“Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an evil lesson against thyself.”
Lest. “A husband should teach his wife to be chaste by his own example.” (Lact. Relig. vi.)
“Use not much the company of a woman that is a singer, lest thou be taken with her attempts.”
Dancer. Greek, “musician, lest,” &c. (Haydock) — The same person is often given to both music and dancing, (Menochius) and these arts are very dangerous. ([Ovid?] Met. xiv. 6.) — The dances in the East were more licentious than ours.
“Gaze not on a maid, that thou fall not by those things that are precious in her.”
Gaze. It is not always possible to avoid seeing them; but the greatest caution is requisite, Job xxxii. 1., and Matthew v. 28. (Calmet) — Jealousy and all dangerous occasions must be avoided. (Worthington)
“Look not round about thee in the streets of the city, neither wander thou in the solitary place thereof.”
Streets. Greek, “retired parts,” where bad women dwell. (Calmet)
“Turn away thine eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon another's beauty; for many have been deceived by the beauty of a woman; for herewith love is kindled as a fire.”
Up. Greek, “of a fine appearance.” Grabe substitutes, “who has found favour.” (Haydock) — The Fathers condemn too much dressing as a mark of levity and incontinence.
“Delight not in the thing that the ungodly have pleasure in; but remember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave.”
Nor, &c., is also admitted in many copies, though found in the Complutensian and Aldus edition. (Calmet) — Grabe replaces it on the authority of Clement (Pæd. ii. 7.) as he does many other passages, which are erroneously left out in several editions. (Prolog. t. 4. c. 3.) It would therefore be injurious to the word of God, if we were always to reject the additions in the Vulgate, which are not in the Vatican Greek copy; and they must not all at least be considered as interpolations.
“And let just men eat and drink with thee; and let thy glorying be in the fear of the Lord.”
Envy not. If thou hast faith and wisdom, thou wilt rather dread his punishment, Psalm xxxvi. 1., and Proverbs iii. 31. (Calmet) — He is like a summer flower, that is quickly cut down. (Worthington)
“For the hand of the artificer the work shall be commended: and the wise ruler of the people for his speech.”
Wrong. Greek, “applauses of the unjust. Remember that they will not be justified even to hell.” (Haydock) — The world itself will finally approve only of virtue. (Calmet) — The wicked will be condemned both by God and man. (Haydock)
It. Greek, “Know what thou art….walking on the pinnacles of the city.” (Haydock) — The same sense is given in the Vulgate, as people walking among armed men in a rage, are exposed to imminent danger. (Menochius)
Beware. Greek, “aim at.” Examine the person to whom thou intrusteth a secret.
Artificers. All strive to excel in their profession.
Hateful. Satirists are dangerous. (Calmet) —