“He that feareth the Lord will do good, and he that hath the knowledge of the law shall obtain her.”
Good. Greek, “these things, and he who possess the knowledge of the law will find her,” (Calmet) or, “he who keeps the law, will receive her.” (Grabe) (1 Corinthians iv. 20.) (Haydock) — All who resolve to be virtuous, will have God’s grace, which preventeth them, and continueth to afford them assistance. (Worthington)
“And as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married of a virgin.”
Married. Literally, “from virginity.” (Haydock) Those who have been espoused in youth have the most durable love for one another, Proverbs ii. 17., and Malachias ii. 14. (Calmet)
“She shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth.”
She. Or Greek, “he shall open his mouth, (6.) he shall find joy and a crown of exultation, and shall inherit,” &c. (Haydock) — Church, or assembly of the people. In both, the wise shall be heard with respect. (Calmet)
“Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him of the Lord.”
Praise. Or Greek, “a proverb,” Proverbs xvii. 7., and xxvi. 7. (Calmet) — David invites even dragons to praise God, but sinners never. (St. Chrysostom, orat. prebyt.) (Psalm xlix. 16.) — The person who preaches well, and lives not accordingly, injures God. (Worthington)
“For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.”
Wisdom. Greek, “it was not sent to him, (Calmet) or he was not commissioned by the Lord. For praise shall be spoken in wisdom, and the Lord will give him success.”
“Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away: for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth.”
She. Ignorance and vice are defects, and consequently not the work of God, but of the perversion of free-will. See James i. 13., and Ezechiel xxxiii. 11. (St. Augustine, Grat. &. lib. ii.) (Calmet) — Beza says, that God ordained Adam’s fall, but for a good end; and decreed justly what men unjustly perform, (ref. Castel. ii.) which is refuted here, and Deuteronomy vii. 11., &c. (Worthington)
“He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his counsel;”
Counsel. Many explain this of Adam, before his fall, when he stood not in need of asking continually for God’s assistance. (St. Augustine, correp. ii. n. 35.) — But if we examine the context, it shews that man, in his present state, is declared inexcusable if he yield to sin, as he has still free-will, which may avoid it, with the grace of God, (Calmet) which is always ready to support us. Greek subjoins, (ver. 16.) “if thou wilt, thou shall keep the commandments, even to execute faithfully the good pleasure. (17.) He.” &c. (Haydock)
“If thou wilt, to keep the commandments, and to perform acceptable faithfulness.”
Precepts. These would never be imposed, if man were not free. (Calmet)
“Before man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be given him.”
And fire. Or, good and evil, as the Vulgate explains it, (ver. 18.) though the Greek be silent. (Haydock) — The law written on the heart, as well as on the tables of stone, shews man his duty;; and he has free-will to comply with it, Deuteronomy xxx. 15., and Jeremias xxi. 8. (Calmet) — He may enjoy every advantage of life, denoted by these two elements. (Lyr.[Lyranus?])
Commanded. He only permitted the wickedness of Semei, (2 Kings xvi. 10.) and the persecutors of his people, whose hearts are already bent on evil. (St. Augustine, Grat. & lib. xx.)