Proverbs 19:3 - Exposition

The foolishness of man perverteth his way; rather, overturns, turns from the right direction and causes a man to fall ( Proverbs 13:6 ). It is his own folly that leads him to his ruin; but he will not see this, and blames the providence of God. And his heart fretteth against the Lord. Septuagint, "He accuseth God in his heart" (comp. Ezekiel 18:25 , Ezekiel 18:29 ; Ezekiel 33:17 , Ezekiel 33:20 ). Ec Proverbs 15:11 , etc; "Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I foil away; for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth. Say not thou, He has caused me to err; for he hath no need of the sinful man," etc. The latter part of this important passage St. Augustine quotes thus: " Item apud Salomonem: Deus ab initio constituit hominem et reliquit eum in manu consilii sui: adjecit ei mandata et praecepta; si voles praecepta servare, servabunt te, et in posterum fidem placitam facere. Apposuit tibi aquam et ignem, ad quod vis porrige manum tuam. Ante hominem bonum et malum, vita et mors, paupertas et honestas a Domino Deo sunt ". And again, " Manifestum est, quod si ad ignem manum mittit, et malum ac mors ei placet, id votuntas hominis operatur; si autem bonum et vitam diligit, non solum voluntas id agit, sed divinitus adjuvatur ". Homer, 'Od.,' 1.32, etc.—

"Perverse mankind! whose wills, created free,

Charge all their woes on absolute decree;

All to the dooming gods their guilt translate,

And follies are miscalled the crimes of fate."

(Pope.)