The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Ver. 24. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule,] i.e., It shall make rich, and so get preferment; for, regina pecunia; money bears the mastery, and is a common meddler in most businesses. Agathocles, by his industry, became king of Sicily, Cromwell came to be earl of Essex, Cranmer came to be archbishop of Canterbury, &c.
But the slothful (or deceitful) shall be under tribute.] Cajetan renders it, Dolus erit ad liquefactionem; - Deceitful dealing shall melt to nothing. The same word a signifieth both melting and tribute, because too much tribute wastes men's estates; as when the spleen swells, the rest of the body consumes. King John's exactors received from his subjects no less sums of curses than of coin. He gathered money, the sinews of war; but lost their affections, the joints of peace. He had a troublesome reign, ill-beloved of his people, and far a less king, only by striving to be more than he was, the just reward of violations; what tribute he paid to the Pope's legate at his absolution (eight thousand marks, besides other huge sums, insomuch as that John Florentinus, the legate, was nicknamed Ferentinus, for bearing away so much money) I need not here relate. b And yet this king was not slothful (for his endless turmoils kept his body still in motion, his mind in passions, and his prowess in use); c deceitful, I cannot deny him, in breaking promise with his subjects about their just liberties. But a great part of that blame may well lie upon his court parasites, who suggested, that now he was a king without a kingdom, a lord without a dominion, and a subject to his subjects. Wicked counsellors! as if it were not enough to be above men, but to be above mankind, as those princes would be that would not be under the law.
a מס tributum, sic dictum quia paulatim liquescere facit facultates. - Buxtorf.
b Mat. Paris.
c Speed.