Verse 2

Thou art a snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

(a) He forbids us not to become surety one for another, according to the rule of charity, but that we consider for whom and after what sort, so that the creditor may not be defrauded.

Verse 6

Go to the b ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

(b) If the word of God cannot instruct you, learn from the little ant to labour for yourself and not to burden others.

Verse 10

[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, c a little folding of the hands to sleep:

(c) He expresses the nature of the sluggards, who though they sleep long, yet never have enough, but always seek opportunity for more.

Verse 11

So shall thy poverty come as one that d travelleth, and thy want as e an armed man.

(d) That is, suddenly, and when you do not look for it.

(e) It will come in such sort, as you are not able to resist it.

Verse 12

A naughty person, f a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

(f) He shows to what inconvenience the idle persons and sluggards come, by calling them unthrifty, or the men of Belial, and slanderous.

Verse 13

He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he g teacheth with his fingers;

(g) Thus all his gesture tends to wickedness,

Verse 18

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, h feet that be swift in running to mischief,

(h) Meaning, the raging affections, which carry a man away in such sort that he cannot tell what he does.

Verse 21

Bind them continually upon thine i heart, [and] tie them about thy neck.

(i) (Proverbs 3:3).

Verse 23

For the k commandment [is] a lamp; and the law [is] light; and l reproofs of instruction [are] the way of life:

(k) By the commandment, he means the word of God; and by the instruction, the preaching and declaration of the same, which is committed to the Church.

(l) And reprehensions when the word is preached bring us to life.

Verse 25

Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; neither let her take thee with her m eyelids.

(m) With her wanton looks and gesture.

Verse 27

n Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

(n) Meaning, that she will never cease till she has brought you to begging, and then seek your destruction.

Verse 30

[Men] do not o despise a thief, if he stealeth to satisfy his p soul when he is hungry;

(o) He does not reprove theft, showing that it is not as abominable as whoredom, for theft can be restored, but adultery is permanent, and death by the law of God.

(p) Meaning, for necessity.

Verse 33

A q wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

(q) That is, death appointed by the Law.

Verse 34

For jealousy [is] the rage of a man: therefore he will not r spare in the day of vengeance.

(r) He shows that man by nature seeks the death of he that has abused his wife, and so concludes that neither God's law nor the law of nature admits any ransom for the adultery.