Interpretations on the Proverbs of Solomon

Chapter I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXX XXXI Proverbs 1:2. Learn wisdom and punishment. He receives the wisdom of God from Him, as well as instruction, learning through it the secrets of teaching. Those who have comprehended true and heavenly wisdom will easily understand the wise words spoken by her. But there is also human wisdom, which represents the knowledge of the arts and useful things for life achieved by experience. Proverbs 1:3. Accept... convolutions of words. What is said in Proverbs by the Holy Spirit in contrasts (ἀντιστρ ό φος) is well understood by those with a heart devoted to God, since they “understand the true truth” proclaimed by Christ. Proverbs 1:3. And correct the court. The one who first of all receives divine grace corrects the judgment, because “from the Lord a man’s feet are straightened: how can a mortal understand his own ways” (Prov. 20:24)? Proverbs 1:4. May he give deceit to the gentle. What are you saying? Do you want to turn a gentle person into a treacherous one? But let's see who he calls gentle: this is a simple, innocent person who does no harm; It is most fitting for such a person to be wise—understanding is what he calls cunning—because he will avoid foolish thoughts. Or, since one who is alien to wickedness falls, in simplicity, to the deceit of evil people, then those who avoid the deceit of the evil ones must themselves be blameless, and in relation to those who plot intrigues, prudent, like snakes: “By malice,” it is said, “be childish, but have perfect minds” (1 Cor. 14:20). “Kindly”, i.e. approaching God with a simple, innocent heart. Proverbs 1:4. Give the youth feeling and meaning. Some, having been renewed like little children, and having been worthy of rebirth through Christ, receive a good feeling and understanding, as the Lord says: “If you do not return, you will be like little children” and further (Matthew 18:3). Proverbs 1:5. Having listened to these, the wise will become wiser. Every person who listens to the divine teaching and fulfills it, being wise, becomes wiser, as governed and protected by the Holy Spirit: a reasonable person, he says, will gain experience in management, so that he will not perish from any surprise; and the helmsman, having first studied the art, will become more capable of steering the ship; he who has become intelligent will, he says, supplement what was lacking with experience and reflection, in order to give good direction to swimming. He who floats skillfully will reach the pier of the divine will, without being wrecked in any virtue. And he who has not acquired the art will fail either in faith, or in hope, or in love, or in any of the virtues. The one who has suffered such a wreck will rightly say: “I have sunk into the depths of the sea, and the storm has drowned me” (Ps. 68:3). And you should always say: “Let me get rid of those who hate me and from deep waters” (Ps. 68:15). Steering a ship is the soul's perfect awareness of the fickle nature of human affairs, showing how one should navigate this fluctuating element - and in Scripture we repeatedly find that this life is called water and sea. Proverbs 1:6. He will understand the parable and the dark word. “The spiritual is spiritual with judgment. But a spiritual person does not accept the Spirit of God: for he has foolishness, not understanding (μὴ γιγν ώ σκον) for spiritual reasons” (1 Cor. 2:13, 14). What was said in the parable and in darkness by the Holy Spirit through the prophets is made clear to the participants and fellow-participants of the Holy Spirit, according to the teaching of the Spirit itself, because one who is not sealed, who does not have a helmsman, cannot understand the Divine Scripture. “Godliness... is the beginning of affection in God” (Prov. 1:7). Reverence for God is the beginning, as the source and cause, of the divine feeling in the inner man, through which we see the true light, hear hidden words, feed on the bread of life, perceive the fragrance of Christ and touch this life again. Or do these words mean that when we have piety, and our bodily senses act as they should, then they help us - when the evil eye does not see, the mouth does not utter. Proverbs 1:8. Hear, son, the laws (νομούς *1) of your father. That is, God and Father of all; “testaments to your mother” - the wisdom that revived you, which becomes our mother and leader, feeding us and raising us in the words and commandments of God. Proverbs 1:9. You will receive a crown of graces. If you keep the laws of your father in a faithful heart and keep the commandments of your mother, then you will one day receive, at the resurrection of the righteous, “a crown of graces and a coin of gold,” being glorified and crowned by Christ in the heavenly and eternal kingdom, if you compete worthy of the crown, because no wrestler receives a crown unless he competes firmly and legally. Proverbs 1:10. Let not wicked men deceive you. He talks about the mysteries performed on Christ by the Jews, and about how Judas, having received unclean money from the Jews, sat inside (Acts 1:18). Proverbs 1:13. Let us accept his valuable acquisition, and fill our houses with self-interest. The acquisition of righteousness is wisdom and understanding; it is taken away by the wicked, persuading the righteous to do something forbidden, so that the mind, blinded by sin, falls away from these holy acquisitions. This could also be said by those who said: “This is the heir: come, let us kill him and keep his property” (Matt. 21:38). Demons also steal from those they defeat, taking away from them the divine weapon, the “helmet of salvation,” the armor (θ ώ ρακα) “and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). By their “houses” they can mean the churches of the wicked, which they try to fill with booty. Proverbs 1:15. Don't go on the road with them. He didn’t say: don’t do it, but even “don’t go”; If you do go, quickly dodge, because they are going for the kill. If you fall into the net and it was not a matter of necessity, but of desire, you will acquire destruction without seeing, if you wish to have more, the destruction hidden in the nets. You will justly endure, he says, the same thing as the birds, which, having wings and the ability to fly, revolve around the earth. And you, who have reason and can be high, if you did not want to, would not have perished “without righteousness” (Proverbs 1:17). Or “mrezha” (Prov. 1:17) he calls various punishments to which the wicked are subjected. Proverbs 1:22. Once you were wicked, you began to hate the feeling. Piety towards God, if it does not have an accuser (κατ ή γορον), is the beginning of feeling. Proverbs 1:28. Whenever you call me again. Threatens the unbelievers and those who disobey His name. So does David: “He who lives in heaven will laugh at them” (Ps. 2:4). “Whenever you call... I won’t listen.” And through Isaiah: “When you stretch out your hands to me, I will hide my face from you” (Is. 1:15). Proverbs 1:31. They will eat the fruits of their own paths. They will receive punishment from themselves and will eat the fruits of their labors. Will they be punished by Me? They themselves are the culprits; they will be satisfied, he says, with their desires. Proverbs 2:16, 17. Son, may no evil counsel befall you. And he forgot the divine advice. He calls the devil evil advice, which advice, having seduced Adam, deprived him of a new and ageless knowledge of God. The forgotten divine covenant is the one that Christ in the Gospel promised to give to those who conquered the devil to Adam and Noah, Abraham and Moses, whom the angels desire in the Kingdom of Heaven when he comes. Proverbs 3:29. Do not weave evil against your friend, who is a stranger and trusts in you. Do not betray someone who has trusted you, as this is typical of animals. Proverbs 3:30. Do not be hostile to a person. Don't be an enemy for no reason. Is there a reason? It happens because of piety. That is why Paul says: “If it is possible from you, have peace with all men” (Rom. 12:18). Proverbs 4:4. Also... teaching me. You see how you didn’t consider it unworthy to listen to your mother’s instructions, because it was impossible, impossible to hear bad instructions from your parents, unless they belonged to the corrupt. “Let our word be established in your heart.” A teacher is of no use if the student is not attentive. And he said well: “let it be established”: let it be held, it says, it will be attached, it will not move away, it will not fall away; or: let it be affirmed, let it show that it (i.e. “our word”) serves as a support for the soul. Proverbs 4:6. Lust for her. Since love is interrupted, then love, he says, it (i.e. wisdom) constantly, so that it will keep you unharmed, since nothing glorious can be done without an ardent desire. Proverbs 4:10. Accept my words... may you have many paths of life. It is useless to listen to a word that you do not accept. And the “paths” are many virtues leading to one path, about which it is said: “I am the way” (John 14:6). Or, as someone will say: everything will be convenient, easy and accessible for you to go wherever you want, whether through wealth or poverty, glory or dishonor. Just as if someone, being undaunted, or having received wings from nature, treats every path without suspicion, even if it is difficult, even if deserted, even if there is a robber or thief lying in wait, so one raised on the wing of wisdom will be able to travel everywhere without difficulty. Proverbs 4:12. As long as you walk, your feet will not falter. If you walk, he says, having virtue, you will not stumble, you will not encounter any obstacles to achieving the goal of your work, because it is incongruous to be young and not receive satisfaction from success. It often happens on the roads that those who have traveled most of the way encounter an abyss that blocks the further path, or meet someone who says that we have chosen the wrong path, as a result of which we turn back. There are no obstacles on the path of virtue. But how can those walking who have such a sick body not get tired? Here the already intensified continuation of the path serves as the cause of labor. So, one who follows the path of virtue does not experience fatigue, because he is approaching the desired goal. Proverbs 4:19. The way of the wicked is dark. Darkness is always a challenge and a danger. But even in the face of danger, the light does not cease until it destroys the nights of trials. Proverbs 4:23. Guard your heart in every way. “All guarding” means great care and attention, or: at all times, according to what was said: “From the morning watch until night” (Ps. 129:5), guard your mind so as not to give access to the enemy, or: protect yourself from deeds, words and thoughts, because the enemy knows how to attack not only through actions, but also words; from such guarding your life will be increased. Proverbs 4:24. Take away the obstinate mouth from you, and put offending lips far from you. He speaks of perverted words, not straight, not true; offensive lips - those who speak evil; He advises you to move on from them and not only not to listen to what they say, but also to close your ears. He who has such a mouth, not finding an audience, will remain silent. Proverbs 5:3. Honey drips from the lips of a harlot's wife. By speaking sweetly empty, deceitful and insignificant words, one becomes even more deprived of little things. “Even for a while your larynx delights.” By delivering heartfelt pleasure through conversation and indulging the lust of the flesh, it delights a person for a short time. Proverbs 5:4. You will find bitter bile later. “And the last bitterness of the first shall be to that man” (Matthew 12:45), which will appear at the judgment, which will search, like a sharp sword, what is hidden in his heart. Proverbs 5:5. Because madness brings down those who use it with death to hell, but its steps are not established. The insane, those who fall into error, and are possessed and entangled by it, are relegated to hell upon death. What he once called a harlot, he now calls madness. It, he says, brings down the righteous to hell alive, and the lawless after death: “those who use it,” he says, are brought down to hell after death. It is called hell (ἄδης) because those who descend into it see with displeasure (ἀηδῶς) all the punishments there. David prays for those who descend into hell after death, saying: “Let them go down to hell and live: for wickedness is in their dwellings” (Ps. 54:16). Proverbs 5:8. Make your path far from her. Do not refer to the dogmas of heresy and do not approach the vestibules, that is, the various decrees that it has made. Calling “source” (Proverbs 5:15) shows the abundance of property; and saying that it is “only” his (Prov. 5:17) use, indicates pleasure. “Embraces... of strangers” (Prov. 5:20) refers to evil thoughts, which, as if they take possession of the soul, one cannot remain with and which are not hidden from God, who knows the heart. Proverbs 5:22. Everyone is burdened with the captivity of their sins. Even though, he says, God did not see, but, having given you time to repent, it is not He who punishes, but you yourself plunge yourself into the network of sins; you prepare your own bonds. Therefore, do not blame anyone, neither God nor man. We are evil. Well said: “they catch”, because punishments for sins are not always sent. Not every sin is called “captivity” (chain), but one that is associated with a shameful action and a reprehensible intention. He who has any desire, but has not combined the actions of sin with it, has received simple excitement (πάθος). Beware, he says, lest through the habit of sin you weave a net for yourself and become the same as the hunter’s prey. So let us not blame anyone for our misfortunes; in this let the Manichaeans be put to shame. And they are not just tied up, but they are also “tied up,” and before they are brought to the Judge, they suffer punishment from their conscience. Proverbs 5:23. This one dies unpunished: from the multitude of his fatness (βιότητος *2) he will erupt Anyone caught in lawlessness and left unpunished will experience the same thing; and he who has fellowship with murderers is a murderer. And look how bitter he portrays death when he says with whom he dies together. It's scary to die even with bad fame. And they were filled, he says, with iniquity, which he called fatness, from