The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 528

mentarles; but the more correct rendering is awkward (comp. Ps. xxxvii. 14). The is "blow into a blaze, inflame," as the second explanation me.kes the righteous the Rensen Version ( comp. Joh xx. 26; Ezek. executioners of vengeance on the delin• xxii. 20, 21). These scorners excite the quents, which does not seem to be the idea 110pn laee to acts of fury, when all respect intended, and there is no confirmation of it for piety and tirtue is lost; they fan the in our book. The interpretation first given passions of the fickle people, and lead them has against it the fact that the phrase, "to to civil discord and dangerous excesses seek the eoul," is used of attempts against (comp. eh. xxii. 10). Septuagint," Lawless the life, not of preserving it. But this is men burn up a city." But wis, men turn not fatal; and the above seems to be the away wrath; by their prudent counsels most likely explanation offered, e.nd gives 11lhty the angry passions roused by those e. good antithesis. Men of blood bate a e'l'il men (see ver. 11 and eh. xv. 1, 18). virtuous man, e.nd try to destroy him ; the Ver. 9.-If a wise man contendeth with righteous love him, and do their utmost to a foolish man-if a wise man has a contro- defend and keep him safe. If this interpre- versy, either legal or social, with a wicked tation is rejected, the third explanation is fool-whether he rage (is ang1·y) or laugh, e.llowable, the casus pmdens-" the just, there is no rest. It is a question whether they seek his life "-may be compared with 1he wise man or the fool is the subject of Gen. xxvi. 15; Deut. ii. 23. Septuagint, this clause. St. Jerome makes the former "But the upright will seek ( <1<(71,,.~a-ou,r,) the subject, Vir sapiem, si cum stulto con- his life." tenderit, sive irascatur, sive Tideat, ,ion Ver. 11.-A fool uttereth all his mind; inveniet ,,.,quiem. It matters not how the his spirit; im,, i.e. "his anger; " euµ&v, wise man treats the fool ; he may be stern Septuagint (comp. eh. xvi. 32). The word- and angry, he may be gentle and good- ing of the second hemistich confirms this tempered, -yet the fool will be none the rendering. A fool pours out his wrath, better, will not be reformed, will not cease restrained by no consideration. It is a from his folly, will carry on his cavilling wise me.xim the.t says, "Command your contention. Hitzig, Delitzscb, and others, temper, lest it command you ; " and a.gain, deeming that the rage and the laughter are " When passion entera in at the forege.te, not becoming to the character of the wise wisdom goes out at the postem." So we man, take the fool as the subject; so that have the word attributed to Eveuue Pa.rius- the sense is, that after all has been said, the fool only falls into e. passion or laughs ~m no>,,>,,c£,cir a.v8prfnrow v&ov if,1<c£>,,u,j,e at the matter, argument is wasted upon him, KpV11''1'0µevov, µavla.r 1rou>,,1, x•p11&,-epov.. and the controversy is never settled. This "Wrath often bath revealed man's hidden seems to be the best interpretation, and is mind, somewhat 1rupported by the Septuagint, Thnn madness more pernicious." "A wise man shall judge the nations, but e. worthless man, being angry, laughs and A wise man keepeth it in till e.fterwa.rds. fears not [ ,ca7'ay,>,,a,-a, ,cal ol, ,ca,-a1r,-~,ruu, Thie clause is capable of more than one which may also mean,· 'is derided and explanatio11. The Authorized Version says terrifies no one']." ·wordswortb notes that. that the wise man restrains bis own anger the irreligious fool is won neither by the till he can give it proper vent. The term austere preaching of John the Baptist nor iin~:;i occurs nowhere else, and is r01iclered by the mild teaching of Christ, but rejects '·' at • 1ast," "finolly," and by Delitzsch, both (Matt. xi. 16-19). " within," i.e. in his heart. The verb Ver. 10.-The bloodthirsty hate the up- rendered "kecpeth in" ( shabaoh) is rather right; him that is pei:fect, Revised Version; "to calm,"" to hush," as in Ps. lxv. 7; lxxxix. o,nov, Septuagint. His life is a tacit re- 10, "Which sti!leth the noise of the seas." So proach to men of blood, robbers, murderers, we have the meaning: The wise me.n calms and such-like sinners, as is finely expressed the anger within him; according to the pro- in the Book of Wisdom ii. 12, etc. (comp. verb, Irm dilatio, mentis pacatio. Or the 2 Cor. vi. 14). But the just seek his soul. anger calmeil rne.y be that of the fool: 'fhe The explanation of this hemietich is doubt- wise man appeases it after it he.a been exhi- ful. The following interpretations have been bited; be knows how to apply soothing offered: (1) The just seek the soul of the remedies to the angry man, and in the end upright to deliver him from death temporal renders him calm e.nd amenable to reason. and spiritual (comp. eh. xii. 6; Ps. cxlii, This seems the most suite.hie explanation, 4). (:!) The just seek the murderer's life, Septuagint, "A wise man husbands ii take vengeance on him (comp. Pa. ]xiii. 9, (,-aµ,d,.,-a,) in part." 10). (3) "As for the just, they (the mur- Ver. 12.-All his servants are wicked. derers) attempt his life," where the change The ruler is willing to be deceivtd, e.ud of subject, though by no mee.ns unparalleled, does not care to hear tl10 truth, so his m. nix. 1-27.) THE PROVERBS. 555