“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. loving: or, favour is better than, etc”
Good. Hebrew, “a name,” or reputation. (Haydock) — It is preferable to riches, but not to be compared with virtue, which is the only solid good; and even to be placed above riches, it must be well grounded. (Calmet) — Favour with all. (Haydock)
“The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.”
Another. They stand in need of one another. (St. Chrysostom, hom. xxxiv. in 1 Corinthians.) — They are equal in God’s sight, who only values real virtue. He disposes of riches, so that the poor may one day become rich. (Calmet)
“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. By: or, The reward of humility, etc”
Fruit. Literally, “the end of modesty, (Haydock) or moderation, which must accompany every virtue.
“Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.”
Perverse. They are always in danger and in trouble.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Train: or, Catechise in: Heb. in his way”
It is a proverb, is added by St. Jerome, to make the sentence more striking. — It. He is like a tender plant, (Calmet) or wax, or a new vessel.
“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender . the lender: Heb. the man that lendeth”
Servant. He might be sold, &c., Exodus xxii. 3., and Matthew xviii. 25. (Gell. xx. 1.) Plato (Leg. viii.) would have nothing sold on credit. These laws appear to be severe; but they are founded on wisdom, as nothing impoverishes more than the facility of borrowing.
“He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. the rod: or, with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed”
Consumed. Or beaten with the flail of God’s anger.
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. He that: Heb. Good of eye”
Is. Hebrew, “has a good eye,” in opposition to the evil, or malicious one, Matthew xx. 15. — He, &c., is not in Hebrew, or in the Latin edition of Comp. and St. Jerome.
“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. for: or, and hath grace in his lips”
He. Septuagint, “the Lord loveth pious hearts. All the irreproachable are acceptable to him. The king feeds with lips,” by his just ordinances. (Haydock) — Kings hate duplicity; but require that the truth should be disclosed to them in a suitable manner.
“The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.”
Streets. Vain excuses of sloth!
“The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.”
It. Debauchery resembles hell, chap. xxiii. 23. (Calmet) — Facilis descensus Averni, &c. (Virgil, Æneid vi.)
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
Folly. Ignorance and innate corruption are corrected by a good education.
“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.”
Incline. Thus Solomon concludes his discourse, (chap. xxiv. 23.) in the same manner as he began it, to chap. x. Some commence the third book of Proverbs in this place; others, chap. xxv. (Calmet)
“For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. within: Heb. in thy belly”
Lips. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Haydock)
“Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,”
Ways. Repeatedly. (Bossuet; Tirinus) (2 Corinthians xii. 8., and Amos i. 11.) (Calmet) — Protestants, “have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge?” “Shalishim,” perfect, (Pagnin) or “three things,” (Montanus) means also (Haydock) such as might suit princes and great officers. (Calmet)
“That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? to them: or, to those that send thee?”
Sent. Septuagint, “are sent to thee.” Thou mayst become a teacher, (Haydock) or give satisfaction to thy parents, who have sent thee to my school. (Calmet)
“Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:”
Gate. Where judges passed sentence. (Menochius)
“Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”
Soul. By imitating him, or by falling a victim to his rage.
“Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.”
Hands. Engaging to stand bond. (Haydock) (Chap. vi. 1.) — Such a one might be required to pay the debt, chap. xx. 16.
“Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. landmark: or, bound”
Set. The pagans made a god of Terminus, to prevent disputes. (Ovid, Fast. ii.) — If it be unlawful to disturb land-marks, how much more so is it to give way to novelty in religion? (Deuteronomy xix. 14.) (Calmet) — Solomon is addressing those who follow the true faith. Else the conduct of infidel ancestors should not deter any from embracing the truth. (Haydock)
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. mean: Heb. obscure men”
Obscure. By industry he shall raise himself to notice. (Haydock) — Kings employ those who are most active. (Calmet)