V. 17. ·and Bread eaten in fecret is pleasant. :Dy) Dano bnbi] Rather --- AND THE BREAD OF CONCEALMENT (or, THE BREAD WITHHOLDEN) IS PLEASANT; i. e. " the Bread procured by clan"destine and indirect Means;" anfwerable to THE STOLEN WATERS of the preceding Hemiftic. The Meaning of this Adage, couched under two fimilar Phrases, is but too obvious, confidering from whose Mouth it iffues. V. 18. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; — - ולא ידע כי .explained, Job. XXVI רפאים See the Word [רפאים שם CHAP. X. 5. V.1. The Proverbs of Solomon.php] Thefe detached Words are I imagine a Mafforetical Glofs, fuch as we have seen, Job XXXI, 40. and Pf. LXXII. 20. They were probably placed in the Margin originally by the latter Jews, to denote fome particular Division of this Book. Our old Verfions properly confider them as a Title, and diftinguish them by capital Letters. This, however, is certain, that no old Verfion, except the Targum, acknowledges them. V.3. but he cafteth away the Subftance of the wicked. Dy I BUT HE DRIVETH OFF THE MISCHIEF OF THE Rather [יהדף : WICKED, i. e. "from the righteous," juft mentioned; or, HE THRUSTETH AWAY (viz. from himself) THE DEPRAVITY OF THE WICKED. The Sense our Verfion gives n feems very appofite: but there is no Authority for it. Rather [כף רמיה V. 4. He becometh poor that dealeth with a flack Hand: wy 87 THE DECEITFUL (or, THE SLOTHFUL) HAND MAKETH POOR; as in the old Verfion, and as the Antithefis in the next Claufe points out. [ יכסה חמס: ופי רשעים V. 6. -but Violence covereth the Mouth of the wicked. Dye $1 : Don'] Rather BUT THE MOUTH OF BUT THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED CLOKETH (or, EXTENUATETH) VIOLENCE; as V. 12. Ch. XXVIII. 13. Or, PASSETH it BY, and buries it in Oblivion, as Ch. XVII. 9. The 11th Verfe countenances this Construction. לבט [ואויל שפתים לבט: .but a prating fool Jball fall occurs only here and Hof. IV. 14. but the Arabic Verb L, in terram conjecit, confirms this Senfe. V. 9. but be that perverteth his Ways fhall be known. Rather [דרכיו יודע : [עצבת V. 10. He that winketh with his Eye caufeth Sorrow : — ¡♫ pye pomys may] Rather, I think - HE THAT WINKETH WITH HIS EYE SHALL BE PUT TO SORROW. This Proverb is explained by Ch. VI. 13, 14, 15. where the fame Expreffion occurs, and it is added that he meditates Mischief, though he feems to confent by the Motion of his Eyes, and other fignificative Gestures. I conftrue in as the Participle Hopbal; (as Lev. XI. 38. Numb. XXVI. 54, &c.) because the Parallelifm of the next Verse seems to require it. The Copulative Particle which follows ought to be rendered, AND. [מחתה קרבה: ופי אויל V. 14. but the Mouth of the foolish is near Destruction.. D :nap nnna] Rather BUT THE MOUTH OF THE FOOLISH PRODUCETH DESTRUCTION: for p is here a Verb in Pibel, and is thus rendered, Ifai. XLI. 21. See also Pf. LXV. 4. But as D is of the Masculine Gender, I would remove the from p to the Beginning of the next Word; where, though it already begins with that Letter, there is no Objection against receiving it: for the articular is prefixed to all Sorts of Words, except Proper Names, Pronouns of the first and second Perfon, and undeclinables. V. 15. The rich Man's Wealth is his ftrong City: the Destruction of : הון עשיר קרית עזו - מחתת דלים רישם: .the poor is their Poverty עז ומחתת I read here with the LXX, Syriac, and Arabic Verfions -DIY and render --- THE