Introduction and Preface1VERSESCHAPTER I.Critical Notes21–4The Author, His Method and His Object25, 6The Characteristics of a Wise Man47–9The Root of True Knowledge and the Means of Its Attainment610–19Enticement to Sin and Exhortation Against Yielding to It720–33The Cry of Wisdom11CHAPTER II.Critical Notes181–5Human Understanding and Divine Knowledge186–11God as a Giver, and Man as a Receiver2112–20The Character of Those from Whom Wisdom Preserves2421, 22The Contrast in the End from the Contrast in the Way27CHAPTER III.Critical Notes281–4Blessings from the Remembrance of God’s Commandments295, 6Exhortation to Confidence in God327–12The Way (1) to Health, (2) to Wealth, (3) to Endurance3413–18Wisdom and Her Gifts3919, 20One of the Proofs of God’s Wisdom4321–26God’s Keeping, the Reward of Man’s Keeping4527–29Doing Justice and Loving Mercy4730Unlawful Strife Forbidden4931–35The Oppressor Not to Be Envied50CHAPTER IV.Critical Notes521–4The Reciprocal Duties of Parents and Children525–13The One Thing Needful5414–19Contrasted Paths and Opposite Characters5820–27The Path of Safety62CHAPTER V.Critical Notes671–20Bitter and Sweet Waters6721–23Three Reasons for Avoiding the Way of Sin73CHAPTER VI.Critical Notes751–5Self-Imposed Bondage756–11Industry and Indolence7812–19A Student of Iniquity8120–23The Law of God’s Word8624–35A Special Sin and Its Penalties from Which He Who Keeps God’s Law Will Be Kept89CHAPTER VII.Critical Notes921–4The Source of True Life, etc.935–27A Picture Drawn from Life95CHAPTER VIII.Critical Notes991–3The Nature of Wisdom’s Call1014–9God’s Speech Meeting Man’s Need10310, 11Wisdom Better Than Wealth10712, 13Wisdom and Prudence10914–16The Source of True Power11217–21The Reward of Earnest Seekers11322–31The Personal Wisdom of God11732–36Exhortation Founded on Human Obligations to Divine Wisdom121CHAPTER IX.Critical Notes1241–12Wisdom’s Feast12413–18The Feast of Folly133CHAPTER X.Critical Notes1361Parental Grief and Gladness1372The Comparative Value of Righteousness and Riches1393, 4Divine and Human Providence1425The Use and the Neglect of Opportunities1466, 7, & 11The Way to Present Blessedness and Future Fame1498The Doer and the Talker1519, 10Opposite Characters15312Love and Hatred15613, 14Laying Up to Give Out15815, 16A False and a True Estimate of Life16117The Influence of Example16418Three Degrees of Moral Foolishness16619–21Speech and Silence16822The Source of True Riches17223A Touchstone of Character17424The Inheritance of Fear and Desire17525The Whirlwind and the Sure Foundation17726The Vexatiousness of a Sluggish Servant17927Long Life17928Hopes Realized and Disappointed18029God’s Way, Destruction and Salvation18330The Earth the Possession of the Righteous18731Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics, see pages158and168)18832Acceptable Words189CHAPTER XI.Critical Notes1901Just Weight1902Pride and Humility1923The Infallible Guide1954See Homiletics on chap. x. 21395, 6Made or Marred by Desires1997The Death of the Wicked2018The Wicked Coming in the Stead of the Righteous2039The Just Man Delivered from the Mouth of the Hypocrite20410, 11The Reward of the Righteous Citizen or Ruler. The Fate of the Unrighteous One20612, 13Contempt and Tale-Bearing21114Helmsmanship21415Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics, see page75)21616A Gracious Woman21717Mercy and Cruelty21918–20Sowing and Reaping22321Deliverance from a Confederated Opposition22722Precious Things Possessed by Unworthy Owners22923The Desire of the Righteous, and the Expectation of the Wicked23124–26The Liberal and the Niggardly Man23327Diligent Seekers23728Trust in Riches, and Trust in God23829Foolish Home Rulers24030The Winner of Souls24131The Recompense of the Righteous and the Wicked244CHAPTER XII.Critical Notes2461The Love of Knowledge and the Proof of It2462Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics, see pages29and227)2493A Right Desire and the Means of Its Attainment2504A Husband’s Crown2515–8Thoughts and Words and Their Result2549Show and Reality25910Care for Animals and Cruelty to Men26111Satisfaction from Tillage26612–14The Desire of Wicked Men and the Fruit of Righteousness26715, 16Two Examples of Foolishness and Wisdom27117–19 & 22Wounding and Healing27420Joy from Peace27821All Working for the