The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 308

in him~elf too, for he Ie1uns by teaching. honeyoomb. "Pleasant words" nre words Knowledge ought not to be buried in 0;1e's of comforting, soothing tendency, ns in eh. own mind, but produced on fit occas1011s xv. 26; Ps. xix. 10. 'rhe write1' continues and in suitable words for the edification of his praise of apt speech. The comparison others. Ecclus. xx. 30, "Wisdom that is with honey is common in all lnnguages nnd hid, e.nd treBsure that is hoarded up, what at all times. Thus Homer sings of Nestor profit is in them [both?" (see Matt. v. 15). (' Iliad,' i. 248, etc.)- Septuagint, "The wise e.nd prudent they call worthless (<1>a6~ovs); but they who nre " The smooth-tongued ohief, from whose sweet in word shall hear more." Wise men persu&sive lips are called bad and worthless by the vulgar Sweeter than honey flowed the stream of herd, either because they do not impart all speech." thev :know, or because they are envied for (Derby) their learning; but those who a.re eloquent So the story goes that on the lips of St. nnd gracious in spr,ech shall receive much Ambrose, while still a boy, a swarm of bees instruction from what they hear, every one settled, portending his future persuasive being ready to converse with them and im- eloquence. Sweet to the soul, and health part anv knowledge which they possess. to the bones (eh. xv. 30). 'rhe verse forms Ver. 22.-Understa.nding is a well-spring one sentence. The happy results of plea- of life unto him the.t ha.th it (eh. x. 11 ; xiii. sant words are felt in body and soul. 14). The possessor of understanding ~~s Honey in Palestine is a staple article of in himself a source of comfort e.nd a vivi- food, and is also used as a medicinal remedy. frino- power, which is as refreshing as a cool Of its reviving effects we read in the case of spri;g to a thirsty traveller. In all troubl~s Jone.than, who from a little portion hu1Tiedly and uifiknlties be can fall back upon his taken e.s he marched on had " his eyes own good sense and prudence, e.nd satisfy enlightened" (1 Sam. xiv. 27). Septuagint, l1imself therewith. This is not conceit, but " Their sweetness is the healing of the tl,e resnlt of e. well-gTOunded experience. soul." But the instruction of fools is folly; i.e. the instruction which fools give is folly and sin; 'Ia.-pbs 6 Ao-yo• .-oii 1<1ml. ,i,vx¾v .,,.&8011r, such is the only teaching which they can "Speech the physician of the soul's annoy." offer. So the V nlgate, doctrina, stultorum Ver. 25.-A repetition of eh. xiv. 12. Jatuitas; and many modem commentators. Ver. 26.-Ke that laboureth laboureth But musar is better taken in the sense of for himself; literally, the soul of him that ''discipline" or "chastisement" (as in cb. laboureth laboureth for him. " Soul " here i. 7; vii. 22; xv. 5), which the bad man is equivalent to "desire," "appetite" (comp. suffers. His own folly is the scourge which eh. vi. 30), e.nd the me.xim signifies that punishes him; refusing. the teacbi_ng of hunger is a strong incentive to work-the wisdom be makes m1Sery for himself, needs of the body spur the labourer to deprive~ himself of the happiness which diligence and assiduity; be eats bread in virtue gives, and pierces himself through the swee.t of his brow (Gen. iii. 19). Says with many sorrows. Septuagint, "The the La.tin gnome- instruction of fools is evil." Ver. 23.-The heart of the wise tee.cheth " Largitor artium, ingeniique me.gister his mouth. Out of the abnndance of hie Venter." heart the wise man speaks; the spirit within "The belly is the teacher of all a.rte, him finds fit utterance. Pectus est qU-Od The parent of invention." disertosfacit. The thought and mind control the outward expression and make it eloquent "De tout s'e.vise a qui pain fe.ut," "He who and persuasive (comp. eh. xv. 2). And addeth we.nts bree.d thinks of everything." There lee.rningto bis lips; Vulgate, "addeth grace." is our own homely saw, "Need me.kes the But lekach, which means properly •· recep- old wife trot;" as the Italians say, "Hunger tion," "taking in," is best r~ndered "learn- sets the dog a-hunting" (Kelly). P'or his ing," as in ver. 21 ; eh. 1. 5, _etc .. The mouth cra.veth it of him; his mouth must intellect e.nd knowledge of the wise display have food to put in it. The verb ")~~ themselves in their discourse. Delitzscb, (altaph) does not occur elsewhere; it means "Learning mou.nteth up to his lips." Ecclue. properly" to bend," e.nd then to ~~t 8: loo.don, xxi. 26 " The heart of fools is in their to constrain, to press. So here, His mouth mouth ·' but the mouth of the wise is in bends over him, i.e. urgeth him thereto" their heart." Septuagint, "The heart of (Revised Vers_ioo). _Eccles. v,~· 7, "All the wise will consider whe.t proceedeth from le.hour of man is for his mouth; we should his mouth; and on bis lips he will ce.ny se.y stomach. Hunger in eome sense is the prudence (,1wy11wµ.ouv117111)." great stimulus of e.11 work. "We commnnded Ver. 24.-Pleasant words are as an you," eays St. Paul (2 Thcss. iii. 10), "that OH. xvr. 1-33.J THE PROVERBS.