Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Ver. 7. Be not wise in thine own eyes.] Bis desipit qui sibi sapit. He is two fools that is wise in his own eyes. This δοκησισοφια mars all. Socrates's Hoc scio quod nihil scio, got him the name of the wisest among men. Consilii satis in me mihi a is the proud man's posy. "He that would be wise, must be a fool, that he may be wise." 1Co 3:18 Intus existens prohibet alienum. A conceit of wisdom bars out wisdom.
Fear the Lord.] This makes a modest opinion of a man's self. Joseph, a man famous for the fear of God, when Pharaoh expected from him an interpretation of his dream, as having heard much of his skill, "It is not in me," said he; "God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." Gen 41:16 Lo he extenuates his own gifts, and ascribes all to God. Wherefore suddenly after, as Joseph had said to Pharaoh, "Without me shall God make answer to Pharaoh," so Pharaoh is heard say to Joseph, "Without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." Gen 41:44 So that here was exemplified that holy proverb, "By humility and the fear of the Lord, are riches, and honour, and life." Pro 22:4 The original runs thus, By humility the fear of the Lord are riches, &c. There is no and in the Hebrew. Humility and the fear of the Lord are so near akin (this being the mother of that), as if the one were predicated of the other, as if they were one and the same grace.
And depart from evil.] Another effect of this "clean" fear of God, as David calleth it. Psa 19:9 Cave, spectat Cato, was a watchword among the Romans. A reverend and religious man had these words following written before him in his study, Noli peccare: Nam Deus videt, Angeli astant, Diabolus accusabit, Conscientia testabitur, Infernus cruciabit. Take heed of sin, for God seeth thee, angels stand by thee, the devil will accuse thee, thy conscience will testify against thee, and hell will torture thee. But besides all this, "there is mercy with God that he may be feared"; Psa 130:4 and "the children of Israel shall fear the Lord and his goodness." Hos 3:5
a Arachne apud Ovid. Metamor, lib. vi.