“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;”
If. This proves free will. To become truly wise, we must desire it with the same avidity as a miser seeks for riches. (Worthington) — We must also pray, (ver. 3.) with humility (ver. 2.) to God, the giver of wisdom, ver. 6. Every science which has not Him for the beginning and end, is vain and dangerous. (Calmet)
“He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”
Salvation. Protestants, “sound wisdom.” Tushiya (Haydock) often occurs in this book, and is very comprehensive, (Calmet) denoting the substance (Haydock) of goodness, virtue, &c., Job v. 12.
“He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.”
Justice. In his servants. (Calmet) — God gives them grace to follow virtue, (Haydock) and protects them from every danger. (Calmet)
“To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;”
Things. The danger of such company for young people is very great, as the heart is misled by the understanding, (Calmet) if it do not itself shew the way to error. (Haydock) — We all possess a fund of corruption. (Calmet)
“Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;”
Evil. These signs prove whom we ought to shun. St. Augustine depicts his own conduct before his conversion in the darkest colours. (Calmet)
“To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;”
Strange. Idolatress, (Grotius) or rather the abandoned woman, whether married or not. (Calmet) — This description, as well as the former, guards us against heretics, who leave the right way of the Catholic Church, (ver. 13.) and devise perverse doctrines of rebellion against princes, &c., as if faith alone were sufficient. By this faith, Protestants do not mean any article which all must believe, but only that each one must be convinced that he himself is just, and will be saved. Like the strange woman, they preach a comfortable doctrine, and use sweet speeches, Romans xvi. 18. Their conversion is a very difficult matter, (ver. 19.) because they are condemned by their own judgment, (Titus iii. 11.) and will not admit of the ordinary means of instruction in the Church. (Worthington)
“Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.”
Youth. Her husband, whom she married young when love is more lasting. This increases her guilt. It may also signify her father, or preceptor.
“For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.”
God. The law forbids adultery, and all impurities, Deuteronomy xxiii. 17., and Leviticus xx. 10. Both the parties, guilty of adultery, were punished with death. (Calmet)
“None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.”
Life. A sincere conversion is so rare among people once addicted to impurity, (Haydock) which resembles a deep pit. (Calmet) — This illness is hardly removed. (Menochius)
“For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.”
Earth. Happily. This was the wish of the carnal Jews. But the more enlightened raise their thoughts to heaven.