The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness [shall be] a sure reward.
Ver. 18. The wicked worketh a deceitful work.] By defrauding his genius, and afflicting his flesh, as Pro 11:17 he thinks he doth a very good work. Some emperors have left their thrones, and thrust [themselves] into a monastery, there to macerate themselves with much fasting and coarse clothing, out of an opinion of promoting their soul's health thereby. But "bodily exercise profiteth little." 1Ti 4:8 And as the pride of virginity is as foul a sin as impurity, a so is it in this case. The formal faster loseth his labour. Isa 58:3 Zec 7:5 In seventy years they kept seven score fasts in Babylon; yet among them all not one fast to God. There are that render it thus, Improbus comparat praemium falsum. The wicked get a false reward: all that he hath is but the things of this life, quae nec vera sunt, nec vestra. For the very fashion of this world passeth away and "surely every man walketh in a vain show," or shadow, "surely he disquieteth himself in vain he heapeth up riches, and knows not who shall gather them." Psa 39:6 They that dig in mines, or labour in mints, have gold enough about them, but are little the better for it. A sumpter horse bears much treasure on his back all day, but is eased of it at night, and turned into the stable with his back full of galls and bruises. So shall it be with wicked rich men at death; so that they have no great bargain of it.
But to him that soweth righteousness.] And so soweth upon blessings b - as the apostle's Greek hath it; 2Co 9:6 See Trapp on " 2Co 9:6 " Galatians 6:7,8 - upon well watered places c Ecc 11:1 To such shall be a sure reward: only he must have patience, and not look to sow and reap all in one day. Jam 5:7 See Trapp on " Jam 5:7 "
a Augustine.
b ο σπειρων επ ευλογιας .
c In locis irriguis.