He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
Ver. 28. He that trusteth to his riches shall fall.] Riches were never true to any that trusted to them. The rich churl that trusted and boasted that he had "much goods laid up in store" for many years, when, like a jay, he was pruning himself in his boughs, he came tumbling down with the arrow in his side. Luk 12:15-21 So did Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Herod, &c. "The righteous also shall see and fear, and laugh at such a one, saying, Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." Psa 52:6-7 "But I am like a green olive tree," &c. Psa 52:8 Agreeable whereunto is this that follows here: "But the righteous shall flourish as a branch," while the wicked, Faenea quadam felicitate temporaliter florent, et exoriuntur ut exurantur, a flourish and ruffle for a time, but shall be soon cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
a Aug., Epist. 120.