Good. Greek, "these things, and he who possess the knowledge of the law will find her," (Calmet) or, "he who keeps the law, will receive her." (Grabe) (1 Corinthians iv. 20.) (Haydock) --- All who resolve to be virtuous, will have God's grace, which preventeth them, and continueth to afford them assistance. (Worthington)

Verse 2

Married. Literally, "from virginity." (Haydock) Those who have been espoused in youth have the most durable love for one another, Proverbs ii. 17., and Malachias ii. 14. (Calmet)

Verse 5

She. Or Greek, "he shall open his mouth, (6.) he shall find joy and a crown of exultation, and shall inherit," &c. (Haydock) --- Church, or assembly of the people. In both, the wise shall be heard with respect. (Calmet)

Verse 9

Praise. Or Greek, "a proverb," Proverbs xvii. 7., and xxvi. 7. (Calmet) --- David invites even dragons to praise God, but sinners never. (St. Chrysostom, orat. prebyt.) (Psalm xlix. 16.) --- The person who preaches will, and lives not accordingly, injures God. (Worthington)

Verse 10

Wisdom. Greek, "it was not sent to him, (Calmet) or he was not commissioned by the Lord. For praise shall be spoken in wisdom, and the Lord will give him success."

Verse 11

She. Ignorance and vice are defects, and consequently not the work of God, but of the perversion of free-will. See James i. 13., and Ezechiel xxxiii. 11. (St. Augustine, Grat. &. lib. ii.) (Calmet) --- Beza says, that God ordained Adam's fall, but for a good end; and decreed justly what men unjustly perform, (ref. Castel. ii.) which is refuted here, and Deuteronomy vii. 11., &c. (Worthington)

Verse 14

Counsel. Many explain this of Adam, before his fall, when he stood not in need of asking continually for God's assistance. (St. Augustine, correp. ii. n. 35.) --- But if we examine the context, it shews that man, in his present state, is declared inexcusable if he yield to sin, as he has still free-will, which may avoid it, with the grace of God, (Calmet) which is always ready to support us. Greek subjoins, (ver. 16.) "if thou wilt, thou shall keep the commandments, even to execute faithfully the good pleasure. (17.) He." &c. (Haydock)

Verse 15

Precepts. These would never be imposed, if man were not free. (Calmet)

Verse 17

And fire. Or, good and evil, as the Vulgate explains it, (ver. 18.) though the Greek be silent. (Haydock) --- The law written on the heart, as well as on the tables of stone, shews man his duty;; and he has free-will to comply with it, Deuteronomy xxx. 15., and Jeremias xxi. 8. (Calmet) --- He may enjoy every advantage of life, denoted by these two elements. (Lyr.[Lyranus?]) An quod in his vitæ causa est, hæc perdidit exul

His nova fit conjux; hæc duo magna putant. (Ovid, Fast. 4.)

Verse 21

Commanded. He only permitted the wickedness of Semei, (2 Kings xvi. 10.) and the persecutors of his people, whose hearts are already bent on evil. (St. Augustine, Grat. & lib. xx.)

Verse 27