Bible Commentaries
9

Verse 1

Lest. "A husband should teach his wife to be chaste by his own example." (Lact. Relig. vi.) Ipse miser docui quo posset ludere pacto

Custodes eheu! nunc premor arte mea. (Tibul.)

Verse 4

Dancer. Greek, "musician, lest," &c. (Haydock) --- The same person is often given to both music and dancing, (Menochius) and these arts are very dangerous. ([Ovid?] Met. xiv. 6.) --- The dances in the East were more licentious than ours.

Verse 5

Gaze. It is not always possible to avoid seeing them; but the greatest caution is requisite, Job xxxii. 1., and Matthew v. 28. (Calmet) --- Jealousy and all dangerous occasions must be avoided. (Worthington)

Verse 7

Streets. Greek, "retired parts," where bad women dwell. (Calmet)

Verse 8

Up. Greek, "of a fine appearance." Grabe substitutes, "who has found favour." (Haydock) --- The Fathers condemn too much dressing as a mark of levity and incontinence.

Verse 12

Nor, &c., is also admitted in many copies, though found in the Complutensian and Aldus edition. (Calmet) --- Grabe replaces it on the authority of Clement of Alexandria (Pæd. ii. 7.) as he does many other passages, which are erroneously left out in several editions. (Prolog. t. 4. c. 3.) It would therefore be injurious to the word of God, if we were always to reject the additions in the Vulgate, which are not in the Vatican Greek copy; and they must not all at least be considered as interpolations.

Verse 16

Envy not. If thou hast faith and wisdom, thou wilt rather dread his punishment, Psalm xxxvi. 1., and Proverbs iii. 31. (Calmet) --- He is like a summer flower, that is quickly cut down. (Worthington)

Verse 17

Wrong. Greek, "applauses of the unjust. Remember that they will not be justified even to hell." (Haydock) --- The world itself will finally approve only of virtue. (Calmet) --- The wicked will be condemned both by God and man. (Haydock)

Verse 20

It. Greek, "Know what thou art....walking on the pinnacles of the city." (Haydock) --- The same sense is given in the Vulgate, as people walking among armed men in a rage, are exposed to imminent danger. (Menochius)

Verse 21

Beware. Greek, "aim at." Examine the person to whom thou intrusteth a secret.

Verse 22

CHAPTER IX.

Verse 24

Artificers. All strive to excel in their profession.

Verse 25

Hateful. Satirists are dangerous. (Calmet) --- -----Dummodo risum

Excutiat sibi, non cuiquam parcet amico. (Horace, i. sat. 4.)