Good of the Righteous28023The Concealment of Knowledge and the Proclamation of Foolishness28324The Reward of Diligence28525Heaviness of Heart and Its Cure28626The Guide and the Seducer28827The Loss of the Slothful, and the Gain of the Diligent28928The Way of Life291CHAPTER XIII.Critical Notes2921The Wise Son and the Scorner2932, 3Keeping the Mouth2944The Disappointment of the Sluggard’s Desires2965A Lawful Hatred2976Overthrow by Sin2997, 8The Law of Compensation3009The Abiding Light30310The Parent of Strife30511The Ways of Growing Rich30612Deferred and Accomplished Hope30813Bound by Law31214Living by Rule31315A Bad Way and a Good Understanding31616Dealing with Knowledge32017A Social Link32118The Way to Honour32319The Abomination of the Fool32420Companionship, Constructive or Destructive32621Pursuit and Repayment33022An Inheritance Incorruptible33123Land and Its Tillers33324The Child and the Rod33425Want and Satisfaction337CHAPTER XIV.Critical Notes3391The House Builder and the House Destroyer3392Fearing and Despising the Lord3423Speech a Rod3434The Clean Crib3445Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics see pages274and379)3456Seeking, but Not Finding3467–9The Fool and the Prudent Man34910Secrets of the Heart35211Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics see page27)35512What Seems to Be, and What Is35513True and False Mirth35814Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction36015–18Revelations of Character36319A Levelling Law36820, 21An Aggravated Crime, a Questionable Virtue, and a Present Blessing37022A Fatal Error and a Certain Good37223The Profit of Labour37424Wealth, with and without Wisdom37725Deliverance by Truth37926A Sure Refuge38127Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics see pages381and313)38428A King’s True Glory38429Great Understanding38630A Sound Heart38731The Oppressed and Their Oppressors38932The Death of the Righteous and the Wicked39133The Hidden Made Manifest39434National Salvation39535A Wise Servant398CHAPTER XV.Critical Notes3991, 2The Use of Knowledge3993Divine Intelligence4014, 5Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics, see pages274and293)4036Like in Circumstances, but Unlike in Character4057Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics, see page399)4068, 9Praying and Living40610Out of the Way40911Two Worlds41012Self-Destroyed41213A Cheerful Face and a Broken Spirit41314Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics, see pages246and323)41515The Continual Feast41716A Treasure Without Trouble41917Two Feasts42118Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics, see pages386and400)42319The Way of the Slothful and the Righteous42320Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics, see page137)42621Opposite Tastes42722Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics, see pages214and590)42923Joy from a Seasonable Word42924The Upward and the Downward Path43025Destruction and Establishment43326Wicked Thoughts and Holy Words43627The Curse of Covetousness43728Studying to Answer44029God Near and Far Off44130Cheerfulness and Good Tidings44431–33How to Give and Take Reproof446CHAPTER XVI.Critical Notes4501The Heart and the Tongue4512The Weigher of Spirits4543The Establishment of Thoughts4564All Things for God4585Heart-Pride4616The Purging of Iniquity4637Pleasing God4668Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics see pages405and421)4689Man Proposes, God Disposes46810–15Kings (For Homiletics on verse 11 see also on page190)47216Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics see page107)47717Soul-Preservation47918, 19The End of Pride48220, 21The Fruits of Trust in the Lord48422–24An Unfailing Spring48825Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics see page355)49026The Mainspring of Human Industry49027–30Different Species of the Same Genus49131A Crown of Glory49332Taking a City and Ruling the Spirit49633The Lot and Its Disposer499CHAPTER XVII.Critical Notes5001See Homiletics on chap xv., 17421, 4222The Foolish Son and the Wise Servant5003The Trier of Hearts5024The Evil Speaker and the Listener5035A Double Revelation5046Father and Children5057A Twofold Incongruity5068The Power of Gifts5079How to Make Friends and How to Separate Them50810Correction Must be Adapted