“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.”
Like. Be not allured by their prosperity to imitate them, Psalm xxxvi. 1.
“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:”
Wisdom and virtue, and not by injustice can the house be established.
“A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. is strong: Heb. is in strength increaseth: Heb. strengtheneth might”
Valiant, as well as a good economist, ver. 4. (Calmet)
“For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
Counsels. “Consult many what ought to be done, but only a few of the most faithful, or rather thyself alone, what thou art about to do.” (Veget. iii. 9., and 27.)
“Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.”
High. Thus the fool excuses himself. But wisdom condescends to our weakness, if we be truly in earnest, Deuteronomy xxxii. 12. Mouth. To defend himself, or to give advice. (Calmet)
“The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.”
Of a fool. In as much as he is wicked. Though he may have some pious thoughts, he attends not to them. (Haydock) — He thinks how he may commit evil, and renders himself hateful. (Calmet) — Hebrew, “a wicked thought is the sin of folly.” Septuagint, “the fool dieth in sins.” — Detractor. Hebrew, “scoffer.” (Haydock)
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. small: Heb. narrow”
Diminished. This is the sad consequences of too much dejection, Ephesians iv. 19. Despairing, they abandon themselves to impurities. (Haydock)
“If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;”
Deliver. The Jews often put people to death without any formal trial, pretending zeal, as they did St. Stephen, &c. Our Saviour rescued the adulteress from such a situation, as Daniel had done Susanna. Yet this text may regard poor debtors, Psalm lxxi. 4. (Calmet) — Christian bishops used all their influence to preserve the lives of those who did not deserve death. (St. Ambrose in Psalm cxviii. Ser. viii. Off. i. 36., and ep. xxv., and xxvi.)
“If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?”
I have. Hebrew, “behold, we know not this man.” (Pagnin) (Haydock) — He is a stranger. But all mankind are brethren, and have a charge to assist one another, even though they be enemies, Ecclesiasticus xvii. 12., and Exodus xxiii. 4. (Calmet) — Keeper. Hebrew notser, “preserver.” As thou hast received many good things from God, shew mercy to thy neighbour.
“My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: to: Heb. upon thy palate”
Honey. Of wisdom, which is most delicious. (Menochius)
“So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.”
Thou shalt. Hebrew, “yea, it is the last.” (Montanus) — “Then there shall be a reward.” (Protestants) — Thou shalt enjoy old age, or have posterity. (Calmet)
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”
Fall into smaller sins, (St. Gregory vi. in 2 Reg. xv. &c.) or into disgrace, as yippol (Haydock) rather intimates. (Vatable) (St. Augustine, City of God xi. 31.) — Both significations agree with the context. See Job v. 27., and Matthew xviii. 21. (Calmet) — He who is not subject to mortal sin, may still be exposed to many failings, and venial sins, which do not deprive him of the title of just; whereas the wicked consents to mortal sin, from which he riseth not so easily. Hence the wise man admonishes us not to lie in wait, or calumniously seek impiety in the house or soul of the just. (Worthington)
“Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. it displeaseth: Heb. it be evil in his eyes”
From. To punish thee. (Calmet) — Thus will thy thirst of vengeance be disappointed. (Haydock) — The Hebrews believed that there was no evil, which was not caused by sin; and this was true in some sense. But still God often afflicts his servants, (ver. 16,) as the whole book of Job tends to prove. (Calmet)
“Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; Fret: or, Keep not company with the wicked”
Contend. Or Hebrew, “associate.” — Like. Ver. 1., and Psalm xxxvi. 1.
“For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. candle: or, lamp”
Come. Protestants, “no reward,” (Haydock) posterity, &c., as designated also by the lamp, ver. 14. (Calmet)
“My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: them: Heb. changers”
Detractors. Or those who speak ill of God or the king. (Calmet) — Protestants, “that are given to change,” (Haydock) and relapses.
“These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.”
These. Septuagint have an addition, and then our chap. xxx. to ver. 15., after which follows the remainder of this chapter and the ten first verses of the 31st. [chapter.] (Haydock) — Solomon here resumes the sententious style, chap. xxii. 17. (Calmet)
“Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. that: Heb. that answereth right words”
Lips. And be deemed a friend. (Menochius)
“Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.”
House, and support thy family. Before building, great deliberation is requisite, Luke xiv. 28. Those who attempt to instruct others, must first set good example.
“Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.”
Cause, and necessity. Septuagint, “be not a false witness against thy fellow-citizen.”
“Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.”
Work. Revenge is often reprobated, though the law allowed of retaliation, which the more virtuous did not insist upon.
“I went by the field of the slothful , and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;”
Man. Those who neglected their land were despised. (Calmet) — The ancient Romans esteemed agriculture as a most laudible and profitable employment. (Cato, Rust. i.; Cicero, Off. i.)
“Then I saw, and considered it well : I looked upon it, and received instruction. considered: Heb. set my heart”
Which. Septuagint, “at last I repented: I looked forward to receive instruction.”
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:”
Said I, is not in Hebrew, chap. vi. 10. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “I will slumber a while,” to rest. Septuagint, “I will enfold my breast in my hands a little.” (Haydock)