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30:1 [Qui diligit filium suum assiduat illi flagella, ut laetetur in novissimo suo, et non palpet proximorum ostia.
*H He that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may rejoice in his latter end, and not grope after the doors of his neighbours.


Ver. 1. He. Gr. prefixes "on children." H. — And not, &c. is omitted in Gr. It may signify, and not beg, (C.) or steal. H. — The welfare of the country depends on the good education of children, which cannot be performed without correction, (C.) though this should never be used till more gentle means have been tried. Fenelon on Educ. — The neglect of correction proceeds from a misplaced tenderness, (Prov. xiii. 24.) which in the end proves most prejudicial both to the child and to the public. H. — See Plato, rep. ii. and vii. Arist. pol. vi. Cic. off. ii. C.

* Footnote * Proverbs 13 : 24 He that spareth the rod, hateth his son: but he that loveth him, correcteth him betimes.
* Footnote * Proverbs 23 : 13 Withhold not correction from a child: for if thou strike him with the rod, he shall not die.
30:2 Qui docet filium suum laudabitur in illo, et in medio domesticorum in illo gloriabitur.
*H He that instructeth his son shall be praised in him, and shall glory in him in the midst of them of his household.


Ver. 2. Them. Gr. "his acquaintance." H. — He sees himself re-born in his son. v. 4. C.

30:3 Qui docet filium suum in zelum mittit inimicum, et in medio amicorum gloriabitur in illo.
He that teacheth his son, maketh his enemy jealous, and in the midst of his friends he shall glory in him.
* Footnote * Deuteronomy 6 : 7 And thou shalt tell them to thy children, and thou shalt meditate upon them sitting in thy house, and walking on thy journey, sleeping and rising.
30:4 Mortuus est pater ejus, et quasi non est mortuus : similem enim reliquit sibi post se.
His father is dead, and he is as if he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.
30:5 In vita sua vidit, et laetatus est in illo : in obitu suo non est contristatus, nec confusus est coram inimicis :
While he lived he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died he was not sorrowful, neither was he confounded before his enemies.
30:6 reliquit enim defensorem domus contra inimicos, et amicis reddentem gratiam.
For he left behind him a defender of his house against his enemies, and one that will requite kindness to his friends.
30:7 Pro animabus filiorum colligabit vulnera sua, et super omnem vocem turbabuntur viscera ejus.
*H For the souls of his sons he shall bind up his wounds, and at every cry his bowels shall be troubled.


Ver. 7. Wounds. To which he has exposed himself for his child's welfare, (2 Cor. xii. 15. Raban.) or if he neglect correction, he will have to bewail the wounds which his son's imprudence shall occasion. Syr. Vat. Gr. Comp. "He who rubs, (Rom. edit.) cherishes his son," &c. C. — The eldest brother must take care of the rest, so as even to expose himself to danger. W.

30:8 Equus indomitus evadit durus, et filius remissus evadet praeceps.
*H A horse not broken becometh stubborn, and a child left to himself will become headstrong.


Ver. 8. Horse. A colt full of spirit, when properly broken in, will answer best, so a proper education corrects impetuous tempers. Plut. apop. in Them.

30:9 Lacta filium, et paventem te faciet : lude cum eo, et contristabit te.
Give thy son his way, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he shall make thee sorrowful.
30:10 Non corrideas illi, ne doleas, et in novissimo obstupescent dentes tui.
*H Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last thy teeth be set on edge.


Ver. 10. Laugh. "Smiling he must be feared." S. Greg. Mor. xx. 3.

30:11 Non des illi potestatem in juventute, et ne despicias cogitatus illius.
*H Give him not liberty in his youth, and wink not at his devices.


Ver. 11. Devices. Gr. "sins of ignorance." Youth is incapable of guiding itself, being destitute of experience, and too confident. Prov. xxix. 45.

30:12 Curva cervicem ejus in juventute, et tunde latera ejus dum infans est, ne forte induret, et non credat tibi, et erit tibi dolor animae.
Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat his sides while he is a child, lest he grow stubborn, and regard thee not, and so be a sorrow of heart to thee.
30:13 Doce filium tuum, et operare in illo, ne in turpitudinem illius offendas.]
*H Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence to thee.


Ver. 13. Thee. "Very few excel their father." Hom. Odys. E. — This is sometimes to be attributed to the neglect of education. C. — Gr. subjoins, "on health." H.

30:14 [Melior est pauper sanus, et fortis viribus, quam dives imbecillis et flagellatus malitia.
*H Better is a poor man who is sound, and strong of constitution, than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils.


