The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 514

For for a pieoe of bread that man will Hence the translation wilt run, "He who transgress. Thus translated, this clause reproveth a backsliding man," i.e. one confirms the former, and says that a jndge whom he sees to be turning away from God given to favouritism will swerve from right and duty. He shall find more favour than under the smallest temptation. But to bribe he that fiattereth with the tongue ( comp. a jndge with a morsel of bread seems an eh. xxvii. 6; xxix. 5). A faithful counsellor, unlikely idea; and the gnome is of general who tells a man his faults, brings them application," And for a morsel of bread a home to his conscience, and checks him in man [not 'that man'] will transgress." As his downward course, will he seen to be a some men in responsible positions are often true friend, nnd will he loved and respected swaved bv low and unworthy considerations, both by the one whom he has warned and so in social life a very insignificant canse is advised and by all who are well disposed. sufficient to warp the judgment of some Jas. v. 19, "If any of you do err from the per,ons, or draw them aside from the line truth, and one convert him, let him know of rectitude. (For "a piece of bread," as that he which converteth the sinner from denoting abject poverty or a thing of no the error of his way shall save a soul from value, see on eh. vi. 26.) The commen- death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." tators cite Aul. Gell,, • Noct. Att.,' i. 15, "Laudat adulator, sed non est verne amo.- "Frasto panis conduci potest vel uti taceat tor." The flatterer says only what is agree- vel uti loquatur." Septuagint, "He that able to the man whom he flatters, and thns regards not the persons of the just is not makes him conceited and selfish and unable good ; such a one . will sell a man for a to see himself as he reo.lly is; the true morsel of bread." friend says harsh things, but they are Ver. 22.-He that hasteth to be rich bath wholesome and tend to spiritual profit, and an evil eye (see ver. 20); better, the man of show more real affection than all the soft evil eye hastefh after riches. The man of words of the fawning pnrasite. Septuagint, evil eye ( eh. xxiii. 6) is the envious and "He that reproveth a man's ways shall covetous man; such a one tries to improYe have more thanks than he who dattereth his position and raise himself speedily to with the tongue." the height of him whom he envies, and is Ver. 24.-Whoso robbeth his father or his quite unscrupulous as to the means which mother (comp. eh. xix. 26); taking from he nses to effect his purpose, and keeps all them what belongs to them. Septuo.gint, that he gains selfishly to himself. And yet "He who casts off (a1ro/3c/A11.e-ra,) father or he is really blind to his own best interests mother." And aa.ith, It is no transgression, (comp <:h. xx. 21). And oon.sidereth not that He salves his conscience by thinking nil poverty shall come upon him (comp.eh. xxiii. would be his ere long in tho course of -l, 5). His grasping greed brings no bless- nature; or he uses the plea of Corban ing with it ( eh. xi. 25), excites others to denounced by our Lord (Mark vii. 11, etc.). defraud him, and in the end consigns him The same is the companion of a destroyer to merited poverty. The LXX. here reads (eh. xviii. 9); is no better than, stands in Eomewhat differently, and translates, "An tho position of, one who practises openly envious man hasteth to be rich, and knows against his neighbour'n lire and property. not that the merciful man (chaeid insteo.d He is a thief, and fails in the simplest duty. of cheeer) will have the mastery over him,'' Vulgate, particeps homicidm est. Thero i.e. will take his wealth, as ver. 8. Proverbs may be an allusion to the guilt incurred by concerning hastily gotten wealth ho.Yealready a witness in concealing his knowledge of been given. Hern are a few more: Spanish, a crime, which is denounced in Lev. v. 1 " Who would be rich in a yeRr gets hanged (comp. Judg. xvii. 2). in half a year;" Italian, "The river does Ver. 25.-He that is of a proud heart not become swollen with clear water;" says stirretb up strife (eh. xv. 18; xxix. 22); a Scotch proverb, "Better a wee fire to warm literally, he that is of a wide soul. 'l'his ns than a meikle fire to bnrn us." may certainly denote pride (qui se jactat et Ver. 23.-He that rebnketh a man after- dilatat, Vulgate), in which case the gnom11 wards shall find more favour. The word says that one who thinks much of himself rendered "afterwards" (poetea, Vulgate), and despises others is the c1mse of quarrels •,r,N (achara{), creates a difficulty. 'fhe nnd dissensions, occasioned by his strugf!les ;;fllx caunut be that of the first person for pre-eminence and the ill feeling orisiug singular, which would g!ve no sen_se; hence from his overbearing andsuperoilious conduct. most interpreters see in 1t a prnuhar adverb Others, 1md rightly, take the wide soul to:de- 11tlad1ed to the following verb, "shall after- noto covetousness ( comp. eh. xxiii. 2; Iso.. v. wards find." Delitzsch, Lowenstein, and 14; Hab. ii. 5). It is the man of insatiable Nowack take it for a noun with the termi- desire, the grasping o.varicious man, who 1,ntion -ai, and tronslote, "a man tbnt goeth excites quarrels aml mnrs oil peace, and in LLclrwu1d," "a hacksli<ln" (as Jer. vii. 2·1). the end d<slroys hirw,clf. "Whence come ctt. xxvur. 1-28.] THE PROVERBS. 539