THE DIVINE RULE The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: And he that hath it shall pass the night satisfied; The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The Lord hath made even both of them. Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Evil men understand not justice; But they that seek the Lord understand all things. He that is of an insatiate soul stirreth up strife: But he that trusteth in the Lord shall be made fat. Many seek the ruler's favour; But every man's right cometh from the Lord. 39 'A man's heart deviseth his way': compare the German proverb, Der Mensch denkt, Gott lenkt. "The weights of the bag': the merchant carried his weights and balance in a bag. 'Heed to the Word': i.e. in all probability, the written Word of the Law. 'Every way of man': the usual exaggeration of a proverb. We must constantly substitute 'many' for every,' ' often' for 'always,' 'something' for 'everything.' 'Evil men understand not justice.' The wicked lose the sense of right and wrong; the righteous tend to hit the nail upon the head in every moral question. 'The ruler's favour': the point is, Flatter not the powerful, but trust in God. Many of these simple adages are yet deeply true. The two points wherein they fail have been noticed before. First, the prosperity of them who fear the Lord is often only, if we may use the phrase, the prosperity of suffering or of sorrow. Secondly, while God loves the righteous, we are not prepared to say that he is far from the wicked. Evil must be an abomination to goodness, impurity to the divine pureness, and yet we must not allow that the providence of God does not extend to all. The coalescence, the equivalence in God of justice and love must never be lost sight of. Love will never in him be divorced from justice, but justice will never be divorced from love. § 15. The king.-The aphorisms of our sages deal but slightly with public life. We must remember that they were living under foreign domination, either at a time when the vast empire of Persia was controlled by the sovereign will of one man, or when, under the rule of the Ptolemies, the best policy was to remain quiet, the best hope to be undisturbed. Their ideal king is a just despot. Wicked doing is an abomination to kings; And they love him that speaketh right. In the light of the king's countenance is life; Take away the dross from the silver, And there shall come forth a vessel for the finer; Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness. Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; the prince. The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, His throne shall be established for ever. And his throne is upholden by mercy. And meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly: And who knoweth the ruin of their years? THE RULE OF KINGS 41 § 16. Miscellaneous proverbs.-I will now put together some miscellaneous proverbs and epigrams from the second to the fifth sections of the book, beginning with a few about women and children. A gracious woman obtaineth honour: But a woman that hateth righteousness is a seat of disgrace. It is better to dwell in a corner of the roof, Than to keep common house with a brawling woman. It is better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a quarrelsome woman and vexation. Whoso findeth a good wife findeth a treasure, And obtaineth favour from the Lord. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: But she that maketh him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. Houses and riches are the inheritance of fathers; But a prudent wife is from the Lord. He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. Children's children are the crown of old men ; And the glory of children are their fathers. Even a child is known by his doings, Whether his disposition be pure and upright. Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old he will not depart from it: Foolishness clings to the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: The revenue of the wicked to sin. A righteous man regardeth the soul of his beast: Hope deferred maketh the heart sick : But the fulfilled desire is a tree of life. And a stranger cannot intermeddle with its joy. Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful; There is a path of life upwards for the wise, And in his lips there is as a burning fire. A friend loveth at all times, As a brother is he in adversity. A man of many friends cometh into trouble: But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Many men are called good-natured; But a faithful friend who can find? Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Iron is sharpened by iron; So a man sharpeneth the wit of his friend. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; But afterward his mouth shall be filled with gravel. The glory of young men is their strength: And the beauty of old men is the hoary head. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: How much more when he bringeth it for a crime ! A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; And grace is better than silver and gold. He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; If thou faint in the day of adversity, A MEDLEY OF MAXIMS As an earring of gold, and a setting of fine gold, As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him: As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart. As cold water to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country. 43 As the sparrow in its fluttering, or as the swallow in its flying, So the causeless curse; it shall not come to pass. Whoso boasteth of gifts which he doth not give, Is like mist and wind without rain. He that exciteth himself over a quarrel which does not concern him, Is like one that taketh a passing dog by the ears. As a madman that casteth firebrands and deadly arrows, And saith, Am not I in sport? Fervent lips and a wicked heart— Silver dross that overlayeth a potsherd. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, But he layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: For there are seven abominations in his heart. Though his hatred be covered by deceit, His wickedness will betray itself before the whole congregation. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: And he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. Boast not thyself of to-morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Wrath is cruel, and anger overflowing; But who can stand before jealousy? |