1 A wise son maketh the father glad: but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother.
Jerome · AD 420 Be obedient to your bishop and welcome him as the parent of your soul.… In your case the bishop combines in himself many titles to your respect. He is at once a monk, a prelate and an uncle who has before now instructed you in all holy things. This also I say that the bishops should know themselves to be priests, not lords.
Bede · AD 735 A wise son makes a father glad, etc. Whoever keeps the mysteries of faith well received, gladdens God the Father; but he who stains them with evil deed or heresy, saddens the Church, his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness shall profit nothing: but justice shall deliver from death.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 "Treasures bring no profit to the unrighteous." What then? Did not many avoid death by paying money? Certainly, but they did not get free from sin and in fact they prepared for themselves a life much worse than death. Therefore let us not put our confidence in wealth but in virtue. Indeed when justice comes to deadly sins, people are taken away by death.
Cyril of Alexandria · AD 444 If a man cast his seed in ground that is fertile [only] in thorns, and fruitful in briars, and densely covered with useless stubble, he sustains a double loss; of his seed first, and also of his trouble. In order, therefore, that the divine seed may blossom well in us, let us first cast out of the mind worldly cares and the unprofitable anxiety which makes us seek to be rich.
Bede · AD 735 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, etc. And often from temporal death, as with Daniel and the three youths, and always from eternal death, righteousness delivers.
3 The Lord will not afflict the soul of the just with famine, and he will disappoint the deceitful practices of the wicked.
Cyprian · AD 258 Do you fear that your patrimony may fail if you begin to act generously from it? For when did it happen that resources could fail a just person, when it is written, "The Lord will not afflict the soul of the just with famine."
Evagrius Ponticus · AD 399 If the life of the wicked is malicious and the Lord will overturn it, then it is clear that at some point the wicked will no longer be wicked. For, after that "reversal," "the Lord will pass the kingdom over to God the Father," so that God may be "all in all."
Bede · AD 735 The Lord will not let the soul of the righteous be famished, etc. And if at any time the unjust afflict or even kill the righteous with famine, they will not hurt his soul, whom the Lord will comfort in the future life with the glory of His visitation, who also rightly turns the same traps of the wicked back upon them by judgment.
4 The slothful hand hath wrought poverty: but the hand of the industrious getteth riches. He that trusteth to lies feedeth the winds: and the same runneth after birds, that fly away.
Bede · AD 735 Lazy hands lead to poverty, etc. Whoever lives negligently in this world will suffer lack of good things in the future; but whoever fights bravely for the Lord is rewarded with the riches of eternal blessedness.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 The gift of fortitude is given for accomplishing manly deeds; whence in Proverbs: "The slack hand works poverty, but the hand of the strong prepares riches."
5 He that gathereth in the harvest, is a wise son: but he that snorteth in the summer, is the son of confusion.
Bede · AD 735 He who gathers in summer is a wise son, etc. He who gathers to Christ the souls of the faithful is a wise son. And indeed, this harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few (Luke 10). But he who in this acceptable time is sluggish in caring for his own salvation will be ashamed in the day of tribulation.
6 The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but iniquity covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Bede · AD 735 The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the righteous, etc. The righteous will be told in judgment: Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom (Matt. 25). The mouths of the wicked, which served for revelry, drunkenness, and evil gossip, will be condemned by the wickedness they practiced.
7 The memory of the just is with praises: and the name of the wicked shall rot.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 "The memory of the just man will be praised." But he did not say this because he meant that the departed souls are helped by our praise. He said it because those who praise the departed derive the greatest benefits from remembering them.
Caesarius of Arles · AD 542 What wonder is it, dearest brethren, that a dancing girl killed the prophet [John the Baptist]? For we know that dissipation is always the enemy of justice and that error ceaselessly persecutes the truth. Wantonness, moreover, associates with cruelty. The head of the prophet is brought to the table of Herod; this dish was due to his inhumanity.
