way to release you from the obligation, and rest not till you have taken this course to disentangle yourself.

22.-it shall talk with thee.] The wisdom, which you acquire by attending to the directions of your parents, shall suggest good thoughts to you.

26.—a man is brought to a piece of bread:] Reduced to extreme poverty.

-will hunt for the previous life.] Will bring the adulterer to his grave.

30-32. Men do not despise a thief, &c.] They do not neglect to punish one who steals only to satisfy his hunger; but the adulterer robs a man of his wife, and cannot plead necessity for his excuse; he must be looked upon as void of all understanding; and when discovered, he will be punished with the loss of life. Levit. xx. 10.

34. For jealousy is the rage of a man:] The inflammation of jealousy is the setting a man on fire. Jealousy so excites a man's rage, that nothing will hinder him from revenging the injury done him.

CHAP. VII.

Verse 2.-as the apple of thine eye.] That is, the pupil of thine eye.

4. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister;] Be as familiar with wisdom, and as fond of her, as if she were your own sister.

14. I have peace offerings with me;] That is, 1 have an entertainment or feast at my house. 19. the goodman] Meaning her husband.

CHAP. VIII.

In this chapter Wisdom is introduced as a person, and represented as standing in the most conspicuous and frequented places of the city, and proclaiming to men those great precepts of truth, religion, and virtue, by which they may rise from the vanities of the world to life and immortality.

Verse 10. Receive my instruction, and not silver;] That is, receive it in preference to silver. 14.-1 have strength.] I inspire men with courage to persist in good resolutions.

22. The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,] When He first exerted Himself in the work of creation.

31.-my delights were with the sons of men.] Beholding them made in the image of God, and after His likeness, and capable of holding converse with me.

CHAP. IX.

Verse 1. Wisdom hath builded her house, &c.] Wisdom is here represented as an illustrious person inviting all misguided souls to her stately palace, and promising to them the most delicious enter

tainment, if they will forsake their follies. By this notion of a feast the sacred writers are wont to express the high satisfaction and pleasure, with which the principles of virtue and wisdom fill the hearts of men when they have a true relish for them.

7. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame :] He who performs the charitable office of reproving those who deride religion, and scoff at all good admonition, not only loses his labour, but will probably be requited with reproaches.

12. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: &c.] If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for the good of thyself; but if thou scornest religion, thou alone shalt bear the punishment.

17. Stolen waters are sweet,] Forbidden pleasures are sweet when enjoyed in secret.

18.-he knoweth not that the dead are there;] He considers not that she invites him to his utter ruin, and sinks down all those who accept of her invitation to destruction.

CHAP. X.

Verse 6.-violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. His own wickedness shall violently overwhelm the wicked.

9.-he that perverteth his ways shall be known.] The wickedness of him that pursues evil courses shall be discovered; if not in this world, yet certainly in the next.

10. He that winketh with the eye causeth sor. row:] The double dealing and dissembling person causes sorrow at the last, both to himself and to those who have been deceived by him.

11. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life:] The discourse of a good man is always profitable and refreshing.

12.-love covereth all sins.] Love induces men to overlook great offences.

19. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin:] There are so many ways of sining against God or man, by profanations, falsehoods, slanders, &c. that he who does not carefully restrain his tongue, can hardly fail of offending,

24. The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: The evil which the wicked fears shall come upon him.

CHAP. XI.

Verse 7. When a wicked man dieth, his expec tation shall perish:] As all the hopes and expectations of the wicked are confined to this life, they must of course come to an end at death.

21. Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunishell:] Though the wicked man endeavour to strengthen himself by engaging others on his side, and entering into powerful

leagues, he shall not be able to escape punishment. 22. As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, &c.] That is, beauty in a woman who is without virtue and discretion, is as much misplaced, as a jewel would be in a swine's snout.

24. There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth;] Meaning, that he who distributeth in charity, and giveth liberally on proper occasions, shall be recompensed with God's blessing.

