“The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”
It. Though it be free, and may resist grace or embrace virtue, Isaias xlv. 22., Jeremias iii. 14., and vii. 3., and Josue xxiv. 23. (Calmet) — Yet God knows how to turn the heart even of a king, so as to preserve his liberty, with the same ease as a gardener brings the streams of water to his plants. (Menochius)
“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”
Mercy. Septuagint, “justice and truth.” (Haydock) See Osee vi. 6. (Menochius)
“An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. An: Heb. Haughtiness of eyes the plowing: or, the light”
Heart. Or when it is proud, it causes the eyes to appear so too. (Calmet) — Lamp. Protestants, “ploughing of the wicked is sin.” When it is done with a bad motive, out of pride. Hebrew, “the haughtiness of the eyes, and the enlarging of the heart, are the labour (“tillage,” Montanus; “thought,” Pagnin) of the wicked; yea, sin.” (Haydock) — Those things are their employment, and their sin. (Calmet) — Septuagint and Vulgate may also mean, “sin is the lamp and exultation of the wicked.” (Haydock)
“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.”
Sluggard. Hebrew, “hasty man,” as the slothful is ironically styled. He would see his desires accomplished without labouring; and will never stick to work. This levity is most injurious to his advancement.
“The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.”
Death. Their injustice shall be punished.
“The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.”
Strange. Unknown, impure way, Leviticus x. 1., and Deuteronomy xvii. 15. (Calmet)
“It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. a brawling: Heb. a woman of contentions a wide: Heb. an house of society”
Top, (domatis) as the roofs in Palestine were flat. (St. Jerome, ad Sun.) — Any inconvenience had better be endured, than to live with the quarrelsome. (Menochius)
“The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. findeth: Heb. is not favoured”
Neighbour. Symmachus, “he has no idea of friendship.” Septuagint, “he shall not be treated with mercy by any man.” (Haydock)
“When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.”
Knowledge. These are the effects of chastisements and good company.
“The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.”
Evil. He tries every expedient to save him. — That. Septuagint, “he despises.” Symmachus, “throws down.”
“A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.”
Bosom. In private. (Calmet) — They put all valuable things in the bosom. (Haydock)
“It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.”
To do judgment. Or to see it done, while the wicked depend only on the corruption of their judges.
“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”
Giants, in hell, chap xv. 11., Job xxvi. 5., and Ezechiel xxii. 21.
“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. pleasure: or, sport”
Rich. Economy is constantly recommended. (Calmet) — Those who squandered away their goods, were fined by the Areopagites. (Athen. iv. 19.)
“The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.”
Righteous. Many are deterred from wickedness by the punishment of malefactors, whose injuries are frequently irreparable. God abandoned Pharao and Aman to save his people. He treated them as victims of wrath, Isaias xliii. 3.
“There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.”
Treasure of provisions. Temporal blessings were promised as a figure of more lasting ones, which are set before Christians.
“A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.”
Thereof. Nothing can resist, Matthew xii. 29., and Ecclesiastes ix. 16. (Calmet)
“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
Mouth, from eating too much. (Lyranus)
“Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. in proud: Heb. in the wrath of pride”
Ignorant. Hebrew, “a scoffer.” Septuagint, “pestilent.” (Haydock) — Such a one is always actuated by pride, when he attempts to turn good advice and religion to ridicule.
“The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.”
At all. Hence his desires of riches and wisdom prove fruitless, chap. xiii. 4.
“The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? with: Heb. in wickedness?”
Wickedness. Hebrew, “with an evil thought.” (Montanus) Ecclesiasticus xxxiv. 24. (Haydock)
“A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. A: Heb. A witness of lies”
Obedient. Attentive, faithful witness, shall speak with triumph, or he who obeys the law, shall gain the victory over the devil, &c. (Philippians ii. 8.)
“A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. directeth: or, considereth”
Face. Never blushing, or yielding to good advice.
“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. safety: or, victory”
Battle. It was kept for no other purpose by the eastern nations, who used oxen to till the land; asses and camels to carry burdens, Job xxxix. 18., and Psalm xix. 8., and xxxii. 17. (Calmet)