which the flesh came, for the works of the flesh, and outside of saving life. “And he died (ἀπ ώ λετο) for madness,” and not a wish, since he had his own legal wife to satisfy the wish. Therefore, let no one blame nature, but let him blame his own excess; and this is not a property of nature. Proverbs 6:3. Stay strong. Do not fall and do not weaken in your steadfastness, but excite and strain the body consecrated to God to observe the commandments He has given. Proverbs 6:6. Go to wickedness, o lazy one. It is very shameful for a person to go to a dumb animal in order to learn virtue from him. He could name a larger animal, but with the insignificance of an example he wants to shame the lazy one. Look at what he tells you to be jealous of. In labor and effort: use righteous labors. And he said well: “He is inferior to the needy” (Proverbs 6:7), because when during the summer he has abundant food and cannot be afraid of hunger, he does not look at the present, but worries about the future. True prosperity does not make him careless, just as we often, living happily, do not think about the disasters awaiting us. Take care that when the fruit-gathering ends, winter does not come, a difficult time, and you do not have to experience what happened to the foolish virgins (Matthew 25:12). So, go to the ant, that is, to the people who are humiliated by the rulers of this world, but who have gained hope in Christ, imitate his life and “be wiser than him: he is not a farmer” instead of: having no hope in the world; not being tempted by the sight of injustices occurring in life, not being forced by anyone, but voluntarily, out of heartfelt desire, believing God, prepares eternal life through good deeds. Proverbs 6:8. Go to the bee. Turn to the Church and learn from the works of light that take place in it - its activities worthy of respect, its management, so wise and pure; her works are glorified by kings and ordinary citizens; her commandments are accepted by rich and poor for their salvation, although she is not rich in external power, although in the eyes of the world she has no meaning. But believing in Christ, he prospers: a rich and varied meal is offered to Him at the time he appoints. But he does not look at the present, but takes great care of the future. “He prepares food for the harvest and prepares many things in the summer.” Look how an animal cares about the future. And you enjoy security in this life, but take care that when winter comes, your house does not end up empty, without food supplies. Pay attention to the legality (τὸ δ ί καιον) of it: not that it is useful for kings, but useless for ordinary people; her healing helps equally many of both; it serves nature, not honor. So be you, appreciating not the face, but the essence of the matter. And what is especially good about your body? Nothing. To prevent the lazy person from pleading weakness, the writer of the book chose the weakest of the animals, depriving him of the possibility of justification. “She is loved” by both those who do not have and those who do not; Every day, both in villages and cities, we hear countless praises for this genus of insects. Proverbs 6:11. Then the evil traveler will find you poverty, but poverty will be like a good life. There is nothing more disgusting than voluntary poverty, which very quickly befalls the lazy, surpassing good walkers in speed. “Wretchedness” and “scarcity” mean: “squalor” is a lack of knowledge, “scarcity” is a lack of virtues. Look at the advantage of activity. Don't you want to take lessons from the dumb? Learn from the matter itself from experience: do not turn out to be more foolish than the dumb. So, avoid squalor. Is it hard work? But look how it ends. Is laziness pleasant? But think about its consequences. We judge things not by their beginning, but by what they lead to. He who leaves home does not want to remain on the road forever, but when he leaves he has in mind where it will lead. That's why he sets out on the road to reach the end. And you act contrary to this. Proverbs 6:14. At any time such rebellion constitutes a hail. Alas, how much it means: “for all time”! Even if he wanted to show something good, the very way of showing it is full of suspicion: he excites the people, sets entire cities in motion. Such a person does not have a peace-loving spirit, he has not heard the words of Christ: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). This teaches us not to give anyone a reason for hostility. Proverbs 6:17. The eye of the harasser, the tongue of the unrighteous, the hand that sheds righteous blood (δικα ί ο ν 1). Through individual members of the body indicates evil actions. As there are eyes, tongue and hands in the body, so is the mind, desire, and decision in the soul. It was not without a purpose that I listed these members of the body, but so that they would learn to curb them, avoiding imitation. “They shed righteous blood” are those who drink the blood of the Lord and defile themselves with shameful deeds. Proverbs 6:18. A heart that forges evil thoughts. If the heart is unclean, then it makes the members of the body unclean, as it pours out poison. Well said: “liquefies” (Proverbs 6:19), because fire is a lie that divides those who agree, not only not bringing benefit, but also leading to enmity. According to their spiritual disposition, brothers are those who have the grace of adoption and obey one father - Christ; Lawless and passionate thoughts intensify to outrage them, exciting the heart to hatred and the will to shameful actions. Proverbs 6:21. Bind it to your soul. That is, first of all, bind the teaching contained in the laws, putting it in the depths of your soul, and then, adorning it with good deeds, tie it tightly to your neck. A good companion and interlocutor is constant reflection on divine teaching, especially when we are in the square. Then we especially need this weapon, because the eye inflicts a wound, and anger is kindled, and what we see arouses the desire for wealth. So meditate on them “as you sit, and when you walk, and when you lie down” (Deut. 6:7). The commandment is the reproof of evil, and the instruction of good. Through the law sin is known. Proverbs 6:24. Save you from your husband's wife and from the obsession of a foreign tongue. Look how much he talks about chastity. Lust is darkness. From “obsession,” that is, not only from adultery, but also from suspicion. It often happens that one who is pure from sin is not free from suspicion. The commandment corrects this too. The “married wife” can be understood as the teaching of heterodox people and their false reasoning; urges you to beware of this (Proverbs 6:25). Let not the charms of beautiful expression deceive you (τῆς κεκομψευμένης φράσεως). “The price... of a harlot is the price of one piece of bread” (Proverbs 6:26). The brevity of the pleasure and the insignificance of the payment was shown by the cost of one bread. “It will not be without guilt” (Proverbs 6:29). And pure from action, but stained in other ways of communication, “will not be without guilt,” that is, will not remain pure. Just as when you open your eyes you cannot help but look, so when you look at a woman, lust cannot help but be born. Why add fire to nature? Proverbs 6:30. He steals so that he may satisfy his hungry soul. He says this not exempting the thief from punishment, but for comparison. One has protection in poverty, and the other is guided by madness alone. One, being captured, is subject to punishment, and the other to death and, moreover, shameful death. As for contemplation (κατὰ θεωρ ί αν), it is not surprising if someone uses one or another position of external wisdom in order to, through this, find out the truth and refute what seems to them 2 solid. Such was Paul, captivating every mind to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5) and defeating (ποι ή σας 3) the Athenians through their own inscription (Acts 17:23). And if, having abandoned true wisdom, we love the wisdom of the world, then we will foolishly commit fornication. Proverbs 7:3. Cover them with your fingers (αὐτούς τοῖς δακτύλοις) 4. "Fingers" indicate individual actions, and the hand serves as a designation for all activities. So he says that even in small things act virtuously; through this you will open your heart wide to accept virtues. To the Corinthians who did not have such broadness of heart, Paul says: “Broaden yourselves also” (2 Cor. 6:13). Our sister (Proverbs 7:4) - contemplation of the existing together with the incorporeal; its types: understanding, knowledge, education. “From a strange woman” ( Proverbs 7:5 ) – from polytheistic teaching; it is conveyed eloquently, teaching pleasant things, pleasures and covetousness. “If he begins to overwhelm you with flattering words.” “Flattering words” are passionate thoughts. He who exercises himself in the wisdom of God protects himself from the depravity that gives rise to them. “Home” (Prov. 7:6) is its breadth of opinions (τὸ πλάτος δογμάτων); “window” – individual of them. Proverbs 8:1. "Son (Yἱέ), 5 you preach wisdom" and so on... Wish, he says, wisdom and the power of reason will listen to you. “On the edges” (Proverbs 8:2) means either that what he says is clear, or what he makes high. He who has achieved perfection, knowing that wisdom created everything, sees both its height and its descent and ascent along the paths. And a new person, seeing only the height, must ask him (αὑτὸν) to see it itself (αὐτὴν), so that it is easier to hear the voice: just go to it. “At the gates... of the mighty” (Prov. 8:3) means either what makes them strong, or that they especially need her, or that she is present during the guiding instructions of teachers, since he who is in the vestibule hears her glorification: it is said that either at the exits or at the entrances she is sung by those leaving evil and coming to virtue. Then he presents her as expressing what can attract her: “I pray to you, O men, and give my voice to the son of man” (Prov. 8:4). Although this is to your benefit, he says, I beg you. “Man” and “sons of men” are one and the same; “men” are perfect, worthy of the call, and “sons of men” are imperfect, to whom the exhortation is then addressed. Proverbs 8:26. The Lord created the uninhabited countries and the inhabited ends of the heavens. Do not introduce another Creator, although an uninhabited country does not bring any benefit. That is why he made the “ends” populated, so that, knowing the ends and limits, you would see that this is the work of God, without doubting what is between them. “Ends” are hidden and divine secrets, just as “countries” are fertile souls, and “uninhabited” are divine thoughts about which it is impossible for a person to speak. Proverbs 9:1. Wisdom built herself a house and established seven pillars. “Wisdom” is the Son of God who became man. He prepared for Himself a house, flesh from the Virgin. “Seven pillars” - “The Spirit of God, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and piety... The Spirit of the fear of God,” as Isaiah says (Is. 11:2,3). Or: “house” is the Church, and “pillars” are the apostles. Or he talks about a wise husband, because he is firm, has what he needs and does not need anything. The house of wisdom is the Church, the “pillars” are “the pillars of being” (Gal.2:9). Proverbs 9:2. She laid down her own sacrificial offering. “Sacrificial” are divine thoughts or explanations of the Scriptures, and dissolution is an addition to the history of anagogy (ἀναγωγὴν 6), since the undissolved divine cannot be contained; Therefore, in a variety of ways and by dividing dogmas and interpretations into parts, wisdom prepares food for the learner. “Mix your wine in cups” (τὸν ο ἶ νον ἑαυτῆς). She combined pure divine teaching with human words (φωναῖς), that is, with human wisdom, so that we could comprehend it. By “sacrificial” we can also understand the blessed prophets, who are killed by unbelievers from time to time, as it is said: “For your sake we are killed all day long” (Ps. 43:23). “Ambassadors” of his prophets and apostles “with high preaching” (Proverbs 9:3), that is, with a teaching that does not contain anything low and rejected, calling all nations to the knowledge of God. “High” he called what was said about: “Their broadcast went out into all the earth” (Ps. 18:5). “Those who require” ( Proverbs 9:5 ) – those who have not yet received the power of the Holy Spirit, who have just begun, and are not perfect. “Come” - learn the true and straight path, “and drink wine” - and receive the Holy Spirit like wine. “Leave foolishness” (Proverbs 9:6) - turn away from the ways of foolishness and discover eternal life. “Eat” - strengthen yourself with my words and sacraments. Proverbs 9:9. Give wine to the wise. Guilt (ἀφορμ ή) is exposure, a saving and useful matter, or speaks of “guilt” through words, because this way it will rise to the height of teaching (ἀναγωγῆς). “Say to the righteous,” that is, to the well-minded, show the ways of righteousness, “and he will add” instead: he will love you, correcting sins from inattention as a result of reproof. “The counsel of the saints is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). The "Council of Saints" distinguishes what should be done from what should not be done; This is advice with reason. “Spend much time” (Proverbs 9:11). “Much” is put instead of: infinite, or so as not to free us from a double understanding of speech, since the years of this life are eternal. He who does not use the wisdom of God “feeds the winds” (Proverbs 9:12), laying down for himself unsteady principles in doing things and explaining the Scriptures. “The ways of your grapes” refers to life according to the law, leading to Christ, because the grapes are Israel. When it needs to be cultivated, what does it do? “It passes... through the desert” because the nature of lies is sterile. Do you see how I portrayed the fruitless nature of lies? He who held on to it gathered only thorns and thistles. A “waterless” land can be one that does not have divine teaching, and a thirsty land can be one in which good (π ό τιμον) water does not flow - the Spirit, which is given to fruitful springs by Jesus. “Infertility” is evil and ignorance. Proverbs 9:17. Touch the hidden bread into sweetness. And what pleasure is there in stolen things that carry within them fear, danger, and the expectation of death? Although it seems pleasant, it is not so in reality, as