Ver. 7. Life. Thou wilt not be asked how long, but how well thou hast lived. No one will then envy thy long life. C. --- It will be in vain to plead that the length or shortness of life has occasioned thy sins; for God does all with justice and for the best, if men would use rightly his benefits. W. --- Thou wilt not repine at having lived too short a time. M. --- An evil life will be alone condemned. Wisd. v. D.

Ver. 8. Ungodly. They adopt the wicked manners of their parents (C.) and companions, and thus become still more criminal. H.

Å’tas parentum pejor avis tulit

Nos nequiores, mox daturos

Progeniem vitiosiorem. Hor. ii. ode 6.

--- This was terribly verified in the three French assemblies, which overturned the Church and state. A. 1793. See Barruel. H.

Ver. 10. Father. He is rather their executioner, (C.) and would have been less cruel, if he had murdered them while they were innocent. Wisd. xii. 10. H.

Ver. 12. Portion. It would have been better for them never to have existed. Mat. xxvi. 24. This the case of heresiarchs. C.

Ver. 13. From. Gr. "go to destruction." H. --- It is their destination (C. xl. 11. C.) and choice. H.

Ver. 14. Body. The death of the body is bewailed in the just, but that of the soul also of wicked people calls for our tears. They will soon perish. Ps. ix. 7.

Ver. 15. Great. The concern which all have for a good name, is one of the strongest proofs of the souls' immortality. Prov. xxii. 11.

Ver. 17. Peace, with docility, (Mat. xi. 25.) or in the midst of prosperity, be on your guard. C. xx. 32. C.

Ver. 19. Have a shame, &c. That is to say, be ashamed of doing any of these things, which I am now going to mention: for though sometimes shamefacedness is not to be indulged, yet it is often good and necessary; as in the following cases. Ch. --- Disciples ought to esteem what their masters teach, though they do not perceive the reasonableness of what they assert. W.

Ver. 20. Opinion. Grotius corrects the Gr. "It is not laudable to be incredulous in all."

Ver. 21. Mother. Thy misconduct seems to redound to their dishonour, as if they had not given thee a proper education.

Ver. 22. People. They will stone thee. Remember the fate of Roboam. 3 K. xii. C.

Ver. 24. And of. Lit. "out of respect for the," &c. De veritate Dei & testamento. H. --- The same words occur C. xlii. 2.; whence Jansenius thinks they have been transferred hither. Most refer them to what goes before. Blush for lying, which is contrary to the truth of God; and for the other sins which injure his covenant. --- Meat. This posture betrays idleness or pride.

Ver. 25. Harlot. The eyes must be chaste. Jer. ix. 21. Mat. v. 28. --- Kinsman, when he is poor, and refusing to assist him. C.

Ver. 26. Turn. Gr. "of taking away a portion and gift," made already to God or men; (27) "of considering attentively another's wife; of being too busy about his," &c. H.