26. He that withholdeth corn,] He that hoardeth it up in time of scarcity, on purpose to raise the price.

29. He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the wind:] He that troubleth his own house or family, or whatever else he holds under his authority, by making dissensions therein, "shall inherit the wind," shall be deceived as to any advantage he may expect thereby, and gain nothing; and the fool of this description shall be, as is often found by experience, "servant to the wise of heart," who manages his affairs after a prudent manner.

30. he that winneth souls] Reclaims sinners from their evil ways.

CHAP. XII.

Verse 4.-is as rottenness in his bones.] The wife, who causes shame to her husband, is an incurable grief and vexation to him, consuming him like an inward distemper.

10.-the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.] A strong way of expressing that they have no

mercy.

12. The wicked desireth the net of evil men: :1 Desires to employ those unjust means, which evil men use to their worldly advantage.

14. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: He shall reap great advantage, by giving good advice to others. "The fruit of his mouth" is the goodness which proceeds from it.

16. A fool's wrath is presently known: &c.] A fool shews his anger in a hasty and improper manner; but a prudent man is slow to notice what may be meant as an affront.

19.-a lying tongue is but for a moment.] A liar is soon detected.

23. A prudent man concealeth knowledge:] Is not forward to make a display of his knowledge.

27. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: &c.] For want of exertion he loses even the fruit of his former labours; but the diligent sets a just value on it, and turns it to its proper use.

CHAP. XIII.

Verse 2.-A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth:] He that speaks well of others, and

Verse 1.-buildeth her house:] That is, attends to its concerns, and advances the welfare of her family.

3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride:] The tongue of a fool is a scourge by which his own pride is punished.

4. Where no oxen are the crib is clean:] Where there is no agriculture the barn is empty.

10. The heart knoweth his own bitterness; &c.] Every man is best acquainted with his own secret sorrows; and likewise may have hidden occasions of joy, which cannot be judged of by others.

13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful;] Is sometimes sorrowful. Outward mirth is not always a proof of inward peace and joy.

14. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways:] He that willingly falls from his former good purposes, shall suffer the punishment of his wicked courses.

23.-the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.} He that spends his time in idle talk, and does nothing, will be certain to come to poverty.

24. The crown of the wise is their riches: &c.} Riches are a great advantage and ornament to a wise and good man, who knows how to use them; but such is the folly of wicked men, that their wealth serves only to render their folly more conspicuous.

29. he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.] Exposes his own folly, and makes it apparent to every one.

34.-sin is a reproach to any people.] Brings down calamities and misery upon them.

CHAP. XV.

Verse 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, &c.] A continual sense of the Divine presence is the best and only true restraint from vice, the strongest and most encouraging motive to virtue.

4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of lite: &c.} A tongue which imparts sound advice, or pacifies anger, is a great blessing; but an evil tongue is as injurious as a blasting wind.

11. Hell and destruction are before the Lord:] Even the grave and the lowest depths of the earth, lie open to the eyes of the Lord,

7. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, &c.] The sense is, It is better to have peace without plenty, than plenty without peace. "A dinner of herbs" signifies the meanest fare; "a stalled," of fatted, " ox" a rich repast.

19. The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns:] That is, full of difficulties and obstructions to impede his progress.

23. A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth:] It is a great pleasure to a man to give wholesome counsel, and to see the good success of it.

24. The way of life is above to the wise,] The wise has his affections and conversation above, God is in all his thoughts.

25.-will establish the border of the widow.] That is, preserve her right.

27.-that hateth gifts] Meaning bribes and all unlawful gains.

28. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: &c.] A good man does not speak without consideration: but bad men are rash and forward to utter their mind.

30.-a good report maketh the bones fat.] A good reputation creates inward satisfaction. 31.-the reproof of life] Salutary reproof.

CHAP. XVI.

Verse 2. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; &c.] Men are apt to think well of their own actions, and justify themselves; but the Lord examineth the inward disposition, the soul and spirit of a man.

4. The Lord hath made all things for himself: &c.] This verse should rather be translated "God hath ordained every thing to that which is fit to it, and the wicked hath he ordained for the day of evil;" that is, The wisdom of God hath fitted one thing to another, punishment to sin, the evil day to the evil doer.

11.-all the weights of the bag are his work.] That is, God requires exact justice in all our dealings, and therefore it is our duty to take care that the weights and balance be just.

