“Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. sacrifices: or, good cheer”
Victims. Of which part was used for a feast, chap. vii. 14. (Calmet) — Septuagint add, “of many goods, and unjust victims.” (Haydock)
“A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.”
Brethren. Partaking with them, (Abenezra; Tirinus; Menochius) or rather acting as his master’s executor; which evinces the advantages of wisdom, so as to raise a slave above those whom his station requires him to serve. Such was Joseph, who was tried.
“A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.”
Lips. They mutually deceive one another, as well as others.
“Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.”
Fathers. Whose virtues they are bound to imitate.
“Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. Excellent: Heb. A lip of excellency lying: Heb. a lip of lying”
Eloquent. Septuagint, “faithful.” They cannot be expected from them.
“A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. a precious: Heb. a stone of grace”
Expecteth heavenly things. Septuagint, “instruction is the reward of good deeds to those who use it.”
“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. seeketh: or, procureth”
Friends. Detractors cause dissensions, and even wars.
“A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. entereth: or, aweth more a wise man, than to strike a fool an hundred times”
Fool. “A word is enough for the wise.” Nobilis equus umbra virgæ regitur, ignavus ne calcari quidem. (Q. Curt.)
“An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.”
Angel. Messenger of death, (Menochius) which is sometimes inflicted by good, at others by bad, angels of death, or satan, 2 Corinthians xii. 7., and Psalm lxxvii. 49.
“Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.”
Fool. Hebrew, “fool in his folly.” The danger is not greater in meeting (Calmet) a female bear, though it be the most terrible. (Aristotle, Anim. ix. 1.)
“The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.”
Water. It is scarcely possible to prevent the bad effects of detraction. Frequent quarrels have also risen on account of springs, Genesis xxvi. 20. — Judgment. And gives up the cause, as being much more prudent, Matthew v. 25, 40.
“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.”
God. We ought to suspend our judgment, or incline to the more favourable side, Matthew vii. 1., and Romans ii. 1.
“Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?”
He, &c., is not here in Hebrew, though it be equivalently (ver. 19.) where the Septuagint are silent. (Calmet)
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Distress. Like the real friend, chap. xviii. 24.
“A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. understanding: Heb. heart”
Hands. Through joy, or as a mark of his consent.
“He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.”
Door. Sixtus V reads, “mouth:” as some explain the door to mean. A large door supposes that the house is elevated, and thus exposed to danger from winds, &c.
“Wisdom is before him that hath understanding ; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.”
Earth. Wandering and insatiable, and deeming the acquisition of wisdom too difficult.
“Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.”
No good. But very criminal. See Jeremias vii. 31.
“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. an: or, a cool”
Precious and reserved spirit. This is a mark of wisdom. (Calmet)