Happy is the man that feareth alway. Some have taken the fear mentioned to be the fear with which God is to be regarded. Thus Aben Ezra. But it is rather the fear of sin which is meant—that tender conscience and watchful heart which lead a man robe prepared for temptation and able to resist it when it arises.
Such a one distrusts himself, takes heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12), and works out his salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12; comp. Proverbs 14:16). "Grow not thoughtless of retribution" ('Pirke Aboth,' 1.
8). A horror of sin cannot be instilled too early into the young. Septuagint, "Happy is the man who piously ( δἰ εὐλάβειαν) fears all things." St. Bernard ('In Cant. Serm.,' 54.9)," In veritate didici, nil aeque efficax esse ad gratiam promerendam, retinendam, recuperandam, quam si omni tempore coram Deo inveniaris non altum sapere, sed timere.
Time ergo cum arriserit gratia, time cum abierit, time cum denuo revertetur; et hoc est semper pavidum esse." He that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief; or, calamity (Proverbs 17:20). A man hardens his heart who attends not to the voice of conscience, the restraints of religion, the counsel of friends, the warnings of experience (comp.
verse 26; Proverbs 29:1; Exodus 8:15; Psalms 95:8). This man scorns the grace of God, loses his protection, and must come to misery.