The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails firmly fixed by the masters of assemblies, which are given by one shepherd.
Read Chapter 12
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
Therefore let your sermons be flowing, let them be clear and lucid so that by suitable disputation you may pour sweetness into the ears of the people and by the grace of your words may persuade the crowd to follow willingly where you lead. But if in the people, or in some persons, there is any stubbornness or any fault, let your sermons be such as to goad the listener, to sting the person with a guilty conscience. “The words of the wise are as goads.” Even the Lord Jesus goaded Saul when he was a persecutor. Consider how salutary was the goad that made of a persecutor an apostle, saying, “It is hard for you to kick against the goad.” Letter , To Constantius.
In. The ground, (Haydock) to keep a tent in its proper place. He seemed before to have placed the wise on the same level with fools, chap. vi. 8, 11., and vii. 1. (Calmet)
Shepherd. God, or Solomon. The Jews explain it of Moses, and his successors, who taught the people.
Holy preachers are also accustomed to reprove their hearers with sharp words and to rage with strict severity against their sins. As it is written, “The words of the wise are goads, and as nails fastened deep.” But their words are properly called nails, since they do not know how to handle the sins of offenders gently, but only how to pierce them. Were not the words of John nails when he said, “O generation of vipers, who has shown you to flee from the wrath to come?” Were not the words of Stephen nails when he said, “You have always resisted the Holy Spirit”? Were not the words of Paul nails when he said, “O senseless Galatians, who has bewitched you?” and again when saying to the Corinthians, “For while there is among you envying and strife, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to man?” Morals on the Book of Job.
