The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 265

where agrioultural works are diligently not 1mnu,n the lip8 of lmmoledae; i.e., as oanied on (the "ploughing ox" being te.ken Nowack exple.ins, "Lee.ve the presence of ns the type of industry), large returns are a fool, and you carry nothing away with eeoured. Septuagint, •• Where fruits are you; after all your intercourse with him, plentiful the strength of the ox is manifest." you quit his presence without havin~ Ver. 5.-A repetition of eh. xii. 17 (see gained any advance in true knowledge;; also oh. vi. 19). A faithful witness cannot (see on eh. xx. 15). The LXX. presento be induced to swerve from the truth by a very different version: "All things are threat or bribe. Will utter; Hebrew, adverse to a. foolish man; but wise lips are breatheth forth. A false witness with no the arms of knowledge (czi,,.611,,.,.,s)." A compulsion, e.s it were naturally, puts forth foolish man, by his inconsiderate, slanderous, lies (comp. ver. 25; oh. xix. 5). Septuagint, or bitter words, makes every one his enemy ; "An unrighteous witness kindleth (/,c,ca.fE<) a wise man uses -nis knowledge to good fe.lsehood." purposes; hie words are the instruments by Ver. 6.-A aoorner seeketh wisdom, and which he shows what he is. findeth it not; •litere.lly, it 1·s not-there is Ver. 8.-The wisdom of the prudent is to ~e (oh. xiii. 7). A scorner may e.ffect underetand his wa.y. The wisdom of the to be seeking wisdom, but he ce.n never prudent is ·shown by his considering whither attain to it, bece.use it is given only to him his e.ctioUB lead, the motives from which who is meek and fee.rs the Lord (Ps. :xxv. 9). they spring, the results that attend them. Wisd. i. 4, "Into e. malicious soul wisdom As the apostle enjoins (Eph. v. 15), "See ehe.11 not enter; nor dwell in the body the.t the.t ye walk circumspectly, not as fool§, is pledged to sin" ( comp. Ps. cxi. 10). True but as wise." Or the clause may be taken wisdom is not to be won by those who a.re as enjoining a wise choice iu life, a selection too conceited to receive instruction, and of such 11. calling or occupe.tion as best suits presume to depend upon their own judgment, one's ce.pabilities, station, and opportunities. and to weigh everything by their own stan- The folly of fools is deoeit. This is not self- dard. This is especie.lly true of the know- deceit, which the word does not denote, but ledge of Divine things, which "scorners" deceit of others. Stupid persons show their never really acquire. Septuagint, "Thou folly in trying to cheat others, though they shalt seek wisdom among the wicked, but e.re sure to be detected, e.nd their fraud thou shalt find it not." Knowledge is ee.sy :recoils on themselves. In the clllle of fools, unto him that understa.ndeth; " that hath what they would call wisdom is folly; hence understanding," i.e. to the man who realizes ~e wording of the sentence. that the fear of God is a necessary condition Ver. 9.-:rools make a mock at sin. So to the acquiring of wisdom. and who seeks the Vnlge.te. (comp. eh. x. 23). Fools, it as a boon at hie hands. This acquisition, wicked men, commit sin lightly e.nd cheer- ns it is difficult, noy, impossible for the fully, give specious names to grievous trans- scorner, is comparatively easy for the gressions, pass over rebuke with a joke, humble believer who seeks it with the right encourage others in crime by their ee.sy way temper and in the right w11.y. " Mysteries of viewing it. But in the original the verb are revealed unto the meek" (Ecolus. iii. 19, is in the singule.r number, while the noun is in some manuscripts). plural, and the clause could be translated Ver. 7.-Go from the presence of a foolish as in the Authorized Version only with the man. There is some doubt about the render- notion the.t the number of the verb is e.ltered ing of this passage. 'fhe Vulge.te gives, in order to individualize the application of vade contra stultum, which is prob11.bly to be the me.xim (' Speaker's Commente.ry '). But to.ken in the sense of the Authorized Version. thero is no necessity for such a. violent The Revised Version be.s, "Go into the anomaly. The subject is doubtless the presence of a foolish man." The Hebrew word rendered "sin" (asham) which means ,w;i (minneged) may mean "from before," both "Bin" and" sin offering." So we may "over age.inst," " in the presence of." Hence render, "Sin mocks fools," i.e. deceives and arises an ambiguity. The Authorized Ver- disappoints them of the enjoyment which sion considers the sentence to be nn injunction they expected. Or better, e.s most in to turn awe.y from a stupid me.n when yon he.rmony with the following member, "The perceive that you oan do him no good. sin offering of fools mocks them" (eh. xv. 'fhe Revised Version is equive.lent t.o "if 8). Thus Aquilo. e.nd Theodotion, li<1>pov,u you go into the presence," etc. When thou x>..•vcl(•• 1t>..11µ.µ.,>..e1a, where 'lf'Af/µ.µ.,>..e1a. m~y peroeivest not in him the lips of knowledge ; signify "sin offering" (Ecclus. vii. 31). It Revised Version, and thou shalt not perceive is ve.iu for such to seek to win God's fe.vour in him, etc., which embodies a truism with by ceremonial observances; offerings from no epeoial point. The whole BBntence is them are useleBS expenditure of cost and better translated, Go forth from Ul.6 pre- trouble (eh. x.xi. 27). Tho Son of Sirach ,enae of a foolish man, and thou hast has wtill expressed this truth: "He the.t  270 THE PROVERBS. [err. XIY. 1- 35.