to the Character of the Offender50911–13Phases of Evil51114The Beginning of Strife51215Inversion and Restitution51416Neglected Opportunities51617, 18True Friendship51819Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics, see pages192,482, and512)52220, 21See Homiletics on chap. x. 1, 13, 14, etc., and on verse 24137,158,52622The Merry Heart52223Bribery52424The Eyes of a Fool and Those of a Wise Man52625See Homiletics on chap. x. 113726Smiting the Just52827, 28Two Badges of a Wise Man531CHAPTER XVIII.Critical Notes5331, 2Solitude5333The Short-lived Prosperity of Evil Men5364A Good Man’s Mouth5375See Homiletics on chap. xvii. 15 and 26514,5286–8Folly and Its Results5399Twin-Brothers54110, 11Two Citadels54212See Homiletics on chap. xi. 2 and xvi. 18192,48213Answering Before Hearing54414Sickness of Body and Wounds of Soul54615Prudence and Knowledge54916The Influence of Talent55017Cross-Examination55018The Use of the Lot55219Castle Bars55320, 21The Power of the Little Member55522A Twofold Good55723Rich and Poor55824The Obligations of Friendship559CHAPTER XIX.Critical Notes5611The Better Part5612, 3Ignorance Leading to Sin5624Suggestive Comment. (For Homiletics see page370)5675, 9The End of a False Tongue5676, 7Two Proofs of Human Selfishness5688, 9See Homiletics on verses 2 and 5, and on chaps. viii. 36, and ix. 12121,124,562,56710Incongruities56911, 12Two Kings57113, 14, 18Domestic Sorrow, and How to Avoid it57315See Homiletics on chap. vi. 9, 107916A Double Keeping57517The Best Investment57618–20Relative Duties57821Many Plans Working to One End57922Poverty of Heart and Poverty of Circumstance58023See Homiletics on chaps. x. 27, xiv. 26, xviii. 10179,381,54224See Homiletics on chap. xxvi. 12–1672025, 29See Homiletics on chap. xvii. 1050926–29Possibilities of Human Depravity581CHAPTER XX.Critical Notes5821Strong Drink5822, 3See Homiletics on chaps. xiv. 29, xvi. 32, xix. 12386,497,5714See Homiletics on chap. x. 41425Deep Sea Dredging5846–12An Universal Challenge, a General Rule, and a Rare Virtue58510For Homiletics see also chap. xi. 119013For Homiletics see chap. vi. 10, 117814Bargaining58815See Homiletics on chaps. iii. 14, 15, viii. 11, xii. 14, xviii. 20, 2139,107,267,55516Necessary Security58917Bad Bread58918Thought Before Action59019See Homiletics on chaps. x. 19, xi. 13168,21120An Unnatural Child and a Natural Law59121See Homiletics, chaps. xiii. 11, xxi. 5, 7306,60922The Recompenser of Evil59223See Homiletics on chap. xi. 119024God over All59325Religious Vows59526, 28Pillars of Government59627The Candle of the Lord59729The Glory of Youth and Age60430Pain as a Preventive of Pain605CHAPTER XXI.Critical Notes6051The King of Kings6062See Homiletics on chap. xvi. 24543The More Acceptable Sacrifice6074The Ploughing of the Wicked6085–7, 17Two Ways to Wealth6098Two Ways6119, 19An Angry Woman61310The Desire of the Wicked61411Instruction for Those Who Need It61512God’s Surveillance of the Wicked61613The Cry of the Poor61814The Pacification of Anger61915The Joy of Righteousness61916Like to Like62118The Ransom of the Righteous62219, 20See Homiletics on verses 5, 7, and 9609,61321A Noble Pursuit and a Rich Prize62422A Wise Man and a Mighty City62523See Homiletics on chap. xiii. 2–329424A Name of Degrees62725, 26The Sword of the Sluggard62827The Sacrifice of the Wicked63028Outlines and Suggestive Comments. (For Homiletics see page275)63129The Face and the Way63130, 31Counsel Against the Lord632CHAPTER XXII.Critical Notes6331Better Than Gold6342Levelling Down and Levelling Up6363See Homiletics on chap. xiv. 163644See Homiletics on chap. iii. 1–1824,34,395, 6A Hedged-Up Way6377An Analogy Affirmed and a Contrast Suggested6398A Worthless Seed and a Rotten Staff6419The Bountiful Eye64210A Man Who Ought to Dwell Alone64311A Road to Royal Friendship64412The Preservation of Knowledge64513An Active Imagination64714A Deep Pit64915A Fact Stated and a Duty Inferred65016Oppression and Servility65117–21Trust from Knowledge, and Blessedness from Trust65222, 23God the Spoiler of the Spoiler65624, 25An Infectious and Dangerous Disease65726, 27Suretyship and Its Dangers65828See Homiletics on chap. xxiii. 