Bede · AD 735 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, etc. And in this life, the good praise the good, whether living or dead; but they detest the actions and name of the wicked.
8 The wise of heart receiveth precepts: a fool is beaten with lips.
9 He that walketh sincerely, walketh confidently: but he that perverteth his ways, shall be manifest.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Absalom was a treacherous man, and "stole all men's hearts." And observe how great was his treachery. "He went about," it saith, "and said, `Hast thou no judgment?'" wishing to conciliate every one to himself. But David was guileless. What then? Look at the end of them both, look, how full of utter madness was the former!
Bede · AD 735 Whoever walks uprightly, walks securely, etc. He who knows he lives uprightly, easily disregards all adverse things, because he trusts he will come to joy through them, saying with the prophet: The Lord is the protector of my life; whom shall I fear? and the rest (Psalm 26). But he who walks in crooked paths, though unwilling, becomes exposed and receives due recompense.
10 He that winketh with the eye, shall cause sorrow: and the foolish in lips shall be beaten.
Clement of Alexandria · AD 215 Those they have stolen are to be pointed out, that we may thereby pull down their conceit; and of those on the discovery of which through investigation they plume themselves, the refutation will be furnished. By consequence, also we must treat of what is called the curriculum of study-how far it is serviceable; and of astrology, and mathematics, and magic, and sorcery.
Bede · AD 735 He who winks with the eye causes trouble. Whoever mockingly winks at someone will not escape without the pain of torment and regret. Of such people the Psalmist says, Those who hate me without cause and wink maliciously with the eye (Psalm 35); or certainly, he who winks with the eye causes trouble because a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
11 The mouth of the just is a vein of life: and the mouth of the wicked covereth iniquity.
Bede · AD 735 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life. And the Lord speaks of teachers, "He who believes in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his heart" (John VII).
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: and charity covereth all sins.
1 Peter · AD 65 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Clement of Alexandria · AD 215 Ignorance involves a lack of education and learning. It is teaching which implants in us the scientific knowledge of things divine and human. It is possible to live uprightly in poverty. It is also possible in wealth. We admit that it is easier and quicker to track down virtue if we have a preliminary education.
Leo the Great · AD 461 This remedy has been granted by God to human weakness: If someone contracts any guilt while living on this earth, almsgiving wipes it away. Almsgiving is a work of love, and we know that "love covers a multitude of sins."
13 In the lips of the wise is wisdom found: and a rod on the back of him that wanteth sense.
Bede · AD 735 In the lips of the wise is found wisdom, etc. The rod on the back is vengeance on the posterior, that is, in the following life; well expressed by that famous plague by which the Philistines were struck on their buttocks (1 Sam. V). Therefore, whoever does not want to carry the rod on their back, let them carry wisdom in their lips.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the fool is next to confusion.
Bede · AD 735 But the mouth of the fool is near to confusion. Because either he will speak good things inordinately, or openly speak evil things.
15 The substance of a rich man is the city of his strength: the fear of the poor is their poverty.
Ambrose of Milan · AD 397 But riches in themselves are not blameable. For the ransom of a man's life are his riches, for he who gives to the poor, redeems his soul. There is therefore scope for virtue even in these material riches. Ye are as it were pilots, in a great sea.
Bede · AD 735 The wealth of the rich is his strong city, etc. The rich trust in their wealth as in a fortified city; the poor therefore tremble, fearing they may lack because they know they are needy.
16 The work of the just is unto life: but the fruit of the wicked unto sin.
17 The way of life, to him that observeth correction: but he that forsaketh reproofs, goeth astray.
18 Lying lips hide hatred: he that uttereth reproach, is foolish.
Bede · AD 735 Lying lips hide hatred, etc. Therefore, if you desire to be truthful and wise, neither conceal hatred in the secret of the heart, nor express slander through the mouth; but let your heart be filled with love and your mouth with truth.
