Verses 1-25

2. Read, 'the desire of the treacherous is for violence' (RM).

3. The times were out of joint: those alone were safe who said nothing.

4. Soul] as in Proverbs 13:2 and many other passages, means 'appetite.' Made fat] abundantly gratified.

5. Read, 'but a wicked man behaves shamefully and abominably.'

7. One 'feigneth himself rich' (RM), to gain consideration; another 'feigneth himself poor,' to avoid giving and paying.

8. Providence equalises matters: wealth may buy one off from peril, but poverty saves us from fear of being robbed. Not rebuke] RV 'no threatening.'

9. The extinction of the lamp is a sign of disaster: cp. Proverbs 20:20; Proverbs 31:18; Job 18:6; Jeremiah 25:10.

10. 'By pride cometh only contention' (RV): willingness to be advised saves from this and many evils.

11. The proverb originally ran: 'Wealth gotten in haste, etc., but wealth gotten by degrees,' etc. 'Come lightly, go lightly.'

14. Such vv. as this indicate the existence of a definite class of wise men, whose teachings were highly esteemed.

15. Read, 'A man of tact obtaineth favour, but the way of the treacherous is their destruction.'

21. Evil] i.e. misfortune. Good] i.e. prosperity.

23. Tillage] RM 'tilled land.' For want of judgment] RV 'by reason of injustice.' The idea is that God blesses the labour of the righteous poor, but the unjust, though they may be rich, will not flourish.

24. Egyptian proverb: 'The ears of the young are placed on the back, and he hears when it is flogged.'