is as incongruous as a pre- Ver. 21.-Though hand join in hand (eh. cious ring in the snout of n pig. Lesetre xvi. 5); literally, hand to hand, which may quotes an Arab proverb: "A woman with- be taken vai-iously. The Septuagint and out modesty is food without salt." Whether some other versions take the phrase in the swine in Eas~ern countries were " ringed," sense of unjust violence: "He who lrtyeth as they o.ro with us nowaday~, is unknown ; hand upon hand unjustly;" Vul,i:atc, manus if they were thus treated, the proverb is still in mantt, "hand in hand," which is o.s more vivid. enigmatical as the Hebrew. Some Jewish Ver. 23.-(Comp. eh. x. 28.) The desire of interpreters consider it an adverbial ex- the righteous is only good. They want only presaion, signifying simply " soon." Some what is jnst and honest, and therefore they modems take it to meo.n "sooner or Inter," obtain their wiches. The expectation of the as the Italian da mano in mano, or, in suc- wioked-th,1t ou which they set their hope cession of one generation after o.nother and heart-is wrath (cl1. xi. 4), is o.n object (Gesenius, Wordsworth). Others deem it a of Gorl's wr,1th. Other commentators, form of adjuration, equivalent to" I hereby ancient and modern, tako tho clause to attest, my hand upon it I" And this seems imply that the wishes of evil men, animated the most probable interpretation; assuredly by wrath um! ill temper, nre only satistied the Divine justice shall he satisfied by the by inflicting injuries on others. Delitzsch punishment of the wicked (comp. Ps. woulcl translate ebral,. " excess," "presuwp- xxxvii.). The Authorized Version gives a tion,'' o.s in eh. xxi. 2-l. But the first inter- very good sense:" Though hands be plighted pretation seems most suitahlo (comp. Rom. in faith, o.nd men may associate togethe1· in ii. 8, 9). 'l'ho LXX., pointing rlifferently, evil, the wioked shall not go unpunished" for "wrath" rcucls "shall peri.h." (comp. Isa. xxviii. 15). St. Gregory (' Mor. Ver. 24.-There is that soattereth; that in Job,' lib. xxv.) takes a very different giveth libcrnlly, as Ps. cxii. 99, "He hath view : " Hand in hand the wiclrnd shall not dispersed, he hnth given to the nee<\y." be innocent;" for hand is wont to be joined And yet inoreaseth; becomes only the riclwr with hand when it rc.ats at ease, o.nd no in wealth and more blessed by God (comp. 218 'l'HE PROVERBS.