HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

PROVERBS 27

CHAPTER XXVII.

Ver. 2. Lips. All hate affectation and vanity. Jo. v. 51.

Ver. 3. Both. He is insupportable to himself and to others. Eccli. xxii. 17.

Ver. 4. And who. Sept. "but envy (zeal) beareth nothing." The more we yield to the envious, the more he is offended at our good behaviour.

Ver. 5. Love. Which can be of no service to us, while reproof may cause us to amend.

Ver. 6. Enemy. Joab slew Amasa, while he kissed him. 2 K. xx. 9. Matt. xxvi. 48. True friendship is not attentive to outward appearances.

Ver. 8. Place, or vocation, like the prodigal son, Lu. xv. The Israelites were much attached to their own country, where they might practise the true religion. C.

Ver. 9. And. Sept. add, "wine and incense...but accidents tear the soul." H.

Ver. 10. Affliction. He will be less compassionate than a tried friend. --- Better, &c. This daily experience evinces. "Those who purchase land, should consider if there be plenty of water, and a neighbour." Pliny xviii. 5. --- The Persians honour most those who live nearest to them. Herod. i. 134.

Ver. 11. Thou. Heb. Complut. and Sixtus V. "I may," &c. Sept. "and cast reproaches from thee."

Ver. 14. In the night. Or "early in the morning," de nocte, as the Heb. implies. --- Curseth. His importunity will be equally displeasing. H. --- Flattery is dangerous, (C.) and unworthy of a free man. Cic. de Amic.

Ver. 16. Hand. As it will flow away, such as woman is commonly incorrigible. C.

Ver. 17. Sharpeneth. Or instructeth. Fungar vice cotis. Hor. Art.

Ver. 18. Glorified. He who serves his master well shall be promoted.

Ver. 19. Are. Heb. "to men." Our hearts have all something similar. C. --- Sept. "as faces are not like each other, so neither are the hearts of men." They have all come peculiarity. H. --- But this agrees not with the original.

Ver. 20. Destruction. Heb. abaddo, or abadon. C. xv. 11. Apoc. ix. 11. People die, and are plunged in hell daily. --- Eyes. Avarice and ambition. Eccli. xiv. 9.

Ver. 21. Praiseth. If he be not puffed up, or if all agree in his praises, we may conclude that they are well founded. --- The, &c. is not in Heb. Comp. S. Jer. or Chal. and destroys the connection.

Ver. 22. Mortar. Such were used by those who could not afford handmills. C.

Ver. 23. Flocks. Jo. x. 3. Eccli. vii. 24. This may be applied to pastors.

Ver. 24. Generation. Thou wilt be cited as an example of prudence, if thou hast forseen the change of thy affairs, and provided for it. In the east it was not unusual to see a general of an army reduced to the meanest condition, and economy is necessary for all.

Ver. 26. Field. If thou wishest to purchase, or to pay the workmen.

Ver. 27. Milk. We cannot but admire such frugality. Sept. are rather different. C. v. 25, "Be careful of the grass of thy field...that thou mayst have lambs for thy clothing. Honour the field, that there may be lambs for thee. 27 Son, thou hast from me solid instructions for thy life, and for that of thy servants." H.