Wealth Presents a Broader Mark for Misfortune
Dr. Laurie. Proverbs 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Have you not seen that the flourishing tree, when adorned with luxuriant foliage, or loaded with fruit, is most easily broken by the fury of the tempest? Have you not heard that the summit of the loftiest mountain meets first the lightning of heaven? In like manner, when you multiply flocks and herds, you not only increase your cares, but present a broader mark to the shafts of misfortune. When, "fed with food convenient for you," pay a becoming attention, on the one hand, to frugality, without which none can be long independent, and with which few would be pure. Beware, on the other, of spending your life in anxiety or meanness, in order to increase your worldly store. Surely the wealth of this world is not the best blessing which your heavenly Father has to bestow. In a thousand ways which you do not foresee He can promote the happiness of those who fear Him. (Dr. Laurie.) Parallel Verses KJV: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: WEB: Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;