Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3:1

My son. God speaks, or the master instructs his disciple, ver. 21. (Calmet) — We must remember and love instruction, and reduce it to practice. (Worthington)

Proverbs 3:2

Peace. These prefigured more substantial blessings. (Calmet)

Proverbs 3:3

Truth. Be kind and faithful to all, Genesis xxiv. 27., and Psalm xxiv. 10.

Proverbs 3:4

Good. Septuagint, “forecast good before the Lord and men.” St. Paul seems to allude to this version, Romans xii. 17., and 2 Corinthians viii. 22. (Haydock)

Proverbs 3:5

All. God will have nothing by halves. — Lean not. By pride, 2 Corinthians xii. 13. All must be referred to God. (Calmet) — In him we may safely trust. (Worthington)

Proverbs 3:8

Bones. Thou shalt enjoy perfect health.

Proverbs 3:9

Fruits. Septuagint add, “of justice;” to intimate that no presents will be acceptable, which have been unjustly acquired.

Proverbs 3:11

Him. Correction is rather a proof of love than of anger, Psalm iii. 19. (Calmet) — God thus shews that he approves of his servants; and therefore his other promises, which seem of a temporal nature, must be understood with reference to the next life. (Worthington)

Proverbs 3:12

And as. Septuagint, “but he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth,” as St. Paul quotes this passage, Hebrews xii. 6. The verb is now wanting in Hebrew, or ceab; “as a father” may signify " scourgeth, in piel, (Menochius) with i prefixed. (Calmet)

Proverbs 3:15

Riches. Hebrew peninim, (Haydock) “pearls,” Job xxviii. 18. (Calmet)

Proverbs 3:16

Glory. Her hands are full, and she grants favours with profusion, (Haydock) as with both hands, promising eternal life. (Worthington)

Proverbs 3:18

Life. Like that planted in paradise, Genesis ii. 9.

Proverbs 3:19

Wisdom. Hitherto he had spoken of that virtue. Now he treats of the uncreated wisdom, (Calmet) which is God the Son. (Menochius) (Jansenius) (St. Gregory, Mor. xii. 4.)

Proverbs 3:20

Out. The higher and lower waters being divided, (Calmet) or the channels formed to receive the waters. (Piscator) — It may also speak of the deluge. (Ven. Bede) — With. Hebrew, “have distilled dew.” This is so copious, as to resemble rain in Palestine, Judges vi. 37., and 2 Kings xvii. 12.

Proverbs 3:21

CHAPTER III.

Proverbs 3:22

Mouth. There have been wise and virtuous men afflicted, ver. 11. But they have borne all with patience, and have merited a more glorious reward than what this earth could afford. (Calmet)

Proverbs 3:27

Able. Protestants, “withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.” Relieve the distressed. (Haydock) — They have a title to that wealth, since those who possess it are bound to relieve the indigent. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “refrain not from doing good,” &c. (Haydock)

Proverbs 3:28

Present. Alms in season are doubly valuable. (Worthington) — Antigonus acquired the title of Greek: Doson, “about to give,” as he never gave, (Plutarch) but only promised.

Proverbs 3:30

Cause. We may defend ourselves; but herein great discretion is necessary. (Calmet) — Cum pari contendere anceps est: cum superiore furiosum; cum inferiore sordidum. (Seneca, Prov.)

Proverbs 3:31

Ways. Of injustice. Seek not to attain his prosperity by the same means. (Calmet)

Proverbs 3:33

Want. Hebrew, “a curse.” — Shall be. Hebrew, “he blesseth.” (Haydock)

Proverbs 3:34

Scorners. Literally, “he will delude the scorners.” (Haydock) — He will treat them as they would treat others, Psalm xvii. 27. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “the Lord resisteth the proud,” &c. So the apostles quote this passage, 1 Peter v. 5., and James iv. 6. (Haydock)

Proverbs 3:35

Disgrace. They are seen by more, and their fall is more dangerous. (Calmet) — “A fool extols what is ignominious.” (Pagnin) (Haydock)