The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 511

contrast Pa. xv. 5; Ezek. xviii. 8.) He fu~ure. . :But the. upright shall have good ■hall gather it for him that will pity the thmgs in possession; or, shall inherit good poor. He ehall never enjoy it himself, and (eh. iii. 35). He shall be abnndantly it shall fall into the hands of one who will rewarded by God's grace ancl protection, make a better use of it (eee on eh. xxii. 16; by the comfort of a conscience at rest, and and comp. eh. xiii. 22; Job xxvii. 16, etc.). by prosperity in his worldly concerns-an In our Lord's parable the pound is taken adnmbration of the eternal recompense from one who made no good use of it and is awaiting him in the life to come. St. given to a more profitable servant (Luke Jerome has changed the incidence of the xix. 24). gnome by inserting ejus, thus: Et sim- Ver. 9.-He that turneth away his ear from plices possidebunt bona ejus, which makes hearing the Law. He who refuses to hearken the meaning to be that the righteous to and to practise the dictates of the Di vine shall he the instruments of retribution on Law ( comp. eh. i. 24). Even his prayer shall the deceiver, whose riches shall pass over be abomination (comp. eh. xv. 8, and note into their possession. But the Hebrew there). "God heareth not sinners" (John gives no countenance to this interpretation ix. 31). Such a man's prayer, if he does Septuagint, "The transgressors shall pa811 pray, is not hearty and sincere, and there- by good things, and shall not enter into fore lacks the element whioh alone can them," where the translator has misunder- make it acceptable. He will not resolve to stood the original. forsake his favourite sin, even while paying Ver. II.-The rioh man is wise in his own outward worship to the God whose Law he conceit (comp. eh. xviii. 11). A rich mau breaks : what wonder that the prophet eo thinks so highly of his position, is so flattered sternly denounces such offenders (Isa. i. by parasites, and deems himself placed so 11, etc.), and the psalmist cries with terrible immeasurably above social inferiors, that he rigour, "When he shall be judged, let learns to consider himself possessed of other him be condemned; and let his prayer qualifications, even mento.l and intellectual become sin" (Ps. cix. 7)? St. Gregory gifts, with which wealth has no concern. (' Moral.,' x. 27), "Our heart blames us in This purse-proud arrogance which looks offering up our prayers, when it calls to upon financial skill and sharpness in bar- mind that it is set in opposition to the gaining as true wisdom, is confined to no precepts of him whom it implores, and the age or country. :But the poor man that bath prayer becomes abomination, when there is understanding searcheth him out (eh. xviii. a • turning a way ' from the control of the 17). Wisdom is not to be bought with Law; in that verily it is meet that a man money. A poor man may be wise, his should be a stranger to the favours of him poverty probably ma.king him a keener to whose bidding he will not be subject." critic; ancl if he is brought into communica- And again (ibid., xviii. 9, 10), "If that tion with this self-deluding plutocrat, be which he bids we do, that which we ask soon sees through him and recognizes his we shall obtain. For with God both these real value. Septuagint, "An intelligent two do of necessity match with one another poor man will condemn him." exactly, that practice ehoulcl be euetained Ver.12.-When righteons men do rejoioe, by prayer, u.nd prayer by practice" (Oxford there is great glory (comp.eh. xxix. 2; xi. 10). tnmsl.). " Rejoice," ro.ther ti-iumph, as conquerors, Ver. 10.-A trietioh. Whoso oa118eth the right prevailing o.nd wickedness being over- righteo118 to go astray in an evil way. It come. 'fhen there is great show of joy, cmd, is doubtful whether physical clanger or as the expression implies, men put on their moral seduction is meant. The gnomo is festo.l garments to do honour to the occasion. true in either case; he who misleads one See the description of Solomon's time (1 who trusted him, and who, being simplo Kings iv. 20, 25). If we take this verse in ancl good, ought to ho.ve been respected nncl connection with ver. 2, we mfly see in it the to have received better treatment, shall foll triumph of order nfter o period of confusion into the destruction which he prepared for and anarchy. Septuagint, "Through tho the other ( eh. xxvi. 27). Ta.king the help of righteous man great glory arises." proverb in 11, moral sense, wo find this :But when the wioked rise, a man is hidden truth : If the good man doos ever yield to (comp. ver. 2R, where, however, the verb is the temptations of tho sinner, the latter different). 'fho Authorized Version mtnlls does not reap the enjoyment which he ex- that when the wicked rise to power, people pected from the other's lapse. rcither ho is have to hide themselves in order to escape made twofold more the child of hell, he danger to lifo o.nd property. The verb is himself sinks the deeper and moro hopo- more literally rendered, "are searched for," leesly for playing tho devil's port, while i.e. they hnvo betnkeu themselves to hiding- the just rises from his temporary fall moro places, nncl have to be lookccl for; they fear humble, wo.tchful, and guarded for tho oppression aucl injury, and v,,nture no  nrn PHOYEnns. [cu. XXVIII, 1-28,