“Blessed is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of his days shall be double.”
Double. Uneasiness deprives a person of much comfort. (Worthington)
“A good wife is a good portion, which shall be given in the portion of them that fear the Lord.”
To a, &c., is not in Greek. (Haydock)
“There be three things that mine heart feareth; and for the fourth I was sore afraid: the slander of a city, the gathering together of an unruly multitude, and a false accusation: all these are worse than death.”
Fourth. A jealous wife, ver. 8.
“But a grief of heart and sorrow is a woman that is jealous over another woman, and a scourge of the tongue which communicateth with all.”
City. When all are charged with a crime, or when all rise up against a man. (Calmet)
“A drunken woman and a gadder abroad causeth great anger, and she will not cover her own shame.”
Woman. Greek adds, “against another woman.”
“The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids.”
With. Greek, “and the scourge of the tongue, which,” &c. (Haydock) — Back-biting occasions the four evils aforesaid. (Grotius)
“If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty.”
Woman. When oxen move, the yoke moves also: Thus heresy will suffer none to rest. (Worthington) — The yoke ought to fit the neck, and not be fastened to the horns. (Colum. ii. 2.)
“Watch over an impudent eye: and marvel not if she trespass against thee.”
Hid. She will be given to debauchery. (St. Chrysostom) (Calmet) — Romulus ordered wives to be slain, like adulteresses, who had drunk wine at home. (V. Max. vi. 3.)
“She will open her mouth, as a thirsty traveller when he hath found a fountain, and drink of every water near her: by every hedge will she sit down, and open her quiver against every arrow.”
Eye-lids. Shewing her impudence, 2 Peter ii. 14., and Isaias iii. 16.
“The grace of a wife delighteth her husband, and her discretion will fatten his bones.”
Herself. From gazing at men. (Calmet) — Love manifests itself by the eyes. (Propert.)
“A shamefaced and faithful woman is a double grace, and her continent mind cannot be valued.”
Hedge. Or “stake,” palum, (Haydock) on which tents were fixed, Genesis xxxviii. 14. (Calmet) — Fail. Incontinence will at last ruin her health. (Haydock)
“As the sun when it ariseth in the high heaven; so is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house.”
Bones. The Catholic faith is the ground of all virtues. (Worthington)
“As the golden pillars are upon the sockets of silver; so are the fair feet with a constant heart.”
Worth. Literally, “exchange;” (Greek; Haydock) such a wife is above all price. (Menochius)
“When thou hast gotten a fruitful possession through all the field, sow it with thine own seed, trusting in the goodness of thy stock.”
Continent. Adhering to virtue. (Calmet)
“An harlot shall be accounted as spittle; but a married woman is a tower against death to her husband.”
Holy. Made of gold, and placed in the sanctuary. (Menochius)
“A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is given to him that feareth the Lord.”
Soles. Greek, “heels.” Complutensian, “solid pavement.” A long addition follows in this edition, which is inserted by Grabe, (Haydock; but is not in the best copies. Calmet) instead of the following verse. (Haydock)
“A woman that honoureth her husband shall be judged wise of all; but she that dishonoureth him in her pride shall be counted ungodly of all.”
Poverty. The Romans provided for veteran soldiers, as Louis XIV did with great magnificence. (Calmet) — Greenwich hospital is for the same purpose. (Haydock) — Despised. Solomon makes the same complaint, Ecclesiastes ix. 15.
“A loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away the enemies.”
To sin. He is less excusable, as he knows what he abandons, Jeremias ii. 12. (Calmet)
“There be two things that grieve my heart; and the third maketh me angry: a man of war that suffereth poverty; and men of understanding that are not set by; and one that returneth from righteousness to sin; the Lord prepareth such an one for the sword.”
Two. Greek, “scarcely is a merchant exempt from negligence, and the seller of wine, and eatables, (Grotius) or retailer (Voss. kapelos) shall not be justified from sin.” (Haydock) — Negligence. That is, from the neglect of the service of God: because the eager pursuit of the mammon of this world, is apt to make men of that calling forget the great duties of loving God above all things, and their neighbours as themselves. — A huckster. Or a retailer of wine. Men of that profession are both greatly exposed to danger of sin themselves, and are too often accessary to the sins of others. (Challoner) — Lips. Innkeepers talk much to please, and thus fall into danger, Proverbs x. 19. (Worthington) — They are also exposed to lying, (Menochius) and to adulterate their merchandise. (Calmet)