it is said: “The bread of lies is sweet to them,” and after this: “their mouths will be filled with stones” (Proverbs 20:17). “But jump back” (Proverbs 9:18). The blessed thing is to retire. And the second is not to slow down in evil thoughts, but through repentance to move on, since it is impossible for someone who puts fire in his bosom not to burn his clothes; It is impossible for those occupied with evil thoughts to escape the eternal fire. From this it is clear how far one must keep oneself from evil. Sin is an abyss; go further: those who are nearby, although they would be safe, are afraid and shaking. “So you will pass through alien water.” He calls lust water, showing that just as someone who loves to drink water from such a source is guilty of stealing what is in front of him and, moreover, in abundance, so it is there. Or, just as God has a “source of life” (Ps. 35:10), so the devil has a source of death. If the source of God is the source of virtue and knowledge, then the source of the devil is obviously the source of vice and ignorance. You also need to think about rivers, wells, waters and rain. And the words: “the years will follow” mean that it is in your power to receive it. Proverbs 10:2. The treasures of the wicked are not used. How is this possible? Haven't many people escaped death because of their wealth? So; but they were not freed from sin and redeemed a life worse than death. Let us hope not for wealth, but for virtue. Or - that righteousness, coming to sins leading to death, frees from it. How will treasures collected on earth be of any use, “where worms and aphids decay, and where thieves break through and steal” (Matthew 6:19)? And righteousness not only saves those who acquire it, but also excites many to zeal for it and transfers them from death to eternal immortality. Proverbs 10:3. The Lord will not kill a righteous soul with famine, but He will destroy the life of the wicked. How can those who have the heavenly bread of life endure hunger? But the wicked, even if they enjoy abundance, will have nothing more. Or this way you can understand: if the life of the wicked is vicious, the Lord will “pervert”, that is, the wicked will one day cease to be wicked. After such a change, the Lord “will hand over the kingdom to God the Father, that God may be all things in all” (1 Cor. 15:24,28). But the Lord will not give over to hunger a righteous soul, striving for knowledge, wisdom and all that is good. Proverbs 10:6. The blessing of the Lord is on the head of the righteous: but the lips of the wicked are covered with timeless weeping. The head of the righteous is saved and crowned, but the wicked, as one who used his mouth to multiply sins and commits sin through them, will be covered with premature sorrow. Or - this way: blessing and understanding are thought in the mind, and the word of the wicked prevails in the application of great sorrow (ὲν παραθέσει μεγάλου πένθους). Or this way one can understand that their word is worse than premature sorrow; or - even so that their mouths are closed so that the fullness of the punishment is revealed. “The name of the wicked fades away” (Proverbs 10:7). When we talk about the righteous, he is glorified and his memory is perpetuated, but the wicked not only dies prematurely, but his name very soon “fades away.” Proverbs 10:8. The wise man will accept the commandments with his heart, but the unveiled mouth will falter. “Wise” refers to someone who knows and has natural ability, who is guided by the law, and “unveiled mouth” refers to a fool who does not bridle his lips, talks about everything, does not know how to remain silent, who does not know how they say: “Have you heard the word? Let it die with you." Or do the words mean that by saying one thing or another, such a person places stumbling blocks in his life, for which he will “stumble” instead of falling. Proverbs 10:9. He just walks, he walks with hope. Although deception seems to be a safe thing, and simplicity - unreliable, but contrary to this he says that he who lives without cunning should not lose heart, since he who makes his paths crooked “will be known”; The insidious one cannot hide. Or instead: he who does not plot against his neighbor will not be harmed by another. He who secretly builds forges and praises to his face, will “be known,” even if he seemed unknown from this side until then. Then he convinces you that you need to do everything with hope. The actions of the righteous are continuously guided by that eternal Source, Who said: “I am...life” (John 14:6). And the one who speaks wickedly will remain silent, having suffered punishment. Proverbs 10:13. He who speaks wisdom from the wall, beats his heartless husband with a rod. Don't think that he wants to take revenge. I’m not saying, it’s said that insult, but say something smart, and you’ll hit the enemy harder than if you had a stick. The hater can (ἴδιον) be struck; if you want, do it this way. But it is not arrogance that is striking, but condescension. Proverbs 10:15. The acquisition of the rich is strong, but the destruction of the wicked is poverty. The rich man is not self-sufficient; If he does not protect himself in the city, his property is unsafe. Then he condemns poverty. And in an allegorical sense (κατὰ διάνοιαν): the disciples of those who grow rich in God are indestructible, but the wicked, who have nothing worthy of attention, are poor, and therefore perish. “The paths of life” (Prov. 10:17) calls those that lead to virtue, “unreproached punishment” (παιδε ί αν δὲ ἀωεξέλεγκτον) - a bad disposition of the soul, secretly leading to error. Proverbs 10:25. A passing storm, the wicked disappears, but the righteous, having turned away, is saved forever. This is because the first sins fearlessly when temptation comes, but the righteous through patience and gratitude is saved forever. See how safe righteousness is. “By avoiding”, that is, by moving away or firmly bearing, one is saved. And he disappears not only when confusion or temptation sets in, but also when he approaches: he fearlessly sins, not noticing the righteous judgment of God. “The fear of the Lord lasts days” (Proverbs 10:27). Days originating from the Sun of Truth. David prays about this: “Do not bring me to the height of my days” (Ps. 101:25). “Full of days...Abraham passed away” (Gen. 25:8). Proverbs 11:1. The measure of flattering abomination before the Lord. He wants our court to be impartial, since our court is the measure of things. “Where grief enters, there will be dishonor” (Proverbs 11:2). He speaks not about the insulted, but about the insulted. Why? Because these latter bring dishonor to themselves - not the one who hears bad things or suffers, but the one who does them, since everyone shuns such things as if from an infection. Or he calls pride “annoyance,” since the proud are not respected, but the humble are respectful and wise; Wisdom especially requires this quality. Proverbs 11:7. If a righteous man dies, hope will not perish. Hopes that the children will be good, hopes to get great things; or these words turn us to the resurrection, or to posterity; or - that, having enjoyed everything, he will also enjoy future benefits; or - which enjoys fame even after death. Proverbs 11:13. My husband is bilingual. Here he speaks of a cunning, insincere person who, by saying something different from what is in his soul, tests the thoughts of everyone in the assembly. But a reliable person, judiciously controlling the words spoken by the “spirit”, or the depths of the heart, says one thing that is useful, and is silent about the rest. Proverbs 11:16. Strongholds are confirmed by wealth. Nor does it deviate from wealth, which the active have more than the lazy. Or in an abstract sense (νοητῶς): not one who is ardent in spirit, but one who is weak in zeal, needs spiritual wealth. Proverbs 11:22. Just as there is a hole in the nostrils of a pig, so a wife is more malicious than babble. Why did you use this animal as an example and not take another? Because, just as a pig, mainly raising dirt with this part, spoils this golden ornament, so this woman dishonors beauty. Why did she appear beautiful? Why doesn’t she say why she became malicious? God allows crazy women to be beautiful, so that the sensible and wise woman will not be surprised at this quality, but will understand real beauty. He allowed fools to be rich, so that the intelligent would see the lack (ἐνδεές) and would not be embarrassed by this, but would strive for what creates these benefits. Proverbs 11:24. The essence, which sows its own, creates the greatest; but the essence, which is alien to the gathering, is diminished. You can see the expenditure that causes the coming, and the gathering that causes the decrease. If there are some with whom it happens differently, then I agree that this does not happen to everyone, so that virtue is not forced. If he made all the stingy poor, and all the merciful rich, then, of necessity, everyone would turn to virtue. But he neither made this general, so that there was no need, nor allowed it to be a general law, so as not to provoke wars. Proverbs 11:26. Hold the wheat and leave it with your tongue. Anyone who wants to prove an extraordinary matter also uses a spell, for example: let there be no benefit for himself, but for his enemies! Paul does the same: “Oh, so that those who corrupt you may be cut off” (Gal. 5:12)! And the Jews, who had wheat - the ancient Scripture and kept it, left it to us, the pagans; the kingdom was taken from them. Or - he talks about ordinary food; if you are concerned about hunger and selling and, asking God for fertility, you yourself are preparing for famine, then you are doing something that is worse. “Sell wheat sparingly, you are cursed by the people.” This is not a taking away, but a curse, that is, “will leave with the tongue.” Proverbs 11:28. He will shine. This means either that which will be light; so, that one (i.e. “hope for wealth”) will die without using anything of his own, but this one will be a light, sowing in the present age in the hope of the future. Or - “will shine” instead of: will grow; and if it is himself, then even more so his offspring. Proverbs 11:30. From the fruit of righteousness the tree of life vegetates; the souls of the wicked are cut off untimely. The fruit of truth is the perfection of virtue; from it grows the tree of life. Untimely not by age, but by actions, those that do not bear mature fruit, this does not happen often. Why does one reach a ripe old age, while the other dies on the eve of life? Let's find out the reason and won't remain perplexed. What is she like? It happens that it is contrary to the above words, so that virtue is not forced. Proverbs 11:31. Even if the righteous can barely be saved, where will the wicked and sinful appear? Pay attention to the fact that life is long, a lot of firmness is needed in life, and there are many misfortunes. Not that he says that after correction (ὅ τι μετὰ τὸ κατορθῶσαι 7). If he speaks this too, he speaks well. If we consider what God has done for us and what we are doing, then who would be right before Him, even if he were purer than the sun? He who acts in truth is righteous; wicked - hating God; a sinner is bad in deeds. Proverbs 12:1. Love punishment loves feeling. He who loves moral instruction is a lover of knowledge, exercising the cognitive ability (τὰ αἰσθητήρια) in distinguishing between good and evil. He who turns away from knowledge, who does not want to know anything at all, goes mad. Just as someone who does not want to be treated becomes sick, so this one becomes insane. Proverbs 12:2. It is better to find grace from the Lord God: the man who commits lawlessness will remain silent. “Better” is said not in the sense of comparison, but instead: kind. And what comparison can there be between one who finds grace from God and a lawless person? “He will remain silent” is said instead: he will not be worthy of a word, that is, from the Lord. “A man will not be reformed by wickedness” (Proverbs 12:3). Look how he is prompted either by the judgment of God, or by the actions of people; nothing good is accomplished through lawlessness; with lawlessness everything is destroyed. Proverbs 12:4. A courageous wife is a crown to her husband. He constantly says that the good and the opposite of good lie in wives, since the husband constantly needs treatment. Therefore, those who intend to marry should look not only for a life partner, but also for virtues. It is impossible for a husband not to perish when his wife is depraved; therefore seek virtue, not wealth. Good, courageous, will become a glorious crown; the thin one, like a worm located in the very heart, imperceptibly little by little leads to death. And the most terrible thing is that, unnoticed by others, poison is poured inside and exhausts the unfortunate soul. Or - in other words: virtue adorns its follower, while vice makes the vicious hateful. “The thoughts of the righteous are destined” (κρίματα 8) (Prov. 12:5), because the simple ones are judged (ἀπλοί), or - because the righteous constantly reflect on the judgments and commandments of God, or - because they always carry out judgment according to reason, since we have a judge - the mind, evaluating every virtue in comparison with the vice opposite to it; he condemns the latter, but justifies the former. Proverbs 12:9. It is better for a husband to work for himself in dishonor. Since many people run away from work, not only because it is hard, but also shameful, he first convinced the people themselves to look at the ant, and now he eliminates the very thought. What are you saying? Is labor dishonest? How much better is it to suffer dishonor than to suffer hunger? What is the dishonor? Do you serve others and not yourself? Even if you serve many, you don’t serve them, but yourself. If I didn’t want to save myself from hunger, I wouldn’t have thought about those. You yourself reap the fruits of your service, therefore, you serve yourself. Don't you see the warriors? Each of them serves himself. So is the artist. Therefore, give up your resentment. You are your own master, not anyone else. Don't you see the poor who serve no one? And they serve themselves. What honor is there when you need bread? Proverbs 12:10 . The righteous has mercy on the souls of his cattle. An exercise in love for humanity is to accustom oneself to compassion for fellow tribesmen using dumb animals. He who has