1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Proverbs 22:1 A good name *is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.

Ecclesiastes 7:2. 		Good. Hebrew, "a name," or reputation. (Haydock) --- It is preferable to riches, but not to be compared with virtue, which is the only solid good; and even to be placed above riches, it must be well grounded. (Calmet) --- Favour with all. (Haydock)
Proverbs 22:2 The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.

Another. They stand in need of one another. (St. Chrysostom, hom. xxxiv. in 1 Corinthians.) --- They are equal in God's sight, who only values real virtue. He disposes of riches, so that the poor may one day become rich. (Calmet)
Proverbs 22:3 The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
Proverbs 22:4 The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.

Fruit. Literally, "the end of modesty, (Haydock) or moderation, which must accompany every virtue.
Proverbs 22:5 Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul, departeth far from them.

Perverse. They are always in danger and in trouble.
Proverbs 22:6 It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

It is a proverb, is added by St. Jerome, to make the sentence more striking. --- It. He is like a tender plant, (Calmet) or wax, or a new vessel. Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem Testa diu. (Horace, ep. 1:ad Lol.) --- "Shall wool regain its whiteness after it has been dyed purple?" (St. Jerome, ad Laetam.) --- Hebrew, "initiate a young," etc. Proportion your lessons to his capacity, and make him relish them.
Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.

Servant. He might be sold, etc., Exodus 22:3., and Matthew 18:25. (Gell. 20:1.) Plato (Leg. viii.) would have nothing sold on credit. These laws appear to be severe; but they are founded on wisdom, as nothing impoverishes more than the facility of borrowing.
Proverbs 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.

Consumed. Or beaten with the flail of God's anger.
Proverbs 22:9 *He that is inclined to mercy, shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor.

Ecclesiasticus 31:28. 		Is. Hebrew, "has a good eye," in opposition to the evil, or malicious one, Matthew 20:15. --- He, etc., is not in Hebrew, or in the Latin edition of Comp. and St. Jerome.
Proverbs 22:10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
Proverbs 22:11 He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.

He. Septuagint, "the Lord loveth pious hearts. All the irreproachable are acceptable to him. The king feeds with lips," by his just ordinances. (Haydock) --- Kings hate duplicity; but require that the truth should be disclosed to them in a suitable manner.
Proverbs 22:12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.

Streets. Vain excuses of sloth!
Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.

It. Debauchery resembles hell, Proverbs 23:23. (Calmet) --- Facilis descensus Averni, etc. (Virgil, Aeneid vi.)
Proverbs 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.

Folly. Ignorance and innate corruption are corrected by a good education.
Proverbs 22:16 He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
Proverbs 22:17 Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:

Incline. Thus Solomon concludes his discourse, (chap. 24:23.) in the same manner as he began it, to Proverbs 10. Some commence the third book of Proverbs in this place; others, Proverbs 25. (Calmet)
Proverbs 22:18 Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:

Lips. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Haydock)
Proverbs 22:19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
Proverbs 22:20 Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:

Ways. Repeatedly. (Bossuet; Tirinus) (2 Corinthians 12:8., and Amos 1:11.) (Calmet) --- Protestants, "have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge?" "Shalishim," perfect, (Pagnin) or "three things," (Montanus) means also (Haydock) such as might suit princes and great officers. (Calmet)
Proverbs 22:21 That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.

Sent. Septuagint, "are sent to thee." Thou mayst become a teacher, (Haydock) or give satisfaction to thy parents, who have sent thee to my school. (Calmet)
Proverbs 22:22 Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:

Gate. Where judges passed sentence. (Menochius)
Proverbs 22:23 Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
Proverbs 22:24 Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
Proverbs 22:25 Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.

Soul. By imitating him, or by falling a victim to his rage.
Proverbs 22:26 Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:

Hands. Engaging to stand bond. (Haydock) (Chap. 6:1.) --- Such a one might be required to pay the debt, Proverbs 20:16.
Proverbs 22:27 For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there that he should take the covering from thy bed?
Proverbs 22:28 Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.

Set. The pagans made a god of Terminus, to prevent disputes. (Ovid, Fast. ii.) --- If it be unlawful to disturb land-marks, how much more so is it to give way to novelty in religion? (Deuteronomy 19:14.) (Calmet) --- Solomon is addressing those who follow the true faith. Else the conduct of infidel ancestors should not deter any from embracing the truth. (Haydock)
Proverbs 22:29 Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.

Obscure. By industry he shall raise himself to notice. (Haydock) --- Kings employ those who are most active. (Calmet)