2: Destruction - How they may oppress and destroy others.
3: Through wisdom - There is no need that thou shouldest raise thy
family by ruining others, which thou mayest more effectually do by wisdom.
4: By knowledge - Which in scripture phrase includes the love and
practice of what we know.
5: Is strong - Is courageous and resolute, and able by wisdom to do
greater things than others can accomplish by strength.
6: Thy war - War is better managed by wisdom than by strength.
7: A fool - For a wicked man, whose sins enfeeble his mind, and
make it incapable of wisdom. Openeth not - He knows not how to speak
acceptably, and profitably in the publick assembly.
8: Shall be called - Though he cover his wicked devices with fair
pretences, he shall be branded with that infamy which is due to him.
9: The thought - The very inward thought or contrivance of evil,
is a sin in God's sight.
11: Deliver - When it is in thy power. Drawn - By the violence of
lawless men.
12: Consider - That this is only a frivolous excuse.
13: Eat - This is not a command, but a concession, and is only here
expressed to illustrate the following verse. Honey in those parts was
an usual food.
14: A reward - It is not only sweet for the present, but brings a
sure and everlasting reward.
16: Falleth - Into calamities, of which he evidently speaks both
in the foregoing verse, and in the following branch of this verse.
Fall - Frequently into irrecoverable destruction.
