Sluggard. Who neglects his own and others' welfare. (Calmet) --- Disgrace. He is still despised here, and punished eternally, Matthew xxv. 30. (Worthington)

Verse 2

Pelted. Greek, "compared to a lump of dung." (Haydock)

Verse 3

Loss. "I wish," said Augustus, "I had never married, or that I had died without children." (Suetonius)

Verse 4

Inheritance. Her wisdom and economy, Proverbs xxxi. 29. Women had no inheritance among the Jews, when they had brothers.

Verse 5

Bold. In speaking and acting without restraint. (Calmet)

Verse 6

Mourning. St. Jerome (ep. ad Julian) quoting this sentence, calls it "divine Scripture," Proverb xxv. 20. --- Of time. Or "stripes and instruction well-timed, are wisdom." (Haydock) --- Only the wise know how to correct with advantage.

Verse 7

Fool. Who is incapable of understanding. Those who have sense may be corrected, though they may have taken evil courses.

Verse 9

This? The Athenian philosophers and Festus derided St. Paul, Acts xvii. 32.

Verse 10

For the fool. In the language of the Holy Ghost, he is styled a fool that turns away from God to follow vanity and sin. And what is said by the wise man against fools is meant of such fools as these. (Challoner) --- Their wicked life is worse than death. (Worthington)

Verse 13

Day. There was a longer time assigned for great men, Genesis l. 3., Numbers xx. 30., and Deuteronomy xxxiv. 8. --- Life. This is understood of those who have lost all reason, or sense of religion. St. Monica wept for her son, hoping that he would repent, as a certain bishop had comforted her. (St. Augustine, Confessions iii. ultra.[last chapter])

Verse 17

Lead? Gold alone is heavier. But the fool is compared with lead, and is most insupportable.

Verse 19

Wood. Such were used in the walls of Jerusalem, (4 Machabees ii.) and of the temple and palace, 3 Kings vi. 36., and vii. 12.

Verse 21

Cost. Of lime. (Calmet) --- Greek omits this comparison, as well as the 23d verse. (Haydock)

Verse 23

Not fear. This seems contrary to what goes before. But fools are sometimes intrepid even to harshness. (Calmet)

Verse 24

Resentment. Or "sense," (Haydock) by means of pungent reprimands. (Calmet)

Verse 25

Away. Greek literally, "will knock them down," dejiciet. (Haydock) --- Deliberate provocations (ver. 27.) are pardoned with more difficulty than a sudden impulse of wrath, ver. 26. On such occasions we may withdraw our confidence, but not our charity and patience, Matthew v. 11. (Calmet) --- A true friend will not be lost for a temporal damage; but he must not be slighted. (Worthington)

Verse 29

Inheritance. Greek adds, "for poverty is not always contemptible, nor is the senseless rich worthy of admiration." (Haydock)

Verse 31

CHAPTER XXII.

Verse 32

Of him. Yet I will not follow their example. (Calmet) --- If my friend has behaved ill to me, he will be the greatest sufferer. (Haydock)

Verse 33