The Book of Proverbs Paraphrased, Part 1 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
ARGUMENT.
In this Chapter he continues to preſs obedience to the precepts of Wiſedom; from the conſideration of the Benefits that are to be reaped thereby. Which he began to ſpeak of in the foregoing Chapter (touching alſo there upon the miſchiefs on the contrary ſide) but here handles more largely; and explains it not onelyonly in general but in ſeveral particular Precepts: for inſtance, liberality to God's Miniſters, v. 9, 10. patience in adverſity, v. 11, 12. the foundation of which is an intire truſt in God and his Fidelity, who will honour thoſe that honour Him, in his Miniſters; and never deſert thoſe in their trouble, who doe good when they are in their proſperity, v. 5, 6.
After theſe things he returns to the general Exhortation, v. 13, &c. adviſing every one to learn the Doctrine delivered by God, and to be obedient; and not to be ſo fooliſh, as to prefer their own wiſedom or craft before it. To which he adds Promiſes, and Comminations; together with ſeveral Advices; which I need not note particularly, becauſe they lie plainly before their eyes who will reade the Chapter.
I ſhall onelyonly obſerve that he repreſents Wiſedom [a] (v. 16, 17, &c.) that is, Religion and Vertue, as other Authours have done (particularly Cebes in his Tables) in the ſhape of a beautifull Woman, or rather Queen; with her Arms extended, in the poſture not onelyonly of directing, but alſo of rewarding her Lovers and Followers. For ſhe holds forth in her Right hand the great bleſſings of Health, and length of days, unto all thoſe that will walk in the way to which ſhe points. And it was but juſt to place this in her Right hand, that is, to give it the precedence; becauſe it was the chief promiſe of the Law; and indeed the moſt deſirable of all earthly Bleſſings, without which nothing can be injoyed; no not our ſelves.
And then, after this, follows Wealth and Reputation; things that Mankind mightily covet; which he places in her Left hand; as inferiour Bleſſings, but that come alſo from her gift.
And as for cheerfulneſs in all conditions, there are no Pleaſures he affirms like thoſe, which wait upon her, and attend her motions. Safe and ſecure Pleaſures; which do not merely gratify us for the preſent, and then expoſe us to danger and leave us ſad afterward: but give us a peaceable poſſeſſion of perpetual joy; which never dies nor decays, but, like the Tree of Life, remains freſh for ever. This he proves v. 19, 20. and amplifies in the reſt of the Chapter.
[b] In which ſome obſerve three Proverbial Sayings: One v. 8. which ſeems to be but a metaphorical repreſentation of that firmneſs, that vigorous health, and chearfulneſs of mind, which Vertue imparts: the other in v. 12. [c] whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; which Theodoret upon XII. Hebr. 6. calls indeed foreign, a Proverbial Admonition, belonging to ſuch Parents, Guardians and Maſters, as are carefull of thoſe committed to their charge: but he names it ſo, I ſuppoſe, onelyonly becauſe he found it in the Book of the Proverbs. The laſt in v. 18. [d] Tree of Life: which ſeems to be a Proverbial Speech (uſed afterward more than once in this Book) for that which prolongs Life; and makes it very delightfull and pleaſant, as well as firm and durable: If we underſtand it of Chriſt, the wiſedom of God, (as Origen, Saint Ambroſe, Saint Auſtin and others do) or of his Doctrine, which is the ſame: it is literally true that He gives immortality, as the Tree of Life in Paradiſe would have done.
1. MY ſon, forget not my Law; but let thine heart keep my commandments.
1. LET me then again intreat thee, whoever thou art that comeſt to learn of me (who loveth thee with a Fatherly affection) not to be careleſs and negligent in the obſervance of theſe Inſtructions: but remember them, and love them, and ſet thy ſelf heartily to doe whatſoever I command thee.
2. For length of days, and long life, and peace ſhall they add to thee.
2. For this is the ſureſt way to that which all men naturally deſire, and ſeek to attain: a long Life, in firm health, vigor and ſtrength; with all manner of happineſs and proſperity, XXX. Deut. 18, 20.
