Ver. 6. Mourning. S. Jer. (ep. ad Julian) quoting this sentence, calls it "divine Scripture." Prov. xxv. 20. --- Of time. Or "stripes and instruction well-timed, are wisdom." H. --- Only the wise know how to correct with advantage.

Ver. 7. Fool. Who is incapable of understanding. Those who have sense may be corrected, though they may have taken evil courses.

Ver. 9. This? The Athenian philosophers and Festus derided S. Paul. Acts xvii. 32.

Ver. 10. For the fool. In the language of the Holy Ghost, he is styled a fool that turns away from God to follow vanity and sin. And what is said by the wise man against fools is meant of such fools as these. Ch. --- Their wicked life is worse than death. W.

Ver. 13. Day. There was a longer time assigned for great men. Gen. l. 3. Num. xx. 30. and Deut. xxxiv. 8. --- Life. This is understood of those who have lost all reason, or sense of religion. S. Monica wept for her son, hoping that he would repent, as a certain bishop had comforted her. S. Aug. Conf. iii. ult.

Ver. 17. Lead? Gold alone is heavier. But the fool is compared with lead, and is most insupportable.

Ver. 19. Wood. Such were used in the walls of Jerusalem, (4 Mac. ii.) and of the temple and palace. 3 K. vi. 36. and vii. 12.

Ver. 21. Cost. Of lime. C. --- Gr. omits this comparison, as well as the 23d verse. H.

Ver. 23. Not fear. This seems contrary to what goes before. But fools are sometimes intrepid even to harshness. C.

Ver. 24. Resentment. Or "sense," (H.) by means of pungent reprimands. C.

Ver. 25. Away, (Gr.) Lit. "will knock them down," dejiciet. H. --- Deliberate provocations (v. 27.) are pardoned with more difficulty than a sudden impulse of wrath. v. 26. On such occasions we may withdraw our confidence, but not our charity and patience. Matt. v. 11. C. --- A true friend will not be lost for a temporal damage; but he must not be slighted. W.

Ver. 29. Inheritance. Gr. adds, "for poverty is not always contemptible, nor is the senseless rich worthy of admiration." H.

Ver. 32. Of him. Yet I will not follow their example. C. --- If my friend has behaved ill to me, he will be the greatest sufferer. H.

Ver. 33. Not. Ps. cxl. 3. Who can sufficiently guard his tongue? C.