things they thinke vpon are an abomination to the Lord i. are such things as he cannot abide but the pure vz. in heart and conuersation haue pleasant words i. speake such things as are good and acceptable before God and profitable to the hearers Vers 27. He vz. of what calling or condition soeuer he be specially if he be a Magistrate that is greedie of gaine i. that gapeth after it and careth not by what meanes he come by it so he haue it see Chapt. 1.19 troubleth his owne house i. whereas he thought to get peace thereby and to inlarge his substance purchaseth trouble and many times the decrease of his familie see Chapt. 11.29 but he that hateth gifts vz. offered him to peruert iustice or to performe ill causes see precise commandements against giftes taking Exod. 23.8 Deut. 16.19 shall liue vz. well and plentifully in this life notwithstanding his refusall of the same but specially in eternall life Ver. 28. The heart of the righteous studieth to answere vz. not only when hée is demanded but also to speake for so doth the Scripture vse that word of answering see Math. 11.25 He meaneth that the good man speaketh nothing but that which he hath long meditated of before least his tongue should runne before his wit and therefore he commonly speaketh right and good things but the wicked mans mouth babbleth i. rashly and hastely powreth out euill things vz. against other and such as in the end turne to his owne hurt and destruction see verse 2. of this Chapter Vers 29. The Lord is farre of from the wicked i. from helping them or hearing their voyce for otherwise God is in euery place and nigh to all things he meaneth that God will not heare them no more than men heare them that are very farre of calling vnto them but he heareth i. graciouslie granteth the praier of the righteous i. the things that the righteous praied for see ver 8. of this chap. Also Psalme 145.18 Vers 30. The light of the eyes i. for a man to see with the eyes and to haue the vse of them reioyceth the heart vz. of a man that is maketh man and his heart glad and a good name i. good fame and report amongst men maketh the bones fat i. euen reioyceth and strengtheneth all the inward parts so haue you the word bones vsed before chapt 12.4 Also chapt 14.30 Some reade it as though it were a similitude thus as the light of the eyes reioyceth the heart so a good name maketh the bones fat i. as the eye by the beholding of good things maketh the whole man merrie so doth the eare by hearing good wholesome things of which he speaketh in the next verse following Vers 31. The eare that hearkeneth vz. diligently and attentiuely to the correction of life i. to such correction reproofe and admonition as leadeth to life shall lodge among the wise i. shall not onely dwell with them and be accounted as they are but shall haue the selfe same blessing from God that they haue both in this life and in the life to come And this he speaketh not of an outward hearing onely but of such as yéeld sincere obedience to the things heard Vers 32. He that refuseth vz. by withdrawing himselfe from it instruction vz. of good things being tendered and offered vnto him despiseth his owne soule i. maketh little account of his life specially in respect of the life to come but he that obeyeth correction getteth vnderstanding vz. how in this life to behaue himselfe towards God and man so as he may after the daies of this wearisome pilgrimage are finished come to eternall life Ver. 33. The feare of the Lord vz. rightly planted in mens hearts is the instruction of wisedome i. is such an instruction or doctrine as bringeth men to holie wisedome One in my mind readeth it better thus The instruction of wisedome goeth before the feare of the Lord i. before a man can obtaine wisedome and bee led with the reuerence of God and his feare which is the beginning of wisedome Chapt. 1.7 Also Chapt. 9.10 He must of necessitie be taught and learne the precepts of wisedome and before honor vz. from God goeth humilitie i. true and vnfeigned humbling of his children q.d. there is the same order of the fruits which come from the instruction and feare of God as is of the things themselues for to learning there is ioyned casting downe of men and humilitie and to the reuerence and feare of God there is ioyned excellent honor which God bestoweth vpon them that feare him Do. Vers 1. Teacheth vs to auoide bitter wordes and to vse soft and gentle speaches Vers 2. Sheweth what great difference there is between the words of the wise and the words of the foolish Vers 3. Teacheth vs that GOD knoweth and seeth all things euery where Vers 4. Teacheth vs what profites and disprofites arise of a good and of an euill tongue Vers 5. Teacheth vs reuerently to regard good counsell Vers 6. Teacheth vs that the good haue plentie of blessings and enioy them with quietnes whereas the wicked haue great trouble and vexation with the same Vers 7. Teacheth vs to vse knowledge in our callings