EXPOSITION. by wickedness. Man is metaphorically CHAPTER XII. compared to a tree, especfally the olive. Vor. 1.-lnstruction; correction, disci- Wickedness gives him no firm hold for pline, which shows a man his faults, gives growth or life (comp. eh. x. 25). The root him a lowly opinion of himself, and opens of the righteous shall not be moved. The his mind to receive lcnowledge, especially righteous are planted in a good soil, are the knowledge of himself and of all moral "rooted and grounded in love" (Epb. iii. obligations. Is brutish; is as insensible to 17), and the root being thus well placed, the higher aspirations, to regret for the past or tree is safe, and brings forth much fruit hope of amendment, as e. brute beast (comp. (comp. ver.12; Job xiv. 7-D). oh. xxx. 2). On this point St. Augustine 1s quoted; "Quicumque corripi non vis, ex eo Vers. 4-12 conte.in proverbs concerning so.no corripiendus es quia corripi non vis. the management of a house and business. Non vis enim tua tibi vitia demonstrari; non vis ut feriantur, fie.tque tibi utilis dolor, Ver. 4.-A virtuous woman; one whose quo medicum qureras; non vis tibi tu ipse portrait is beautifully traced in eh. x=i. ostendi, ut cum deformem te vides, reforma- The term is applied to Ruth (Rnth iii. 11). turum dcsideres, eiqne supplices ne in illa 'fhe Vulgnte renders, diligens; Septuagint, remo.neo.s fceditate" ('De Corrept. et Grat.,' li.vlip,la. 'l'be expression means one of power v.). Such conduct is unworthy of one who either in mind or body, or botb. The same is possessed of an immortal soul and infinite idea. is contained in dpe-r¾, and virt,u. Such capacity for progress and improvement. o. woman is not simply loving ,tnd modest Ver. 2.-A good man. The word is general, and loyal, but is a crown to her husba.nd; the pai-ticular virtue intended being often is an honour to him, adorns and beautifies modified by the context. In view of the his life, making, as it wcr,,, a joyous contmst in the second clause, it means here festiv,,l. So St. Puul (1 Thess. ii. 19) cnlls "pure," " strnightforwe.rd," having a heart his converts "11 crown of glorying." Tho free from evil thoughts. As the psalm says, allusion is to the crown worn Ly tho bride- "Surely God ia good to Israel, even to groom at his mnrria.ge, or to tile g,irlnnds such as are pure in heart " (Ps. lxxiii. 1). worn at foasto (comp. Cnnt. iii. 11; Isa.. 0btaineth favour of the Lord (eh. viii. 35); lxi. 10; Wisd. ii. 8). The Son of Sirach Septuo.gint, " Better is he who findeth has much praise for the virtuous wom11n: favour from the Lord." A man of wioked "Blessed is the ma.n thnt bath a good devices ( oh. xiv. 17); one whose thoughts (li.-ya9Tjs) wife, for the number of his dnys are perverse and artful. Will he-.Jehovah shall be double. A virtuous (a.vlipda) -condemn; Vulgate, "He who trusts to woman rejoiccth her busb11nd, 11ud he shall his imo.ginations doeth wickedly ; " Septua- fulfil the yonrs or his life in penco" (Ecclus. gint, "A man that is a sinner shall be x.xvi. 1, 2). She that me.keth ashamed; "that passed over in silence (..-11.pa<T,w'lr"IJ9,/CTE"ra,)." doeth shamefully" (eh. x. 5; xix. 26); one Ver. 3.-A man shall not be established who is a terrible contrast to tho woIUan of THE PROVERBS. [c11, xn. 1-28.
st.ron.~ chariteter-weak, indolent, immodest, Susannah, Daniel saved the accused woman wasteful. Is as :-ottenness in his bones from the slanders of the elders. (eh. xiv. 30; Hab. iii. 16). Such o. wife Ver. 7.-The wicked o.ro overthrown, and poisons her husband's life, deprives him of nro not; or, overthrow the wicked, and they strength and vigour; though she is made shall be no more. The verb is in tht1 " bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh" infinitive, o.ud may be rendered either way· (Gen. ii. 23), for from being a. helpmate for but the notion is sca.1·cely of an overthrow'. him, she saps his very existence. Septua- The Vulgnte has, verte im.pios; i.e. change gint, "As a worm in a tree, so an evil them a. little fNm their previous state, Jot woma.n de.stroyeth a man." Here ngain them suffer a blow from any cause or of Siracides ha.s much to say, " A wicked any degree, and they succumb, they have woman abateth the courage, maketh an no power of resistance. What the stroke is, heavy countenance and a wounded heart: or whence it comes, is not expressed; it a womau that will not comfort her husband ~ay be the jus~ judgment of God-tempta- in distress maketh wea.k hands and feeble t10n, trouble, sickness-but whatever it is, ln1ees" (Ecclus. xxv. 23). Thus runs a they eo.nnot w!tbsta.nd it as the righteous Spanish maxim (Kelly, 'Proverbs of .A.11 do (see eh. x1. 7). Some commentators Nations')- see in the phrase the idea of suddenness, " Him thRt has a good wife no evil in life "While they turn themselves round, they that may not be borne can befall; are no more" ( eh. x. 25 ; Job xx. 5), 0