“Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath. bring: or, set a city on fire”
Corrupt. Hebrew, “scoffers,” who provoke both God and men.
“If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.”
Rest; or bring him to hear reason. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “a wise man shall rule nations; but the wicked being angry, is laughed at, and does not frighten.”
“The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul. The bloodthirsty: Heb. Men of blood”
Soul. They wish to protect the upright, Psalm cxli. 5.
“The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes. the deceitful: or, the usurer”
Enlightener. Septuagint, “visitor,” with punishment, as they seem to speak of palliated usury, which cannot escape God. See chap. xxii. 2.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. perish: or, is made naked”
Prophecy, by the urim, or by the mouth of prophets, who were in great power and estimation, 3 Kings i. 24., and xii. 23., and 2 Paralipomenon xxv. 6., and xxviii. 8. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “There shall be none to explain the law to the impious nation.” (Haydock) — When pastors are wanting, all goes to ruin, 1 Corinthians xi. 4. (Ven. Bede) (Calmet)
“Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him. words: or, matters?”
Amendment. St. Jerome (ad Evag.) says, after Thucydides: “Ignorance produces confidence, and learning fear.”
“Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.”
Soul, and exposeth himself to death, though this was only inflicted for stealing a man, Exodus xxi. 16. The night-thief might also be killed in the fact, Exodus xxii. 2. But if the person who had stolen denied it on oath, he was put to death for perjury, Leviticus v. 1.
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. safe: Heb. set on high”
Fall. Human respects will not long preserve him from sin. (Calmet) — Septuagint have a double version: “Those who fear and are ashamed of men, shall be thrown down. But he who confideth in the Lord, shall rejoice. Impiety overturneth man, while he who trusteth in the Lord shall be saved.” (Grabe) (Haydock)