3. Let not mercy and truth forſake thee: bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart.
3. Of this thou canſt not miſs, if thou wilt be ſtedfaſtly good and juſt; for the infinite bounty of God, and his faithfulneſs to his Promiſes will ſecure theſe Bleſſings to thee: therefore let my Commandments be ever before thine eyes; fix them in thy Memory, and in thy Affections, as if they were ingraven upon thy Heart; and look upon it as the greateſt ornament to be obedient to them.
4. So ſhalt thou find favour and good underſtanding in the ſight of God and man.
4. Which is as much, as if I had bidden thee acquire favour with God; and underſtand, on all occaſions, what is good for thy ſelf: ordering all thy Affairs with ſuch judgment and prudence, as to be in high eſteem with Him and with Men.
5. ¶ Truſt in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thy own underſtanding.
5. ¶ And aſſure thy ſelf there is no rule of prudence like to this, to confide in God intirely; and to depend wholly on his Providence, for good ſucceſs in well doing: not imagining that by thy own wit and policy, thou canſt contrive ſuch events as thou deſireſt, and bring about what thou deſigneſt.
6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he ſhall direct thy paths.
6. No, in all thy undertakings both private and publick, be ſenſible of his overruling Power; obſerve his Laws; and implore his favour and bleſſing: and He ſhall guide thee in thy proceedings; and bring them to an happy iſſue, as He in his Wiſedom ſees beſt for thee.
7. ¶ Be not wiſe in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
7. ¶ Never be guilty of ſuch folly, as to conceit thine own wit to be ſo great, that thou canſt manage things thereby in thine own way (neglecting the Rules that He hath preſcribed thee) to thy ſatisfaction: but have a religious regard to Him, who can either diſappoint or proſper thee, as he pleaſes; and, fearing to offend his Majeſty, avoid moſt cautiouſly thoſe practices that He hath forbidden thee.
8. It ſhall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
8. This is the way to preſerve a good habit both of Soul and Body: and in all conditions to remain undejected; nay, cheerfull and fully ſatisfied, whatſoever happens. See Arg. [b]
9. Honour the LORD with thy ſubſtance, and with the firſt-fruits of all thine increaſe.
9. As for example, there are thoſe who think it prudence to ſave all they can; though it be by robbing God Himſelf: But, if thou wilt be truly wiſe and happy, honour Him in his Miniſters, by paying them their tithes duly; and bringing oblations to his houſe at the three ſolemn Feaſts; (XXIII. Exod. 14, 15.) together with the firſt-fruits of all that thy Eſtate produces (XXII. Exod. 29, 30.) in token of thy gratitude to Him, and that all thou haſt is his, and cannot thrive without his Bleſſing.
10. So ſhall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy preſſes ſhall burſt out with new wine.
10. Which He will powr upon thee abundantly; and convince thee, by lading the Earth with Fruit, and ſending a ſeaſonable as well as plentifull Harveſt and Vintage, that this is the way, not to diminiſh but, to encreaſe the Eſtate which God hath given thee. XXVIII. Deut. 4, 5. 2 Chron. XXXI. 10.
11. ¶ My ſon, deſpiſe not the chaſtening of the LORD: neither be weary of his correction.
11. ¶ And ſuppoſe it be his pleaſure that any affliction ſhould befall thee; My Son, (v. 1.) let not that diſſatisfy thee; nor make thee, either doubt of his gracious Providence over thee, or out of impatience take any unlawfull courſe to remove it from thee.
12. For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth, even as a father the ſon, in whom he delighteth.
12. But rather ſubmit unto it, as a part of his Fatherly Diſcipline, which cannot hurt thee; but onelyonly correct ſomething that is amiſs in thee: For we are ſure He loves thoſe that keep his Commandments; and therefore nothing that proceeds from his love ought to be deſpiſed; or received with an abject mind; but duly eſteemed by them, and raiſe their expectation of ſome good from the affliction: which ſhould no more make Him ſuſpected of any unkindneſs, than a tender Parent is, when he whips the Child in whom he delights; and to whom he wiſhes ſo well, that he will not let him be unchaſtiſed. See Arg. [c]
13. ¶ Happy is the man that findeth wiſedom, and the man that getteth underſtanding.
