Verses 1-29

1. Fool] read, 'rich' (Proverbs 28:6).

2. Read, 'Also, desire without knowledge,' etc. Desires must be controlled by knowledge. The hasty in action will miss his mark. 'While the discreet advise, the fool doth his business.'

3. Perverteth] RV 'subverteth.' It is his own fault, yet he blames God for it.

6. Great nobles and great donors are always sought after.

10. Delight] RV 'delicate living.' He cannot appreciate refinement. Slaves have often risen to great power in the East: the danger is that they may become like the Felix of Acts 23, who was said to exercise royal power with a slave's disposition.

13. The Arabic proverb is, 'Three things render a house uninhabitable —tak (rain leaking through), nak (a wife's nagging), and bah (bugs).'

17. 'So much hast thou of thy hoard

As thou gavest to thy Lord

Only this will bring thee in

Usance rich and free from sin:

Send thy silver on before,

Lending to His sick and poor.

Every curhem dropped in alms

Touches Allah's open palms,

Ere it falls into the hands

Of thy brother.'

18. RV '.. seeing there is hope, And set not thy heart on his destruction.' Not to discipline is to destroy.

19. Attempt to soothe him, and he will rage the more.

22. 'Words are as breath, and will is all.' Only the intention counts (Proverbs 23:6-8; Mark 12:42; 2 Corinthians 8:12).

24. RV 'The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish,' etc.: the allusion is to the large dish in the centre into which all dip (Mark 14:20).

28. De voureth] i.e. gulps down greedily.