15.-his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.] As a cloud producing the grateful rain of spring. See note on Deut. xi. 14.

Pride goeth before destruction,] Leadeth to destruction.

21.-the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.) Eloquence or a pleasant manner of speaking sets

Verse 1.-an house, full of sacrifices] That is, of good provision.

8. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; &c.] Bribes seldom fail to win the favour of those to whom they are offered, and to influence the event of all causes.

9. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love;] He that overlooks an offence done to him, goes the way to preserve friendship.

11.

•—a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.] Meaning he shall be severely punished.

14. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water:] When passion is let loose, its evil effects cannot be foreseen or checked; it rages like a torrent that has burst its banks and cannot easily be stopt again.

16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom,] A wealthy fool in vain hopes by means of his riches to purchase wisdom, since he has not a heart that is capable of it.

19. he that exalteth his gate] Is proud or insolent.

24.-the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.] Continually wandering and gazing about.

CHAP. XVIII.

Verse 1. Through desire a man, having separated himself, &c.] He that in a fervent desire of knowledge has set himself apart to its continual study, labours to inform himself in all parts of wisdom.

4. The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters,] This expresses the depth, the abundance, the clearness, and the force of the counsels of the wise.

6. his mouth calleth for strokes.] He increases a difference which may arise between others, till from words they come to blows.

8. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, &c.] To the reputation of him he slanders, and they sink deep into the mind of those they are spoken to.

CCG

9.-is brother to him that is a great waster.] Is little better than him that is a great spender.

14. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; &c.] A resolute spirit is able to bear up against afflictions; but if the spirit itself be dejected, what means has the man of any longer sustaining himself?

16. A man's gift maketh room for him,] Opens a way for him, and procures him admittance before great men. See note on Gen. xxi. 27.

17. He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; &c.] He that is first in telling his own cause, seems to have justice on his side; but his neighbour cometh and examines what was said by him, and then shews the falsity of it.

18. The lot causeth contentions to cease,] In some difficult cases, the casting of lots is an equal way of determining the controversy, and of putting each party in quiet possession of that which falls to his share.

21.-they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.] They who talk much shall suffer by it.

2. he that hasteth with his feet] That is, hurries on without thought; acts without consideration.

3. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: &c.] Leads him into wrong courses, or frustrates his attempts; and then he murmurs against Providence for the distresses to which his own folly brings him.

7. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: &c.] Even they who are nearest to him in blood slight or desert him: much more they who had no tie but fii 'ndship.

10. Delight is not seemly for a fool;] It is not fit that he should have his own way, and do his own pleasure.

13. the contentions of a wife are a' continual dropping.] The meaning is, that it is worse to live with a quarrelsome wife, than in a ruinous house, through which the rain is continually dropping.

16. he that despiseth his ways] Cares not in how disorderly a manner he lives.

21. There are many devices in a man's heart ; &c.] Whatever man may purpose, it is God's will only that shall come to pass.

22. The desire of a man is his kindness:] The meaning perhaps is, Kindness makes a man desirable and sought after. Or, There is nothing more desirable for a man than to have wherewithal to be kind to others.

25.

Smite a scorner, and the simple will be

ware:] Punish severely a derider of religion; if it do him no good, his example will be a warning to others.

28.-the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.} He feeds greedily upon it, and, as it were, makes it his food.

CHAP. XX.

Verse 1, Wine is a mocker,] Excess of wine beguiles a man of his senses, and incites him to wickedness and violence.

2.-sinneth against his own soul.] Incurs the danger of death.

10. Divers weights,-are-abomination &c.] A fraudulent diversity of weights and measures, is abominable unto the Lord.

13.-open thine eyes,] Arise betimes in the morning and be diligent.

14. It is naught,-saith the buyer:] The buyer tries to overreach the seller, by disparaging his goods: but when he has obtained them at his own price, he boasts of having tricked him.

16. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: &c.] Take a garment (the utmost security you can) from him who is so inconsiderate as to become surety for an utter stranger; and also take a present pledge of him who has the folly to become surety for an infamous woman.