mercy on them is all the more merciful to his brother; at the same time, along with cattle, we also mean those who are lazy by nature; He who has mercy teaches and helps them; but excessive justice is to worry about what does not bring benefit. What are you saying? “The righteous has mercy on the souls of his cattle”? Truly so. And here it is necessary to show great care in order to learn the same in relation to a fellow tribesman. It was not in vain that God commanded to raise fallen cattle, to return lost cattle, and not to bind the mouth of an ox. He wants us to show every mercy to the cattle, firstly, for our own sake, and secondly, so that it will be able to provide you with services in bodily needs. This very thing serves as an exercise in philanthropy and serving others, since he who has mercy on someone else’s property has mercy on his own; He who has mercy on official matters is all the more merciful to his brother. But that one brings you benefit with his service, but what kind of benefit does this one bring? All the more in the work of God. Do you see how we serve cattle and do not consider it dishonorable? We serve not him, but ourselves. Proverbs 12:11 . Make your land full of bread; those who persecute are vain and deprived of reason. Turns to the agricultural and rational (φιλόσοφον) life and deeds of truth, because idleness brings evil. “Walking in vain” means doing something that does not bring benefit. What, he says, do you remain idle, waste what you have collected well, indulging in drunkenness and food? He didn’t say: work and get more. Good is work combined with truth. Proverbs 12:14 . From the fruits of the lips the husband’s soul will be filled with good things. do not think that virtue consists only in deeds; most of it is in words, since from the fruit of a good thought comes a good word, and the fruit of a good word is a virtuous deed that brings good; the word of a courageous soul, leading to virtue, is good and leads to good. Proverbs 12:15 pm Rule the path of the mad before them. Here it says that a fool considers himself impeccable. There are two misfortunes: being stupid and a sinner not considering himself a sinner. Just as someone who is oblique thinks that he is looking correctly, so someone who has damaged feelings thinks that he is thinking sensibly. Thus, the first sign of punishment is that consciousness is destroyed: therefore, it does not accept advice. “A wise man will listen to advice,” that is, one who has begun to strive for wisdom. Thus, what you consider reasonable - not listening to anyone - turns out to be stupidity, and what you consider stupidity - turning to the help of another, testifies to wisdom. Proverbs 12:16 . The madman confesses his anger: the cunning one hides his dishonor. That is, a cowardly and insignificant person is impatient, does not restrain anger, and immediately reveals it out of cowardice; and a reasonable person, although he will be angry, hides anger within himself, since anger is caused by dishonor. “To have an unrighteous tongue” (Proverbs 12:19). You see the language there and here, but its actions are not the same; there is medicine, here there are wounds. What could be more opposite than this? Do you see that evil is not in nature, how quickly the use is revealed in one direction or the other? “Nothing unrighteous pleases the righteous to eat” (Proverbs 12:21). Just as the righteous does not like anything unrighteous, so the unrighteous does not like anything righteous, and this depends not only on the nature of things, but also on the opinion of what is considered evil. Don’t tell me that such and such was tempted, that such and such became an unbeliever. This comes from ourselves, and not from objects. Just as the sun, no matter how brightly it shines, does not bring any benefit to a person with sore eyes, so the truth, no matter how obvious, remains without effect on a corrupt soul. Proverbs 12:23 . The husband is the rational throne of feeling. All his feeling, due to his rationality, remains in him, that is, the place of his rest, the seat, is located in him; it is not removed, but reigns in him; or - that reason is the head and kingdom of feeling; or - from the opposite: the one who understands everything can be called the throne of feelings, as, on the contrary, the throne of iniquity is called. “The madmen take oaths” because they follow a path that is under a curse. Proverbs 12:24 . The hand of the chosen will prevail. There is nothing richer than virtue, nothing stronger, nothing more effective. Or “hand” refers to the activity of the saints who dominate the world. And unkind men will be captured by demons. Proverbs 12:25 . A terrible word troubles the heart of a righteous man, but good news gladdens him. The word about punishments in the law confuses, but listening to the gospel in the Gospels rejoices. Look at what is useful in both situations: if he hears something good about his neighbors, he does not envy, but rejoices; if something bad happens to him, his sorrow is tempered into joy. The wicked are the opposite: when they need to grieve because of hearing terrible words, they treat it with contempt, and when they should rejoice at good news, they fall into exhaustion due to the opposite feelings they experience. Proverbs 12:27 . The flatterer will not catch the bait. Since our thought can be likened to a hunter and a fisherman, a cunning person will not be caught by opposing thoughts, but will himself become their prey. Proverbs 13:3. He who guards his mouth, guards his soul. Look: we are the first to produce good fruit, and we also cause harm to ourselves. “Keeps his lips” is the one who knows how to say: “O Lord, guard my mouth” (Ps. 140:3). But the one who uses his mouth recklessly is the one who does not think about what he says or what he stands for. “Everyone is idle in lust” (Proverbs 13:4). Such a person, no matter how rich he is, destroys his wealth through inactivity; or talks about how work distracts thought from useless desires. And those who take care of what they have add to it what they do not have. “He who is rich in himself has nothing, and he who has nothing is humble in abundance” (Prov. 13:7). Thus, neither wealth is the cause of arrogance, nor poverty is the cause of humility. Or: those who consider themselves wise are called “rich for themselves.” Proverbs 13:8. Delivering a husband's soul is his wealth. What are you saying? What are you doing, praising wealth like that? Firstly, he does not speak about any wealth in general, but about his own from righteous labors; therefore, poverty is not a vice. Or he says that perhaps no one will threaten the poor; who has nothing, why would anyone try to intimidate him? Thus, the life of the latter is free of worries. Or “his wealth” he calls righteousness, which delivers from death. And he does not think about punishment, that is, the threat of punishment, poor in virtues. Proverbs 13:12. It is better for the beginner to help 10 the promiser and the leader in hope. Everywhere he teaches not to utter words recklessly, either to God or to people, not to just promise, but to show in action and not limit yourself to words. Or: lay the beginning of virtue immediately, and do not postpone it to the future. It’s good to take on a good deed and not get your hopes up. “Fear the commandment, this one lives” (Proverbs 13:13). Just as he who fears does His will, so he who fears the commandment fulfills it. And he who rejects God rejects His commandments. Long live the soul that keeps the divine commandment. Proverbs 13:18. A bold king will fall into evil, but a wise messenger will deliver him. Do you see how evil insolence is, that it is not useful even to the king? And from whom is the one who has everything in his power exposed to disaster? Look also at what good is the opposite of this property. “He will deliver him,” says the wise messenger and adviser. Consequently, he will save himself by declaring wise things to his enemies and sending embassies. “The messenger is wise,” that is, giving wise advice. Proverbs 13:21. He who walks with the wise will become wise. Indeed, spending time with such persons, and not just traveling with them, is of no small importance, although this is also useful, since much can be learned in this way. He did not say: living with them, or: converging for a long time; but, he says, those who participate in the journey will receive much fruit. If a person's clothes and laughter reveal his qualities, then even more so a short journey repeated several times. When dealing with the insane, the opposite happens. Proverbs 13:22. Evil will befall those who sin. “Achieved” shows the speed of retribution, the absence of a period of time. “Evil” are disasters that, as they follow slowly (βραδύτερα), pursue sinners, and “good”, as they follow quickly (ταχύτερα), “will befall the righteous.” “A man’s sons will inherit good things” (Proverbs 13:23). Inheritance does not mean that he will receive an inheritance from his children, since this would be the greatest curse, but, on the contrary, he will pass on wealth to his descendants and leave it as an inheritance; But the wealth of the wicked does not go to children, but to those who can use it well. Or this: the mind is the father, giving birth to good thoughts, and from the latter come the actions corresponding to them. Proverbs 13:25. He who spares his rod hates his son. This is said to those who consider themselves child-loving, but in reality they are not. According to these words, “hates” is not the one who does not spare, but the one who spares. In fact, children are not an accidental acquisition; we are responsible for saving them. “Neither children” (1 Samuel 2:24). Such a naked appeal is not admonition. Did not Eli suffer the gravest punishment for this instruction? “Whoever loves you punishes diligently,” not just, but diligently. And since nature commands to spare, excess is eliminated. After all, nature did not put love for children in you so that you would harm your loved ones, but so that you would take care of them. Thus love destroys the superfluous. “The righteous eater satisfies his soul” (Proverbs 13:26). And the prophets say: “Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root” (Jer. 12:2); but this is not always and not always the case: the downfalls of the wicked are numerous. Why is not everyone punished and not everyone honored? In order for virtue to be valued in itself. Or: those who feed on divine words are filled with what the wicked need. Proverbs 14:1. Wise wives created houses. The Church, through the patience and hope of Christ, built a house for itself, that is, through teaching and faith, it erected and housed those who came to it. “The crazy woman is digging with her own hands.” This means: heresy, which has become the cause of its eternal death. “He who walks rightly fears the Lord” (Prov. 14:2). It is not just fear that makes a right walk, but the fear of God. Just as the wicked, having come “to the depths of evil, are careless” (Prov. 18:3), so the godly is afraid. Thus, a virtuous life is also good in the sense that the fear inherent in it makes one more God-fearing. Proverbs 14:3. From the lips of the insane is a rod of annoyance. Before this, you said: “He who speaks wisdom from his lips, strikes a heartless man with a rod” (Proverbs 10:13): how can you, he says, also learn from a fool? Not the same; and this is a rod, but a rod of “annoyance,” or else of condescension; one inflicts an insult and the other corrects. Insane people are so severe, as if they were beating. You can scold and reprove, but with wisdom; the reproof dissolved by it is not disgusting, heavy or intolerable. If a madman praises, it is worse than abuse; if a wise man scolds, it is equal to praise. A certain sage also said this: if he says it in a loud voice while praising, take the words as reproach. Proverbs 14:4. Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean. What he says, it seems to me, is that an inactive person suffers countless losses and poverty, or that when there are no oxen, no food is supplied; that the oxen must be spared; that you need to be economical; that you need to take great care of agriculture. Or this: where there are no teachers, the students’ houses are empty; The strength of the teacher is manifested where there are many works. “You seek wisdom from the wicked, but you will not find it” (Prov. 14:6), because wisdom is incompatible with vice. “The houses of the wicked require cleansing” (Proverbs 14:9). Having a foundation on sand, they need to be cleansed so that, having become pure, they can recognize God. Those who hear the words of Jesus and do them build their house on the rock. Proverbs 14:15. A gentle person has faith in every word. He who is easy to listen to is careless, because he foolishly believes everything simply; but a reasonable person, if he believes at first impression, then finds out and reflects. “Evil will creep before the good” (Proverbs 14:19). Since virtue cannot exist together with vice, as its opposite, the latter, if the former exists, will fall under it. “And the wicked will serve before the doors of the righteous.” The wicked, repentant, will rush to the doors of the good. “They will serve” should be taken here to mean not “to treat” 11, but “to serve”, like teachers. Proverbs 14:24. The crown of the wise is their wealth. What are you saying? Is the glory of the wise rich? Yes, he says, not because it increases their glory, but because they can use it as they should and not receive anything bad from it. Therefore someone says: Why does the foolish have wealth? Because a fool cannot acquire wisdom. “The fear of the Lord (Πρόσταγμα Κυρίου 12) is the source of life” (Prov. 14:27). Being a source, it never stops, but pours out both present and future life, and by giving good, it delivers from bad. “In the multitude of nations, glory to the king; in the poverty of the people there is sorrow for the mighty” (Prov. 14:28). A king has power and glory in others, but he who fears God has his power in himself. Through this, I think, he convinces superiors and subordinates to yield to each other: as one who has power in them, put yourself in such a relationship with them. Proverbs 14:29. A man who is long-suffering is wise, but a man who is faint-hearted is profoundly insane. Pay attention to the strengthening of expression in both sentences: “much ... strong.” Nothing can serve as such a sign of