Riches profit not in

CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XI.

the day of wrath.

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transgressors A. M. 3004. shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

a FALSE balance is abomina- II deliver them: but tion to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

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When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

4d Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but ⚫righteousness delivereth from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect shall 3 direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

8 h The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

10 When it goeth well with the righteous the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish,

6 The righteousness of the upright shall there is shouting.

a Lev. xix. 35, 36; Deut. xxv. 13-16; Chap. xvi. 11; xx. 10, 23. Hebrew, balances of deceit. 2 Hebrew, a perfect stone. b Chap. xv. 33; xvi. 18; xviii. 12; Dan. iv. 30, 31.xiii. 6.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XI.

c Chap.

d Chap. x. 2; Ezek. vii. 19; Zeph. i. 18.- Le Gen. vii. 1. 3 Heb. rectify: f Chap. v. 22; Eccles. x. 8. - Chap. x. 28. b Chapter xxi. 18.- — Job viii. 13.- Esth. viii. 15; Chapter xxviii. 12, 28.

he placed wholly in earthly things, are lost and Verse 1. A false balance-The use of all false gone with him; and the hope of unjust men, &c.-weights and measures in commerce; is abomination This clause, according to this translation, is a mere to the Lord-Highly abominable to him, both because repetition of the former: but the word 'JIN, this wickedness is practised under a colour of jus- here rendered unjust men, is generally translated tice, and because it is destructive of human society, strengths, or powers, as indeed it properly means. and especially of the poor, whose patron the Lord Divers, therefore, interpret the clause, The hope of declares himself to be: see on Lev. xix. 35. "This their strengths, that is, which they place in their rule may hold, not in commerce only, but also in our riches, children, friends, and other carnal props and judgments, and in our whole conduct toward our defences, perisheth. So this is added by way of neighbour. In every thing respecting him, employ aggravation. The righteous are delivered out of || the balance of equity, void of all selfish views, pas- trouble--When, perhaps, he hardly expected it, or sions, and prejudices. Let justice and truth ever even was ready to despair of it; and the wicked hold the scale; and always do to him what you cometh in his stead-Is, by God's providence, brought would have done to yourself." into the same miseries, which the wicked either designed against, or had formerly inflicted on the right

Verses 2, 3. When pride cometh, then cometh || shame-Pride, as it is the effect of folly, so it bringetheous, but which were now lately removed from

them. Thus Mordecai was saved from the gallows, Daniel from the lions' den, and Peter from the prison, and their persecutors came in their stead. Israel was delivered out of the Red sea, and the Egyptians drowned in it.

a man to contempt and destruction, such persons being under the displeasure of God, and disliked by all men. But with the lowly is wisdom-Whereby they are kept from those foolish and wicked actions which expose men to shame. The integrity of the|| upright, &c.-Their sincere obedience to God's Verse 9. A hypocrite with his mouth--By his corlaws; shall guide them-Shall keep them from rupt communication; destroyeth his neighbour-crooked and dangerous courses, and lead them in a|| Draws him into error or sin; but through knowledge right and safe way. But the perverseness of trans-||--Namely, of God and of his word, which, making gressors--Those wicked devices by which they || men wise, discovers and so prevents the frauds of design and expect to secure themselves; shall de- deceivers; shall the just be delivered--From the stroy them-Shall be the very causes of their destruc- || infection of the evil and crafty counsel of hypocrites. tion.

Verses 4-6. Riches profit not in the day of wrath || -In the time of God's judgments, when he is executing vengeance upon sinners; but righteousness delivereth, &c.-See note on chap. x. 2. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct, &c.-Shall bring all his designs and endeavours to a happy issue, and deliver him from many snares and dangers, verse 6.

Verses 7, 8. When a wicked man dieth, his expectalion shall perish-All his hope and felicity, which

Verse 10. When it goeth well with the righteous --When righteous men are encouraged and advanced to places of trust and power; the city rejoiceth--The citizens, or subjects, of that government, rejoice, because they confidently expect justice and tranquillity, and many other benefits, by their administration of public affairs. When the wicked perish, there is shouting-A common rejoicing, partly for the just vengeance of God upon them, who had been the instruments of so much mischief; and partly for the deliverance of the people from such

The righteous receive

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A. M. 3004. 11 'By the blessing of the upright || smart for it: and he that hateth A. M. 3001. the city is exalted: but it is over-suretiship is sure. thrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

13 m A5 tale-bearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the

4 Heb. destitute of heart.- Lev. xix. 16; -5 Hebrew, He that walketh, being a tale-bearer. Chap. xv. 22; xxiv. 6.

public grievances and burdens as had been imposed upon them.

