Verse 1

It. Though it be free, and may resist grace or embrace virtue, Isaias xlv. 22., Jeremias iii. 14., and vii. 3., and Josue xxiv. 23. (Calmet) --- Yet God knows how to turn the heart even of a king, so as to preserve his liberty, with the same ease as a gardener brings the streams of water to his plants. (Menochius)

Verse 3

Mercy. Septuagint, "justice and truth." (Haydock) See Osee vi. 6. (Menochius)

Verse 4

Heart. Or when it is proud, it causes the eyes to appear so too. (Calmet) --- Lamp. Protestants, "ploughing of the wicked is sin." When it is done with a bad motive, out of pride. Hebrew, "the haughtiness of the eyes, and the enlarging of the heart, are the labour ("tillage," Montanus; "thought," Pagnin) of the wicked; yea, sin." (Haydock) --- Those things are their employment, and their sin. (Calmet) --- Septuagint and Vulgate may also mean, "sin is the lamp and exultation of the wicked." (Haydock)

Verse 5

Sluggard. Hebrew, "hasty man," as the slothful is ironically styled. He would see his desires accomplished without labouring; and will never stick to work. This levity is most injurious to his advancement.

Verse 6

Death. Their injustice shall be punished.

Verse 8

Strange. Unknown, impure way, Leviticus x. 1., and Deuteronomy xvii. 15. (Calmet)

Verse 9

Top, (domatis) as the roofs in Palestine were flat. (St. Jerome, ad Sun.) --- Any inconvenience had better be endured, than to live with the quarrelsome. (Menochius)

Verse 10

Neighbour. Symmachus, "he has no idea of friendship." Septuagint, "he shall not be treated with mercy by any man." (Haydock)

Verse 11

Knowledge. These are the effects of chastisements and good company.

Verse 12

Evil. He tries every expedient to save him. --- That. Septuagint, "he despises." Symmachus, "throws down."

Verse 14

Bosom. In private. (Calmet) --- They put all valuable things in the bosom. (Haydock)

Verse 15

To do judgment. Or to see it done, while the wicked depend only on the corruption of their judges.

Verse 16

Giants, in hell, chap xv. 11., Job xxvi. 5., and Ezechiel xxii. 21.

Verse 17

Rich. Economy is constantly recommended. (Calmet) --- Those who squandered away their goods, were fined by the Areopagites. (Atheneus iv. 19.)

Verse 18

Righteous. Many are deterred from wickedness by the punishment of malefactors, whose injuries are frequently irreparable. God abandoned Pharao and Aman to save his people. He treated them as victims of wrath, Isaias xliii. 3.

Verse 20

Treasure of provisions. Temporal blessings were promised as a figure of more lasting ones, which are set before Christians.

Verse 22

Thereof. Nothing can resist, Matthew xii. 29., and Ecclesiastes ix. 16. (Calmet)

Verse 23

Mouth, from eating too much. (Lyranus)

Verse 24

Ignorant. Hebrew, "a scoffer." Septuagint, "pestilent." (Haydock) --- Such a one is always actuated by pride, when he attempts to turn good advice and religion to ridicule.

Verse 25

At all. Hence his desires of riches and wisdom prove fruitless, chap. xiii. 4.

Verse 27

Wickedness. Hebrew, "with an evil thought." (Montanus) Ecclesiasticus xxxiv. 24. (Haydock)

Verse 28

Obedient. Attentive, faithful witness, shall speak with triumph, or he who obeys the law, shall gain the victory over the devil, &c. (Philippians ii. 8.)

Verse 29

Face. Never blushing, or yielding to good advice.

Verse 30

CHAPTER XXI.

Verse 31

Battle. It was kept for no other purpose by the eastern nations, who used oxen to till the land; asses and camels to carry burdens, Job xxxix. 18., and Psalm xix. 8., and xxxii. 17. (Calmet)