13. ¶ Happy, more happy than can be expreſſed, is that man, who attains to this degree of wiſedom; and acquires (though it coſt him the greateſt pains and labour) ſuch an underſtanding of God and belief of his Providence, as, notwithſtanding any troubles that befall him, ſtill to adhere unto Him in faithfull obedience. (v. 7.)
14. For the merchandiſe of it is better than the merchandiſe of ſilver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
14. If it were to be bought for money, one would purchaſe it at any rate: for the profit of it is infinitely to be preferred, before all the advantages that can be made by ſilver and gold.
15. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canſt deſire, are not to be compared unto her.
15. The moſt precious Pearls are not ſo valuable: nor can our boundleſs Fancy preſent any thing to our Wiſhes, that is worthy to come in competition with it.
16. Length of days is in her right hand: and in her left hand riches and honour.
16. For true Wiſedom preſents us, as we ſay, with both hands: teaching us in the firſt place ſuch prudence and moderation, as by the Divine Bleſſing prolong our days (which none of thoſe things can doe for us) and in the next place, adds both riches and honour; which men fooliſhly and vainly ſeek to get and to keep by other means. See Arg. [a]
17. Her ways are ways of pleaſantneſs, and all her paths are peace.
17. And beſides all this, there is a ſingular pleaſure, nay the higheſt delight, in all the acts of Vertue to which Wiſedom directs her Followers: who are always, either in perfect ſaſety by well-doing; or, if any trouble come upon them, have that inward tranquility and ſatisfaction, which nothing elſe could give them.
18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is every one that retaineth her.
18. In ſhort, Wiſedom leads into a Paradiſe; and ſupplies the place of that Tree of Life, from whence our firſt Parents were baniſhed: that is, gives not onelyonly a preſent, but an immortal ſatisfaction, to all thoſe that ſtrongly apprehend and retain her Precepts; and therefore I again pronounce him happy (v. 13.) above all other men, and above all expreſſion, who conſtantly and firmly adheres unto them. See Argument [d]
19. The LORD by wiſedom hath founded the earth; by underſtanding hath he eſtabliſhed the heavens.
19. For they are a participation of that wonderfull Wiſedom and Underſtanding, whereby the Lord ſetled the Earth, in that place where it remains fixed; and diſpoſed the heavenly Bodies in that admirable and unchangeable order, which He would have us imitate.
20. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
20. In works of mercy and goodneſs eſpecially: whereby we plainly communicate with Him in that knowledge, by which the Lord made fountains of water guſh out of the Earth, for the uſe of all living Creatures; and the Clouds drop down plentifully their refreſhing dews, for the cheriſhing of Plants and Graſs, which in hot Countries many times have no other moiſture.
21. ¶ My ſon, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep ſound wiſedom and diſcretion.
21. ¶ My Son (to whom my affection is ſo great that I cannot but again repeat it, v. 1. 11.) let me prevail with thee to fix theſe good inſtructions in thy mind: look upon them as the moſt ſolid Wiſedome, and the greateſt cunning and policy; and accordingly obſerve them.
22. So ſhall they be life unto thy ſoul, and grace to thy neck.
22. For they will revive and chear thee, when other things fail thee: and inable thee alſo with acceptable words to comfort thoſe, whom the fame of thy Wiſedom ſhall invite to learn of thee.
23. Then ſhalt thou walk in thy way ſafely, and thy foot ſhall nor ſtumble.
23. When thou goeſt abroad about thy buſineſs thou ſhalt diſpatch it the more cheerfully; becauſe thou art ſure of God's Providence over thee: and wiſedom will direct thee to avoid thoſe ſtumbling blocks, by which others fall into ſin and danger.
24. When thou lieſt down, thou ſhalt not be afraid: yea, thou ſhalt lie down, and thy ſleep ſhall be ſweet.
24. And when thou comeſt home to reſt from thy labours, thou ſhalt not be troubled with fear of what may happen, whilſt thou art aſleep; but (having nothing within to diſcompoſe thee) ſhalt lie down ſecurely, and, by a ſound and ſweet repoſe, be refreſhed to return to thy employments.