to the benefite and good of others Vers 8. Teacheth vs that nothing proceeding from a wicked person can please the Lord also that God in Christ regardeth the praiers of his seruants Vers 9. Setteth out the great loue of God towards his seruants and his disliking of the wicked Vers 10. Teacheth vs that malicious wicked persons will seldome or neuer regarde good counsell also what danger there is in contemning the words of godly admonition Vers 11. Teacheth vs that GOD knoweth all things yea euen the very depths of mens hearts Vers 12. Teacheth vs that wicked men shunne the companie and speach of good men Vers 13. Declareth the profits and disprofits of a glad and sorrowfull heart Vers 14. Teacheth vs that we must carefully and continually seeke for wisdome Vers 15. Setteth out the commodities of a good conscience and contented minde Vers 16. Teacheth vs that mans blessing consisteth not speciallie in the multitude of his riches Vers 17. Commendeth vnfeined loue and dispraiseth hatred Vers 18. Teacheth vs to bridle wrath and to beate downe contentions amongst men what we may Vers 19. Teacheth vs to auoide slothfulnes and idlenes Vers 20. Sheweth what benefit or blessing it is to haue good children and on the other side what a punishment it is to haue wicked children Vers 21. Teacheth vs that the wicked reioyce in sinne and that there is no godlie conuersation indeede without the light of Gods holy word Ver. 22. Teacheth vs to pursue good thoughts by good counsell and to labor to bring them to good effect Vers 23. Teacheth vs that we may reioyce in Gods gifts bestowed vpon vs also that in our speaches we should haue regarde of time place persons c. Vers 24. Teacheth vs to studie and seeke
of that griefe and sorowe which seaseth and possesseth many times a mans heart the mind vz. of a man is heauie i. is made or become heauie and sad some reade and the Hebrue text also seemeth to import so much the spirit is broken i. the man sigheth often and draweth his breath very hard q.d. his life is almost at an end Vers 14. The heart of him i. he himselfe a part for the whole and yet he speaketh of the heart because if the heart or minde bée not set vpon it wee shall hardly obtaine it that hath vnderstanding i. that through Gods goodnes hath obtained some measure of it seeketh vz. carefully and diligently knowledge i. increase of knowledge q.d. he hath care to bee euery day more skilfull than other but the mouth of the foole i. the foole himselfe and yet because meate is first receiued into the mouth before it go into the stomacke and so become nutritiue he maketh mention of it is fed vz. continually meaning that the foole taketh as great delight in the same as in all manner of dainties with foolishnes i. with his owne follie and other mens also who frame themselues to his humour Vers 15. All the daies vz. of the life of a man from the time his affliction and griefe beginneth till it haue an end of the afflicted i. of any which is afflicted troubled in minde because his state and condition in this life is no better meaning it of a poore man that is not content with his owne portion as may appeare by the verses following are euill i. grieuous tedious and bitter specially to flesh and bloud but a good conscience i. he that hath in himself peace towards God quietnes before men and contentednes in his owne soule is a continuall feast i. bréedeth as great pleasure and delight to him that hath it as if he were daylie fed with most fine dainties Vers 16. Better is a little vz. which a man hath of his owne through Gods blessing with the feare of the Lord i. hauing a reuerence of Gods Maiestie in his heart both quieting his minde and teaching him the right vse of it than great treasure vz. howsoeuer it be obtained and trouble therwith vz. to the owner thereof and in his minde which wauereth and is vnquiet either for the sure kéeping of it or for the sodaine forgoing of it Vers 17. Better is a dinner of greene hearbes i. a very meane slender dinner where loue is vz. towards the parties bidden and among the parties themselues because there all things shall bee well accepted than a stalled oxe vz. prepared for a dinner or banquet meaning also thereby a most sumptuous feast and hatred therewith i. an euill affection either towards the parties bidden or one of them towards another Vers 18. An angrie man i. one giuen much to anger stirreth vp strife vz. in euery companie wheresoeuer he commeth yea many times amongst them where there is great peace and quietnes see Chap. 29.22 but he that is slowe to wrath i. will hardly or not at all be moued thereto see Chapt. 14.29 appeaseth vz. by all the meanes he can he indeuoureth to quiet and pacifie strife vz. kindled and stirred vp before so farre off is he from prouoking men thereto Vers 19. The way i. the order and course of his life of a slothfull man i. of him that sluggishly and slothfully goeth about his duetie is as an hedge of thornes i. is so slow and hard as if it were all beset with thornes briers meaning that so it seemeth also vnto himselfe and therefore he euer findeth some let or stay that he dare not go forward see Chapt. 