1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 sn “Thorns and snares” represent the dangers and threats to life. They would be implied comparisons (hypocatastasis): As a path strewn with thorns and traps, life for the wicked will be filled with dangers and difficulties. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 sn This individual is gracious or kind in what he says; thus the verse is commending honest intentions and gracious words. 29 30 31 32 sn The proverb affirms that God in safeguarding true knowledge will frustrate deception from faithless people – what they say will not have its intended effect. 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 sn The proverb is saying that the 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 sn Robbing or oppressing the poor is easy because they are defenseless. But this makes the crime tempting as well as contemptible. What is envisioned may be in bounds legally (just) but out of bounds morally. 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 sn The fourth saying deals with respect for property that belongs to other people (cf. Instruction of Amenemope, chap. 6, 7:12-13 [ANET 422]). 69 70 71