“Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor ; et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.”
“It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.”
““Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.”
““It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.”
“It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.”
Buyer. This is the common practice; yet it is not without exceptions. St. Augustine (Trin. xiii. 3.) observes, that the mountebank having promised to tell what every person had in his heart, many came to the theatre, when he told them that they all wished to buy cheap, and to sell dear. They all applauded the remark. (Calmet) — Septuagint is here defective. (Haydock)
It is here observed to the honour of a good man, 1. That he does well for himself. He has a certain rule, which with an even steady hand he governs himself by: He walks in his integrity; he keeps good conscience, and he has the comfort of it, for it is his rejoicing. He is not liable to those uneasinesses, either in contriving what he shall do or reflecting on what he has done, which those are liable to that walk in deceit. 2. That he does well for his family: His children are blessed after him, and fare the better for his sake. God has mercy in store for the seed of the faithful.