Proverbs 19:2 - Exposition

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good. "Also" ( gam ), Wordsworth would render "even," "even the soul, i.e. life itself, without knowledge is not a blessing;" it is βίπς οὐ βιωτός . At first sight it looks as if some verse, to which this one was appended, had fallen out; but there is no trace in the versions of any such loss. We have had a verse beginning in the same manner ( Proverbs 17:26 ), and here it seems to emphasize what follows—folly is bad, so is ignorance, when the soul lacks knowledge, i.e. when a man does not know what to do, how to act in the circumstances of his life, has in fact no practical wisdom. Other things "not good" are named in Proverbs 18:5 ; Proverbs 20:23 ; Proverbs 24:23 . And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth; misseth his way. Delitzsch confines the meaning of this hemistich to the undisciplined pursuit of knowledge: "He who hasteneth with the legs after it goeth astray," because he is neither intellectually nor morally clear as to his path or object. But the gnome is better taken in a more general sense. The ignorant man, who acts hastily without due deliberation, is sure to make grave mistakes, and to come to misfortune. Haste is opposed to knowledge, because the latter involves prudence and circumspection, while the former blunders on hurriedly, not seeing whither actions lead. We all have occasion to note the proverbs, Festina lente ; "More haste, less speed." The history of Fabius, who, as Ennius said,

" Unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem ,"

shows the value of deliberation and caution. The Greeks recognized this—

προπέτεια πολλοῖς ἐστὶν αἰτία κακῶν .

"Rash haste is cause of evil unto many."

Erasmus, in his 'Adagia,' has a long article commenting on Festinatio praepropera. The Arabs say," Patience is the key of joy, but haste is the key of sorrow." God is patient because he is eternal.