16 PA gracious woman retaineth honour and strong men retain riches.

17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 20 They that are of a froward heart are

• Ch, vi. 1.- - Heb. shall be sore broken. Heb. those that strike hands.- Chap. xxxi. 30.9 Matt. v. 7; xxv. 34, &c. Hos. x. 12; Gal. vi. 8, 9; James iii. 18.

of a stranger, whose ability and honesty are unknown to him; and the way to be secure from it, is not only to avoid such engagements one's self, but to dislike to see other men enter into them.”—Bishop Patrick.

Verse 16. A gracious woman-Hebrew, 108, a woman of grace; one endued with the saving grace of God, and who, by humility, meekness, modesty, prudence, and other virtues, renders herself acceptable and amiable to God and men; retaineth honour

Verse 11. By the blessing of the upright--Namely, by their sincere prayers, and wise, wholesome counsels, wherewith they bless their country; the city is exalted-In dignity, power, and all kinds of prosperity; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked-By their curses, oaths, blasphemies, and wicked, pernicious counsels, whereby they both provoke God, and mislead men to their own ruin. Verses 12, 13. He that is void of wisdom-Of-Holdeth fast her honour, or good reputation, with knowledge, prudence, and grace; despiseth his neigh- no less care and resolution than strong men do riches, bour-Which he shows by contemptuous or reproach- as it follows. ful expressions; but a man of understanding holdeth Verse 17. The merciful man-Who is compashis peace-Forbears all such expressions, and silent-sionate toward persons in distress, bountiful to such ly and patiently bears all these reproaches. It is a as are in want, and kind to all; doth good to his own great weakness to speak contemptuously of any man, soul-That is, to himself, because his mercy and lior to endeavour to render him ridiculous, though he berality shall turn to his own infinite advantage, both may have erred, because he possibly may return to in this life and the next. But he that is cruela right way of thinking and acting for the future; That is, hard-hearted, and uncharitable to others; and it is cruel to insult over errors committed through troubleth his own flesh-Either, 1st, His own chilhuman infirmity; therefore a prudent person says dren and kindred, for whose sakes he is thus covet nothing to the reproach of any one. A tale-bearer ous and uncharitable, in order that he may lay up for -Or, He that goeth about, (see the margin,) from them; but, as these words imply, they shall have noone place or person to another, telling tales, mak- thing but disappointment, trouble, and vexation with ing it his business to scatter reports; revealeth what they receive. Or, 2d, Himself, denominated secrets-Either his neighbour's secret faults, or here from his flesh, or body, as in the former clause, such things as were committed to his trust, with from his soul; perhaps to intimate, that the mischiev a charge of secrecy; but he that is of a faithful ous effects of his covetousness shall not only fall upou spirit-That hath a sincere, constant, and faithful his soul, which he despises, but upon his flesh, or mind, and therefore both can and will govern his outward man, which is the only thing he fears or tongue; concealeth the matter-Will hide those regards. things which have been committed to his trust, or which, if known, might be injurious to others.

Verses 18, 19. The wicked worketh a deceitful work-A work which will deceive his expectation of that good for which he works. But to him that soweth righteousness-That worketh righteousness with constancy, diligence, and hope of a recompense, resembling the labour and hope of those who sow in seed-time; shall be a sure reward-For, he that sows to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting; so he that pursueth evil-That lives in Verse 15. He that is surety for a stranger, &c.-known sin, that sows to the flesh; pursueth it to his "He is in great danger to be undone, who stands own death-Shall of the flesh reap corruption. bound to pay the debts of another man, especially Verses 20, 21. They that are of a froward heart,

Verse 14. Where no counsel is, the people fall "Where prudent counsellors are wanting a nation goes to wreck, as certainly as a ship doth without a pilot; but a country is safe when there are many wise men to govern affairs; that if one fail, there may enough still remain; or what one or two see not, others may be able to discern."

