Warning against Self-Praise and Presumption.
EXALTATION OF SELF LEADS TO FOLLY. — V. 4. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous, literally, “Raving is anger and wrath is overflowing,” like a flood which carries everything before it; but who is able to stand before envy? jealousy being worse to contend with than outright anger with open warfare.
V. 5. Open rebuke is better than secret love, that is, censure applied openly and honorably is much to be preferred to such a pretense of love as dissembles and refuses to rebuke a neighbor’s fault where principles of true love would require it.
V. 6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, that is, he, in the earnest concern for his neighbor’s true welfare, may sometimes give a sharp reproof; but the kisses of an enemy, when he feigns friendship, are deceitful, full of treachery and craft.