The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Ver. 11. The rich man's wealth is his strong city.] It is hard to have wealth, and not to trust to it. Matthew 19:24 1 Timothy 5:17 ; see the notes there But wealth was never true to those that trusted it; there is an utter uncertainty, 1Ti 5:17 a nonentity, Pro 23:5-6 an impotence to help in the evil day, Zep 1:18 an impossibility to stretch to eternity, unless it be to destroy the owner for ever. Ecc 5:13 Jam 5:1-2 A wicked man beaten out of earthly comforts is as a naked man in a storm, and an unarmed man in the field, or a ship tossed in the sea without an anchor, which presently dasheth upon rocks, or falleth upon quicksands. Totam igitur anchoram sacram figamus in Deo, qui solus nec potest, nec vult fallere; Cast we anchor therefore upon God, who neither can nor will fail us, saith a learned interpreter.
And as an high wall in his own conceit.] It is "conceit" only that sets a price upon these outward comforts, and bears men in hand, that thereby, as by a high wall, they shall not only be secured, but secreted in their lewdness, from the eyes of God and men. But what said the oracle to bloody Phocas? Though thou set up thy walls as high as heaven, sin lies at the foundation, and all will out - yea, all be overturned. a
a εαν υψοις τα τειχη εως ουρανου ενδον το κακον, &c. - Cedr.