“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
A luxurious thing. Hebrew, “a scoffer.” Chaldean, “renders one a scoffer.” — Drunkenness. Hebrew ssocor, any strong drink, particularly palm-wine. Intemperance places the strongest obstacles in the way of wisdom. It causes a person to mock at all sacred things, and to be quarrelsome, chap. xxiii. 29., and Ephesians v. 18.
“It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.”
Reproaches. It is better not to commence a lawsuit, even when we are in the right, chap. xvii. 11. (Calmet) — Plena victoria est ad clamantem tacere. (Val. Max.)
“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
Out. So David discovered the meaning of the Thecuite, 2 Kings xiv. 18. A wise politician carefully examines everything in a foreign court.
“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? goodness: or, bounty”
Faithful. Few continue steady to their engagements or friends, whom they will assist to a certain point. In God these two virtues always go together, Psalm lxxxiv. 11. But they are rarely found in men. (Calmet)
“A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.”
Look. It is the duty of kings to administer justice.
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”
Sin. Protestants, “my sin?” We know not when it is remitted. (Haydock) — Without a special revelation, no one can be secure, 1 John i. 8., and Ecclesiastes ix. 1. (Bayn.) (St. Augustine in Psalm cxlix.)
“Divers weights , and divers measures , both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. Divers weights: Heb. A stone and a stone divers measures: Heb. an ephah and an ephah”
Measures. In commerce, (Calmet) as well as in judging. (St. Gregory in Ezechiel iv.)
“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”
Right. We may form some judgment of his future conduct, from the inclinations which he manifests in his infancy.
“The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.”
Both. Consequently he will know all our actions, Psalm xciii. 9. We must refer all to him, as he gives us the means of learning. (Calmet)
“Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.”
Sleep. Septuagint, “back-biting, that thou mayst not be taken off.” (Haydock)
“It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.”
Buyer. This is the common practice; yet it is not without exceptions. St. Augustine (Trin. xiii. 3.) observes, that the mountebank having promised to tell what every person had in his heart, many came to the theatre, when he told them that they all wished to buy cheap, and to sell dear. They all applauded the remark. (Calmet) — Septuagint is here defective. (Haydock)
“Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.”
Strangers. For whom he has bound himself foolishly, chap. vi. 1. All who have the care of others, must answer for them. (Calmet)
“Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. deceit: Heb. lying, or, falsehood”
Lying. Deceit, and unlawful pleasures, chap. ix. 17. But God mingles disgust with them, and will punish the guilty, at least hereafter. Worldly enjoyments seem sweet, but they are full of gravel, and hurtful.
“Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.”
Governments. Or prudence, else the best designs may prove abortive.
“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. flattereth: or, enticeth”
Lips. And speaketh much. These people are unworthy of our friendship.
“Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. lamp: or, candle”
Lamp. Prosperity, or children.
“An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.”
Blessing. It is morally impossible that they should have been acquired justly, chap. xiii. 11., and xxi. 5.
“Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”
Evil. And revenge myself. This belongs to the Lord, Deuteronomy xxxii. 35. Man would be too favourable to himself, and would also pronounce his own condemnation, as he is also a sinner.
“Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?”
Way? Jeremias x. 23. Independently of God, who can do any good? (Calmet)
“It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.”
Ones. Hebrew, “the saint or holy thing.” (Haydock) — Chaldean, “to make a vow for the sanctuary, and afterwards repent;” having acted inconsiderately at first. To attack the persons or relics of the saints, or to plunder what is consecrated to pious uses, will bring on destruction; so also to make vows, and then seek to evade them, will not pass unpunished. (Calmet)
“A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.”
Wheel. Or triumphal arch, fornicem. (Ven. Bede; Jansenius) — He will make his enemies lie prostrate under his chariot-wheels, 2 Kings xii. 31.
“The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. candle: or, lamp”
Lamp. The breath of life, (Genesis ii. 7.) and the light of man, 1 Corinthians ii. 11.
“Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.”
Clemency. Such a king need not fear rebellion. (Calmet)
“The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.”
Hairs, and experience. They have a greater contempt of death and pleasures. (St. Ambrose, Hex. i. 8.)
“The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. cleanseth: Heb. is a purging medicine against”
Evils. The wicked shall derive benefit from correction. — Belly. They shall feel the remorse of conscience, as Chaldean seems to indicate. (Calmet) — A serious illness often causes people to repent. (Menochius)