RICH MAN'S WEALTH IS A STRONG CITY: BUT THE DREAD OF THE POOR is THEIR POVERTY. V. 17. He is in the Way of Life that keepeth Inftruction: but be that [ארח לחיים שומר מוסר - ועזב תוכחת מתעה : .refufetb Reproof erreth Rather THE WAY OF LIFE KEEPETH INSTRUCTION: BUT THAT WHICH REJECTETH REPROOF, CAUSETH TO ERR. V. 18. He that bideth Hatred with lying Lips, and he that uttereth מכסה שנאה שפתי שקר - ומוציא דבה הוא כסיל : .a Slander, is a Fool Rather, in two Hemiftics, with all the ancient Versions — LYING LIPS are THE TRIBUTE OF HATRED &c. thus is rendered, Numb. XXXI. 28, 38. The Meaning feems to be, that a Person hated is often falfely afperfed in his Reputation. V. 20. - the Heart of the wicked is little worth. : bwvun ab] ➡ AS A LITTLE, or THE LEAST, THING. fignifies literally כמעט V. 21. The Lips of the righteous feed many : —' 17' p’TY INDV] Rather, I think --- THE LIPS OF THE RIGHTEOUS DO GOOD TO MANY; for the Verby has that Sense both in Chaldee and Syriac. V. 22. The Bleffing of the Lord, it maketh rich: '7 −10' 0792 wyn] Rather is THAT WHICH MAKETH RICH. So alfo V.24. [תעשיר V. 25. j Ratherעולם: - but the righteous is an everlafting Foundation. 71D' PT3? BUT TO THE RIGHTEOUS is &c. Or, if we read D', with the LXX and Arabic, thus BUT THE RIGHTEOUS IS ESTABLISHED FOR EVER. V. 32. The Lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the שפתי צדיק ידעון רצון - ופי .Mouth of the wicked fpeaketh Frowardnes :Пiban b’vw] It is not improbable that the fecond has dropped from my, for the Senfe requires that it should be in Hiphil. In that Cafe the Verfe would run thus --- THE LIPS OF THE RIGHTEOUS DECLARE WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE; BUT THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED, FROWARDNESS. All the old Verfions feem to read ידיעון CHAP. XI. הולך רכיל מגלה סוד V. 13. A Talebearer revealeth Secrets: gy 957179] A TALEBEARER WALKETH ABOUT REVEALING A Rather SECRET. V. 15. He that is Surety for a Stranger shall smart for it: and he that bateth Suretifhip is fure.] This latter Claufe, viz. Dypın xɔWI nought doubtlefs to be rendered- BUT HE THAT HATETH &c. on account of the Oppofition. V. 19. As Righteousness tendeth to Life: fo he that parfueth evil כן צדקה לחיים - ומרדף רעה למותו : .purfueth it to his own Death A Verb is manifeftly wanted in this Verfe, as it appears by the Words supplied in our Verfion. But if we read instead of 15, a Particle of Comparison unnecessary in this Place, the whole will be clear, and may be thus rendered -RIGHTEOUSNESS DIRECTETH TO LIFE: BUT THE PURSUIT OF EVIL, TO DEATH. The Vulgate read fo. Ee 2 Or Or thus, according to the prefent Reading, AS RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO LIFE, SO WICKEDNESS PURSUETH UNTO DEATH. See 772, the Participle Pihel, thus used, Deut. XXVIII. 22, 45. &c. V. 20. but fuch as are upright in their Way, are his Delight. Inftead of fupplying as many Words as thofe that [ ורצונו תמימי דרך : are already in the Text, I would render fimply thus - BUT THEY THAT ARE OF AN UPRIGHT WAY, HIS DELIGHT; the Verb being understood from the preceding Hemiftic, viz. They that are of a froward Heart are an Abomination to the Lord. V. 21. Though Hand join in Hand, the wicked shall not be un is a Miftake יד ליד I fufpect that [יד ליד לא ינקה רע - : Puniflped for T, THE POSTERITY. If this Lection were admitted, the two Hemiftics would correfpond exactly thus-THE POSTERITY