In the "Century Bible" we have Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song
of Songs, by G. Currie Martyn, B.D. (T. C. and E. C. Jack, 2s. 6d. net). The publication of this volume marks another step towards the completion of the work. The whole of the New Testament has now been finished; and of the Old, Leviticus and Numbers, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, Jeremiah and Lamentations, and Daniel alone remain to be issued,—four volumes, i.e., out of twenty. Of the date of Proverbs Mr. Martyn speaks with com- mendable hesitation. He sees the oldest part in x.-XXii. 1-16, "Moral virtues and their contrary vices," as the heading used to run. Much of this is of extreme antiquity. Such sayings come into being very early in the history of a people. The portion i -ix. is undoubtedly later, belonging to a reflective and philo- sophical time. In the later chapters there are words which seem to point to as late a date as 300-200 B.C. This would appear to be a highly probable date for Ecclesiastes, and not far out for the Song of Solomon. Mr. Martyn accompanies the text with a running commentary, and has produced a work worthy of the excellent series to which it belongs.
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