“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.”
Father. He shews the greatest respect for his parents, ver. 3. (Calmet)
“For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.”
As. This is not expressed. (Haydock) — But Solomon was not the only son of Bethsabee, as St. Luke (iii. 23.) specifies Nathan, his brother. See 2 Kings xii. 24. Septuagint have “beloved in,” &c.
“He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.”
He. Hebrew is masculine. (Calmet) — As David instructed his son, so the latter teaches all how they may learn wisdom. (Worthington)
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Beginning. The first part of wisdom is to desire it. For nothing hindereth from being just, but that justice is not desired. (St. Augustine, in Psalm cxviii. 20.) (Worthington) — “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get,” &c. (Protestants) (Haydock) — It is the one thing necessary. (Calmet) — The pearl, to acquire which we must part with every thing else, if required, Matthew xiii. 46. (Menochius)
“For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.”
Wickedness. Acquired thereby, or they make sin their food, chap. xxvi. 6.
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
Day. They are children of light, (John xii. 35.) and give edification, always advancing in virtue. (Menochius)
“The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.”
Fall. They are unconcerned about sin, and neither avoid it, nor strive to repent. (Calmet)
“For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. health: Heb. medicine”
Flesh. All may derive benefit from their consideration. (Haydock)
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. with: Heb. above all keeping”
From it. As the heart is the principal part of the body, so the will is the chief power of the soul, from which good or evil proceeds. (Worthington) — A clean heart gives life, a corrupt one, death, Matthew xv. 11, 19.
“Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. a froward: Heb. frowardness of mouth and perverseness of lips”
From thee. Neither detract, nor give any countenance to detractors.
“Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.”
Steps. Be attentive to thy own affairs, Proverbs xvii. 24.
“Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. let: or, all thy ways shall be ordered aright”
Straight. Hebrew, “ponder.” Examine what thou takest in hand, and walk not at random, Hebrews xii. 13.
“Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”
For, &c. What follows in not in Hebrew or the Complutensian (Calmet) Septuagint. But it is in the Roman [Septuagint], &c., (Haydock) and in the new edition of St. Jerome, as it was explained by Ven. Bede. Lyranus and Cajetan reject it. (Calmet)