recklessness as cowardice, and such evidence of perfect rationality as long-suffering. How else can anyone be long-suffering unless he has examined everything with great care? A meek man heals the ardent passion of the heart; mastering anger and annoyance, he himself heals the heart that is outraged by it. Rational reasoning taking possession of forces is like a caries beetle; it cuts them apart and wants to devour them. Proverbs 14:31. The slanderer irritates the wretched one who created it. There are two sins here: slander and oppression of the beggar. Why does it “irritate the creator and”? Because He made him poor and accessible to your tongue, slanderer. “Honor him and have mercy on the poor.” And yet, if He made him like this, then why is it necessary to have mercy? From many I have heard the following words: why is it necessary to feel sorry for the beggar? If God had loved him, he would not have made him poor. How long will we joke about our salvation? How long will we laugh at something that is unclean, filled with countless sins, and should be feared, feared and trembled? Tell me, who did you love, Lazarus or the rich man? It ruined us that we turned an important matter into a joke. “He who trusts” 13, that is, he who is pure and trusts in God, “is righteous in his own way” (Prov. 14:32), insofar as no one is saved by the works of another and is not brought to destruction. Proverbs 14:33. Wisdom rests in the hearts of goodness (ἀγαθοῦ *3). That is, it will take root, deepen, and remain as if in the safest place. Wisdom will not be known to the foolish, because it will not dwell in a body given over to sin. “A wise servant is pleasing to a king” (Proverbs 14:35). Again he convinces with examples of human deeds and deviates from idleness. And the king is not looking for anything other than favor. Or, that the one who serves him is favored by reason. “By his own kindness he takes away dishonor.” If he somehow commits dishonor, he corrects himself with reason. Proverbs 15:1. Anger destroys even the wise: a humble answer turns away rage, and a cruel word raises up anger. Therefore, it is up to us to both excite and calm; therefore, it is not the Lord who is angry, but we dispose Him to be angry or not to be angry. If anger destroys even the wise, how much more so of those of whom it is said: Anger destroys the foolish? It happens that even a rational person is subjected to this due to inattention. “The answer is humble,” therefore the attitude is meek, alien to anger. “The healing of the tongue is the tree of life” (Prov. 15:4). The tongue that does not sin with a word is healed. He who restrains him and does not sin with his tongue will be filled with the Holy Spirit. “The lips of the wise are bound by feeling, but the hearts of the foolish are not strong” (Prov. 15:7). Look: the first are safe from the outside on the tongue and inside by thinking, but the second are not safe on the inside because the heart is corrupted. Or do these words mean that the evil ones wag their tongues, not realizing the meaning of their words, but the wise ones bind their lips with consciousness. Proverbs 15:10. Those who hate... reproofs die shamefully. This happens either when they are subject to censure or give an account in words, since when they meet with the sophists 14 they cannot say anything; or called the commandments reproofs, since they convict us of sins. “Hell and destruction are evident before the Lord, as are not the hearts of men” (Prov. 15:11)? Who knows everything, how can the hearts of people be unknown? Therefore, those who believed in the fact that both the thought and the action are secretly watched by the providential eye, the Judge and the Punisher, especially led a correct life. “Destruction” does not mean complete destruction, but one in which something is hidden that escapes the observation of others - “destruction” is close to hell. The characteristic of the wise is to reprove those who do evil; nothing reveals the work of wisdom better than to live for the benefit of others. “When the heart is glad, the face blossoms” (Proverbs 15:13). Why is this said? So that we make it joyful through righteousness and do not make the body fat, since those who desire righteousness make their soul joyful. Or: a person becomes cheerful through virtues, and sad through sins. Proverbs 15:14. The right heart seeks feelings. Feelings, that is, knowledge of wisdom in order to become wise. “Evil” – either that which is disastrous, or – great malice. “The eyes of the wicked always receive evil” (Proverbs 15:15). Even if nothing bad happens, nothing bad happens, the expectation worries them, they see fears ahead; or says that, in accordance with their deeds, they receive punishment. Proverbs 15:17. Better establishment from potions with love. This means: with the fear of God, with love between people, if there is any, little is better than much; There is no pleasure in the expensive, but in the pleasure that is dear, as Hesiod says. He who despises sins “quenches judgments” (Prov. 15:18). A foolish man does nothing with reflection, but a wise man “corrects” (Prov. 15:21), that is, he acts according to his intention. Those who neglect to consider the necessary matter with others despise advice, and therefore are not firm, thinking that they mean something, although they mean nothing. Therefore, you need to consult not with yourself, but with many. “In the hearts of counsel” (βουλευομένων “advising”) (Prov. 15:22) instead of: in the understanding (ἐν τῇ διανοία). “The paths of the belly” (Prov. 15:24) calls active (πρακτικάς) virtues that bring knowledge. The Lord destroys the words and actions of the proud (Prov. 15:25), but the house of a soul that is alien to this is established. Not only about deeds and words, great and careful research is done, but also about intention (Proverbs 15:26). Those who have a pure heart not only have thoughts, but also words that are worthy of respect. Proverbs 15:27. The bribe-taker ruins himself. They destroy themselves, not the giver; takes it to his own detriment; he takes the sword because he is forced to do a lot of bad things; Not only should one not take, but one should also hate, since he who does not take is no longer a hater. “Through alms and faith sins are cleansed, but through the fear of the Lord everyone turns away from evil.” Indicated medicines for wounds; He also pointed out the path by which you will not get injured. And not just cleansed, but completely cleansed. Or: you need not only to show mercy, but also to know the One who commanded you to keep the right faith. Proverbs 15:28. The hearts of the righteous are taught faith. The care of such a heart is directed towards God, and therefore faith is the subject of this care. The wicked is deprived of this; his word comes out of an evil heart. “Friends can also be enemies.” By devoting themselves to God, they help others to become close to God, since they have actually learned the rule: if you do not stir up hostility, you will reconcile those at war. Proverbs 15:29. God is far removed from the wicked. “Farther” is not by location, but by the opposite of location. God hears the prayers of the righteous, as those close to God, obviously out of place. “A small acceptance with the truth is better.” If someone succeeds in virtue, then, thanks to it, he passes into a better state; and the one who is passing over tends not to look at it entirely, but to move from one thing to another. Proverbs 15:30. Glory... good fattens the bones. “Glory”, which he either hears or arranges for himself. Well-directed aspirations of the soul have a strengthening effect. “The fear of the Lord is punishment (παιδε ί α) 15 and wisdom” (Prov. 15:33). The fear of the Lord makes active and contemplative life correct. And wisdom, which serves as the cause of glory, will respond to this punishment, or will come to meet him, or will find him, or will be adopted by him. Proverbs 16:2. All the deeds of the humble are revealed before God. That is, they are bright, clear as light, because he does everything as if before His eyes. No small path of exploits shows us humility, because it is not common for a contrite person not to do great things. The Lord does not want to see the deeds of the proud. “The wicked... will perish in the day of evil” (Prov. 16:4), that is, they will not stand in danger. He calls the day of judgment an evil day. “Rukama (χειρσὶ) 16 in the hands of someone who puts unrighteousness will not be blameless” (Prov. 16:5). He who joins one lawless deed to another, tied by the ropes of his sins, will be punished. Having desired wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will give it to you. If the path of knowledge is God, then its beginning is the law, which became a guide to Christ, and never contemplation (θεωρία). “To do righteous acts is more acceptable... before God than to eat sacrifices” (Prov. 16:6). “I desire mercy rather than sacrifice, and the taking away of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). “Whoever seeks the Lord will find understanding with righteousness” (Prov. 16:7). He who truly seeks the Lord will make a contemplative and active life correct (κατορθώσει). “But those who truly seek Him will find peace” (Prov. 16:8), that is, they will be freed from suffering in peace and will live in serenity. “The wicked is reserved for a day of evil” (Proverbs 16:9), that is, for great danger, grave misfortune. Why doesn’t it destroy, says Paul? To reveal generosity. Let someone be angry; if he changes, he will receive benefit, and if he remains evil, he will also be useful to others, representing the basis for greater punishment. Proverbs 16:11. Truth is the measure of preponderance with the Lord. Although God wants to set and love to evenly set the scales of righteousness, nevertheless His love for righteousness does not exclude leniency, because it does not impose punishment according to the gravity of sins. “The prince has done an abomination that is evil” (Proverbs 16:12). Both God and the rational king are disgusted by those who do evil. This is the corrective rule of the king: if you are a king, then imitate, he says, the King; and if you don’t imitate, then you’re not a king. After all, He judges not only ordinary people, but also kings. “Righteous speech is acceptable to the king” (Prov. 16:13). First he said what a king should be like; He also talks about his subjects, how they should fear him. “In the light of life, the son of kings” (Proverbs 16:15), that is, surrounded by great blessings and splendor. “But his pleasure is like a late cloud,” that is, pleasant (ἡδεῖς), worthy of surprise. And “the cloud is late” - those who believed near the time of advent. This is said, it seems to me, so that they do not join tyranny and provide the family with what concerns inheritance (κατὰ γένος τὰ τῆς διαιοχῆς). “The oppression of wisdom is more chosen than gold” (Proverbs 16:16). The little thoughts of Christ are more precious than the arrogant teaching of external sages; or – the fruits of divine wisdom are more precious than worldly wisdom. Proverbs 16:18. Annoyance comes before contrition. “Contrition” sometimes means sin, sometimes punishment, and in some places both. Therefore, do not be a nuisance, that is, do not sin in order to avoid punishment. “It is better to be meek and humble” (Proverbs 16:19). It is better, they say, to be insignificant and poor than rich and arrogant. Although those first qualities are regrettable and deplorable, they are, he says, better. Or: better is one who, with little knowledge, masters the passions, than one who combines bad and proud thoughts with oratory. Proverbs 16:21. The wise and prudent will be called evil, but many sweets will be heard in words. Perhaps “reasonableness” is presented as superior to wisdom, or calls external sages who know some science “wise”; and “sweets in words” are caresses, who will meet with greater approval than the wise, and will find more listeners than the latter. Or this: not only the reasonable and wise, but also that which deserves more respect than them, will be listened to. “The understanding of those who have acquired it is natural, but the punishment of the foolish is evil” (Proverbs 16:22). There is, he says, even those punishments, but they are bad. Or: “reason” refers to the understanding of things as they are, and punishment is what brings death or irreparable evil. Proverbs 16:23. The heart of the wise will understand even from its own lips. Prophetically (προειδ ὼς) he speaks. And the prophets knew what they were saying, and not in a frenzy, as the Phrygians say. If God is light, then, obviously, they, as if illuminated, saw the future. “Honeycomb honey has good words” (Prov. 16:24) - honey in preparation and in quality, since due to the truth inherent in them they have a sweetness that heals the soul; Spiritual honey heals the soul; in other words, everyone likes someone who is friendly in words. “A husband labors for himself,” and he gave. (Prov.16:26), that is, imposes on itself the need to perish (ὥ στε ἀπολέθαι) 17, since work often has such a meaning. It seems to me that he speaks of wickedness, somehow that he himself is wicked. Or, instead: mastering passions, he works for himself, and not for another, and by saving himself he avoids destruction. Proverbs 16:27. The husband is mad and digging for himself. The heterodox, who search the Scriptures not in order to find pearls, but in order to spoil and lay snares, “treasure fire,” revealing through this their hidden lewdness. Considering it insufficient that they themselves are wicked, they spread their own wickedness among many. “The obstinate man” (Prov. 16:28) tries to make others the same, therefore he is transformed into a bright angel; or, according to custom, he calls the devil an obstinate husband, who drives away the good thoughts of the soul. “And the lamp of flattery burns the wicked, and separates others.” “Lamp of flattery” he calls the demons taught by him to separate friends, of course saints, who are united with each other by knowledge, which can unite with angels. “The obstinate husband.” The corrupt one requires little labor to bring him to ruin; One blasphemous word is enough for this. And “obstinate” is crafty (στρεβλός), having many twists. Proverbs 16:29. The husband is a criminal and seduces others. It is extreme lawlessness to try to seduce and deceive your neighbor. Or: one who has an unlawful and feigned