Bible Commentaries

Psalms 12:4 — traduced. R. Samuel Ben Jochai hath this note upon the text: A slanderous tongue is called Lashon Tabithai ( Lingua tertia), because it slayeth three; but here it slew four, viz. Doeg, Saul, Nob, the city of the priests, and Abner, who suffered it so to be, 1 Samuel 22:18-19 .

Psalms 131:1 — persuaded him; nor do I now, being possessed of it, proudly domineer (as is the manner of most potentates) and tyrannize over my poor subjects; but with all modesty and humility (not minding high things) I do condescend to them of low estate, Romans 12:16 . Now, in alto positum non altum sapere, difficile est, et omnino inusitatum; sed quanto inusitatius, tanto gloriosius (Bucholc.). It is both hard and happy not to be puffed up with prosperity and preferment. Vespasian is said to have been the only

Psalms 15:3 — neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. He that backbiteth not with his tongue — That trotteth not up and down for the purpose, as the word signifieth; that walketh not about as a pedlar with his pack, as the word is, Leviticus 19:16 , this is a bloody sin, ibid.; confer Ezekiel 22:9 . Ragal, whence Regal, a foot. Many ways a man may backbite with his tongue, that unruly member. Qui negat, aut minuit, tacuit, laudatque remisse. One observeth from this text that there is also

Psalms 30:6 — And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. And in my prosperity I said — Or, in my tranquillity. Then it was that he was overgrown with security; as was also Job, Job 29:18-20 ; See Trapp on "Job "29:18" See Trapp on "Job "29:19" See Trapp on "Job "29:20" Job 9:18 . How many have burnt their wings about Job’s candle? Job 29:3 , saith one. Oh the hazard of honour! damage

Psalms 34:8 — that feels fire hot, or as he that tasteth honey sweet, ye need not use arguments to persuade him to believe it; so here, let a man but once taste that the Lord is good, and he will thenceforth, as a new born babe, desire the sincere milk of the word, 1 Peter 2:2-3 , neither will he take any more content in the world’s tasteless fooleries than in the white of an egg or a dry chip. Gustato spiritu desipit omnis caro, saith Gerson, All flesh is savourless to him that hath tasted of the Spirit.

Psalms 6:8 — Luther say, Oratio est hirudo animae, Prayer is the leech of the soul, that sucks out the venom and swelling thereof. Prayer, saith another, is an exorcist with God, and an exorcist against sin and misery. The prophet Isaiah calleth it a charm, Isaiah 26:16 , because it lays our soul distempers, and, like David’s harp, drives away the evil spirit that is upon us. Pray, therefore, when out of order, though not so fit to pray; fall upon the duty, by David’s example here, and that will further

Psalms 7:13 — He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. He hath also prepared, … — The punishment of ungodly persons is here elegantly set forth by three similitudes. 1. From warfare. 2. From child birth, Psalms 7:14 Psalms 7:3 . From hunting, Psalms 7:15-16 . Well might the Lord say, "I have used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets," Hosea 12:10 . See Trapp on " Hosea 12:10 " He ordaineth

Psalms 78:34 — him — Fictis scilicet, quibusdam et fucatis pollicitationabus, with a few dissembled devotions. So many now, when deadly, sick, will be wondrous good. Nuper me amici cuiusdam languor admonuit, optimos esse nos dum infirmi sumus (Plin. eph 26, 1. 7). As iron is very soft and malleable while in the fire, but soon after returneth to its former hardness; so many, while afflicted, seem very well affected, but afterwards soon show what they are. William Rufus, in a fit of sickness at Gloucester,

Proverbs 10:21 — The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. The lips of the righteous feed many. — A great housekeeper he is, hath his doors ever open, and, though himself be poor, yet he "maketh many rich." 2 Corinthians 6:10 He well knows that to this end God put "honey and milk under his tongue," Song of Solomon 4:11 that he might look to this spiritual lip feeding. To this end hath he communicated to him those "rivers of water," John 7:38 that they

Proverbs 12:15 — wise. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. — He thinks his own wit best. Consilii satis est in me mihi; Arachne ap. Ovid. he will not part with his commonwealth of baubles for the Tower of London. And such a fool is every natural man; Job 11:12 wise enough, haply, in his generation - so is the fox too; - wise with such a wisdom as, like the ostrich’s wings, makes him outrun others upon earth, and in earthly things, but helps him never a whit towards heaven - nay, hinders him, and

Proverbs 12:2 — vult; - Blessed is he that hath what he will, and wills nothing but what he should. But a man of wicked devices. — Such as no good man is; he doth not plot or plough mischief; he doth not cater and "make provision for the flesh"; Romans 13:14 there is no "way of wickedness" Psalms 139:24 found in him; the peace is not broken between God and him, because his mind never yields to sin, Romans 7:25 he "walks not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, therefore no condemnation."

