John Trapp on Proverbs 12:26

Verſ. 26. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour] Let him dwell by whomſoever; hee is ever a better man than his neighbours; hee is a Prince of God amongſt them, as Abraham was amongſt the Hittites. The Jews ſay, that thoſe ſeventy ſouls that went with Jacob into Egypt, were as much worth as all the ſeventy Nations in the world. Nemo me major, niſi qui juſtior, ſaid Ageſilaus, when he heard the King of Perſia ſtiled The great King, i. e. I acknowledge none more excellent than my ſelf, unleſs more righteous; none greater, unleſs better. Upon all the glory ſhall bee a defence, Iſa 4.5. that is, upon all the righteous, thoſe onely glorious, thoſe excellent of the earth, Pſal. 16.2. that are ſealed up to the day of redemption, Eph. 4.30. Now whatſoever is ſealed with a ſeal, that is excellent in its own kinde, as Iſa. 28.25. hordeum ſignatum, excellent barly. The pooreſt Vilage is an Ivory palace, in quo eſt Paſtor & credentes aliqui, ſaith Luther, if it have in it but a Miniſter, and a few good people.

But the way of the wicked ſeduceth them] i. e. The wicked will not bee perſwaded of the juſt mans excellency; hee cannot diſcern, nor will bee drawn to beleeve that there is any ſuch gain in godlineſs, any ſuch worth in well-doing, any ſuch difference betwixt the righteous and the wicked, betwixt him that ſerveth God, and him that ſerveth him not. Hee therefore goes another way to work, but is fearfully fruſtrated; For who ever yet hardened himſelf againſt God, and proſpered? Job 9.4. They think themſelves far better than the righteous; and ſo they were indeed, if they could finde that felicity in wicked wayes, which their deceitful hearts promiſe them. But this they can never do.