The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 309

if any would not work, neither should he eat." Ver. 29.-A violent man enticeth hi9 '.rhere is a spiritual hunger witliout which neighb~ur. The man of violence (eh. iii. :.;1) grnco cannot be sought or obtained-that is one who wrong3 others by injurious cou- hungering e.nd thirsting e.fter righteousness duct, by fro.nd or oppression. How such a of whioh Christ spee.ks, e.nd which he who one "enticeth," talks a man over, we see in is the Bree.d of life is ready to satisfy (Matt. eh. i. 10, etc. Septuagint, "The lawless v. 6; John vi. 58). The Septuagint expands man tempts (a.,r,nmpii-rczc) friends." And the maxim: "A man in la.hours labours for leadeth him into the way that is not good himself, and drives awe.y (b,{Juf.(era.,) his (Pa. xxxvi. 4; Isa. lxv. 2); a position where own destruction; but the perverse man upon be will suffer some calamity, or be induced his own mouth carrieth destruction." t.o commit some wickedness. Ver. 27.-This e.nd the three following Ver. 30.-This verse is better taken as verses are concerned with the ce.se of the one sentence (so the Septuagint), and trans- evil man. An ungodly man-a man of le.ted, as Nowack, "He that shutteth his Belial-diggeth up evil. A man of Belia! eyes in order to contrive froward thing~, ( eh. vi. 12) is a worthless, wicked per11on, he that compresseth his lips, hath already what the French call a 11aurien. Such brought evil to pass;" he has virtually a one digs a pit for others (eh. xxvi. 27; effected it. From such a crafty, malignant Ps. vii. 15), devises mischief against his man you need not expect any more open neighbour, plots against him by lying and tokens of his intentions. He shutteth his slandering e.nd overree.ching. Wordsworth eyes (comp. Isa. mill. 15); either that he confines the evil to the man himself; he me.y better think out his evil plans, or else digs it as treasure in a mine, loves wicked- he cannot look his neighbour in the face ness for its own sake. But analogy is while he is plotting against him. The against this interpretation. Septuagint, Vulge.te has, attonitia oculis; Septuagint, "A foolish man diggeth evils for himself." "fixing (C1-r11pl(w11) his eyes." Moving his So Ecclus. x.xvii. 26, "Whoso d.iggeth a pit lips; rather, he who compresseth his lips, to shall foll therein ; and he that setteth a trap hide the malignant smile with which he shall be taken therein." As the gnome_says- might greet his neighbour's calamity (comp. 'H B~ 1<a1<¾, {Jou>..¾, -rrp {Jou>..d,<Ta.11n 1<cudrTT1J, eh. vi. 13, etc.; x. 10), or that neither by word nor expression he mo.y betray his And in his lips there is as a burning :Bre thoughts. Others take the two outward ex- ( eh. xxvi. 23). His words scorch and injure pressions mentioned as signals to confede- like a devouring flame. J as. iii. 6, " The rates; but this is not so suitable, as they a.re tongue is a fire; the rworld of iniquity the man's own feelings and sentiments that among our members is the tongue, which are meant. One wllo gives these tokens defileth the whole body, and settetll on fire bringeth evil to pass ; he has perfected his the wheel of ne.ture, o.nd is set on fire by designs, and deems them as good as accom- hell." Septue.gint, "And upon his lips he plished, and you will do well to note what treasureth up fire." his bearing signifies. Some take the mean- Ver. 28.-A froward man soweth strife ing to be, brings punishment on himself; (eh. vi. 14, 19). The verb mee.ns, literally, but the we.rning is not given for the sinner's "sends forth," which may signify " scatters sake. Septuagint, "He defines (~pl(<1) all as seed" or "hurls as a missile weapon." evils with his lips; he is a furnace of evil." The che.racter intended is the perverse man, Ver. 31.-The hoary head is a crown of who distorts the truth, gives a wrong impres- glory (eh. xx. 29). (For "crown," see on sion, attributes evil motives; such a one eh. xvii. 6.) Old age is the rewurd of occasions"que.rrels and heartburnings. And a a good life, and therefore is an honour to whisperer separateth ohief friends ( eh. xvii. a man (comp. eh. iii. 2, 16; iv. 10; ix. 11; x. 9). Nirgan is either "a chatterer," or '' a 27). If it be found-rather, it shall be found whisperer," "calumniator." In eh. xviii. 8 -in the way of righteousness; the guerdon and xxvi. 20, 22 it is transle.ted "tale-bearer." of obedience and holiness; whereas "bloody "Be not called a whisperer (,j,l6upos)," says and deceitful men shall not live out he.lf the Son of Sirach (Ecclus. v. 14), speaking their days" (Ps. lv. 23). It is well said in of secret slander. "Slanderers," says e.n old the Book of Wisdom (iv. 8, etc.), "Honour- apothegm, " are Satan's bellows to blow up able age is not that which standeth in contention.'' Septuagint, "A perverse man length of time, nor that is measured by sendeth abroad evils, and kindleth a torch number of years. But wisdom is the grey of deceit for the wicked, and sepa.rateth hair unto men, and an u11Bpotte<l life is old friends." The alternative rendering of the age." second clause, "estrangeth a lea<ler," i.e. Ver. 32.-He thut is slow to anger (eh. e.lienates one leader from another, or from xiv. 29) is better than the mighty. The his army, is not con.firmed by the authority long-suffering, non-irssoible man is more of of the versions or the best commentators. B hero th11n the valiant commo.ncler of a  316 THE PROVERBS. [en, XVI. 1-33.