A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but [he that is] slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Ver. 18. A wrathful man stirreth up strife.] Miscet lites, he mingleth strife with his meat, and feeds upon chafing dishes. Such troublesome guests Augustine forbade his table by these two verses written round about it -
“Quisquis amat dictis aliorum rodere famam,
Hanc mensam vetitam noverit esse sibi.” a
This is the worst music at meat that may be. But some men maledictis aluntur, ut venenis capreae. David met with such "hypocritical mockers in feasts," that most uncivilly "gnashed upon him with their teeth." Psa 35:16 Hence much mischief many times ariseth. For, as Basil noteth, ira excitat rixam, vixa parit convicia, convicia ictus, ictus vulnera, et saepe vulnera mors consequitur: Wrath stirs up strife, strife causeth ill words, ill words draw on blows, bloodshed, and loss of life sometimes.
But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.] Is as busy to stint strife, as the other to stir it; brings his buckets to quench this unnatural fire between others, and puts up injuries done to himself, as Jonathan did when his father flung a javelin at him - he rose from table and walked into the field. David also, though provoked, yet he "as a deaf man heard not, and was as one dumb, in whose mouth there was no reproof." Such peaceable and peacemaking men are blessed of God and highly esteemed of men, when wranglers are to be shunned as perilous persons. "Make no friendship with an angry man," saith Solomon. Pro 22:24 And they are not much to be regarded that with every little offensive breath, or disgraceful word, are blown up into rage, that will not be laid down without revenge or reparation to cure their credits.
a Possid. in vit.