Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 19

Verse 1

Rich, is not in Hebrew, Septuagint, Complutensian, or St. Jerome. (Calmet) --- But as there is not antithesis between a poor man and a fool, it ought to be inserted, as it is in the Syriac, which reads, "than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich." The Manuscript 2 confirms "ways." (Kennicott)

Verse 2

Soul. Wholesome and spiritual. Hebrew, "the soul or life is not good." --- Stumble. "The more I make haste, the less I advance," said Plato; (Republic 7.) and Augustus often repeated; Sat cito, si sat bene. (Suetonius)

Verse 3

Fretteth. Literally, "burneth." Septuagint, "blameth." Hebrew, "his heart rageth against the Lord." (Haydock) --- Thus Adam tacitly laid the blame on him, as all those who excuse themselves on account of their temper, habits, stars, the violence of temptation, &c. (Calmet)

Verse 7

Only. Hebrew has lo, and the margin lu, with the Vulgate. (Calmet) --- The former word intimates that the words have no solidity, and the latter that they shall be his only portion who is so foolish as to trust in them. Sequens dicta non ispa; (Montanus) or ei ipsa, if we follow the margin. (Haydock)

Verse 8

Mind. Hebrew, "heart," intelligence, chap. xv. 32. --- Loveth. This does not contradict the gospel; (John xii. 25.) as those who refrain from what the soul would crave to its own detriment, truly love it.

Verse 10

Fool. He would eat them, so as to prejudice his health. --- Princes. Chap. xxx. 21. Such are commonly insolent, and should attend to Ausonius. Fortunam reverenter habe.

Verse 11

Wrongs. The wise man is not vindictive or punctilious.

Verse 12

Anger. Is not their dominion enough? Having none to admonish them, they do not perceive their excesses.

Verse 13

Through. It cannot be endured long. (Calmet) --- Dos est uxoria lites. (Ovid, Art. 1.) --- "Quarrels are a wife’s dowry."

Verse 14

Properly. Septuagint, "fitted by." (Haydock) --- Hence the Fathers dissuade marrying with infidels. (St. Ambrose in Luke xvi.) --- All good comes from God.

Verse 15

Hunger. Both temporal and eternal. (Calmet) --- Non progredi, regredi est. St. Bernard says, "Not to advance, is to go back."

Verse 16

Neglecteth. Hebrew, "contemneth." In the law of Moses, many transgressions are punished with death, but here that of the soul is meant. (Calmet)

Verse 17

Lendeth. To receive interest, fœneratur. (Haydock) --- Such usury is lawful, and God will abundantly reward acts of mercy. (Calmet) --- He engages his word for the poor. (St. Augustine in Psalm xxxvi.)

Verse 18

Killing. Protestants, "crying;" or by his complaint be not deterred. (Haydock) --- Chaldean agrees with us. The law permitted parents to sell their children, and to have them stoned to death, if they declared them disobedient, (Deuteronomy xxi. 18.; Calmet) and riotous, ver. 20. Timely chastisement may prevent such extremities. (Haydock) --- St. Paul dissuades unnecessary severity, Colossians iii. 21.

Verse 19

Thing. A child neglected will continue to steal, or to offend; (Calmet) while too much harshness will do no good, but tend to the damage of all parties. (Haydock) --- Anger is productive of the worst effects.

Verse 21

Firm. Ignorance and weakness cause men to change.

Verse 22

Merciful. Hebrews ii. 17. Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco. (Virgil, Æneid 4.) --- Hebrew, "the desire of a man is his mercy," (Montanus; Haydock) or "shame," (R. Levi) as it leads to sin, Genesis vi. 5. All wish to be esteemed merciful. --- Man of quality. Hebrew meish, "prœ viro." (Montanus) --- "Rich man." (Septuagint) (Haydock)

Verse 23

Life. Both temporal and eternal, chap. x. 27. (Calmet) --- With evil. Literally, "the worst," pessima. (Haydock) --- Sixtus V, "by the most wicked one." The devil shall have no power over him.

Verse 24

CHAPTER XIX.

Arm-pit. Or Hebrew tsallachath, "in the pot," out of which he eats; which shews his negligence. --- Mouth, to eat. This hyperbole indicates that he is too lazy to take the necessary sustenance, chap. xxvi. 15. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "in his breast unjustly. Neither will he bring them to his mouth." (Haydock) --- He will bestow nothing, and shall reap no benefit from his avarice. (St. Bernard) --- He will not practise what he teaches. (St. Gregory, Mor. xii. 10.)

Verse 25

Wicked. Hebrew, "scoffer." Chastisements have always some good effect either on the sufferer, or on the spectators, who will be cautioned not to imitate what is wrong.

Verse 26

Infamous. Hebrew, "a son of confusion and reproach;" a spendthrift.

Verse 27

Not. Hebrew seems to say the reverse. (Calmet) --- But we may read it with an interrogation. "Wilt thou cease?" &c. Or the instruction here meant is of a dangerous nature. Protestants, "that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." Septuagint, "a son who neglects to keep the instruction of his father, shall muse on bad sayings." (Haydock)

Verse 29

Hammers, (Symmachus) "punishments." (Septuagint) See Judges v. 25. (Calmet)