Proverbs 23

Chap. XXIII. Ver. 1—35. Temperance, justice, virtues, strongly reco mmendced.—The first virtue upon the list is temperance, especially at the tables of the great, who were too apt to press their inferiors to indulge in luxuries, same time they grudge them; and perhaps despise, if they. do not reproach them, He therefore counsels such as are fond of the indulgences of the table, to place a powerful restraint upon their appetites, which is the obvious meaning of the metaphorical expression, “Put a knife to _ ply a guard upon t equally necessary, Equally pointed is his caution against that old trick of the oppressor, removing the ancient boundaries of their ground, so as to their own domains: a crime expressly forbidden in the Mothe consequence of this fatal for complying with their importunttes.

throat;” though others extend it to im- | again i i which may be eir words or conversation, though perhaps not here intended. i Yandmarks, that form the to add the fields of the poor ty,” and will assuredly plead the cause of the poor. | The latter part of the ae bee again cautions against lewdness and intemperance. A arlot is a deep pit and narrow, and other closing upon the unhappy man that may be taken in her The following caveat against intemperance is remarkably beautiful and poetical. ‘‘ The drunkar is exposed to the same dangers as the mariner, without, being able to guard against them: frequently does he get insulted and beaten, without knowing the cause; and so bewitched is he with the vice, that he no sooner recovers from his stupor, than he plunges into it

Notes on the verses

Men in darkness themselves, ignorant and Ver. 29. Mean—i. e. either, 1. 1 in da mean; or, 2. Men unknown, and undistinguished. rom thine own wisdom.—|"* Thine own un- Chap. XXIll. Ver. 4. Cease derstanding,” or prudence; w: nich too often unites with the world and Satan, and says, “Get a fortune honestly if you can; if not, get one at alljevents, s, ‘‘ Labour not to be rich,’’ but to But Solomon says, and God sa in the sight of all men; to lay up treasure n heaven;” and to things panertty 1 * cease from thine own understanding ”|—Bagster. dart”) thine eyes?—Alluding to an ea le Ver. 5. Wilt thou set (Heb. But while the covetous man 18 darting his eye upon his darting on its prey. prey of expected riches, behold, they take to their wings, the strong and rapid winus of the eagle, and fly away.

Is there not something designed and beautiful in omitting the wowl riches in the original, to be supplied, having just before called them “ that wh. ch is not?” Vor.8& And !ose.—Holden. “ Retract” thy sweet words. Ver. 18. There is an end—Rather, “ on issue” of punishment to the wicked, and of happiness to the righteous. ji: Ver. 20. Riotous eaters of Slesh.—The Arabs eat but little flesh, and so did the Hebrews, probably, except at their great festivities: gluttons in flesh are here classed with wine-bibbers and drunkards. Mare. “Of their flesh.” Some render it (says Holden) ‘* among themselves;’’ (so Theodotian;) i. e. m their i provide Ver. 20. Mixed wine—{That is, not wine diluted and lowered with water, but made stronger, and more inebriating, by the addition of more powerful ingredients, as honey, spices, myrrh, defrutum, opiates, &ec.

| Ver. 31. When it giveth his colour.—Heb. “ Its eye;” i. e. when it sparkles. So Holden, &c.— When it moveth iiself aright.—Hoiden, “When it goeth down sweetly.” j Bochart, ‘ A basilisk:"" some set Ver. 32. An adder.—‘ A cockatrice."”” pent, whose bite was fatal.