take away (Bertheau, Stuart, and others), does not follow from the signification to draw out (as from a well), fig. to deliver. V. 8. As binding a stone in a sling. So the Sept., he who binds a stone in a sling, and also (for the only word in dispute) the Syr., as a stone in a sling.* So Ewald† and Bertheau. V. 10. A master-workman: (Thes. and Lex., 2, d), one vho is a master in his art. ‡ Others (on uncertain grounds, see tae writer's note on Job 16:13) an arrow, or an archer. † Der Sinn des Spruches ist höchst klar, und schon die LXX haben ihn richtig gefasst. 2 ist unstreitig Schleuder, von schleudern. ומות " IT P V. 18. A madman (♫bnbny): as shown by Gesenius, Thes, vol. II. p. 744. Bertheau, a foolish jester (Stuart, a silly jester), on an uncertain etymology, without any historical support. Moreover, he who hurls fiery darts, arrows, and death, is somewhat more in earnest than 'a silly jester.' stultum conducit, conducit transeuntes); i. e. artifex peritus omnia bene perficit, ein Meister bringt Alles zu Stande. * The use of by (in the second member) is owing to the Gesenius, Thes. 1. p. 453: magister creat omnia (opp. qui figurative form of the conception (poured himself out) upon, or over. REVISED VERSION. 19 so is a man that deceives his 19 neighbor, and says, Am not I in sport? Where there is no more wood, 20 the fire goes out; and where there is no tale bearer, contention ceases. 21 A coal to burning coals, and 21 wood to fire; so is a contentious man to the 22 The words of a tale-bearer are 22 as dainty morsels; and it is they that go down to the inmost parts of the belly. 23 Dross-silver, spread over pot- 23 tery, are ardent lips and an evil V. 20. No more: DEN, prop. a cessation, or end; when the supply ceases, is meant. 27 his lips; but in his breast he lays up deceit. When he makes his voice gra- 25 cious, believe him not; for seven abominations are in his heart. Hatred covers itself with de- 26 ception; his wickedness will be disclosed in the congregation. He that digs a pit shall fall 27 therein; and he that rolls a stone, it shall return upon him. V. 23. Dross-silver (1): silver that is not freed from its impurities, unrefined silver; not silver dross, which is another V. 21, second member; compare (on ) the note on ch. 25: 20, thing, and is not the meaning of the combination, silver of dross.* and the same usage in ch. 27: 21. V. 22. Zöckler translates (Lange's Bibelwerk, Am. ed.): "The words of a slanderer are words of sport." So Bertheau, after C. B. Michaelis (Annott. uber.) followed by Stuart and others. But the words of a slanderer are not commonly looked upon as "words of sport," either in his intention, or in their effect. For this rendering there is no better support than the assumed identity in meaning of (26: 10) and □nb. The only thing reasonably certain, on philological grounds, is the Arabic usage (see on ch. 18: 8) on which Schultens and Gesenius base their definition of the Heb. word. Ewald's objec· tion, that the corresponding form in Arabic has an active and not a passive sense, is not decisive against it; the verbal idea being variously modified, in different dialects, by variations of form in expressing it. V. 25. The English form, "when he speaks fair," does not give the true meaning (referring rather to matter than manner), and falls far below the descriptive power of the Hebrew expression. V. 26. Covers itself (noon, Hithp.; Ges. Gram. 54, 2, b, Ewald Lehrb. 8th ed. ¿124, 2, e, Böttcher Lehrb. § 291, ß, ¿ 10 74, 2 †), not is covered, as renderd by Umbreit and many others in which the graphic force of the expression is lost. Covers itself; puts on this disguise.‡ ist das Silber, * Schlackensilber (Umbreit, Ewald). welches noch nicht von den Schlacken gereinigt worden (Umbreit). (Maurer) התכינן pro הכונן .cf, תתכסה Est Hithp. pro + That the words of the tale-bearer (or slanderer) are to many as dainty morsels," is too sadly attested in human experience. † Tegit se odium simulatione (Maurer). A sated spirit tramples the 7 dripping honey; but a famished spirit-every bitter thing is sweet. Ch. XXVII.