Proverbs 1:31 - Exposition

Therefore they shall eat, etc. A further enlargement of the declaration of Wisdom, showing that their calamity is the result of their own ways. The futures are resumed in the original from Proverbs 1:28 . The word "therefore" does not occur, but it is met with in the LXX ; τοιγαροῦν ; in the Vulgate, igitur ; and in the Syriac, ideo. The truth here expressed is accordant with the tenor of the teaching of the Scripture (comp. Proverbs 14:14 ; Proverbs 22:8 ; Job 4:8 ; Isaiah 3:10 ; Galatians 6:7 , Galatians 6:8 ), and with our daily experience of God's moral government of the world (see Butler, 'Analogy,' part 1, ch. 2, ad fin. ) . This sentiment of retributive punishment also found expression in Terence, " Tute hoc intristi, tibi omne est edendum " ('Phorm.,' 2. 1. 4). When we are punished, the blameworthiness lies not with God, but with us sinners (Wardlaw). They shall be failed; rather, satiated, or surfeited ; saturabuntur (Vulgate). The verb שָׁבַע ( shava ) means not only "to fill," but "to be satiated or cloyed" (cf. Proverbs 14:14 ; Proverbs 25:16 ; Psalms 88:3 ; Psalms 123:4 ). Michaelis remarks on this word, "Ad nauseam implebuntur et comedent, ita ut consiliorum suorum vehementer tandem, sed nimis sero, ipsos poeniteat" (Michaelis, 'Notre Uberiores in Prov.'), "They shall be filled and eat ad nauseam, so that at length, but too late, they shall vehemently repent them of their own counsels." Counsels ( מוֹעֵצוֹת , moetsoth ); i.e. ungodly counsels, or evil devices. The word only occurs in the plural.