friendship leads by deception, in sensual matters, onto a bad path, and in spiritual matters - into difficult thoughts. “Strengthen your eyes when you think pervertedly” (Proverbs 16:30). Having thus directed his mind towards evil and developed this ability, he does not think about anything true; He speaks and thinks in this direction, arguing that pleasure is infused by nature and that we need to follow nature. “Strengthen your eyes,” that is, sharpening your discernment in considering the bad. There is physical pleasure; you need to use it; wealth comes from God; you need to enjoy it. Proverbs 16:31. The crown of praise is old age. Fair, because it is not a matter of nature, but of a life well spent. “Better is a long-suffering man than a strong man” (Proverbs 16:32). Nothing is as strong as long-suffering; Such a person does not suffer distress from anyone, since he is dispassionate at heart. Although some say that in war you need anger; but at this time it is especially necessary to control the passions, since more is accomplished not only with hands, but with wisdom. The commander, having taken the city, gives it up for plunder according to his desire, and the one who controls the passions conquers what remains alive. “All the unrighteous enter into the depths” (Proverbs 16:33). “Bosom” Scripture calls the main principle in a person (ἡγεμονικ ό ν), somehow in the words: “my prayer will return to my bosom” (Ps. 34:13); This is where movement comes from; Punishment goes there too. And if the subsoil is worthy of reproach, then this shows ignorance. Proverbs 17:1. The best circle of bread and sweets in the world. Some knowledge of the higher bread, which brings peace along with pleasure, is better than a rich knowledge of false doctrines. “A sensible servant has masters who are foolish” (Proverbs 17:2). He either says that he will be among the brothers as a brother, or that he will be able to rule over them as a father, and not just as a ruler, or he speaks about a pagan people who, like a slave redeemed by Christ, took possession of the nobles and “rulers” - the Jews. “As silver and gold are tempted in the furnace” (Proverbs 17:3). The righteous are subjected to disasters to prove their virtue and complete purification. “The wicked will listen to the tongue of transgressors” (Proverbs 17:4). Not only speaking, but also listening is truly extreme lawlessness and obscenity. “Swearing at the wicked angers him who made him” (Prov. 17:5). Why? Because God made him poor. Who is so cruel, so inhuman, that he laughs when he needs to help? Indeed, he deserves punishment and therefore perishes as someone who commits a sin against the great and wise divine government. “Rejoice for the one who is perishing and will not be blameless.” It speaks either of someone who has lost the knowledge of God, or of someone who is dying. “The crown of old children” (Proverbs 17:6). Again he points out what is natural, that the fruit of the fathers’ virtue is not just children, but good ones. “To the faithful, the whole world is wealth (των χρημάτων), but to the unfaithful, a penalty is lower.” A faithful person does not zealously engage in sensual things, like one who owns everything, but whoever engages in this is like one who has nothing. Proverbs 17:8. The reward of grace is punishment for those who use it. Moral teaching is the reward for virtue, since it is a great grace. For those who have become an established habit to act virtuously, they will finally receive the ability to edify. Or, having chosen virtue as a reward and grace from God, he receives the strength to succeed in this, since where it (virtue) breathes, there is a fragrance. “He who harbors grudges seeks love” (Proverbs 17:9). To gain friendship, it is necessary that we do not reveal or divulge the sins of others. He who covers his vices with virtues is dear to God. Since it is impossible for people, as they are, not to sin, he gave another path that leads you to liberation from sins and the destruction of harm from them. Or: he who covers untruths with repentance seeks friendship with God. Proverbs 17:16. What would be the property for a madman? It is not good to have wealth when there is no wisdom; it is the same as if someone has a horse and does not know how to drive. This is not meant to condemn, but to deviate from excessive care. What are you trying for? In advance it was necessary to acquire the skill of how to use it. If someone, seeing someone building a ship, said: what is this ship for? then there would be no blame in this matter. “Let you have a friend at all times” (Prov. 17:17), that is, he is needed not only in joy, but also in sorrow, not only in happy, but in difficult circumstances, and in these latter more than in those. Or he says: if you want to have friends, then make them so that you remain friends at all times. “Let the brothers be useful in need, for this is why they are born.” A brother should be valued not for his blood relationship alone, but also for his good deeds, behavior and numerous services. “For this reason they are born” to take part in your misfortune, so those who do not do this are not worthy of such a name. Those who share the same soul life help the needs of those close to them. Proverbs 17:18. The husband splashes madly and rejoices at himself, as if he promised to spoil his friend. He who rejoices for another rejoices in himself; makes the judge more severe. Moreover, he guarantees. Do you see? He didn’t just say it, but for his friends, not his enemies. Why is this required? We were not yet able to hear that we should love our enemies. So that there is no violation of the law, this matter is measured by friendship. Proverbs 17:19. The hard-hearted will not bring down the good. Why? As one who has to cover up his disasters. “A man with a ready tongue will fall into evil” (Proverbs 17:20). It is bad to be not firm and constant. “A father does not rejoice over an unpunished son” (Proverbs 17:21). How is this? Do we not see many rejoicing? No. This is not a matter of nature. Nature is nothing (Οὐδεν ἄρα φύσις), but wisdom. If the son is not cheerful, it is obviously because he does not have wisdom; and a reasonable person makes you happy, but this is not the work of nature. Proverbs 17:22. The joyful heart creates good things. Great care is taken about this, since despondency is evil. “He who receives gifts unjustly into the bosom does not prosper” (Proverbs 17:23). If someone accepts unrighteous thoughts in his heart, then his paths will not be successful. “Gifts” he called the passionate and most shameful thoughts instilled in us by demons. Proverbs 17:24. The face of a wise man is wise, but the eyes of a fool are to the ends of the earth. Do you see how this indicates concentration of thought, and this indicates absent-mindedness, idleness, curiosity about everything? Or he says what he sees rationally, but this one, dissatisfied with what is under his feet, wanders everywhere with his thoughts. We do not have eyes to look at thin bodies (σώμασιν), but to curb them, to set a limit and measure for them. “At the ends of the earth” instead of: at extreme obscenity. Proverbs 17:26. It is not good for a righteous man to do vanity. Because they (i.e., the righteous) especially endure this; and others are not given justice; the unrighteous must be punished greatly. “Below the reverend slander the righteous authorities.” And the owner can be righteous. “He who spares the verb to utter is cruel, wise” (Proverbs 17:27). The verb cruel is a thought that arouses anger, and a word that predisposes to this. “When a fool asks for wisdom, wisdom will be credited to him” (Prov. 17:28). When an unlearned and ignorant person asks about wise words or objects, he is considered wise, although he would not understand due to ignorance. This is not enough for wisdom to be attributed to him. Proverbs 18:4. The water is deep in the heart of a husband, but the river flows and is the source of life. “Deep” instead of: many, and can often produce rivers instead of one; or it says that they are stored and contained in the depths. Just as water is immeasurable, so is the word in the heart of a person who lives according to the will of God. And “word” refers to knowledge. Such a one listens to the words of Jesus: there will be in his heart “a fountain of flowing water” (John 4:14). “Jumping” instead: pouring out abundantly, irrigating the surrounding and stimulating fruiting. “No good appears to the face of the wicked” (Proverbs 18:5), even if he had an important title and covered the truth with eloquence. The one who admits the malice inherent in the devil is also surprised at the face of the wicked. Proverbs 18:6. The mouth of a fool leads him to evil, but his insolent lips call for death. The thoughts and words of a madman lead him to mental and physical disasters. If death occurs from insolence, then death deprives the soul of true life, because insolence really separates us from the one who said: “I am... life” (John 14:6); and just as death is born from insolence, so life is born from meekness, because meekness is the opposite of insolence. “Fear overthrows the lazy; the souls of husbands hunger for their like wives” (Prov. 18:8). “Lazy” – lacking courage; “souls... like wives” - relaxed, pampered. “Do not heal yourself in your affairs” and so on. ( Proverbs 18:9 ). “Do not heal yourself” from sins by the deeds indicated to him by Christ, brother of the devil, who knows punishment and exposes himself to it. And Paul (2 Tim. 2:21) says: “If anyone cleanses for himself... the vessel... will be of use to the Master.” “From the majesty of the fortress clearly (φανερὸν) 18 the name of the Lord” and so on. ( Proverbs 18:10 ), that is, his knowledge is obvious. No learning required; and without this the name of God, the power of God is obvious; This can be seen here from the fact that He elevates those who come running to Him. Proverbs 18:11. The estate of a rich husband is solid. They talk about the following. Wealth in itself is not enough to save those who have it, but a strong and glorious city is needed, because glory also lies in security. Or - this way: the property of the righteous and all their treasure is Jerusalem on high, because there they store what they are now doing. “Before contrition, the heart of a man is lifted up” (Prov. 18:12). Look how hard glory is and how good humility is. Just as exaltation, they say, is followed by contrition, so humility is followed by glory, because it is impossible for one who is not exalted to fall, “For whoever exalts himself will humble himself” (Luke 14:11). “A wise servant quells the anger of a man; who can endure a cowardly man” (Prov. 18:14)? He says this because cowardice is worse than anger. The latter can be calmed even by a slave who does not have the courage of a free man, but he cannot destroy him. Just as the Lord is called an attacking tiger in relation to sinners and a stone of temptation for unbelievers, so is the cowardly one among those who sin. Proverbs 18:16. A person's giving spreads it. If this one is happy to give and the other one is ready to receive, nothing bad will happen; or: he who gives to the poor will not find himself in a difficult position; he will be like one of the nobles. “The righteous man is a master of words” (Proverbs 18:17). He anticipated, he says, his case, positioned the judge in his favor. Usually nothing is more annoying than denial. He does not present his case in its present form. Thus, both the preliminary statement and the statement about this according to one’s own consciousness are in one’s favor. “Disputes are satisfied by lot (κλῆρος) 19, and between the strong (δυνάσταις) 20 they determine the affairs” (πράγματα) 21 (Prov. 18:18). Or it says that among the rulers themselves, possessions have power ( χρήματα), since this means “choir” 22; or - that the rulers, having no judge, use the lot that divides the father’s inheritance among them. And the dispute that arose was decided by the lot of Matthias (Acts 1:26), and this decision served as an instruction for the glorious apostles. Proverbs 18:19. Brother from brother we help, like a city that is strong and high, and like a founded kingdom, it is strengthened. The unanimous disciples of Christ were brothers and, like a royal palace protected by countless fences, they were strong, being supported by one another, since they were in unanimity and the help of one another made them the strongest. Proverbs 18:20. A man satisfies his belly with the fruit of his mouth. Since words that are subject to feelings do not fill the belly, it is necessary to understand the storehouse of spiritual food, which is filled not just by a person, but by a husband. “Death and life are in the hand of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). “Death” comes from the tongue: when he speaks evil, he abandons the law of God, and “life” when he pronounces the correct teaching. Proverbs 19:4. Wealth contributes many other things. Or he calls the wise one rich, and the poor one who does not have this property; or, if not this, he speaks about an ordinary phenomenon, without praising or taking it for what he wants, but being content with this indication, since it is understandable by itself. “Many people please the kings” (Proverbs 19:6). At the same time, he teaches and discourages those who accept pleasure from using the services of the vicious. “Reproach” for him, he says, will be: if he gives money, he pleases; if he adds silver, he will be shameful (ἐπονείδιστος). “Everyone who hates his poor brother will be far from the fellowship” (Prov. 19:7). If, where nature suggests, one does not obey, then even more so under other circumstances one will be far from friendship. “Those who provoke words (ἐρεθίσει λόγους) 23) will not be saved.” Passionate thoughts excite the soul to every kind of evil, which hinders a person’s salvation. “He who acquires wisdom loves himself” (Proverbs 19:8). He who gains understanding gains the love of God and the angels. “Whoever keeps understanding to the end (εἰς τέλος) 24 will find good,” “whom eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of man conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him,” as Paul says (1 Cor. 2:9). No one will be called good who has not acquired these benefits. Proverbs 19:11. A merciful man is long-suffering, and his praise exceeds the lawbreakers (ἐπέρχεται παρανόμοις *4). These words say either that when the merciful