Chap. xvi. 5.

not go unpunished.

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24 There is that scattereth, and A. M. 3004. yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: Z and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessings shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

t Psalm cxii. 2.- - Hebrew, departeth from. || 7 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.9 Or, the soul of blessing.- z Matt. "Rom. ii. 8, 9.-Psa. cxii. 9. V. 7.- Amos viii. 5, 6.b Job xxix. 13.

they may execute their malice and wrath upon those whom they hate."-Bishop Patrick. Or, rather, the meaning is, the desires and expectations of the righteous shall end in their good and happiness, but the desires and expectations of the wicked shall be disappointed, and end in the wrath of God.

&c. They are odious to God, who study to compass their end by wicked means; but they whose exact observance of the rules of righteousness, in the whole course of their lives, testifies the integrity of their hearts, are highly in his favour and love. Though hand join in hand-Though the wicked be fortified against God's judgments by a numerous issue, and Verses 24, 25. There is that scattereth-That kindred, and friends, and by mutual strong combi- giveth liberally of his goods to the poor; for so the nations; they shall not be unpunished-They shall words, here used, signifies, Psa. cxii. 9; and yet not be able, either totally to prevent God's judg- || increaseth-Through God's secret blessing on his ments, or to hinder them from coming in their days.|| estate; and there is that withholdeth more than is They shall be punished in their own persons as well meet-Hebrew, D, than what is right, or just, as in their posterity. But the seed of the righteous that is, what, by the law of God, and the rules of -Who follow the steps of their ancestors' righteous- general justice, he is obliged to give: of which, see ness, though they may fall into trouble, yet in due on Prov. iii. 27. But it tendeth to poverty-By God's time shall be delivered-Namely, without any such providence secretly blasting his property, either in auxiliaries, by God's special providence. Though his own or his children's hands: as it frequently justice may come slowly to punish the wicked, happens to covetous persons. The liberal souland mercy to save the righteous, yet both will come Hebrew, the soul of blessing, the man who is a surely. blessing to others; who prays for the sick and needy, and provides for them; that scatters bless

Verse 22. As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout—|| Which would not adorn the swine, but only be dis-ings with gracious lips and generous hands, the paraged itself; so is a fair woman without discretion-Who disgraceth the beauty of her body by a foolish and filthy mind. There seems to be an allusion in these words to a custom prevalent in the East, of wearing jewels upon their noses: see on Job xlii. 11. The meaning evidently is, "As a jewel of gold would be ill placed in the snout of a swine, which is always raking in the mire; so is beauty ill bestowed on a woman, whose mind, having lost all relish of virtue, carries her from her husband to wallow in filthy lusts and adulterous pleasures." See Bishop Patrick.

"Of beauty vain, of virtue void, What art thou in the sight of God? A slave to every base desire, A creature wallowing in the mire. Go, gaudy pageant of a day, Thy folly with thy face display: Set all thy charms and graces out, And show-the jewel in thy snout." C. WESLEY. Verse 23. The desire of the righteous is only good -"The righteous desire nothing, but that it may be well with all men; but the wicked wish for trouble and disturbance to all others but themselves, that

word blessing being often used for a gift; shall be made fat-Shall be enriched both with temporal and spiritual blessings. And he that watereth, &c. -Possibly this is a metaphor taken from a fountain, which, when it pours forth its waters, is instantly filled again; whereas, if it be stopped, it grows empty, the water seeking another course. Some render the last clause, &, he shall be a rain, that is, he shall receive such liberal supplies from God, that he shall be able to pour forth showers of good things upon others.

Verse 26. He that withholdeth corn-In a time of scarcity, when others need and desire it; the people shall curse him-He shall fall into the popular hatred, and be loaded with many curses; but blessing-Namely, the blessing of God, which the people shall earnestly ask for him; shall be upon the head of him that selleth it-Upon reasonable terms. "The truth of this," says Dr. Dodd, "is experienced in all times of scarcity. They who have the hardness of heart to withhold their corn at such seasons are accursed of God and men. The justice of God fails not to display itself upon those who are insensible to the miseries of the public, and who are not afraid to bring upon themselves the hatred and curses of the people:" see Amos viii. 5–7, and Calmet.

