CRITICAL NOTES.--+1. Just weight,+ literally, "a stone of completeness, a full stone." Stone was a very ancient material for weight; not rusting, it was not changeable. +2.+ Literally, "there hath come pride, there will come shame." Stuart reads, "Does pride come, then shame will come." +3. Guide,+ "lead" "as a shepherd his sheep, and therefore in the path of safety and peace" (_Stuart_). +Perverseness,+ "slipperiness," "falseness." +Destroy.+ An intensive word in the Hebrew, "to lay hold of them with violent force" (_Stuart_). +5. Direct,+ "make smooth or even." +6. Naughtiness,+ "cravings," "desires," "covetousness." +7. His+ and +men+ are not in the original, and the verse is variously rendered. Stuart reads, "When the wicked die, all the hopes perish; and when they are afflicted, their expectation of recovery or alleviation will be frustrated." Zöckler--"With the death of the wicked hope cometh to nought, and the unjust expectation has perished." Miller--"By the death of a wicked man hope is lost, and the expectation of sorrowing ones is lost already." +9.+ Zöckler here reads, "The hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour, but by the knowledge of the righteous shall they (the neighbours) be delivered." +12. Void of wisdom,+ literally, "of heart." Zöckler inverts the phrase, "He that speaks contemptuously of his neighbour lacketh wisdom." +13.+ "He who goeth about as a slanderer." +14. Counsel,+ literally, "pilotage," "steersmanship." +15. Suretyship,+ literally "striking hands." See notes and Illustrations on chap. vi. 1. Stuart translates this verse, "An evil man showeth himself as evil when he giveth pledge to a stranger," _i.e.,_ by hastily pledging himself and then not redeeming his pledge. +16.+ Last clause "as strong men retain," or "grasp at riches." +17.+ Or, "He who doeth good to himself is a merciful man, but he who troubleth his own flesh is cruel." So Stuart and Miller, Zöckler and Delitzsch read as the Authorised Version. +18.+ "The wicked gaineth a deceptive result, but he that soweth righteousness a sure reward" (Zöckler). +21.+ The Hebrew here is simply +"hand to hand, the wicked,"+ etc. Zöckler and Delitzsch understand it as a formula of strong asservation derived from the custom of becoming surety by clasping hands, and hence equivalent to "assuredly," "verily," "I pledge it." Stuart says, "Different meanings have been assigned. 1. Hand against hand, _i.e.,_ the injurious man. 2. From one hand to another, _i.e.,_ from one generation to another. 3. Joining hands in way of assurance--"verily." All these are little better than guesses. The phrase is evidently proverbial and doubtless abridged. The most simple interpretation is that of Michael, "Hand joined to hand will not protect the guilty. Let the evil man struggle with all his might he will not escape." +23. Wrath,+ _i.e.,_ God's wrath (Zöckler). +25. Liberal soul,+ "the soul of blessing," _i.e.,_ "the soul that blesses others." +27.