The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 272

poor ye have always with you," said Christ Thus the Christian martyrs went joyfully (Matt. xxvi. 11); therefore to harass and to the stake, and gentle women and littlo oppress the poor because he is in this lowly children smiled on the sword which sent condition, is virtually to arraign the provi- them home. It is no.ture.l to see in this dence of God, who is the Father of all, and clause e. belief in e. future life, o.nd e. ete.te has made all men brothers, however differing of rewards and punishments ; and some in worldly position, Christ pute the duty of oommeutators, holding that this doctrine aiding the poor on the high ground of his was not known in pro-exilie.n do.ye, have solidarity with his people (Matt. xxv. 40, taken occasion from its pie.in enunciation in 45). how that in ministering unto the least this paragraph to o.ffix e. very late de.te to of these his brethren men are ministering our book. There are two answers to be unto him. "Prosperity and adversity, life made to this assertion. First, it is capable and death, poverty and riches, come of the of proof that the belief in the immortality Lord" (Ecolus. xi. 14). Even the heathen of the soul, with its consequences in another could say- state, was held, however vaguely, by the , Afl voµ.l(ovB' ol ,r&f'/,,-Es T0w 0E&iv. Jews long before Solomon's time (see note, "Deem ever that the poor are God'a own ob. xii. 28); secondly, the present pe.sse.ge gift." is by some ree.d differently, whence is ob- tained another rendering, which removes Septuagint, "He that calumniates (trv1to• from it all trace of the doctrine in question. ,pav-r~v; calwmnialur, Vulgate) the poor Thus Ewald and others would ree.d the angers him who made him." This ver.ion clause in this we.y: "The righteous hatb refers to oppression of the poor by means hope, or te.ketb refuge, from hie own deeds." of calumny or false and frivolous accusation. There ce.n be no reasonable doubt tbe.t the llut he thathonoureth him-the Lord-hath usual reading e.nd translation are correct; mercy on the poor; or, better, he that hath but the above considerations show that no mercy up!!n the poor honoureth. him; for he argument e.s to the de.to of the Proverbs can shows the.t be he.s proper regard to God's be safely founded on this verse. The LXX. ordinance, e.cte on high motives, and is not has e. different reading for 1MlC:l, " in hie led astray by worldly considerations. Christ death," e.nd translates, "But he who trusteth himself be.s consecrated poverty by coming in hie own holiness is just "-which looks in low estate (2 Cor. viii. 9), and they who like a travesty of Scripture, but probably love and honour him are glad to minister to refers to the consciousness of be.ving e. bee.rt hiB brethren iu their poverty and distress right with God nud obedient to the require- (comp. Jo.s. i. 27). ments of the Divine Le.w. Ver. 32.-The wioked is driven awe.y in Ver. 33,-Wisdom resteth in the heart of his wickedness. So the Greek and Le.tin him the.t hath understanding. The wise Versions. In hie very act of sin, flagranle man is not e.lwe.ys blurting out e.nd me.king delicto, the wicked is defeated, driven from e. display of bis wisdom ; he lets it lie still hope and life; e.s the Revised Version and hidden till there is occasion to use it with renders, "The wicked is thrust down in his effect (eh. x. 14; xii. 23). But tbe.t which evil-doing;" i.e. there is some element of is in the midst of fools is me.de known; lite- wealrness in an evil deed which occe.sions rally and' better, but in the midst of fools its discovery aud punishment sooner or it, wisdom, maketh itself known. 1'he.t is, in later. Thus "murder will out," we say. contrast to the folly of.fools, wisdom is seen But the contrast is better emphasized by to great advantage; or, it me.y be, the con- taking ra in its other sense of "calamity," ceited display of the fool's so-called wisdom •• misfortune," thus: "In bis calamity the is contrasted with. the modesty and reticence wicked is co.et down" (eh. xxiv. 16). of the really intelligent me.n. •• A fool's When misfortune comes upon him, he bas heart is ever dancing on hie lips," says a no defence, no Lope; he collapses utterly ; proverb, So Ecclue. xxi. 26, 11 The heart of all his frieude forsake him; there is none fools is in their mouth ; but the mouth of to cumfort or uphold him (comp. Me.tt. the wise is in their bee.rt." Theognie, vii. 26, 27). But the righteo111 he.th hope 1163- in his death (comp. Ecclns. i 13). Primarily, '0tp6a>..µol ,rczl -y7',./;trtr« 1tal olf«-r« 1t«l v&os the clauoe means the.t even in the greatest l,.vBp,;v <!auger tbe good man loses 1;1ot hie trust in 'Ev µltrtrq, IT'T7/6Er,w Iv trllVE'Tois 4>6,-rm,. God. It is like Job's word (1f our reading is correct, Job xiii. 15), "Though be slay "The eyes, and tongue, and ears, and mind me, yet will I trust in him;" and the alike Aro oentred in the bosom of the wise," psalmist, "Though I walk through the valley of the ebe.dow of deatL, I will fee.r Vulgate, "In the heo.rl of the prudcntresteth 110 evil: for thou art with me; thy rod e.nd wisdom, e.nd it will teach all the unlearned." tl,y etaff tliey comfort me" (Ps. x:x;iii. ¾). Wisdom sits enshrined in the intellige11t oft. XIV, 1-35.] THE PROVERBS. 277