from the former clAueo. "P1·inces" are the most interpreters, The Keri gives, "of n noble in chRrncter rather thRn in position preci?us spirit" (p,·etiosi spiritus, Vulgate), only. Two forme of evil are n1tmed, viz. to that 1s, one whose words are weighty and punish the innocent, and to visit with con- valuable, not lavishly thrown about, but h1mely and injury the man of high ch1traeter reserved n,s costly jewels. who e1tnnot be induced to pervert justice. Ver. 28.-Even a fool, when he holdeth Revised Y ersion, 'llOr to smile the noble for his peaoe, ie oounted wise. Not betrayin<> their 1tpr,"ghlness. Su virtually the Vulgate, his ignorance and incapacity by words ; 8eptn1tgint, and Syri1t0. Another renderin_g foolish man is credited with possessing se~se is, "to strike the nohle is against right," ( comp. Job xiii. 5). Proverbs to this effect which seems feeble and less suitable to the are found in all languages. Thus the Greek- parallelism. Yer. 2i.-He that he.th knowledge spareth niis ..-« &1ral8ev..-os ,Ppov,p.wTa..-os ltr-rl tr,"17rwll, his words ; Revised Version, he that spareth Ca.to, 'Dist.,' i. 3- his words hath knowledge; he shows his common sense, not by rash talk or saying " Vir_tutem primam esse puta. compesccre hnguo.m; all he knows, but by restraining his tongue (comp. eh. x. 19;Jas. i. 'Pirke 19). Proximus ille Deo qui scit ratione taocre." A\Joth' (i. 18), "All my days I have grown Talmud, "Silence becomes the wise, much up amongst the wise, and have not found more fools." The Dutch have apprnpriatecl. aught good for a man but silence; not this ma.xim, "Zweigen de dwazen zij waren learning but doing is the groundwork, And wijs," " Were fools silent, they would pe.ss whoso multiplies words occasions sin." Say for wise." "Si tacuisses, philosophus man- the Greek gnomes- sisses." " Silence," says the Sanshrit gnome, >Evlo,s 'TO tTt;-tFv €0"'T! «pEl-r-rov ToV Al-,ew. "is the ornament of the ignorant." "Talk- ing comes by nature," say the Germans, KpiiTTOP ITt"11TiP ~ AM<<P ap.'q 7rpf1TEI. "silence of understanding." The LXX. An<l Theognis (v. 815) writes- gives a different tum to the first clause: Boiis p.o, /,rl -,,J..wtrtr7JS 1tpaT<ptj ,ro8l .\c\f "A foolish man inquiring of wisdom will t,r1/3<UP"1P have wisdom imputed to him;" the ex- pressed desire of knowledge will be taken "Iuxe1. ""'Tl'Uew ,ca,(,rep E1rurTd.µ.e11ov. as a proof of intelligence. The second '' Speech for a shekel, silence for two; it is clause is co-ordinate with the former. He like a precious stone" (' Qoheleth Ra.bbah,' that shntteth his lips is esteemed a man of v. 5). Septuagint," He who spa.reth to utter understanding ; Revised Version, when lie a harsh speech is prudent" (',r,.,,,,tf,,,_,,,,,). A shutteth his lips, he i, esteemed as prudent; man of understanding is of an excellent Septuagint, "A man making himself dumb spirit ; Rensed Version, he that i, of a will seem to be prudent." 'fheophrastus is cool spirit is a man of understanding; i.e. said to have thus addressed a guest who he who considers before he speaks, and was very silent at table: "If you are a fool, never answers in hot haste, proves that he you act wisely; if you are wise, you a.et is wise and intelligent. Septuagint, "The foolishly." "Let every man," says St. long-suffering man is prudent." The above Ja.mes (i. "be swift to hear, slow to 19),
is the reading of the Khetib, followed by speak."
HOMILETICS. Ver. 5.-Mocking the poor. The terrible inequality of human lots was never more apparent than it is in the present day. England is renowned for her wealth; yet England is a haunt of hungry misery. It is nothing but selfish hypocrisy to justify this condition of affairs by quoting the words of our Lord, "The poor always ye have with you" (John xii. 8). If they a.re always with us in abject need and distress, so much the worse for the condition of society. The statement of a distressing fact is no justification for it. Meanwhile, if the huge evil of pauperism cannot be abolished at once, it is our duty to lessen, not to aggravate it. ·r. CONSIDER IN WHAT WAYS THE POOR ARE MOCKED. 1. When their condition is disrega,rded. There are thousands of people living in affluence who simply ignore the fact that they have needy brethren. Dives at his feast does not give a thought to LazarUB pining at his gate. Surely it is a. mockery to the awful misery of the East End that the West End feasts and/etes itself with undisturbed complacency. 2. When their 1-ights are neglected. This happens in many ways, even in an age and a country that boasts of its administration of justice. (l) T!:uJ PO-called "sweating system" is OH. XVII. 1-28.] THE PROVERBS. 337