HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

PROVERBS 21

CHAPTER XXI.

Ver. 1. It. Though it be free, and may resist grace or embrace virtue. Is. xlv. 22. Jer. iii. 14. and vii. 3. Jos. xxiv. 23. C. --- Yet God knows how to turn the heart even of a king, so as to preserve his liberty, with the same ease as a gardener brings the streams of water to his plants. M.

Ver. 3. Mercy. Sept. "justice and truth." H. See Os. vi. 6. M.

Ver. 4. Heart. Or when it is proud, it causes the eyes to appear so too. C. --- Lamp. Prot. "ploughing of the wicked is sin." When it is done with a bad motive, out of pride. Heb. "the haughtiness of the eyes, and the enlarging of the heart, are the labour ("tillage." Mont. "thought." Pagn.) of the wicked; yea, sin." H. --- Those things are their employment, and their sin. C. --- Sept. and Vulg. may also mean, "sin is the lamp and exultation of the wicked." H.

Ver. 5. Sluggard. Heb. "hasty man," as the slothful is ironically styled. He would see his desires accomplished without labouring; and will never stick to work. This levity is most injurious to his advancement.

Ver. 6. Death. Their injustice shall be punished.

Ver. 8. Strange. Unknown, impure way. Lev. x. 1. Deut. xvii. 15. C.

Ver. 9. Top, (domatis) as the roofs in Palestine were flat. S. Jer. ad Sun. --- Any inconvenience had better be endured, than to live with the quarrelsome. M.

Ver. 10. Neighbour. Sym. "he has no idea of friendship." Sept. "he shall not be treated with mercy by any man." H.

Ver. 11. Knowledge. These are the effects of chastisements and good company.

Ver. 12. Evil. He tries every expedient to save him. --- That. Sept. "he despises." Sym. "throws down."

Ver. 14. Bosom. In private. C. --- They put all valuable things in the bosom. H.

Ver. 15. To do judgment. Or to see it done, while the wicked depend only on the corruption of their judges.

Ver. 16. Giants, in hell. C. xv. 11. Job xxvi. 5. Ezec. xxii. 21.

Ver. 17. Rich. Economy is constantly recommended. C. --- Those who squandered away their goods, were fined by the Areopagites. Athen. iv. 19.

Ver. 18. Righteous. Many are deterred from wickedness by the punishment of malefactors, whose injuries are frequently irreparable. God abandoned Pharao and Aman to save his people. He treated them as victims of wrath. Is. xliii. 3.

Ver. 20. Treasure of provisions. Temporal blessings were promised as a figure of more lasting ones, which are set before Christians.

Ver. 22. Thereof. Nothing can resist. Matt. xii. 29. Eccle. ix. 16. C.

Ver. 23. Mouth, from eating too much. Lyran.

Ver. 24. Ignorant. Heb. "a scoffer." Sept. "pestilent." H. --- Such a one is always actuated by pride, when he attempts to turn good advice and religion to ridicule.

Ver. 25. At all. Hence his desires of riches and wisdom prove fruitless. C. xiii. 4.

Ver. 27. Wickedness. Heb. "with an evil thought." Mont. Eccli. xxxiv. 24. H.

Ver. 28. Obedient. Attentive, faithful witness, shall speak with triumph, or he who obeys the law, shall gain the victory over the devil, &c. Phil. ii. 8.

Ver. 29. Face. Never blushing, or yielding to good advice.

Ver. 31. Battle. It was kept for no other purpose by the eastern nations, who used oxen to till the land; asses and camels to carry burdens. Job xxxix. 18. Ps. xix. 8. and xxxii. 17. C.