HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

PROVERBS 19

CHAPTER XIX.

Ver. 1. Rich, is not in Heb. Sept. Compl. or S. Jerom. C. --- But as there is not antithesis between a poor man and a fool, it ought to be inserted, as it is in the Syriac, which reads, "than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich." The MS. 2 confirms "ways." Kennicott.

Ver. 2. Soul. Wholesome and spiritual. Heb. "the soul or life is not good." --- Stumble. "The more I make haste, the less I advance," said Plato; (Rep. 7.) and Augustus often repeated; Sat cito, si sat benÃ¨. Sueton.

Ver. 3. Fretteth. Lit. "burneth." Sept. "blameth." Heb. "his heart rageth against the Lord." H. --- Thus Adam tacitly laid the blame on him, as all those who excuse themselves on account of their temper, habits, stars, the violence of temptation, &c. C.

Ver. 7. Only. Heb. has lo, and the marg. lu, with the Vulg. C. --- The former word intimates that the words have no solidity, and the latter that they shall be his only portion who is so foolish as to trust in them. Sequens dicta non ispa; (Mont.) or ei ipsa, if we follow the margin. H.

Ver. 8. Mind. Heb. "heart," intelligence. C. xv. 32. --- Loveth. This does not contradict the gospel; (Jo. xii. 25.) as those who refrain from what the soul would crave to its own detriment, truly love it.

Ver. 10. Fool. He would eat them, so as to prejudice his health. --- Princes. C. xxx. 21. Such are commonly insolent, and should attend to Ausonius. Fortunam reverenter habe.

Ver. 11. Wrongs. The wise man is not vindictive or punctilious.

Ver. 12. Anger. Is not their dominion enough? Having none to admonish them, they do not perceive their excesses.

Ver. 13. Through. It cannot be endured long. C. --- Dos est uxoria lites. Ovid. Art. 1. --- "Quarrels are a wife's dowry."

Ver. 14. Properly. Sept. "fitted by." H. --- Hence the Fathers dissuade marrying with infidels. S. Amb. in Lu. xvi. --- All good comes from God.

Ver. 15. Hunger. Both temporal and eternal. C. --- Non progredi, regredi est. S. Bernard says, "Not to advance, is to go back."

Ver. 16. Neglecteth. Heb. "contemneth." In the law of Moses, many transgressions are punished with death, but here that of the soul is meant. C.

Ver. 17. Lendeth. To receive interest, fÅ“neratur. H. --- Such usury is lawful, and God will abundantly reward acts of mercy. C. --- He engages his word for the poor. S. Aug. in Ps. xxxvi.

Ver. 18. Killing. Prot. "crying;" or by his complaint be not deterred. H. --- Chal. agrees with us. The law permitted parents to sell their children, and to have them stoned to death, if they declared them disobedient, (Deut. xxi. 18. C.) and riotous, v. 20. Timely chastisement may prevent such extremities. H. --- S. Paul dissuades unnecessary severity. Col. iii. 21.

Ver. 19. Thing. A child neglected will continue to steal, or to offend; (C.) while too much harshness will do no good, but tend to the damage of all parties. H. --- Anger is productive of the worst effects.

Ver. 21. Firm. Ignorance and weakness cause men to change.

Ver. 22. Merciful. Heb. ii. 17. Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco. Ã†n. 4. --- Heb. "the desire of a man is his mercy," (Mont. H.) or "shame," (R. Levi) as it leads to sin. Gen. vi. 5. All wish to be esteemed merciful. --- Man of quality. Heb. meish, "prÅ“ viro." Mont. --- "Rich man." Sept. H.

Ver. 23. Life. Both temporal and eternal. C. x. 27. C. --- With evil. Lit. "the worst," pessima. H. --- Sixtus V. "by the most wicked one." The devil shall have no power over him.

Ver. 24. Arm-pit. Or Heb. tsallachath, "in the pot," out of which he eats; which shews his negligence. --- Mouth, to eat. This hyperbole indicates that he is too lazy to take the necessary sustenance. C. xxvi. 15. C. --- Sept. "in his breast unjustly. Neither will he bring them to his mouth." H. --- He will bestow nothing, and shall reap no benefit from his avarice. S. Bern. --- He will not practise what he teaches. S. Greg. Mor. xii. 10.

Ver. 25. Wicked. Heb. "scoffer." Chastisements have always some good effect either on the sufferer, or on the spectators, who will be cautioned not to imitate what is wrong.

Ver. 26. Infamous. Heb. "a son of confusion and reproach;" a spendthrift.

Ver. 27. Not. Heb. seems to say the reverse. C. --- But we may read it with an interrogation. "Wilt thou cease?" &c. Or the instruction here meant is of a dangerous nature. Prot. "that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." Sept. "a son who neglects to keep the instruction of his father, shall muse on bad sayings." H.

Ver. 29. Hammers, (Sym.) "punishments." Sept. See Judg. v. 25. C.