As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
(As) he that taketh away a garment (an outer or upper garment) in cold weather, (and as) vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. Nitre or natron (Hebrew, nether, from nathar, to dissolve) is potash; this, mixed with oil, was used as soap (Jeremiah 2:22). Vinegar poured on it causes it to effervesce and lose its force. As the "nitre" takes ill the admixture of vinegar, as opposed and alien to it, so joyous songs are incongruous to an heavy heart (Psalms 132:4; Daniel 6:18).