is patient, the wicked boast, or that they themselves boast, because no one else can boast about the long-suffering except the wicked, because desire is inherent in action. “Vows are unclean for the bribe of a harlot” (Proverbs 19:13). An offering from an evil action is not accepted; the gift (κατάστασις) of an unclean soul is not acceptable. “It is from the Lord... that a wife is married to her husband” (Proverbs 19:14). He either says that God established marriage because it is much more important than that, that is, possessions, or he speaks about marriage itself and the action (τὸ πρᾶ γμα), or he wants to show the importance of having a good wife. “He who keeps the commandment” (ἐντολήν) (Proverbs 19:16). Since the commandments were given with witnesses—heaven and earth—that is why they are called testimonies. As a result, the mind that receives them is called a witness; whoever distorts them will not go unpunished. Proverbs 19:17. The beggar has mercy and gives back to God. Although you will not receive it immediately, do not be afraid; the extent to which he saves, the profit will increase. Give according to His gift: if you have much, give much; and if it’s not enough, then it’s not enough; and much and little are not determined by the measure of what is given. Or - “he gives in return to God,” since God appropriates to Himself what is given to him. “According to his giving,” that is, according to the disposition of the giver, not with sadness or out of necessity, because he does not accept what is given, but the disposition. “A wicked man will gain much” (Proverbs 19:19). Will suffer damage in feeling and knowledge; and if he transfers his anger to others, he will lose his natural reason given by God, falling into madness. Proverbs 19:20. Listen, son, to your father’s punishment, so that you may be wise in your final life. Here he calls God “Father,” but by “punishment” he means life according to His commandments and knowledge. The words: “at your last” does not mean time, but purity achieved through virtuous activity. “The fruit of men is alms” (Proverbs 19:22). It is better to have one real virtue than false knowledge. “He will settle in one place” (Prov. 19:23), that is, by going around everywhere, he will receive such a place. “Hide your hands in the depths of your unrighteousness” (Proverbs 19:24), that is, kidnapping and stealing will be unsuccessful. But even he who lives incorrectly in his soul lawlessly hides his hands, because real (πρακτικαί) virtues have the meaning of hands with which heavenly bread is brought to our lips. Therefore, a lazy person cannot start and be successful. “If you rebuke a man who is wise” (Proverbs 19:25). Someone denounces a reasonable person, either by blaming him or by presenting evidence of his words. “I will bring it with my mouth” (Proverbs 19:24). Look at his laugh-worthy appearance. Proverbs 19:26. Dishonor your father... he will accept... reproach. Unclean thoughts are born in the soul of one who does not keep the commandments of the Father of all, but distances himself from them. “The rescue of a fool is a foolish one and annoys justification” (Proverbs 19:28). By calling a guarantee an excuse, he either means philanthropy itself, or he speaks in the sense that he insults the law itself. “The lips of the wicked will devour judgment” (κρίσεις), since they pronounce judgment on themselves, having no justification for their sins. “The courts are devouring” and those who say that there is no court. Proverbs 20:6. Great thing is man. Man is of great importance as created in the image of God. And if he adds to this the activity of charity, then he becomes dear; but it is difficult to find someone who does this correctly and wisely. “Blessed shall he leave his children” (Proverbs 20:7). He who observes justice in relation to God and people will save those who listen to him and himself. “Who can boast of having a pure heart” ( Proverbs 20:9 )? Two evils are opposite to virtue: one is mental (θεωρετική), the other is active (πρακτική). The word: “who” indicates the rarity of virtue, because it is rare to meet a person who is pure in actions and thoughts. It also points to impossibility, as in the words: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom.8:31); indicates a question; “Who is this King of glory?” ( Ps.23:8 ); also points to an individual person, as in the words: “a certain man of good kind” (Luke 19:12). “Everything is great and small” (Proverbs 20:10); of course, an insidious disposition, expressed by a good word and an unclean deed, or - exaggeration and belittlement of any subject. Proverbs 20:24. It is from the Lord that a husband’s feet are straightened. A mortal, that is, a sinner, cannot comprehend the ways of God, because, being mortal, he did not die with and did not live with Christ. Man’s paths are directed by the Lord to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven. “The light of the Lord is the breath of man, who testeth the secret womb” (Proverbs 20:27). He says that for Him there is nothing dark inside a person; and the very soul of man, which he examines, is clear to God, just as if it appeared with a lit lamp. “The Light of the Lord” is the cause (αἴτιον) of life for rational beings. “And the life of man was the light” (John 1:4) Then God, blowing on the face of man, created him “a living soul” (Gen. 2:7). The lamp corresponding to this, illuminating, explores secret diseases. The lamp is also the law, which has become our guide to Christ (cf. Gal. 3:24). “Alms and truth 25 will surround his throne in righteousness” (Prov. 20:28). Where there is truth and justice, there is nothing unlawful. He who has these virtues is protected by them. “Wisdom is wisdom for the young” (Proverbs 20:29). What glory is there in what belongs to nature? What old man doesn't have this? Or he says: just as this is adorned with gray hair, so is that of wisdom. “Wounds and contrition meet the wicked” (Proverbs 20:30). Evil ones receive blows not in the face, but also in the heart; this can be cured, but this cannot, since it is in the inside. Or does it mean that punishments strike them to the core, since this is the meaning of the insides of the “treasures of the womb”; in this case, by the insides we mean unfit abilities, because a bad person deserves punishment through reason. Proverbs 21:1. Like the rush of water, so is the royal heart in the hand of God. Since much has been said before about kings, it is shown that the Strongest of them just as easily directs them wherever he wants, just as he directs a stream of water everywhere, although no one can tilt it (i.e., the heart of the king) due to the greatness of his power. Or - like this: “the heart... is in the hand of God,” that is, turning in His affairs, it is impossible to direct; without inclining towards evil, it goes where it pleases God to direct it, just as the flow of water finds its way everywhere. Proverbs 21:9. It is better to live in uncovered coal than in those heaped with untruth. The “unveiled corner” is a secret action (πρ ᾶ ξις χρυφία), concerning contemplation (θεωρίας), illuminated by the Sun of truth, and a sunken house is a vice that hypocritically imitates virtue. “I will accept the vanity of the intemperate; the most cunning will be the one who is gentle” (Proverbs 21:11). When the wicked are punished, the ignorant and simple succeed. So the righteous man washes his hands in the blood of a sinner, purifying his actions with his punishment, so the “harlot, washed in the blood” of Ahab (1 Kings 22:38). “He will rest in a congregation of giants” (Proverbs 21:16). Scripture usually calls people who are worthless, crafty, impudent, and those who resist God, giants; He says he will be numbered among them. Or - this way: he who deviates from the righteousness of God the Creator will be in the host of those who oppose God, and the host is malice and ignorance. “He who keeps his own mouth,” and so on. ( Proverbs 21:23 ). If one who loves his neighbor keeps the law, then love does not cause any harm to his neighbor. “He who commits malice is wicked” (Proverbs 21:24). He who remembers insults hates his neighbor; therefore he is a lawless one. Proverbs 21:28. Husband... obedient, keep saying. That is, although he will be obedient, he will be careful and will be able to speak frankly. Or this: when a false witness commits lawlessness, he who obeys the law speaks with caution. Proverbs 21:29. A wicked man stands coldly with his face; but a righteous man understands his own ways. Since he who sins against God shows shamelessness before Him, having no conscience or modesty. And the right one is in the image of God. Proverbs 21:31. The horse is being prepared for the day of battle “Horse” must be understood in the sense of: a spoken word (προφορικός), which must be prepared against heresies. Having done what should be done, we will triumph (χορηγούμεθα) victory from God, who destroys the wisdom of the wise. Or, “horse” means: mind, according to what was said: “you sit on your horses” (Hab. 3:8). Proverbs 22:9. Victory and honor are achieved by giving gifts. A person's gifts are the virtues of the soul, with which, by defeating the devil, he makes himself dear to God and frees his soul from the demons he has acquired. “The eyes of the Lord guard understanding” (Proverbs 22:13). “To whom,” he says, “will I look but to him who is meek and silent and trembles at My words” (Is. 66:2)? “The lawbreaker despises words.” Do you see that those who do not want to remain faithful to the laws tend to blame both Providence and the existing order of things? If God rules everything wisely, that is what the words mean: “The eyes of the Lord guard the senses.” “Feeling” - keeping the law and living according to reason - how do some indicate that there are lawless generations (γενεαλογοῦσι, ἐπειδὴ παράνομο ί εἰσιν)? Look how he teaches rulers to base power primarily not on obedience, not on fear and punishment, but on the strength and reasonableness of their orders. And not only does this reject them, but also indicates divine providence. Proverbs 22:21. You write to yourself three times. What I am instilling in you, says wisdom, write three times in the breadth of your heart. Just as a person consists of body, soul and spirit, so the Scripture is from the body of the word (τοῦ σώματος τῆς λέξεως) 26, from which the simplest benefits - this is called the closest (πρόχειρος) teaching - from the soul, or anagogy, which is listened to by those who have increased in understanding, and from higher, spiritual contemplation, about which the perfect reflect and speak. So about the donkey tied against the weight on which the Savior sat, first of all write what was said, then - the anagogy consisting in the fact that the Word (ὁ λόγος), having ascended to the bestial disposition (τρόπ ῳ), prepares him for rational movement (λογικῶς κινεῖσθαι ). Then, according to the spiritual contemplation of thought, humanity, perceived from a place opposite paradise, so that it, bearing the image (ἀγαλματοφοροῦσα), entered paradise. Proverbs 22:22. Don't rape the poor. You should not alienate or dishonor any poor, or beggar, or weak, because the Lord will punish for all this and reward everyone with righteous judgment for his deeds. He who does not oppress those named above, does not offend, does not dishonor with words, saves himself from eternal punishment and preserves his soul from danger. “Do not go into errands” (Proverbs 22:26). Do not recklessly vouch for another, that is, do not take on other people’s affairs, so that what you vouch for does not fall on you; in this case, the payment of the debt, which you cannot repay, will fall entirely on you; no one is kind for another, but for himself. “They will make a bed even under your ribs” (Proverbs 22:27). You will deprive yourself of the hope that protects your strength, so that they will be exposed, because ribs are strength: “the mountains of Zion, the ribs of the north” (Ps. 47:3); those who were once strong from the cold (ψυχρῷ) demon have now become Mount Zion, that is, holy. Proverbs 23:1. If you sit down to supper at the table of the mighty, understand what is offered to you wisely. Christ is completely strong; His table and food are the words of His teaching and the eternal blessings that He has prepared for those who love Him. Every Christian sits down to sup at His table. He who reasonably understands what Jesus taught in words and deeds “lays on his hand” (Prov. 23:2), that is, begins to show by deeds that he is an imitator of Christ, becoming humble, meek, loving everyone and enduring sorrows. He who does not do this, but strives for the pleasures of life, let him give up the desire for eternal blessings, because he will not receive them. The pleasures of this age are characteristic of a false life, those who love it will not enjoy eternal blessings. Proverbs 23:6. Don't dine with an envious husband. He says that the one who envies you eats with displeasure, or that he will not be pleased with your treat and will not thank you, or that he will not stop before he vomits. “In the same way, if someone swallows hair” (Prov. 23:7), that is, like someone who vomits and swallows hair, so he will not feel it. “And your words will be in my mouth” (Proverbs 23:16). When there is a reasonable conversation, it must be large and long, since you cannot get enough of it. “For a strange house is broken in pieces” (Proverbs 23:27). It is inconvenient to raise abandoned ones; Throwing is easy, but taking out is the opposite. And he who drinks from heterodox (ἑτεροδόξων) waters suffocates, since the wells are narrow; They strangle themselves with deceit and lies. Proverbs 23:31. Don't get drunk on wine. Do not get drunk with sensual wine from the grapes of Sodom. Be careful not to follow the works of the Sodomites, but turn to the righteous people of today, or the words of the ancients, and read the Scriptures that set forth the lives of the righteous. “And talk in the aisles,” that is, you need to repeat these thoughts and return to thinking about them while you are walking, so to speak. “Even if your eyes are on cups and glasses.” In the spiritual sense, he calls “cups and glasses” ungodly dogmas that intoxicate the mind, or various desires, or heterodox teachings. He who is soldered on false teaching will be deprived of the truth and will suffer complete death in his soul. Proverbs 23:33. Whenever your eyes see a stranger, your lips