OF THE WICKED SHALL NOT BE UNPUNISHED: BUT THE SEED OF THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE DELIVERED. V. 25. The liberal Soul fhall be made fat: Rather THE LIBERAL MAN &c. for Soul is for Man, as Numb. IX. 10. XXXI. 19. &c. or BERAL SOUL with the Margin. נפש ברכה תדשן ufed by a Synecdoche The Man of a LI V. 31. Behold, the righteous fhall be recompenfed in the Earth: much 8 הן צדיק בארץ ישלם - אף כי רשע .more the wicked and the Sinner ought doubtlefs to be rendered אף כי The united Particles [ וחוטא: here, YEA ALSO, as Gen. III. 1. Neh. IX. 18. &c. For the Affertion that God punishes more the wicked, than He rewards the good, is not confonant with our Idea of the Supreme Being, nor founded in Fact, either under the Theocracy, or in the more general Administration of Providence. CHAP. XII. muft הפוך As [הפוך רשעים V. 7. The wicked are overthrown be either the Imperative or Infinitive, neither of which are fuitable in this Place; it is very probable that the two laft Letters have been tranfpofed; for 15 in the 2d Conj. fignifies they overthrow themfelves; which is the Senfe here wanted, and this Lection the ancient Verfions for the most part acknowledge. - V. 12. but the Root of the righteous yieldeth Fruit. Ops :] Rather- BUT THE ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS SHOOTETH FORTH, as Ezek. XXXI. 14. XXXVI. 8. V. 13. The wicked is fnared] See Ch. XXIX. 6. V. 18. but the Tongue of the wife is Health. rebil Rather -A MEDICINE, as Ch. IV. 22. V. 23. A prudent Man concealeth Knowledge: ן דעות אדם ערום כסה "Prudence requires that Knowledge thould be difplayed only "on proper Occafions; whereas the fool proclaimeth his inconfiderate Thoughts, without regard to the Circumstances of Time, Place, or "Perfons." -- V. 24. — but the flothful fall be under Tribute. : oh no no271] It is remarkable that the Verb, and it's Derivatives fignify only to deceive, Deceit, and deceitful: but in this Book, they are used three Times befides in the Senfe of Slackness, or Idleness. See Ch. X. 4. V. 27. and XIX. 15. · V. 26. The righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour: but the יתר מרעהו צדיק - ודרך רשעים .Way of the wicked Jeduceth them Eynn] There feems to be no great Connection between thefe Hemiftics in our Verfion; which is owing to the not giving it's proper Signification. It may be derived from ; or from 3: in the firft Cafe, the Hemiftic ought to be thus rendered-THE RIGHTEOUS ENDEAVOURETH TO FIND OUT HIS FRIEND: i. e. " in order to "be useful to him :" and in the latter Cafe, thus -THE RIGHTEOUS MOVETH WITH ACTIVITY ON ACCOUNT OF HIS FRIEND; i.e. for the fame benevolent Purpose; "But the wicked, unmoved by the Feelings of Humanity, and infenfible to focial Affection, continually "proceeds in the devious Path which tends to the Gratification of his "inordinate Appetite." According to the firft Conftruction here propofed, is a Subftantive with only the Affix: but, according to the latter, it has befides the Prepofition prefixed; which is thus ufed, Exod. VI. 9. Deut. VII. 7. &c. Or may be confidered in a figurative Senfe for STRETCHING BEYOND; the Metaphor being taken from a Race, to which Life is often compared; in which the Righteous, pursuing his Way ftrait forward with Vigour and Diligence, advanceth beyond others: but the Way, or Manners of the Wicked, pointing out Objects inconsistent with the main End which they ought to |