26.13 but the way of the righteous i. the order and course of life which he taketh is plaine i. most easie and commodious so that he findeth nothing to hinder him to walke on chearefully therein Vers 20. A wise sonne reioyceth the father i. maketh the father to reioyce and be glad see Chap. 10.1 but a foolish man i. a wicked disobedient and vngodlie child despiseth i. setteth little by or regardeth not at all his mother i. neither her person nor any good thing that commeth from her Vers 21. Foolishnes i. wickednes and sinne is ioye i. is a matter of mirth and delight to him that is destitute of vnderstanding i. to a wicked and vngodly man which knoweth nothing of heauenly wisedome I take it to be the same almost that is sayd Chapt. 14.9 24. but a man of vnderstanding i. a godly and wise man walketh vprightly i. ordereth all his actions and frameth his manners to that which is good and right neuer straying from the right way Vers 22. Without counsell i. without right holie and good counsell thoughts i. all things thought vpon and deuised come to nought i. to no effect and purpose q d. it is not enough to thinke vpon things but there must be counsell taken how to performe the same but in the multitude of counsellers i. of good and faithfull counsellers there is stedfastnes vz. both of purpose and performance if the thing bee good see Prouerb 11.14 Vers 23. A ioye commeth to a man i. there is a man which hath great and singular ioy by the answer of his mouth i. by the words and speaches which he vttereth with his mouth whether he answer things demanded or speake otherwise q.d. when a man speaketh wisely to any person in any place he hath great occasion and matter of ioye giuen him and how good q.d. it is a hard thing to expresse how swéete and profitable so haue you the word good vsed Psalme 133.1 is a word vz. spoken or vttered in due season i. in fit and conuenient time see Psalm 1.3 Al is as much q.d. a wise man is much refreshed and greatly reioyceth when hée seeth his counselles to fall well out and things to come to passe as he said Vers 24. The way of life i. the way that leadeth vnto life yea the very true life it selfe is on high to the prudent i. is in heauen and therefore he thinketh of heauenly things and tendeth thetherward Philip. 3.20 Coloss 3.2 to auoide i. that walking in the same he may auoid from hel beneath i. both from death and destruction which the desire of earthly things bringeth with it and also from the place of eternall torment Vers 25. The Lord vz. himselfe in his iust iudgement will destroy vz. vtterly and as it were pull vp by the rootes the house of the proud men i. them themselues their seede rase substance and whatsoeuer belongeth vnto them for so large I take the signification of the word house to be but he will establish vz. firme and sure the borders of the widdowe i. all that doth appertaine to the poore and abiect persons as it were He setteth against proud persons poore widdowes then who none are commonly more iniured amongst men Vers 26. The thoughts of the wicked i. wicked mens thoughts and the
but for all their scorning and cunning speaches iudgements i. punishments and the plurall number noteth the variety and multitude of them are prepared i. not onely appoynted but euen in a readynes to be executed eyther by the Magistrate or els by the Lord himselfe eyther in this life or in the life to come or both for the scorners i. for such as scorne at God and all goodnes and stripes for the back of fooles hee meaneth that which hee spake before expressing it vnder other termes vnderstanding hereby not onely bodily punishments in this life but also eternal in the life to come Do. Vers 1. Teacheth vs that the godlie poore estate is not the worst also Do. that we should not giue our lippes leaue to runne at randome Vers 2. Teacheth vs that sounde knowledge is the informer of the minde also that we should bridle the partes and members of our bodies from wickednes Vers 3. Teacheth vs that lacke of sound iudgement is the very mother of all the corruptions which we commit against God or man Verse 4. Teacheth vs that wee should not regarde a man for his riches onely nor despise him for his pouertie but respect rather his good or his euill dealing towards God and men Vers 5. Teacheth vs to abhorre false witnes bearing and and lying Vers 6. Teacheth vs rightly to esteeme great personages and to practise liberalitie as a vertue which doth much commend vs to GOD and men Vers 7. Teacheth vs that pouertie dooth many times estrange the hearts of frends and kinsfolkes from such as fall into it Vers 8. Teacheth vs that heauenlie wisdome is the meane to preserue vs both in this life and in the life to come Vers 9. Teacheth vs to flee from false witnes