Verse 1

My son. God speaks, or the master instructs his disciple, ver. 21. (Calmet) --- We must remember and love instruction, and reduce it to practice. (Worthington)

Verse 2

Peace. These prefigured more substantial blessings. (Calmet)

Verse 3

Truth. Be kind and faithful to all, Genesis xxiv. 27., and Psalm xxiv. 10.

Verse 4

Good. Septuagint, "forecast good before the Lord and men." St. Paul seems to allude to this version, Romans xii. 17., and 2 Corinthians viii. 22. (Haydock)

Verse 5

All. God will have nothing by halves. --- Lean not. By pride, 2 Corinthians xii. 13. All must be referred to God. (Calmet) --- In him we may safely trust. (Worthington)

Verse 8

Bones. Thou shalt enjoy perfect health.

Verse 9

Fruits. Septuagint add, "of justice;" to intimate that no presents will be acceptable, which have been unjustly acquired.

Verse 11

Him. Correction is rather a proof of love than of anger, Psalm iii. 19. (Calmet) --- God thus shews that he approves of his servants; and therefore his other promises, which seem of a temporal nature, must be understood with reference to the next life. (Worthington)

Verse 12

And as. Septuagint, "but he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth," as St. Paul quotes this passage, Hebrews xii. 6. The verb is now wanting in Hebrew, or ceab; "as a father" may signify "scourgeth, in piel, (Menochius) with i prefixed. (Calmet)

Verse 15

Riches. Hebrew peninim, (Haydock) "pearls," Job xxviii. 18. (Calmet)

Verse 16

Glory. Her hands are full, and she grants favours with profusion, (Haydock) as with both hands, promising eternal life. (Worthington)

Verse 18

Life. Like that planted in paradise, Genesis ii. 9.

Verse 19

Wisdom. Hitherto he had spoken of that virtue. Now he treats of the uncreated wisdom, (Calmet) which is God the Son. (Menochius) (Jansenius) (St. Gregory, Mor. xii. 4.)

Verse 20

Out. The higher and lower waters being divided, (Calmet) or the channels formed to receive the waters. (Piscator) --- It may also speak of the deluge. (Ven. Bede) --- With. Hebrew, "have distilled dew." This is so copious, as to resemble rain in Palestine, Judges vi. 37., and 2 Kings xvii. 12.

Verse 21

CHAPTER III.

Verse 22

Mouth. There have been wise and virtuous men afflicted, ver. 11. But they have borne all with patience, and have merited a more glorious reward than what this earth could afford. (Calmet)

Verse 27

Able. Protestants, "withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." Relieve the distressed. (Haydock) --- They have a title to that wealth, since those who possess it are bound to relieve the indigent. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "refrain not from doing good," &c. (Haydock)

Verse 28

Present. Alms in season are doubly valuable. (Worthington) --- Antigonus acquired the title of Greek: Doson, "about to give," as he never gave, (Plutarch) but only promised.

Verse 30

Cause. We may defend ourselves; but herein great discretion is necessary. (Calmet) --- Cum pari contendere anceps est: cum superiore furiosum; cum inferiore sordidum. (Seneca, Prov.)

Verse 31

Ways. Of injustice. Seek not to attain his prosperity by the same means. (Calmet)

Verse 33

Want. Hebrew, "a curse." --- Shall be. Hebrew, "he blesseth." (Haydock)

Verse 34

Scorners. Literally, "he will delude the scorners." (Haydock) --- He will treat them as they would treat others, Psalm xvii. 27. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "the Lord resisteth the proud," &c. So the apostles quote this passage, 1 Peter v. 5., and James iv. 6. (Haydock)

Verse 35

Disgrace. They are seen by more, and their fall is more dangerous. (Calmet) --- "A fool extols what is ignominious." (Pagnin) (Haydock)