25. Be not afraid of ſudden fear, neither of the deſolation of the wicked when it cometh.
25. In which, if thou ſhouldſt be interrupted by any rumours and reports of unexpected and approaching danger, let not that diſturb thee: no, though thou ſhouldſt ſee the Wicked ready to lay all waſte, or the Divine Vengeance bringing utter deſolation upon them for their wickedneſs.
26. For the LORD ſhall be thy confidence, and ſhall keep thy foot from being taken.
26. For a firm hope in the Lord ſhall be thy ſupport, even when thou art in a tottering condition: nay, when thy skill quite ſails thee, and thou knoweſt not what to doe for thy ſafety; He ſhall ſo direct and guide thee, that thou ſhalt be preſerved from falling into the hands of thoſe that lie in wait to deſtroy thee.
27. ¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
27. ¶ And, as it will give thee great ſecurity of mind and confidence in God at ſuch a time, not to be conſcious to thy ſelf of any wrong done to thy Neighbour, by denying to pay thy juſt debts, when thou art able; ſo the remembrance of having done good to others will be a far greater: and therefore let me adviſe thee to take a ſpecial care, not to withhold relief from thoſe, whoſe needs in-title them unto it; when thou canſt not pretend diſability, but haſt wherewithall to do it.
28. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou haſt it by thee.
28. And, as thou wouldſt not have God to defer his help, in ſuch diſtreſſes as I ſpake of (v. 25, 26.) ſo do not thou put off thy Neighbour, when he begs a kindneſs of thee, ſaying; I cannot now; come another time; to morrow thou ſhalt ſee what I will doe for thee: when if thou hadſt a heart to it, thou couldſt ſupply him now, as well as then; and who can tell what ſhall be to morrow.
29. Deviſe not evil againſt thy neighbour, ſeeing he dwelleth ſecurely by thee.
29. And let not the quietneſs of any Man's temper, much leſs the confidence he hath of thy honeſty and goodneſs, tempt thee to contrive any miſchief to him: for the more ſecurely he relies on thy vertue, and the leſs miſtruſt he hath of any harm from thee, the greater wickedneſs it will be, ſo much as to have it in thy thoughts to doe him any injury.
30. ¶ Strive not with a man without cauſe, if he have done thee no harm.
30. ¶ For inſtance, do not bring falſe Actions againſt any Neighbour, nor vex him with cauſleſs or unneceſſary Suits at Law: no, nor ſo much as pretend a cauſe for quarrelling and falling out with him, when he hath done nothing to deſerve it of thee.
31. ¶ Envy thou not the oppreſſour, and chuſe none of his ways.
31. ¶ And what though thou ſhouldſt ſee men thrive by oppreſſion and violence, let not that provoke thee to emulate them; that is, to wiſh thy ſelf in their condition, by imitating them in any of their injurious proceedings.
32. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his ſecret is with the righteous.
32. For he that perverſely departs from all the rules of truth and juſtice, is above all expreſſion abominable to the Lord; even in his higheſt proſperity: but the Lord is a Friend to men of ſincere integrity; who know the ſecret of his Providence in raiſing thoſe wicked Oppreſſours ſo high, that they may have the more dreadfull fall.
33. ¶ The curſe of the LORD is in the houſe of the wicked: but he bleſſeth the habitation of the juſt.
33. ¶ The evil doer is under the curſe of the Lord, though he live in the moſt ſtately Palace: but juſt and good men ought to look upon themſelves as under his care and bleſſing; and therefore very happy in the meaneſt Cottage.
34. ¶ Surely he ſcorneth the ſcorners: but he giveth grace to the lowly.
34. ¶ Thoſe proud Oppreſſours and Scoffers at good Men, he will undoubtedly, not onelyonly confound but, expoſe to ſcorn, and make them ridiculous in the eyes of the World: but cauſe the humble, modeſt and meek (who bare even their inſolent ſcoffs patiently) to be had in honour and highly eſteemed.
35. The wiſe ſhall inherit glory, but ſhame ſhall be the promotion of fools.
35. They may be deſpiſed and debaſed for a time, but in the iſſue they ſhall be accounted the onelyonly wiſe Men; and leave an excellent never-dying fame behind them: when thoſe impious Men ſhall be famous for nothing, but the ſhame and diſgrace that ſhall fall upon them.