Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10:1

Mother. A virtuous child cannot be indifferent to the joy of his parents.

Proverbs 10:2

Wickedness. Riches ill acquired, or tending to corrupt the heart, Luke xvi. 9.

Proverbs 10:3

Famine. Psalm xxxvi. 25. The prophets and Lazarus rejoice in suffering. [Luke xvi. 20.

Proverbs 10:4

Poverty. Even of those who had plenty. This is true in a spiritual sense likewise. (Calmet) — The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence. (Haydock) — Otiositas mater nugarum, noverca virtutum. (St. Bernard, consid. ii.) — He, &c. This is not in Hebrew, Greek, St. Jerome, or in several Latin copies. (Calmet) — We find it in the Septuagint, chap. ix. 13. — Away. He derives no benefits from lies. (Menochius)

Proverbs 10:5

He. Septuagint, “a son well educated shall be wise, and shall have the unwise for his servant. An intelligent son has been saved from the heat. But the wicked son is destroyed by the wind in time of harvest.” (Haydock) — A good part of this is not in the original; yet it is received by the Greeks.

Proverbs 10:6

Wicked. Or, as the Hebrew seems to indicate, “the wicked covereth iniquity, by an hypocritical exterior,” (Calmet) or, “the injury” (Mont.[Montanus?]) done to another, ( chamas. ; Haydock) “unseasonable, or infinite mourning,” Greek: penthos auron. (Septuagint)

Proverbs 10:7

Rot. Hebrew, “stink.” His reputation shall be lost, Genesis xxxiv. 20. (Calmet)

Proverbs 10:8

Lips. He will not bear correction. (Menochius) — But suffers the punishment of his own unguarded speeches; or rather the man who hath foolish lips, shall be beaten, ver. 13. (Calmet)

Proverbs 10:9

Sincerely. Or Simply, Hebrew, “in uprightness,” (Haydock) or innocence. (Menochius) — Manifest. The hypocrite shall be at last detected.

Proverbs 10:10

Sorrow. Septuagint add, “to men as well as to himself.” (Calmet) — “But he who chides boldly shall make peace,” (Haydock) or “work safety,” as the Syriac and Arabic also read, instead of Hebrew, “a prating fool shall fall.” “When a man connives at his friend’s failings,…the offender is encouraged to sin on, and to heap up matter for very sorrowful reflections; but the man, who with an honest freedom, prudently reproves him, most effectually contrives his honour and safety.” The consequences of a virtuous and a vicious friendship, seem to be also expressed in the next verse. Thus the latter hemistic generally illustrates the first. But here, part of ver. 8. may be improperly inserted. The two parts of the verses in Proverbs, &c., being arranged in distinct columns, has occasioned sometimes a part, and sometimes a whole verse, to be omitted, as the transcriber might mistake the line. (Kennicott)

Proverbs 10:11

Life. Or a never-failing spring, fons perennis, as we should speak in Latin, chap. xiii. 14., and Apocalypse vii. 17.

Proverbs 10:12

Sins. Septuagint, “all who contend.” Charity pardons all, 1 Peter iv. 8.

Proverbs 10:13

Sense. Literally, “a heart.” But the Hebrews use this expression in a different sense from what we do, and thus designate a fool, Osee vii. 11.

Proverbs 10:14

Confusion. He speaks inconsiderately, and involves himself in continual dangers, while the wise are cautious in their speech.

Proverbs 10:15

Poverty. Diffidence hinders the advancement of the poor, as presumption is too common among the rich. A happy mediocrity is best, ver. 16.

Proverbs 10:16

Life. In abundance he is not puffed up; but the wicked make use of their fruit or revenue to do evil. Their works are bad, unless they turn to God by at least an initial love of justice.

Proverbs 10:18

CHAPTER X.

Title. Solomon. This title is not found in Sixtus V or Septuagint. Hitherto the preface extends, shewing the advantages of wisdom. (Calmet) — The subsequent chapters more properly contain the parables, and are written with great elegance, so as to oppose vice to virtue. See Bain.; St. Jerome, &c. (Worthington)

Foolish. We must neither dissemble our resentment, through hypocrisy, nor manifest it without reason. (Calmet)

Proverbs 10:19

Sin. A prolix discourse on subjects of importance is not reprehended. (St. Augustine, Retrac. 1.) — But it is very difficult to speak much, without going against some virtue. (Calmet)

Proverbs 10:21

Understanding. Literally, “hear.” (Haydock) (Ver. 13.)

Proverbs 10:23

Man. He is enabled to see the evil of sin, and to avoid it, Job xv. 16.

Proverbs 10:26

Him. He spoils all their projects, (Calmet) and becomes a nuisance.

Proverbs 10:29

Evil. conscience upbraids them, and punishment is before their eyes. (Haydock) Magna vis est conscienti'e6. (Cicero, pro Mil.)

Proverbs 10:30

Earth. This the Jews frequently experienced. The more enlightened understood, that such promises regarded also eternity. (Calmet)