HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

WISDOM 1

CHAPTER I.

Ver. 1. Goodness. Entertain just sentiments of the Deity, and avoid all duplicity. This truth is placed in the strongest light in the five first chapters, or preface.

Ver. 3. Unwise. He shews that their wisdom is all folly, and that they cannot withstand his power. C. --- There are mortal sins of thought. W.

Ver. 4. Subject. Or "enslaved to sin." H. --- Soul and body are intimately connected, so that the actions of one defile the other, and banish wisdom.

Ver. 5. Discipline. The instructive light of the Holy Ghost. --- Understanding. Those who deny God or Providence, (C.) and lead a wicked life, are abandoned. H. --- Not abide. Elegcqhsetai: "He shall be connected or manifested," shewing that he will not acquit the guilty, v. 6. M. --- When Solomon fell, his wisdom ceased. Iniquity soon betrays itself. C.

Ver. 7. That. S. Aug. reads hic, "this who," more correctly than hoc, as it refers to the spirit, (C.) which having made and filled all things, must be perfectly acquainted with every action. H.

Ver. 10. Jealousy. God is strong and jealous. Ex. xx. C. --- He examines the smallest deviation from the paths of rectitude. H.

Ver. 12. Seek not with such eagerness (zelare) your own ruin, (C.) by an evil life, (W.) or rather thrown not the blame on death, as if you were necessitated to sin. God created man to be immortal.

Ver. 14. Health. Good. Gen. i. 31. C. --- Poison, or medicine, (W.) medicamentum. W. --- Poison and wild beasts become noxious to man only after sin. It is this which infects the veins. All may derive an antidote from Jesus Christ.

Ver. 16. It. Sept. auton. --- Death. The wicked strive M. to draw upon themselves the second death (C.) as they will not repent. W. Is. xxviii. 15. H.