“A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will hiss him out to his disgrace.”
Sluggard. Who neglects his own and others’ welfare. (Calmet) — Disgrace. He is still despised here, and punished eternally, Matthew xxv. 30. (Worthington)
“A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that takes it up will shake his hand.”
Pelted. Greek, “compared to a lump of dung.” (Haydock)
“An evilnurtured man is the dishonour of his father that begat him: and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.”
Loss. “I wish,” said Augustus, “I had never married, or that I had died without children.” (Suetonius)
“A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that liveth dishonestly is her father's heaviness.”
Inheritance. Her wisdom and economy, Proverbs xxxi. 29. Women had no inheritance among the Jews, when they had brothers.
“She that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her.”
Bold. In speaking and acting without restraint. (Calmet)
“A tale out of season is as musick in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time.”
Mourning. St. Jerome (ep. ad Julian) quoting this sentence, calls it “divine Scripture,” Proverb xxv. 20. — Of time. Or “stripes and instruction well-timed, are wisdom.” (Haydock) — Only the wise know how to correct with advantage.
“Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.”
Fool. Who is incapable of understanding. Those who have sense may be corrected, though they may have taken evil courses.
“If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover the baseness of their parents.”
This? The Athenian philosophers and Festus derided St. Paul, Acts xvii. 32.
“But children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred.”
For the fool. In the language of the Holy Ghost, he is styled a fool that turns away from God to follow vanity and sin. And what is said by the wise man against fools is meant of such fools as these. (Challoner) — Their wicked life is worse than death. (Worthington)
“Talk not much with a fool, and go not to him that hath no understanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble, and thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou shalt find rest, and never be disquieted with madness.”
Days. There was a longer time assigned for great men, Genesis l. 3., Numbers xx. 30., and Deuteronomy xxxiv. 8. — Life. This is understood of those who have lost all reason, or sense of religion. St. Monica wept for her son, hoping that he would repent, as a certain bishop had comforted her. (St. Augustine, Confessions iii. ultra.[last chapter])
“A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery.”
Lead? Gold alone is heavier. But the fool is compared with lead, and is most insupportable.
“He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge.”
Wood. Such were used in the walls of Jerusalem, (4 Machabees ii.) and of the temple and palace, 3 Kings vi. 36., and vii. 12.
“Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: for there may be a returning to favour.”
Cost. Of lime. (Calmet) — Greek omits this comparison, as well as the 23d verse. (Haydock)
“Be faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage: for a mean estate is not always to be contemned: nor the rich that is foolish to be had in admiration.”
Not fear. This seems contrary to what goes before. But fools are sometimes intrepid even to harshness. (Calmet)
“As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; so reviling before blood.”
Resentment. Or “sense,” (Haydock) by means of pungent reprimands. (Calmet)
“I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide myself from him.”
Away. Greek literally, “will knock them down,” dejiciet. (Haydock) — Deliberate provocations (ver. 27.) are pardoned with more difficulty than a sudden impulse of wrath, ver. 26. On such occasions we may withdraw our confidence, but not our charity and patience, Matthew v. 11. (Calmet) — A true friend will not be lost for a temporal damage; but he must not be slighted. (Worthington)
Inheritance. Greek adds, “for poverty is not always contemptible, nor is the senseless rich worthy of admiration.” (Haydock)
Of him. Yet I will not follow their example. (Calmet) — If my friend has behaved ill to me, he will be the greatest sufferer. (Haydock)
Not. Psalm cxl. 3. Who can sufficiently guard his tongue? (Calmet)