19 In the multitude of words there shall not want sin: but he that refraineth his lips, is most wise.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 How can teaching accomplish anything without a multitude of words, understood in the simpler sense, since even wisdom herself declares to the perishing, "I stretched out words, and you did not heed." Paul appears to have continued teaching from early morning till midnight, when indeed Eutychus, overcome with deep sleep, fell down and troubled the audience since they thought he…
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 I know it is written, "In the multitude of speech, thou shalt not escape sin." But O that I might speak only in preaching Thy word, and in praising Thee! Not only should I so flee from sin, but I should earn good desert, however much I so spake.
Benedict of Nursia · AD 548 If, for the sake of silence, we ought sometimes not to speak what is good, then even more are we obliged to avoid all evil talk, for fear of the punishment due to sin. Therefore, frequent leave to talk is not to be granted to those who are advanced in perfection, even if the subject is good and holy and edifying.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: but the heart of the wicked is nothing worth.
Shenoute the Archimandrite · AD 465 When I read the Proverbs today, I began with this sentence: "The tongue of the righteous is tried silver." I said, If the tongue of the righteous is choice silver, the tongue of the wicked is most polluted.
21 The lips of the just teach many: but they that are ignorant, shall die in the want of understanding.
22 The blessing of the Lord maketh men rich: neither shall affliction be joined to them.
23 A fool worketh mischief as it were for sport: but wisdom is prudence to a man.
Bede · AD 735 As if through laughter a fool works mischief, etc. Prudence takes its name from providence. Therefore, it is foolish to rejoice in mischief (Proverb. XIV). However, it is wise and worthy of a man to foresee that laughter will be mixed with pain, and the joy of sinning will be followed by the penalty of retribution.
24 That which the wicked feareth, shall come upon him: to the just their desire shall be given.
Bede · AD 735 What the wicked fears shall come upon him, etc. He speaks of that wicked one who sins knowingly. Therefore, the wicked fear to see the strict judge; the righteous desire to be dissolved and be with Christ: he, lest he be deprived of earthly joys and punished with eternal vengeance; they, lest their pilgrimage be prolonged and they receive the rewards for which they have strived…
25 As a tempest that passeth, so the wicked shall be no more: but the just is as an everlasting foundation.
John Chrysostom · AD 407 "When the storm has passed by, the wicked are destroyed: the righteous, by avoiding it, are saved forever." When temptation attacks, the wicked easily sin. On the other hand, the righteous are saved for eternity when they conquer temptation through patience and a soul of gratitude toward God.
Bede · AD 735 As a passing storm, the wicked shall not be, etc. He speaks of the persecutors of the Church, who seek to overthrow the house of faith. But that house, having been set upon the true foundation, that is, in Christ, remains, while they immediately perish.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that sent him.
Bede · AD 735 Just as vinegar to the teeth, etc. Just as the treachery of heretics generates trouble and tears for good teachers, so a Catholic living badly is a burden through laziness to those who have been commanded to show their faith through works.
27 The fear of the Lord shall prolong days: and the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Bede · AD 735 Fear of the Lord will prolong days, etc. Those who serve God faithfully will be gifted with eternal light; but those who are devoted to impiety lose the goods they loved along with this life.
28 The expectation of the just is joy: but the hope of the wicked shall perish.
Bede · AD 735 The expectation of the righteous is gladness, etc. It is clear that the righteous rejoice in the expectation of the life to come, even though they are saddened by the affliction of present trials. Hence that saying, "You are my refuge from the distress that surrounds me, my exultation" (Psalm XIII).
29 The strength of the upright is the way of the Lord: and fear to them that work evil.
Bede · AD 735 The strength of the simple is the way of the Lord, etc. He says, If you cannot understand the hidden meanings of Scripture, do not despair of salvation, but walk in the way of the Lord, do the good things you know, and you will be counted among the strong.
30 The just shall never be moved: but the wicked shall not dwell on the earth.
31 The mouth of the just shall bring forth wisdom: the tongue of the perverse shall perish.
32 The lips of the just consider what is acceptable: and the mouth of the wicked uttereth perverse things.