A good man

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27 He that diligently seeketh good || inherit the wind: and the fool shall A. M. 3004. procureth favour: but he that seek- be servant to the wise of heart. eth mischief, it shall come unto him. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that 10 winneth souls is wise.

28 He that trusteth in his riches shall

fall but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

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31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and

29 He that troubleth his own house shall the sinner.

Esther vii. 10; Psalm vii. 15, 16; ix. 15, 16; x. 2; lvii. 6. Job xxxi. 24; Psa. lii. 7; Mark x. 24; Luke xii. 21; 1 Tim. vi. 17.

Psa. i. 3; lii. 8; xcii. 12, &c.; Jer. xvii. 8.- Eccles. v. Dan. xii. 3; 1 Cor. ix. 19; James v. 20.-10 Hebrew, h Jer. xxv. 29; 1 Pet. iv. 17, 18.

16.taketh.

Verses 27, 28. He that diligently seeketh good- Verse 30. The fruit of the righteous—Which he To do good to all men, as he hath opportunity; produceth; namely, his piety and charity, his inwhich is opposed to a man's contenting himself with structions, reproofs, exhortations, and prayers; his lazy desires, or cold and careless endeavours; pro- interest in heaven, and his influence on earth, are a cureth favour-With God and men; but he that tree of life--That is, like the fruit of that tree, preseeketh mischief-To do any mischief or injury to cious and useful, contributing to the support and others; it shall come unto him—It shall be requited, increase of the spiritual life in many, and nourishing either by men's malice and revenge, or by God's them up to eternal life. And he that winneth souls just judgment. He that trusteth in his riches-As-Hebrew, na np, he that taketh, or catcheth his protection, or portion and felicity; shall fall- || souls, as a fowler doth birds, or a fisherman fishes; As a withered leaf; but the righteous-Who make that makes it his design and business, and uses all God alone, and not riches, the ground of their con- || his skill and diligence to gain souls to God, and to fidence, and source of their happiness; shall flourish as a branch-Namely, a green and fruitful branch. Verse 29. He that troubleth his own house-He who brings trouble upon himself and children; either, 1st, By carelessness, sloth, improvidence, prodigality, or any wickedness, whereby he consumes his estate: or, 2d, By covetous desires, and restless endeavours to heap up riches, whereby he greatly harasses and distresses both himself and his family with excessive cares and labours; shall inherit the wind-Shall be as unable to keep and enjoy what he gets, as a man is to hold the wind in his fist, or to feed and satisfy himself with it: he shall being here; in the earth-Whereby he intimates, that brought to poverty. And the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart-A person so destitute of prudence or industry, shall, through his extreme necessity, be obliged to work hard for his living, and to become a servant to such as are more diligent in pursuing, and more discreet in managing their worldly affairs.

pluck them out of the snare of the devil; is wiseShoweth himself to be a truly wise and good man. Or, the clause may, with equal propriety, be rendered, and he that is wise (the same with the righteous in the former branch) winneth souls, brings them to repentance, faith, and holiness, to God and heaven. All that are truly wise, or righteous, endeavour to do || this, and their endeavours, through the divine blessing, are more or less successful.

Verse 31. Behold, the righteous shall be recom pensed-That is, chastised, or punished for his sins; which the next clause shows to be Solomon's mean

all the righteous man's sufferings are confined to this world, which is an unspeakable felicity; much more the wicked and the sinner-They shall be punished much more certainly and severely, either in this life, or in the life to come; or rather, in both. Compare this verse with 1 Pet. iv. 18, which is a good com ment upon it.

CHAPTER XII.

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A. M. 3004. WHOSO loveth instruction loveth || 2 A good man obtaineth favour A. M. 3004 knowledge; but he that hateth of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

reproof is brutish.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XII.

m a Chapter viii. 35.

Verse 1. Whoso loveth instruction—Admonition, or reproof, (as appears from the next clause,) which is a singular means of gaining true wisdom; loveth knowledge-Shows that he is a true lover of it, because he is willing to purchase it upon such unwel

come terms, as reproofs are generally thought to be; But he that hateth reproof-Who cannot endure to be told of, and reproved for, his faults; is brutishDiscovers himself to be a most foolish and stupid creature, because he is an enemy to himself, and to his own happiness.