will then speak obstinately. This is said not only about the harlot, but also about every desire. When a bad deed is on the mind, then the heart, which calls the lips, is occupied with vicious desires. Then it will be “as in the heart of the sea,” tormented by the pressure of numerous thoughts, “and like a helmsman in great excitement” (Prov. 23:34), being overwhelmed by the waves of bad desires, he is in danger of doing a bad thing. “Say, ‘Bisha me, and I won’t get sick’” (Prov. 23:35). Do you see the storm rising? The speaker is not looking for anything else. And when morning comes, you see that he immediately, from the beginning of the day, begins to drink: the time of performing necessary tasks, which everyone devotes primarily to studies, he devotes it to his desires. Thus, drunkenness and idleness not only become the cause of poverty, but also plunge one into a serious, incurable illness from which one cannot recover. What a misfortune it is to be beaten and ridiculed! Proverbs 23:34. And you will lie down as if in the heart of the sea, and so on. That is, when your affairs reach a helpless state and you cannot correct them. What use, tell me, is art when a storm is raging? Proverbs 24:3, 4. A house is built with wisdom, etc. He calls Christ “wisdom, reason and feeling,” and “house” is His Church, which He founded, and filled the storehouses (“treasures”) with all honest and good wealth. The repositories are the hearts of those who believe in Christ, living according to His example, filled with good thoughts, words and deeds, because through this they are rewarded with eternal blessings. “Better is a wise man than a strong man, and a man who has a great understanding of the farmer” (Proverbs 24:5), not just (“farmer”), but “great,” because what the earth brings him every year, the same brings him the understanding, and even more, since the field is subject to changes in the air. “With stewardship comes warfare” ( Proverbs 24:6 ). His work ("management") is full of anxiety, the work requires many hands. Or he says that one should not start a war thoughtlessly. Look, he says: when you need to decide, isn’t wisdom required? Proverbs 24:17. If your enemy falls, do not be happy about him. If you rejoice as one who has received vengeance, the Lord will intercede for him out of love for mankind and will not punish him twice for the same thing, or will have mercy on the fallen one, but will be angry with the proud one. After all, everyone who rejoices in the death of the soul is like the devil, who does not want anyone to be saved. It should be noted that here he called the enemy the person for whom in the Gospels we are commanded to pray and love. If you like to fight, then you better pray that the enemy remains. Proverbs 24:21. Fear God, son, and the king. That is, truly the king of Christ God; or he calls the one who governs himself instead of the governed a king. “Not a single one... resist them,” because by resisting the king appointed by God, you dishonor God. “Suddenly they will destroy the wicked,” since no one knows this hour or day; often unexpected punishment occurs during life. Only the judge or his friend can know the reasonable reason for imposing a punishment. Have no friends besides the Lord and the king; not their friends are their enemies: and do not have enemies as friends. Proverbs 25:2. The glory of God covers the word. He who covers the glory of God or the kingdom of God, or who desires to glorify God or the kingdom, must obey; to cover means to preserve. “Grace and love set you free” (Proverbs 25:10). A pleasant person is the most amiable; his wisdom can liberate. “To eat too much honey is not good” (Proverbs 25:28). And above honey is named in an allegorical sense. It is not useful to engage in the same thinking a lot. Do not think too much, so as not to go crazy; elsewhere: “The mind is inflated” (1 Cor. 8:1). Therefore, it is necessary to do this in proportion and honor the glorious words of the Lord, which are silver and gold and sweeter than honey and honeycomb. Proverbs 30:4. Who will return the water to the robe? He classified true knowledge as a virtue. So who, in his activity (πολιτεία), gave firmness to the impermanent state of things? In His activity He excluded everything transitory, since He committed no sin. And that he called activity a robe is clear from the words: “let him who is in the village not return... to take his robe” (Mark 13:16), therefore, the one who cultivates the spiritual field will not return to his former activity. Proverbs 30:15. Leech has three daughters, etc. “Leech” is the devil, as he sucks the blood of souls, that is, their vital force. She has daughters, not sons - nothing courageous, but every kind of pampering pleasure: hell (i.e., malice), the daughter of the devil, destroying souls and having no satiety. Women's love, a godless doctrine, the seductiveness of which knows no bounds. “The land that is not watered with water” (Prov. 30:16) is a soul like sand and barren, always watered with Scripture, but not improving at all. Fire serves as punishment for all of them. Proverbs 30:17. An eye swearing at the father. “Eye” is the mind that serves as the culprit of virtue or sin. When he mocks the abyss - I mean the divine judgment - or the Scriptures, he dishonors the heavenly Father and the ancient knowledge He gave to the prophets and apostles. Such a one is struck by certain evil forces that serve as instruments of punishment and carry out some purification, which are called “ravens,” and those who completely devour are called eagles, because they are recognized as performing complete purification. Proverbs 30:18. Three things are impossible to understand. These are all rules of chastity. “This is the way of a harlot’s wife” (Proverbs 30:20): just as she hides fornication, so it is here. Why does he talk about this when it is incomprehensible? He strongly desires to lead us to chastity, which must be demonstrated in such a way as not to arouse evil suspicion. Proverbs 30:22. Even if the slave reigns. If, he says, some “slave reigns.” Or - the people of the sons of Israel, who enslaved in Egypt, and then ruled in their land, brazenly treated Christ. “And the fool will be filled with food.” “And he was satisfied... and the beloved was satisfied and rejected” (Deut. 32:15). “And if a slave marries her mistress,” that is, earthly Jerusalem, who was the slave of all languages, rejected her mistress, the holy flesh of the Lord, becoming the murderer of the Lord. “And a vile wife even gives herself to a good husband” (Proverbs 30:23). Who is this vile woman if not the Jewish synagogue, who did not love Christ God, her virgin husband? She always, chasing after idols, commits adultery with them, as it is said through the prophet: “she has committed fornication with stones and... wood” (Jer. 3:9) crazy Judea. Look at the goodness and mercy of Christ: “and he said,” after she had committed adultery, “turn to me, the Lord said” (Jer. 3:12). “If the slave reigns,” he himself (i.e., Solomon) said that the slave “will begin to dominate” the insane (ἀφρόνων) 27. But here we are not talking about a reasonable slave, but simply about a slave who, contrary to his dignity, does something crazy; those who appointed him are to blame, not knowing how he will use power. If those who grew up in freedom are haughty by this power, then even more so are slaves. There is nothing so necessary for power as humility. The servant Jeroboam reigned, and look how much bad he did, like none of his predecessors and successors. Proverbs 30:24, 25. Four are the smallest on earth, and so on. He speaks about creation so that you do not look at the weakness of the bodily structure. Look how he convinces that there is no need to strive for the sensual, and also shows who are the wisest of the wise, not only people, but also animals, the great dumb ones. These are the strong in wisdom. Look how the ant cares about the future, how it does not remain careless, although summer time is favorable to it, how it corrects the weakness of nature with foresight. Therefore, one must learn wisdom from weak beings, so as not to seek everything in the body. If the ant were strong, wisdom would not be revealed. “And hirogrilli, the tongue is not strong” (Proverbs 30:26). He does not simply mention the weakness of each, but to show the strength of wisdom, which is manifested in some - in the supply of food, in others - in the arrangement of dwellings in completely inaccessible places; He’s talking about their dwellings. “Things without kings are true” (Proverbs 30:27). Here is indicated what relates to government, obedience, unanimity, the ability to move and the greatest consent. This embraces our life - food, shelter, army. Do you see how these weak animals, having no authority, do not suffer harm, but find good order in their nature? Hardly anyone would be wrong if they said that they are wiser than people. How therefore do they observe this order! “A lizard leaning on its hands” (Prov. 30:28) lives under the same roof with those who own it (ὁμορόφιος τοῖς κρατοῦσίν ἐστι). This animal is “easy to catch” and no one offends it. Proverbs 30:31. And the loops walking in the kokoshekh are complacent. It’s good, he says, between his roosters; but just as he is between his own people, so you should think a little between people. What is more insignificant than a rooster, but he is proud of his power. One is strong in body, another in natural properties, and the third in mind. It is impossible, like the dumb, to dominate the forces of bodily nature, but also by word and conviction; What strength is for this, natural abilities are for this, reason is for the king. Therefore he says: “and the goat is the leader of the herd.” “Teaching... as having authority, and not as scribes,” so that they were surprised (Matthew 7:29). He, says Scripture, was killed for the sin of the world, offered as a sacrifice, sent to the nations as into the wilderness; His head is crowned with scarlet wool among the unbelievers; He became the redemption of people and became life for everyone. “And the king speak to the people.” It was predicted by Isaiah (Is. 33:17): “You will see the King with glory.” He speaks to a faithful people and boldly proclaims through the Gospels. “The milk flows, and there will be oil” (Proverbs 30:33). Connect (ἄμελγε) correctly the two covenants of Christ and you will find the commandments like milk, feeding on which you can achieve true (πιστόν), perfect bread. Proverbs 31:6. Give Sicker to those who are in sorrow. “Give me,” he said, “wine,” because the relaxed soul needs to be warmed. A boss filled with pride does not need to be inflamed; for him the heat that comes from his power is enough. Open your mouth wider and receive the bold word. Δ ικα ί ο ν according to Sinaisky and Alexander. list; δικα ί ου “righteous” is read in ancient. Vatican. sp. That is, to the pagan sages. Instead of ποι ή σας you should probably read νικ ή σας. This is how it is read according to the ancients. Vatican. sp.; instead of αὐτούς, read in Alex. sp. αὐτο ῖς by them, as in Slav. Bible. In ancient lists of Greek. The translation of Yἱέ is not readable here, nor is it readable: “the same”, as in Slav. B. On interpretation by anagogy, see what was said below in the explanation of Proverbs 22:21 Here in the text of Patrology, several words are obviously missing. In the Latin translation this passage is conveyed: “however, these words are not said about those who lived correctly.” Read then in Slav. B.: “with the heart” is not in the text of Patrology. Slavic: “will serve” corresponds in the Greek translation: θεραπεύσουσι, which can be translated: “will heal.” Literally "Command of the Lord" In the words of Slav. B.: “on the Lord” there are no corresponding ones in the text of Patrology, as in the ancient ones. sp. Greek translation. Sophists were a special kind of philosophy teachers. Παιδε ί α “education”, “instruction”. Instead of what is read in Slav. B.: “in the hand.” The explanation turns out to be more consistent with the biblical text if we assume that after the original reading οὐκ not: “need forces him so as not to perish.” Φανερὸν in ancient sp. The Greek translation is unreadable. Κλῆρος is read in the field of the Sinai list, in accordance with the Hebrew volume. Instead of κλῆρος it is read in other scriptures, with which Slav agrees. B., σιγηρ ό ς “silent”. Instead of δυνάσταις it is read in other words. Greek translation δυναστε ί αις “authorities” Πράγματα is not read in other Greek. sp., as in Hebrew. t. Κλῆρος means: lot, inheritance, possession. The compiler of this interpretation understands this word here in the sense: estate, money, and further in the sense: lot. Literally means: to excite. go and light up the words. In other sp. Greek translation reads ἐρεθίζει. Εἰς τέλος is not read in ancient times. list Greek translation, Words corresponding to Slavic: “preservation of the king”, read in other Greek. lists, is not in the text of Patrology. That is, from the composition of words in their usual understanding. Of course, Proverbs 19:10, which says about a servant that he will “possess with vexation.” Leaving this title given in the Patrology of Min, we consider it necessary, however, to point out the features that distinguish this interpretation from other interpretations of St. John Chrysostom on the Old Testament books. It differs from the latter in that it makes no reference to the Hebrew text or to other ancient Greek translations, except for 70 interpreters, although significant differences between both are found in the book. Proverbs. At the same time, this interpretation is not distinguished by the usual clarity and certainty in the interpretations of the saint; instead, there appears in places a significant hesitation of the interpreter in understanding the words of the biblical text - see, for example, Proverbs. 8:2, 9:1, 10:3, 6, 11:7, 12:5, 13:3, etc. Based on these features, this interpretation in its present composition belongs to St. John Chrysostom seems doubtful. Νομούς according to Sinaisky, Alexander. and other lists; “punishment” according to the ancient. Vatican. and other sp. Instead of βιότητος - “life”, as in other lists of the Greek translation. Instead of: ἀγαθῇ ἀνδρὸς – “the blaze of a husband,” as it reads in Slav. B. According to the ancient. Vatican. sp. Greek words The text, according to the literal translation, means: they come to the lawless.