1. sacrifices--or, "feasts" made with part of them (compare
@Pr 7:14 Le 2:3 7:31).
with--literally, "of."
strife--its product, or attendant.
2. (Compare @Pr 14:35).
causeth shame--(@Pr 10:5).
shall . . . inheritance--that is, share a brother's part (compare
@Nu 27:4,7).
3. God only knows, as He tries (@Ps 12:6 66:10) the heart.
4. Wicked doers and speakers alike delight in calumny.
5. (Compare @Pr 14:31).
glad at calamities--rejoicing in others' evil. Such are rightly
punished by God, who knows their hearts.
6. Prolonged posterity is a blessing, its cutting off a curse (@Pr 13:22 Ps 109:13-15), hence children may glory in virtuous ancestry.
7. Excellent speech--(Compare Margin). Such language as ill suits a fool, as lying (ought to suit) a prince (@Pr 16:12,13).
8. One so corrupt as to take a bribe evinces his high estimate of it by subjection to its influence (@Pr 18:16 19:6).
9. seeketh love--(Compare Margin). The contrast is between the peace-maker and tale-bearer.
10. Reproof more affects the wise than severe scourging, fools.
11. Such meet just retribution (@1Ki 2:25).
a cruel messenger--one to inflict it.
12. They are less rational in anger than wild beasts.
13. (Compare @Ps 7:4 35:12).
evil--injury to another (@Pr 13:21).
14. letteth . . . water--as a breach in a dam.
before . . . meddled with--before strife has become sharp, or, by an
explanation better suiting the figure, before it rolls on, or
increases.
15. abomination . . . Lord--as reversing His method of acting (@Pr 3:32 12:2).
16. Though wealth cannot buy wisdom for those who do not love it, yet wisdom procures wealth (@Pr 3:16 14:24).
17. To the second of these parallel clauses, there is an accession of meaning, that is, that a brother's love is specially seen in adversity.
18. (Compare @Pr 6:1-5 11:15).
in the presence, &c.--that is, he either fails to consult his friend,
or to follow his advice.
19. strife--contention is, and leads to, sin.
he that exalteth his gate--gratifies a vain love of costly building.
seeketh--or, "findeth," as if he sought (compare "loveth death,"
@Pr 8:36).
20. The second clause advances on the first. The ill-natured fail of good, and the cavilling and fault-finding incur evil.
21. (Compare @Pr 23:24). Different words are rendered by "fool," both denoting stupidity and impiety.
22. (Compare @Pr 14:30 15:13). The effect of the mind on the body
is well known.
medicine--or, "body," which better corresponds with "bone."
drieth--as if the marrow were exhausted.
23. a gift . . . bosom--Money and other valuables were borne in a fold
of the garment, called the bosom.
to pervert--that is, by bribery.
24. Wisdom . . . him--ever an object of regard, while a fool's affections are unsettled.
25. a grief--or cross, vexation (compare @Pr 17:21 Pr 10:1).
26. Also--that is, Equally to be avoided are other sins: punishing good subjects, or resisting good rulers.
27, 28. Prudence of speech is commended as is an excellent or calm spirit, not excited to vain conversation.