1066629The Destiny of the Diligent (See also Homiletics on page285)659CHAPTER XXIII.Critical Notes6601–3The Temptations of the Table6614, 5The Deceitfulness of Riches6626–8Feigned Generosity6649The Morally Incurable66510, 11The Rights of Private Property66612–28Parental Duties and Parental Joys66829–35The Drunkard’s Picture673CHAPTER XXIV.Critical Notes6751–6House Building6757A False Estimate and a True One6778, 9See Homiletics on chap. vi. 12–198110The Day of Adversity67811, 12Positive Punishment for a Negative Crime68013, 14Honey and Wisdom68215, 16A Social Ambush68317, 18The Fall of an Enemy68419, 20See Homiletics on verse 1, and on chap. xiii. 9303,67521, 22Rule and Reverence68523–26Impartiality of Truth68727Plan and Patience68828, 29An Uncalled-For Testimony68930–34The Sluggard’s Vineyard690CHAPTER XXV.Critical Notes6931–3God’s Mysteries and Man’s Research6944, 5See Homiletics on chap. xx. 26 and 285966, 7Self-promotion6968–11Two Ways of Treating an Enemy69712Giving and Taking69913See Homiletics on chap. xiii. 1732114Clouds Without Rain70115Forbearance and Persuasiveness70216Use and Abuse70317Obtrusiveness70418See Homiletics on chap xii. 1827419, 20Misplaced Confidence and Unseasonable Songs70421, 22A Blessed Recompense70623The Way to Treat a Backbiter70824See Homiletics on chap. xxi. 961325Cold Water and Good News70926The Evil Result of Moral Cowardice71127Too Much of a Good Thing71228A Defenceless City713CHAPTER XXVI.Critical Notes7141A Gift Wrongly Bestowed7142The Causeless Curse7153–11A Low Level71612–16Self-Conceit and Indolence72017Needless Interference72118–22See Homiletics on chaps. xvii. 14, xviii. 6–8513,53923–28Counterfeit Friendship721CHAPTER XXVII.Critical Notes7231Divine Property7242Self Praise7253, 4Wrath and Envy7265, 6, 9–11, 14Tests of Friendship7287Want of Appetite7318A Man and His Place73212See Homiletics on chap. xiv. 1536413, 15, 16See Homiletics on chaps. xix. 13, xx. 16573,58917A Social Whetstone73318The Reward of Service73519A Correct Likeness73520Insatiability73721A Crucible for Character73822See Homiletics on chaps. xvii. 10, and xix. 26–29509,58123–27Moral Farming739CHAPTER XXVIII.Critical Notes7401Cowardice and Courage7412The Penalty of Revolt7423The Most Inexcusable Oppressor7434, 5Lawkeepers and Lawbreakers7446See Homiletics on chap. xix. 15617See Homiletics on chap. x. 11378See Homiletics on chap. xiii. 223329See Homiletics on chap. xv. 8, 940610See Homiletics on chap. xxvi. 23–2872111Wisdom in Wealth and Poverty74612See Homiletics on chap. xi. 10–1120613Confession and Forgiveness74714See Homiletics on chaps. xii. 15, xiv. 15–18271,36515–17Vice and Virtue in High Places74918See Homiletics on chaps. x. 9–10, xi. 3154,19519See Homiletics on chap. xii. 1126620, 22See Homiletics on chaps. xiii. 11, xxi. 5306,60921See Homiletics on chap. xvii. 2352423See Homiletics on chap. xxvii. 5, 672824Robbing Parents75125aSee Homiletics on chap. xiii. 1030525b, 26Self-Confidence75227See Homiletics on chaps. xi. 24–26, xiv. 31234,38928See Homiletics on chap. xi. 10–11206CHAPTER XXIX.Critical Notes7541Reproof and Destruction7542See Homiletics on chap. xi. 10–112063See Homiletics on chaps. x. 1, v. 1–2067,1374See Homiletics on chap. xvi. 10–154725See Homiletics on chap. xxvi. 23–287216A Snare and a Song7557See Homiletics on chaps. xiv. 31, xxiv. 11, 12389,6808The Citizen’s Enemy and the Citizen’s Friend7569See Homiletics on chaps. xxiii. 9, xxvi. 3–11665,71610Soul-Seekers and Soul-Haters75711See Homiletics on chap. x. 19–2116812A Moral Cancer in a King’s Court75913See Homiletics on chap. xxii. 22–2363614, 15See Homiletics on chaps. xvi. 10–15, xiii. 24, xix. 13, 14, 18355,472,57316Victory Not with the Majority76017See Homiletics on chap. xix. 13, 14, 1857318Divine Revelation and Human Obedience76119, 21Masters and Servants76320, 22See Homiletics on chap. xiv. 17 and 29363,38623See Homiletics on chaps. xi. 2, xvi. 18–19192,48224Criminal Partnerships76325, 26Safety from a Snare76527See Homiletics on chap. xxviii. 4744CHAPTER XXX.Critical Notes7671–9The Sources of True Humility7685, 6The Word of God7707–9The Middle Way77210See Homiletics on chap. xxiv. 28, 2968911–17Four Manifestations of Ungodliness77418–20Depths of Wickedness77621–23Burdens Grievous to be Borne77624–28Lowly Teachers77729–31Kingly Qualities77832, 33See Homiletics on chap. xvii. 14513CHAPTER XXXI.Critical Notes7791–9Divine Commands from a Mother’s Lips78010–31A Model Matron781