Proverbs 14:20 — The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich [hath] many friends. The poor is hated, — i.e., Less loved, little respected, as Genesis 29:31 Malachi 1:5 Luke 14:26 . The heathen could say, Aφιλον το δυστοχες - adversity finds few friends. Et cum fortuna statque caditque fides. Few will appear for suffering

Proverbs 14:28 — king’s honour. — For that is a sign of peace, plenty, prosperity, and just government, as in Solomon’s days, when "Israel and Judah were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating, and drinking, and making merry." 1 Kings 4:20 And as in Augustus’s days, when Christ, the Prince of Peace, was born into the world, cuncta atque continua totius generis humani aut pax fuit, aut pactio. Flor. Hist., lib. iv. Ferdinand III, King of Spain, reigned full thirty-five

Proverbs 17:6 — Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers. Children’s children are the crown of old men. — That is, if they be not children those who "cause shame," as Proverbs 17:2 , and who disgrace their ancestors - stain their blood; if they obey their parents’ counsel and follow their good example; for otherwise they prove not crowns, but corrosives, to their aged sires, as did Esau, Absalom, Andronicus, and others. And

Proverbs 29:14 — his kingdom shall be bound to him with chains of adamant, as Dionysius dreamt that his was; he shall have the hearts of his subjects, which is the best life-guard, and God for his protection; for he is professedly the poor man’s patron, Psalms 9:18-19 and makes heavy complaints of those that wrong them. Isaiah 3:13-15 ; Isaiah 10:1-3 ; Amos 5:11-12 ; Amos 8:4-6; Zephaniah 3:12

Proverbs 29:27 — to the just. — Who yet hates, non virum sed vitium, not the person of a wicked man, but his sin - as the physician hates the disease, but loves the patient, and strives to recover him - he abhors that which is evil, perfectly hates it, Psalms 139:22 hates it as hell so the Greek word αποστυγουντες . signifies; Romans 12:9 hates it in his dearest friends, as Asa did in his mother Maachah; hates it most of all in

Proverbs 30:2 — silly, and therein betray their own silliness. Tanta fuit Adami recens conditi stupiditas, ut maior in infantes cadere non possit. - Socin. He had a large measure of objective knowledge, both in natural things and supernatural; which we have lost in him. 1 Corinthians 2:14 This we should, with Agur here, sit down and bewail, as those in Ezra did the burnt temple. Ezra 3:12

Ecclesiastes 3:2 — pit. A time to plant, … — In point of good husbandry fit seasons are to be observed, or else little increase can be expected. God also, the great vinedresser, plants and plucks up more churches or particular persons at his pleasure. Isaiah 5:1-8 Matthew 15:13 Jerusalem, that plant of renown, is now of an Eden become a Sodom, and that which Moses threatened Deuteronomy 28:49-57 is fulfilled to the utmost. Susa in Persia signifies a lily, and was so called for the beauty and delectable sight;

Ecclesiastes 4:1 — were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter. So I returned, and considered. — Here is a second instance of corruption in civil state, added to that of Ecclesiastes 3:16 , to fill up the nest of vanities. And behold the tears of such, … — Heb., Tear; as if they had wept their utmost, et vix unicam lachrymulam extorquere possent, and could hardly squeeze out one poor tear more for their own ease. For as

Ecclesiastes 4:11 — "Did not our hearts burn within us," said those two disciples, when Christ once made the third with them, and by holy conference kindled them. Luke 24:32 So when Silas and Timotheus came from Macedonia, Paul was "pressed in spirit." Acts 18:5 Warm he was before, but now all of a light fire, as it were. Those dull daughters of Jerusalem, by hearing the spouse describe her beloved, as she doth from tip to toe, were fired up with desire to join with her in seeking after him whom her soul