17. Bread of deceit] By this may be understood all things wrongfully obtained, which, however they may please in the beginning, will bring sorrow and pain in the end.

21. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; That is, by unjust means.

25. It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, &c.] It is a sin to convert to a profane use, what has once been consecrated to God; and for a man, after having made a vow, to seek to be released from the performance of it.

26.-bringeth the wheel over them.] A metaphor, to express the punishment of the wicked, taken from the custom of threshing corn by means of a wheel drawn over it by oxen,

27. The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, &c. The soul of man is a divine light within him, searching into his most secret thoughts.

30. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil:] He who has received severe correction for bis crimes, will probably be cured of them.

CHAP. XXI.

Verse 1. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water:] As men turn the water of rivers unto what part of their ground they will, by means of trenches, so God diverts all men, even kings, when He pleases, from carrying ou what they once intended, or inclines them to what they once resolved against.

4.-the plowing of the wicked,] Their designs and contrivances.

12. The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked:] The just magistrate makes a prudent but strict inquiry into the actions of a wicked man's family.

28.-the man that heareth speaketh constantly.] The meaning, perhaps, is, he that testifies nothing but what he has heard or seen, never varies from what he first gives in evidence.

29. A wicked man hardeneth his face: He hardens his face against shame, laughs at correction, and impudently defends the evil he has done.

30. There is no wisdom-against the Lord.] Wisdom, counsel, &c. avail nothing when they oppose the counsels and decrees of Heaven.

CHAP. XXII.

Verse 2. The rich and the poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.] The meaning is, the rich and poor are mingled, or rather associated together, as members of the same community; under very different circumstances indeed, as to their outward appearance and condition, but with a manifest equality, as to their nature and origin; "the Lord is maker of them all."

13. The slothful man saith, &c.]. He feigns idle excuses, and pretences of danger, when he ought to be employed on his business.

22.-in the gate:] The gate of the city where publick justice was administered.

29. he shall stand before kings;] He shall soon be preferred to the service of great men.

CHAP. XXIII.

Verse 2.-put a knife to thy throat, &c.] Be careful by all means to restrain thy wanton appetite.

4. Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.] Do not too eagerly strive to be rich; and follow not thy own worldly wisdom, which suggests to thee wrong ways to the hasty acquirement of wealth.

5.-upon that which is not?] That is, upon riches, which are vain and uncertain.

6-8. Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, &c.] Court not the acquaintance of a malicious person; whatever kindness he may shew thee will be dearly paid for, and all thy friendly language will be lost on him.

10.-enter not into the fields of the fatherless:] Invade not the estates of the fatherless.

18. For surely there is an end;]. The meaning is, either, the time will come when the prosperity of sinners shall come to an end, or when thy piety shall be rewarded.

Verse 3.-an house builded; That is, a family advanced.

7.-he openeth not his mouth in the gate.] He never becomes qualified to sit as judge or magistrate in a court of justice.

9.-the scorner is an abomination to men.] Solomon frequently exhorts us not to be scorners or scoffers in religion. Such persons he considers as the worst sort of sinners, as incurable fools and reprobates.

11-12. If thou forbear to deliver &c.] The sum of the instruction conveyed in these verses, is that every man is bound to use the utmost of his power, by all lawful means, to help those to right that suffer wrong.

13. My son, eat thou honey, &c.] The meaning is, hearken to my instructions, and let them be as sweet to thee, as honey to thy mouth.

18.-and he turn away his wrath from him.] Lest God turn away His wrath from the wicked man, and transfer it on thee.

21.-and meddle not with them that are given to change:] Have nothing to do with those whose discontent with the present state of things, or continual love of novelty, makes them desire a change of government, and depart from their duty both to God and man.

22.-and who knoweth the ruin of them both ?] What vengeance God and the King may take, both of them that first move rebellion, and also of those that afterwards assist them.

26. Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.] Every good man shall applaud and bless the mouth of him that giveth an upright sentence in judgment.

27. Prepare thy work without, &c.] Get thy estate in good order, and then go, build thy house.

CHAP. XXV.

Verse 2. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing:] Not to make known all the reasons of His providence, or of His decrees and judgments.

9. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:] If there be