“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. A false: Heb. Balances of deceit just: Heb. perfect stone”
Balance. Both in commerce, (Deuteronomy xxv. 13.; Calmet) and in passing sentence on others. (Ven. Bede)
“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
Wisdom. God resists the proud, chap. xvi. 18., and xviii. 12., and James iv. 6.
“When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.”
Solicitous. Or ambitious. Hebrew, “the potent,” or Septuagint, “the impious.”
“The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.”
For him. As comparatively nothing worth to his master, chap. xxi. 18., and Isaias xliii. 3
“By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.”
Overthrown. Ten just men would have saved Sodom. Achan alone threw all Israel into confusion. (Calmet)
“He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. void: Heb. destitute of heart”
Mean. Literally, “indigent” of sense. (Haydock) — We must put up with some faults, as none are without. (Horace i. Sat. 3.) (Calmet)
“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. A talebearer: Heb. He that walketh, being a talebearer”
Walketh. Septuagint, “the double-tongued,” dissembler, or great talker. (Calmet)
“He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. smart: Heb. be sore broken suretiship: Heb. those that strike hands”
That is. Hebrew, “that hateth those who make agreements is secure.” (Mont.[Montanus?])
“A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.”
Gracious. Virtuous and beautiful, as God hath granted beauty also for good purposes. This and virtue tend to the advancement of women, while men can use their strength to acquire riches. (Calmet) — Glory. Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic add, “of her husband. But she that hateth righteousness is a throne of disgrace. The slothful, though rich, shall come to poverty; but the laborious shall retain their riches.” Two hemistics seem to be lost in Hebrew. (Kennicott) — Most of the additions in the Septuagint are only glosses, or useless repetitions, (Calmet) though they seem not to be so in this place. (Haydock)
“The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.”
Kindred. Hebrew, “flesh,” Genesis xxix. 14. The miser is cruel even to himself.
“Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.”
In hand. At rest, or making agreements. God will punish the race of the wicked.
“As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. is without: Heb. departeth from”
Foolish. Beauty, without prudence, leads to ruin, as ornaments are ill bestowed on swine. The women in the east sometimes wore rings in their noses, (Genesis xxiv. 22.; Calmet) or hanging down upon them, Isaias iii. 21. (Menochius)
“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.”
Others. Moderation is always requisite. Hebrew, “there is one withholding from rectitude, yet for a defect,” (Mont.[Montanus?]) being too saving, he is a loser. (Haydock) — Avarice does not always increase riches. (Calmet)
“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. liberal: Heb. soul of blessing”
Himself. He shall receive abundantly, 2 Corinthians ix. 6. The beneficent shall be amply rewarded both in this world and in the next.
“He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.”
Corn. In times of scarcity. See Amos viii. 7.
“He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.”
House. By his profligacy, or law-suits, shall be impoverished, (ver. 17.; Calmet) or if he act with violence, he will make his house empty, Ecclesiasticus iv. 35. (Menochius)
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. winneth: Heb. taketh”
Life. Producing excellent fruits of virtue and edification.
“Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.”
Receive. Punishment, for almost inevitable faults, or be treated according to his deserts. Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic, “if the just be hardly saved, where shall the impious and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter iv. 18.) (Calmet) — Afflictions attend the just in this life. Shall the wicked escape? (Menochius)