-V. 2. An alien: see the note on ch. 20: 16, second paragraph; and for the point of the admonition see Explanatory Notes. Another is less pertinent in connection with in the other member, (comp. ch. 20: 16), and gives a less pointed sense. Its victims: literally, its crushed ones; the proper passive sense of, as in the other three passages (Pss. 9: 10, 10: 18, 74: 21) where it occurs. So Umbreit (correctly as to form, ihre Zer- V. 4. Impetuous (w), like an overflowing flood, or a rushing riebenen), Rosenmüller (contritos suos), Bertheau (ihre Zermalm-torrent.-Jealousy (p) is the meaning here, as in ch. 6 : 34. ten). Gesenius (Thes. and Lex.) assumes here an active significa- V. 6. Plentiful, a sense grounded in Heb. usage; see Ezek. tion, “crushing, i. e. chastising; a lying tongue (person) hateth | 35: 13, and Maurer's just reduction (Comment. and Hdwbch.) them that chastise it." This is not only contrary to usage, but of all the uses of the verb to one radical signification. For the renseems quite unnecessary; for the usual meaning yields a more dering deceitful, only Arabic usage can be cited; and it is hardly pointed and significant sense, and one which common observation necessary to say, that an enemy's kisses are deceitful, though approves. There seems, therefore, to be no difficulty to be evaded he may be very profuse in such tokens of pretended friendship.* by change of reading or punctuation, as Ewald and Böttcher V. 7. Spirit: the vital spirit, anima, as in chs. 6: 30, 10: 3, propose. 25; to which "is ascribed whatever has respect to the sustenance of life by food and drink" (Gesenius, Heb. lex., E)). Here the English version often renders it by soul, but improperly" (Robinson, ibidem). * Fürst, Hdwbch: masc. Ps. 22: 16, und Spr. 26: 28 nach besonderer Auffassung. † Sed alias constanter passive attritum, oppressum significare constat (Rosenmüller). דך Compare Miss Seward's celebrated retort on Dr. Johnson: "Sir, this is an instance, that we are always most violent against those whom we have injured." 25 11 12 8 9 REVISED VERSION. As a bird wandering from her 8 nest, so is a man that wanders from his place. Oil and perfume gladden the 9 heart; but sweeter is one's friend than fragrant wood. Thy friend and thy father's 10 friend do not forsake; and do not go to thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity; better is a neighbor near than a brother afar off. Be wise, my son, and make 11 my heart glad; that I may answer him that reproaches me. The shrewd saw evil, he hid 12 himself; the simple passed on,they were punished. 13 Take his garment, when he is 13 surety for an alien ; 14 and for a strange woman, take a pledge of him. He that blesses his neighbor 14 with loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be accounted to him as cursing, Herz; Böttcher, Aehrenlese, 3te Abth. p. 29, Süssigkeit seines Freundes Süsses vom Freunde [ist ihm] Rath der seele, d. i. sorglicher, eifriger, wohlgemeinter Rath, partitive); or, counsel of one's own soul (Lange, und Süssigkeit des Freundes · ist besser als Rath der [eignen] Seele). V. 9. One's friend : indefinite use of the suff. pron.; his friend, | und Süsse seines Freundes aus Rathschluss der Seele erfreut das for the friend one has.* Compare its use in an assumed or supposed case, ch. 20: 16, Take his garment, when he is surety for an alien. The principle applicable to is misapplied by Böttcher Heb. Lehrb. 2 876, c, (as referred to by Dr. Aiken on this passage, Lange's Bible-work, Am. ed.), and Exeget. Krit. Aehrenlese, 3te Abth. p. 29, to this case and to some others, which are readily explained, either in conformity with the proper use of the suff. pron., or on the ground of a somewhat careless freedom in its reference. In neither of these constructions does the sentiment of the 2d. member appear very just or pointed in itself, or to have any proper relation to the preceding member. On the contrary, the sentiment expressed in the text is both just and pointed, and is pertinent in its relation to the first member. Compare Explanatory Notes. V. 10., pointed for the Qeri; here the full form, Ges. Gram. 2 85, V. 11. V. 12. Compare the note on ch.22 : 3. The reader will observe here the more spirited expression of the sense by the asyndote construction. The word should be carefully distinguished from those expressing the more generic idea of wisdom, prudence. See the remarks on ch. 1: 4. V. 13. Compare the note on ch. 20 : 16. . V. 14. brown, infin. abs. as adverbial accusative (Ges. Gram. 8131, 2) with rising early. , Nithp, of , as shown by Rödiger, Thes. fasc. poster. | hand.