The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 529

servant. flatter and lie to him, and the (comp. Jer. xxii. 3, etc.). The LXX., whole atm,osphere is charged with unreality pointing differently, have, "His throne and deceit. Qualis rez, talis grez. Ecclus. shall be established for a testimony" x. 2, « As the judge of the people is him- (lahed, instead of lahaa). self, so are hie officers; and what manner Ver. 15.-The rod an:i reproof give wisdom of man the ruler of the city is, such are all to the young. The former denotes bodily that dwell therein." Claudian, 'IV. Cons. correction, what we call corporal punish- Hon.,' 299- ment; the latter, discipline in worda, re- " Componitur orbie buke administered when 11,uy moral fault Regis ad exemplum: nee sic inflcctere is noticed. The iclea here enunciated is eeneus ve1·y common in this book (see eh. x. I, 13 • Humanos edicta valent, ut vita regentis. xiii. 24; xxiii.13). But a ohild loft to him: Mobile mutatur semper oum principe self bringeth his mother to shame. Tile verb vulgua." translated "left" (-:.7.l'j, shalach) is used in "By the king's precedent Job xxxix. 5 of the wild ass left to wander The world is ordered; and men's minds o.re free where it wills. A child allowed to do moved as he likes, undisciplined-spoiled. as we Less by stem edicts than their ruler's life. call it-is a shame to his mother, whose The fickle crowd aye by the prince is weakness has led to this want of restraint. swayed." fond love degenerating into over-indulgence (comp. oh. xvii. 21; xxviii. 7). Septuagint, ·Cicero, 'De Leg.,' iii. 18, "Ut enim cnpidi- "A son that goeth astray shameth his tatibus principum et vitiis infici solet tota parents." civitas, sic emendari et corrigi continentia." Ver. 16.-When the wicked are multi- And ibid., H, " Quo pemiciosius de re- plied, ti:ansgreaaion inoreaseth. The verb publica merentur vitiosi principes, quod rabah is used in both parts of the sentence, non solum vitio. concipiunt ipsi, sed ea and should have been so translated, When infundunt in civitatem; neque solum obsunt, the wicked increase, transgression increaseth. ipsi quod corrumpuntur, sed etio.m quad Septungint, .. When the godless ure ruany, corrumpunt, plusque exemplo, quo.lll peccnta, sins become many." ,vhere the wicked noccut." get the upper hnud in o. community, their Ver. 13.-A variation of eh. xxii, 2. The evil example is copied, and a lowering of deceitful man. 'fhis makes no contrast morn! tone and o. geneml lnxity in conduct with the poor. "The mnn of oppressions" prevail (see on ver. 12; comp. nlso ver. 2; (tekakim) is the usurer, from whom the eh. xxviii. 12, 28). But the righteous shall poor suffer most wreng nnd crnolty. 'l'bo see their fall. Retribution shull overtake needy mo.n and the rich lender ure thrown them, and God's justice shRII be vindicn.ted. together in sociul life. St. J orome calls This the righteous ehl\ll witness, o.ncl shn II them pauper et creditor. Septuagint, rejoice in the vengennoo, when his eye shn.ll " Wbou the creditor nnd debtor meet see its desire upon his enemies (Ps. !iv. 7; together, the Lord makoth inspection (c11r,- see also Ps. xxxvii. 34; h:xiii. 17, etc.). u1<0,r-/i11) of both." The Lord lighteneth Septul\gint (punctunting differently), "Bnt both their eyes. Both rich and poor, tile when they (t.he godless) fall, the rightefJIJ.i oppressor o.nd the oppressed, owe their become feo.rful (1<a.Ta4>0/30,);" they are awe- light nud life to God; he makes the sun to struck at the sudde11 and griovou~ foll of rise on the evil ond on the good; be sends sinners. ro.in 011 the just nnd the unjust; he is the Ver. 17.-Correot thy son, and he ehrul Father, Ruler, and Judge of all. Here is give thee rest (eh. xix. 18); SeptnRgint, corn fort for the poor, that he has a tender ava.,ra.vu.. u,. He will be no longer a. F11,ther who watches over him; here is source of care and disquiet to you. Delight 11, warning ·for the rich, that be will hnve (maadanim); properly, dainty dishes, und to give un account of his stewardship. The then o.ny great n.nd speoinl plcll.!lnre (comp. former proverb spoke only ge11erally of Ecclus. xxx. 1-12). Septuagint, "Ho God being the Muker of both (comp. Ps. shnll give orno.meut (1<~uµov) to thy soul." xiii. 3; Eccles. xi. 7). 'fhie verse and the following ore presonted Ver.14.-The king that faithfully judgeth by the Greek version in a mutilated form the poor ( comp. eh. xvi. 12; xx. 28; xxv. o.fter eh. xxviii. 17 (where see note). 5). lllflexible fidelity to duty is intended- Ver. 18.-Where there is no vision, the tho.t perfect impartiality, which dispenses people perish; rather, cast o.ff' restraint, be- justice alike to rich and poor, u11influenced come ungovernable, cannot ho reined in by personal or social considerations. Bis (Exod. xxxii. 22, 25). "Vision" (chazon), thro11e shall be established for ever. Being prophecy in its widest sense, donates the founded on righteousness, it sho.11 pass ou revelation of God's will mndo throu;:;h to his desoenda11ta for many generations o.gonts, which directed tho course of eventa,  656 THE PROVERBS. [OH, XXlX, 1-27.