The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 572

her for girdle-money, Eis (w,nw 3,Boµlva, hearers. The Septuagint has this verse (Xen., • Ane.b.,' i. 4. 9). Cicero e.lludes t.o before ver. 25, and the first hemistich again the ea.me custom in his Verrine oration (ob. after ver. 27. So in Lam. ii., iii., iv., the pe iii 83): "Solera aiunt barba.ros reges Per- and ayin verses change places. This is also sa.rum ao Syrorum plures uxores habere, his the case in Ps. xxxvii. In the former autem uxoribus civitates attribuere hocmodo: passage the LXX. renders, " She openeth hmc civitas mulieriin redimicnlum prcebee.t, her mouth heedfully e.nd lawfully (1rpocr,- ham in collum, hmc incrines" (comp. Pie.to, x&v.-.,, ,ccu iw6µo,s);" e.nd in the other, • Alcib. I.,' p. 123, B). Such rich nnd elabo- "wisely e.nd in a.ccordance with law (cro,p,;, rately worked girdles the mistress conld Kai voµo6lcrµ,,a)." In her tongue is the le.w rea.clily barter with Phcenicie.n merchants, of kindness (th<rrath chesed); i.e. her lan- who would give in exchange purple (ver. guage to those around her is animated e.nd 22) e.nd other articles of use or luxury. regulated by love. As mistress of e. family, On this passe.ge St. Gregory thus moralizes: she bas t.o teach e.nd direct her dependents, "What is signified by a garment of fine and she performs this duty with gracious linen, but the subtle texture of holy preach- kindness e.nd ready sympathy. Septuagint, ing? In which men rest softly, because the " She places order on her tongue." mind of the faithful is refreshed therein by Ver. 27.-TsADE, She looketh well to the heavenly hope. Whence e.lso the anime.ls ways of her house; the actions and habits a.re shown to Peter in a linen sheet, bece.use of the household. She exercises carefu 1 the souls of sinners mercifully ge.thered surveillance over e.11 that goes on in the together are enclosed in the gentle quiet of family. Ee.teth not the bread of idleneBS ; faith. The Church therefore me.de and sold but rather bread won by active labolll' and this fine garment, bece.use she imparted in conscientious diligence. She is of the words that faith which she htl.d. woven by opinion of the apostle who said '' that if belief; and received from unbelievers e. life any would not work, neither should be eat" of upright conversation. And she delivered (2 These, iii. 10). Septuagint, " The wo.ys a girdle to the Co.naani te, because by the of her house are confined (crTE")f"al ll,11.-p11lal might of the righteousness she displayed, o1,co,v auT,is), and she eats not idle brend." she constrained the lax doings of the Gentile The first of these clauses may mean that world, in orderthe.t the.t might be maintained the proceedings of her household, being in their doings whioh is comm,mded, 'Let confined to a narrow circle, lll'e readily super- your loins be girded about ' '' (' Moral.,' vised. But the meaning is very doubtful ; xx.xiii. 33). e.nd Schleusner renders, "con tin um con- Ver. 25.-A.YIN. Strength and honour versationes in mdibus ejus." St. Gregory are her clothing (ver. 17); lo-xvv ,cal ,;,. applies our verse to the conscience, thus: wpl1mav, Septuagint. She is invested with "She considers the ways of her house, be- e. moral force and dignity which e.rm her cause she accurately examines all tll8 ago.inst Clll'e and worry; the power of a thoughts of her conscience. She eateth righteous purpose and strong will reveals not her bread in idleness, becanse that itself in her carriage a.nd demeanour. And which she le11med out of Holy Scripture thus equipped, she shall rejoioe in time to by her uuderst:mding, she places before the oome; or, she laughfth (Job v. 22; xxxix. 7) eyes of the Judge by exhibiting it in her at the future (Isa. xxx. 8). She is not dis- works" (' Moral.,' xxxv. 47). quieted by any fear of what me.y happen, Ver. 28.-KuPB, Her ohildren a.rise np, knowing in whom ehe trusts, and having and oe.11 her blessed. She is o fru i tfu 1 done her duty to the utmost of her ability. mother of children, who, seeing her sedulity 'fhe Greek and Latin versions seem to take and prudence, e.nrl experiencing her o.ffection- the expression as referring to the day of ate care, celebrate e.nd praise her, and own de11th; thus the Vulgate, Ridebit in die that she he.a rightly won the blessing of the noviseirr.o; Septue.gint, "She rejoices in the Lord. Her husband also, e.nd he pre.iseth lost do.ye ( '" 71µ,pa,s laxa:ralS)." But it is her; in tbe words given in the next verse. \Jest interpreted 11s above. 'l'he true servo.at Having the e.pprobntion of her husb11nd 11nd of God is not arraid of any evil tidings, children, who know her best, and have tl.ie his heo.rt being fixed, trusting in the Lord best opportunities of judging her conduct, (Pa. cxii. 7). she is contented o.nd happy. Soptu11gint, Ver. 26.-PE. She openeth her mouth "Her mercy (l.l.•11µocr6V'I)) raises up her with wisdom. She is not meroly a good children, e.nd they grow rich, and her housewife, attending diligently to materio.l husband pra.ises her." "' interests; she guides her family with words Ver. 29.-REBH. Many daughters have of wisdom. When she speaks, it is not done virtuously, but thou ell:celleet them e.11. gossip, or slander, or idle talk, that she The versions and somo commentators t11ke utters, but sentences of prudence and sound the encomium in the mean e.nd restricted s~use, such us may minister grace to the sense of praise for the acquisition of ri~hcs.  602 THE PROVERBS.