Ver. 14. Evils. Health is better than riches. Pythag. &c.

30:15 Salus animae in sanctitate justitiae melior est omni auro et argento : et corpus validum quam census immensus.
*H Health of the soul in holiness of justice, is better than all gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues.


Ver. 15. Justice. This is the first of all advantages. C. — Thales pronounced him happy who was healthy and rich, and "whose soul was well tutored." Laert. — Gr. "health and a good constitution are preferable to all gold, and a," &c. H.

30:16 Non est census super censum salutis corporis, et non est oblectamentum super cordis gaudium.
There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart.
30:17 Melior est mors quam vita amara, et requies aeterna quam languor perseverans.
*H Better is death than a bitter life, and everlasting rest, than continual sickness.


Ver. 17. Rest. In the grave. He speaks not of the soul. Job iii. 13.

30:18 Bona abscondita in ore clauso, quasi appositiones epularum circumpositae sepulchro.
*H Good things that are hidden in a mouth that is shut, are as messes of meat set about a grave.


Ver. 18. Grave. The dead cannot partake of them, (C.) so neither can the sick of their great possessions. H. — It was customary to place meat on the tombs of the dead. C. — The pagans invited them to eat; (S. Epip. Ancor.) but the faithful intended it for the poor, who might pray (C.) for the deceased. M. C. vii. 37. Tob. iv. 18. — The kings of France were served at table till they were placed in the tomb, and in many monasteries the usual portion is assigned the dead for thirty days, and given to the poor. C.

30:19 Quid proderit libatio idolo ? nec enim manducabit, nec odorabit.
What good shall an offering do to an idol? for it can neither eat, nor smell:
* Footnote * Daniel 14 : 6 Then Daniel smiled, and said: O king, be not deceived: for this is but clay within, and brass without, neither hath he eaten at any time.
30:20 Sic qui effugatur a Domino, portans mercedes iniquitatis :
So is he that is persecuted by the Lord, bearing the reward of his iniquity:
30:21 videns oculis et ingemiscens, sicut spado complectens virginem, et suspirans.
*H He seeth with his eyes, and groaneth, as an eunuch embracing a virgin, and sighing.


Ver. 21. Sighing. Thus meat is useless to those whom God visits with sickness. See c. xx. 3.

30:22 Tristitiam non des animae tuae, et non affligas temetipsum in consilio tuo.
*H Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thy own counsel.


Ver. 22. Sadness. For temporal things, but trusting in Providence. 1 Pet. v. 7. Grief for sin is alone of service. 2 Cor. vii. 10. C. — Pusillanimity must be avoided. W.

* Footnote * Proverbs 12 : 25 Grief in the heart of a man shall bring him low, but with a good word he shall be made glad.
* Footnote * Proverbs 15 : 13 A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind the spirit is cast down.
* Footnote * Proverbs 17 : 22 A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
30:23 Jucunditas cordis, haec est vita hominis, et thesaurus sine defectione sanctitatis : et exsultatio viri est longaevitas.
*H The joyfulness of the heart, is the life of a man, and a never failing treasure of holiness: and the joy of a man is length of life.


Ver. 23. A never. Gr. "the joy," &c. Prov. xvii. 22. and 2 Cor. ix. 7.

30:24 Miserere animae tuae placens Deo, et contine : congrega cor tuum in sanctitate ejus, et tristitiam longe repelle a te.
*H Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and contain thyself: gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from thee.


Ver. 24. Have. Gr. "love thy soul, and comfort thy heart, and drive," &c. H.

30:25 Multos enim occidit tristitia, et non est utilitas in illa.
*H For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it.


Ver. 25. Many. Bringing on maladies, and driving people into despair. v. 22. It was thought that the sad could not prophesy. 4 K. iii. 15. Hermas ii. Mand. iii. More Neb. ii. 37. C.

* Footnote * 2_Corinthians 7 : 10 For the sorrow that is according to God worketh penance, steadfast unto salvation: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
30:26 Zelus et iracundia minuunt dies, et ante tempus senectam adducet cogitatus.
*H Envy and anger shorten a man's days, and pensiveness will bring old age before the time.


Ver. 26. Envy. Or jealousy. These passions banish joy. Envy is like rust. C.

30:27 Splendidum cor et bonum in epulis est : epulae enim illius diligenter fiunt.]
*H A cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets are prepared with diligence.


Ver. 27. Always. Gr. "will mind the meats which it shall eat." H. — It will feast and enjoy content. This verse and the following chapters are in a much less natural order in the Gr. editions, till c. xxxvii. C.

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