* p. 1376. Compare Addenda, p. 114, where he examines Hitzig's 5. No. 2, b, with 4, d, and 1, c, and his right hand grasps suggestion, that it is a Niphal form (for ♬n) 3d pers. sing. | after oil.† fem. Ewald (in loc. and Lehrb. 8th ed. ¿ 132, c, d) regards it as a blending of two forms, by prefixing the characteristic of Niph. to that of Hithp. (nn sich ausgleichen) and translates, das gleicht sich aus. 6. No.-2, b, with 4, a, and 1, c, and his right hand calls for oil,-as a medicament, for healing his bruises.‡ In Nos. 1 and 2, the distinction of the right hand is without significance. Nos. 3 and 5 are essentially the same. The latter V. 16. He that, plur. construed distributively with a is not translation, as the meaning to grasp, to grasp after, does sing. verb; Gesenius, Lehrgeb. 2 184, a, Gram. ¿ 146, 4; comp not belong to p (p), and is only assumed here as the intent ch. 3 : 18,-Confines (Gesenius, Lex., and Fürst, Hdwbch.) is more of the act expressed by the Heb. verb (meeting, for the purpose suited to this connection than the signification hides.* The object of holding). Zöckler || can only say in behalf of this rendering: is not to hide a contentious woman, but to restrain her violence." grasps after something, meets a thing, seeks to hold someSecond member. Nonnihil difficilis, as was said by Mercer thing fast;" which is far from justifying it as a translation. three hundred years ago, and the case is little better now. The No aid can be obtained from the ancient versions, none of following are possible constructions and renderings of this clause: which represent the Heb. text.¶ 1. may be (a) accus. after implied from the first member, or (b) nom. to xp, or (c) accus. after it. 2. It cannot be disguised, that some disappointment is felt in reading the second member. The first spontaneously, and almost may be (a) gen. after 2, or (b) nom. to p, or of necessity, suggests the idea of rude violence, in the resistless (c) accus. after it. יקרא 3. may have for its nom. (a) the subject of in the x first member, or (b) w, or (c) may stand in a relative clause. 4. may mean (a) calls for, (b) proclaims, (c) meets, encounters (=p), or (d) grasps, or grasps after (as assumed). Hence the following renderings: 1. No. 1, b, and the oil of his right hand will proclaim (itself) 2. No. 1, a, with 2, a, and 3, c, and [hides] the oil of his right hand, which proclaims (by its fragrance betrays) itself. ? 3. No. 2, b, with 4, c, and his right hand meets oil (which it cannot hold fast, and he labors in vain). || * Berth au: Jeder der solches Weib birgt, birgt Wind. † Auch die neueren Ausleger finden hier grosse Schwierigkeit, und gehen vielfach auseinander (Umbreit). † Pagnino (Thes. Heb. 1529): oleum (aut unguentum) dextræ suæ prædicabit. Seb. Münster (Biblia Heb. 1546): et oleum de dextra ejus clamabit. Vatablus: quod se suo odore velut clamore prodet (annotation). force of the wind; in the second, this image is exchanged for the soft and smoothly gliding oil (compare ch. 5:3, and Ps. 55 : 21), or even for its subtile fragrance; a marked anticlimax. If to escape this, we correct our impression of the first member, and understand by " the wind" an element so fine and subtile as to ? Mercer (Comment. in Prov. Sal., 1573): abscondit unguentum zaì khaiov dežiãs aỷtõv nahéoɛi. dextræ suæ, quod clamat ; quasi dicat: Perinde est ac si unguentum The following are the renderings of the old English versions. quo dextram suam perfudit, occultare vellet, quod suo se ipsum | Coverdale, Matthews, Cranmer, and Taverner: He that refraineth odore prodit, ac velut clamat, ut latere non possit (in his annota- her refraineth the wind, and holdeth oil fast in his hand. (Crantions). So Rosenmüller, and the common English version. || Ewald, Hirzel. Hitzig. So also Stuart (but with a different application), cometh upon oil, which makes the object so slippery that it cannot be held fast. mer, the oil). Genevan: He that hideth her hideth the wind, and [she is as] the oil in his right hand, that uttereth itself. Bishops': He that stilleth her stilleth the wind, and stoppeth the smell of the ointment in his hand. |