“Multi colunt personam potentis, et amici sunt dona tribuentis.”
“Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. him: Heb. a man of gifts”
“Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.”
“Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.”
“Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.”
Faithful. Few continue steady to their engagements or friends, whom they will assist to a certain point. In God these two virtues always go together, Psalm lxxxiv. 11. But they are rarely found in men. (Calmet)
We have here two instances of men's folly:—1. That they bring themselves into straits and troubles, and run themselves a-ground, and embarrass themselves: The foolishness of man perverts his way. Men meet with crosses and disappointments in their affairs, and things do not succeed as they expected and wished, and it is owing to themselves and their own folly; it is their own iniquity that corrects them. 2. That when they have done so they lay the blame upon God, and their hearts fret against him, as if he had done them wrong, whereas really they wrong themselves. In fretting, we are enemies to our own peace, and become self-tormentors; in fretting against the Lord we affront him, his justice, goodness, and sovereignty; and it is very absurd to take occasion from the trouble which we pull upon our own heads by our wilfulness, or neglect, to quarrel with him, when we ought to blame ourselves, for it is our own doing. See Isa 50 1.