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2:1 [Fili mi, si susceperis sermones meos, et mandata mea absconderis penes te :
*H My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee,


Ver. 1. If. This proves free will. To become truly wise, we must desire it with the same avidity as a miser seeks for riches. W. — We must also pray, (v. 3.) with humility (v. 2.) to God, the giver of wisdom. v. 6. Every science which has not Him for the beginning and end, is vain and dangerous. C.

2:2 ut audiat sapientiam auris tua, inclina cor tuum ad cognoscendam prudentiam.
That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: incline thy heart to know prudence.
2:3 Si enim sapientiam invocaveris, et inclinaveris cor tuum prudentiae ;
For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to prudence:
2:4 si quaesieris eam quasi pecuniam, et sicut thesauros effoderis illam :
If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure:
2:5 tunc intelliges timorem Domini, et scientiam Dei invenies,
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God:
2:6 quia Dominus dat sapientiam, et ex ore ejus prudentia et scientia.
Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge.
2:7 Custodiet rectorum salutem, et proteget gradientes simpliciter,
*H He wilt keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity,


Ver. 7. Salvation. Prot. "sound wisdom." Tushiya (H.) often occurs in this book, and is very comprehensive, (C.) denoting the substance (H.) of goodness, virtue, &c. Job v. 12.

2:8 servans semitas justitiae, et vias sanctorum custodiens.
*H Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints.


Ver. 8. Justice. In his servants. C. — God gives them grace to follow virtue, (H.) and protects them from every danger. C.

2:9 Tunc intelliges justitiam, et judicium, et aequitatem, et omnem semitam bonam.]
Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.
2:10 [Si intraverit sapientia cor tuum, et scientia animae tuae placuerit,
If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy soul:
2:11 consilium custodiet te, et prudentia servabit te :
Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,
2:12 ut eruaris a via mala, et ab homine qui perversa loquitur ;
*H That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh perverse things:


Ver. 12. Things. The danger of such company for young people is very great, as the heart is misled by the understanding, (C.) if it do not itself shew the way to error. H. — We all possess a fund of corruption. C.

2:13 qui relinquunt iter rectum, et ambulant per vias tenebrosas ;
Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways:
2:14 qui laetantur cum malefecerint, et exsultant in rebus pessimis ;
*H Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in the most wicked things:


Ver. 14. Evil. These signs prove whom we ought to shun. S. Aug. depicts his own conduct before his conversion in the darkest colours. C.

2:15 quorum viae perversae sunt, et infames gressus eorum.
Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous.
2:16 Ut eruaris a muliere aliena, et ab extranea quae mollit sermones suos,
*H That thou mayst be delivered from the strange woman, and from the stranger, who softeneth her words;


Ver. 16. Strange. Idolatress, (Grot.) or rather the abandoned woman, whether married or not. C. — This description, as well as the former, guards us against heretics, who leave the right way of the Catholic Church, (v. 13.) and devise perverse doctrines of rebellion against princes, &c. as if faith alone were sufficient. By this faith, Prot. do not mean any article which all must believe, but only that each one must be convinced that he himself is just, and will be saved. Like the strange woman, they preach a comfortable doctrine, and use sweet speeches. Rom. xvi. 18. Their conversion is a very difficult matter, (v. 19.) because they are condemned by their own judgment, (Tit. iii. 11.) and will not admit of the ordinary means of instruction in the Church. W.

2:17 et relinquit ducem pubertatis suae,
*H And forsaketh the guide of her youth,


Ver. 17. Youth. Her husband, whom she married young when love is more lasting. This increases her guilt. It may also signify her father, or preceptor.

2:18 et pacti Dei sui oblita est. Inclinata est enim ad mortem domus ejus, et ad inferos semitae ipsius.
*H And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell.


Ver. 18. God. The law forbids adultery, and all impurities. Deut. xxiii. 17. Lev. xx. 10. Both the parties, guilty of adultery, were punished with death. C.

2:19 Omnes qui ingrediuntur ad eam non revertentur, nec apprehendent semitas vitae.
*H None that go in unto her, shall return again, neither shall they take hold of the paths of life.


Ver. 19. Life. A sincere conversion is so rare among people once addicted to impurity, (H.) which resembles a deep pit. C. — This illness is hardly removed. M.

2:20 Ut ambules in via bona, et calles justorum custodias :
That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of the just.
2:21 qui enim recti sunt habitabunt in terra, et simplices permanebunt in ea ;
*H For they that are upright, shall dwell in the earth; and the simple shall continue in it.


Ver. 21. Earth. Happily. This was the wish of the carnal Jews. But the more enlightened raise their thoughts to heaven.

2:22 impii vero de terra perdentur, et qui inique agunt auferentur ex ea.]
But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that do unjustly, shall be taken away from it.
* Footnote * Job 18 : 17 Let the memory of him perish from the earth, and let not his name be renowned in the streets.
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