bearing and lying Ver. 10. Teacheth vs that things vncomely are not to be allowed of Ver. 11. Teacheth vs to bridle the rage of our angrie affections and to be readie to forgiue offences committed against vs. Vers 12. Sheweth what great difference there is betweene the grace and displeasure of Princes and mightie men Vers 13. Setteth out the miseries that come by euill children and wicked wiues Vers 14. Sheweth what a great blessing and that from the Lorde a good wife is Vers 15. Teacheth vs to auoide idlenes on the one side and deceit on the other side Vers 16. Setteth out the good that commeth by obedience of Gods lawe and the miserie that insueth vpon carelesnesse of holie conuersation Vers 17. Teacheth vs pittie and liberalitie towards the poore Vers 18. Teacheth parents to giue moderate and due correction to their offending children or seruants Vers 19. Setteth out the great miserie that commeth by giuing our anger the reynes Vers 20. Teacheth vs alwaies to receaue good counsell Vers 21. Sheweth as the varietie of mans minde and the inconstancie of all his deuices so the assurednes of the Lordes purposes Verse 22. Teacheth vs that this is the especiall marke wee shoulde shoote at in this life euen goodnes and wel doing and neuer to refuse a man for his pouertie but for his lying Vers 23. Setteth out the effectes and fruites of the feare of God Vers 24. Teacheth vs to shunne idlenes Vers 25. Teacheth vs that reproofes can neuer be vttered in vaine but that it shall doo good though perhappes not to the partie reprooued yet to others which are by Vers 26. Teacheth men to auoide all vnnaturalnes towards their parents Vers 27. Teacheth vs not to giue eare towards that will prouoke to sinne Vers 28. Doth liuelie painte out the nature of the wicked and vngodlie Vers 29. Teacheth vs that they shall not escape vnpunished for the same CHAP. 20. Co. IN the other Chapter and last end thereof he taught men for feare of punishment to take heede how they gaue themselues ouer to any wickednes and namelie to false witnes bearing And now in the beginning of this Chapter hee willeth them for the inconuenience that may insue thereof to beware of dronkennes and the meanes of that vice and so proceedeth to deliuer other doctrines and exhortations Di. Di. 1 THe Chapter may be diuided into three parts The first reacheth from vers 1. to the end of the 10. Wherein he intreateth of dronkennes of a kings wrath of contention of idlenes of the depth of mans heart of boasting of fond dealing of a good King and his duetie of naturall corruption and of false weights and measures The second reacheth from verse 11. to Di. 2 the end of the 20. wherein he speaketh of good or euill workes of the right vse of the eye and eare of sleeping or idlenes of craft and deceit of the excellencie of knowledge of sureties and their estate of aduice or counsell of slandering and flatterie of vnnaturalnes towards parents The third reacheth Di. 3 from verse 1. to the end of the Chapter wherein he speaketh of ill gotten goods of patience of false weights of Gods prouidence of the right vse of holie things of a good King or Prince of the power and force of Gods word of mercie and iustice the two props of all kingdomes of yong men and old persons and of corrections Se. Vers 1. WIne vz. taken and receiued immoderatly is a mocker i. a deceiuer of him that so vseth it for where as he vainely supposed that it was swéete and pleasant vnto him it is become hurtfull and strong drinke the Hebrue word importeth euery drinke that may make men dronken is raging i. it carrieth those men that excessiuely vse it into outrage and violence against others and whosoeuer vz. of what state or condition soeuer he be is deceiued thereby i. is ouertaken therewith is not wise i. sheweth thereby that he hath not as yet tasted of the heauenlie wisedome I allowe not the note in the Geneua bible which referreth it to the persons Vers 2. The feare of the King vz. being once angrie against a man meaning by feare that terror with his wrath or anger striketh into men with whom he is offended is like the roring of a lyon i. is very fearefull and terrible see Chap. 19.12 Also Chap. 16.14 he vz. how great soeuer he be that prouoketh vz. by his ill demeanour him i. the King to anger vz. against himselfe sinneth against his owne soule i. putteth his life in very great danger for the Kings wrath shall bee towards him that is lewd Chap. 14.35 Vers 3. It is a mans honor i. it is a glorious and very honorable thing for a man see Chap. 19.11 to cease vz. what in him lieth and as much as is possible from strife vz. with al other men see Rom. 12.18 but euery foole i. euery one that is foolish not rightly taught of God will be medling vz. busilie with other men and their matters which is indéede the mother and nurse of all contention Vers 4. The slothfull vz. man or person will not plow i. diligently and faithfully followe his calling for by one which is