“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”
House. Giving her children a proper education, and taking care of her house, chap. xii. 4., and Titus ii. 5. (Calmet)
“He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.”
And, is not in Hebrew. — Is. Hebrew, “but the perverse in his ways despiseth him;” (Haydock) shewing by his conduct that he cares not for the Lord. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “he shall be dishonoured, that,” &c.
“In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.”
Pride. He chastiseth with haughtiness, and is ever quarrelling.
“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.”
Empty. As the land has not been cultivated. (Haydock) — Strength, or number of oxen. (Calmet) — “The virtue of the preachers is manifested where there are many converted to produce fruit.” (St. Gregory vii. ep. viii.)
“A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.”
Not. Because they seek it ill, like the pagan sages. Septuagint, “thou shalt seek wisdom among the wicked, and shalt not find it,” &c.
“Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.”
Prudence. Thou wilt presently perceive his weakness. Hebrew, “abandon a,” &c. He is not capable of hearing reason: keep at a distance.
“The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.”
Way. This science of the saints is the only true wisdom. — Erreth. They are inconstant. Hebrew, “is deceit.” They are bent on it.
“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.”
Sin. Chap. x. 23. Hebrew, “excuse sin,” (Calmet) or “mock at sin,” (Haydock) committed by others. (Menochius) — Grace, or good-will. They are agreeable to all. (Calmet)
“The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. his own: Heb. the bitterness of his soul”
Stranger. Such cannot well comfort the afflicted. A man is alone acquainted with the affections of his own heart. Septuagint, “he mixeth not insult” (Symmachus) “with strangers.”
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Death. How many, under the garb of piety, follow their passions! How many are misled by their singularity, or by unskilful directors! (Calmet) — We must suspect our own judgment. (Menochius) — If any Turks, Jews, or heretics, lead a moral good life, it seemeth both to themselves and to other ignorant people that they are in the right way to salvation; but their error in faith leadeth them to eternal damnation. (Worthington) — The persecutors thought they did God a service by putting the apostles to death. Will they be excused? (Haydock)
“Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.”
Laughter. Septuagint, “with content sorrow is not mixed.” (Haydock) — Joy. Such is the condition of earthly things. (Pindar, Pyth. viii.)
“The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.”
Above him. Septuagint, “with his counsels,” enjoying the content of a good conscience, and a heavenly reward; while the wicked, with all his self-approbation, shall be punished.
“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.”
Innocent. Good, and unsuspecting; (Josue ix. 14., and 1 Corinthians xiii. 7.) or rather credulous, 1 John iv. 1. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “the man who is not bad.” — Steps. Septuagint, “repenteth.” (Haydock) — No, &c. This occurs (chap. xiii. 13.) in several copies: but here it is omitted in Hebrew, &c.
“He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.”
Folly. Wrath betrays us into great extravagances. — Hateful. Hebrew also, “hateth” folly. Septuagint, “the prudent beareth much,” Job v. 2. (Calmet)
“The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. the rich: Heb. many are the lovers of the rich”
Many. “Riches make friends, poverty tries them.” (Syrus.) — False friends resemble swallows, which retire at the approach of winter. (Cicero, ad Heren. iv.)
“He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor , happy is he.”
He….mercy, is not found in Hebrew, Greek, or Latin manuscripts. (Calmet)
“Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.”
Truth. Those who are kind and faithful. (Haydock) (Chap. iii. 3.) — Septuagint add, (Calmet) as a second version, (Grabe) “the workers of evils understand not mercy and truth: but kind and faithful actions are with those who do good.”
“The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.”
Imprudence. This they always betray, while the wise use their riches to assist their fellow-creatures, and receive a crown of glory. (Haydock)
“In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.”
King. Who formerly was styled “a shepherd,” to remind him of the care with which he ought to seek the welfare of his subjects. (Calmet)
“A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.”
Bones. As a sound heart preserves the rest of the body, so a good intention often excuses from mortal sin, when the error is not gross. But envy corrupts the works which seem good, and which cannot bear a strict examination. (St. Gregory, Mor. v. 34.) (Worthington) — Envy ruins the health. (Menan. ap. Gort.[Grotius?]) — Septuagint, “a too sensible heart is the,” &c. This is beautiful; but not quite conformable to the Hebrew.
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.”
Him. God takes the poor under his special protection, (Matthew xxv. 40.) and is the distributor of all riches. What would the rich do without the poor? (Calmet)
“Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.”
And. Protestants, “but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.” (Haydock) — A vessel full of gold makes no noise, while that which contains only a few pieces sounds much. (Munster.) (Cornelius a Lapide) — Thus the fool makes a parade of all that he knows. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “but in the heart of fools, it is not known.” (Haydock) — Aquila and Theodotion have the negation, (Calmet) as well as the Syriac and Arabic. See chap. v. 16. (Kennicott)
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. to any: Heb. to nations”
Miserable. This sentence ought to be engraven in all public places. Hebrew, “and mercy the sinful people,” whom God spares on account of their alms-deeds, (Daniel iv. 24.) or “sin is the shame of peoples.” (Calmet) — Montanus renders chesed mercy, and Pagnin “ignominy.” The former is scarcely intelligible, et misericordia populorum peccatum, unless sin be here taken for a sin-offering, (Haydock) as it is by Vatable, Grotius, &c. (Calmet)
“The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.”
Nothing. Literally, “useless,” which often means bad. (Haydock) — A servant who does not discharge his duty is such. Hebrew, “he that causeth to blush,” and has no economy. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “He removes shame by his good management. Anger destroys the prudent; but a mild,” &c. (Haydock)