HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

WISDOM 5

CHAPTER V.

Ver. 1. Then. At the day of judgment. The just and the reprobate know each other's condition. Lu. xvi. 20. --- Labours. Defrauding them of their wages, (Lev. xix. 13.) or plundering them. Sept. "despised, (C.) or frustrated his labours." H. --- Worldlings deride those who strive to obtain the goods of eternity, (C.) and think they labour in vain. W.

Ver. 3. Within. Or among themselves. --- Repenting. In despair. --- Reproach. We diverted ourselves with turning them to ridicule. C. --- This change of sentiment (H.) proceeds not from the love of virtue, and is useless. W.

Ver. 5. God. As they styled themselves truly, through the merits of Christ. C. ii. 18.

Ver. 6. Understanding in not in the Rom. (C.) or the Alex. copy. H. --- Some read "of justice." Ephes. v. 11. C.

Ver. 9. Post. Sept. "fame." ---

Fama malum quo non aliud velocius ullum.

Mobilitate viget, viresque acquirit eundo. Ã†n. iv.

Ver. 13. Virtue. How quickly passes the life of man, (Prov. xxx. 18.) and how few leave behind them a good reputation! Many of those whose actions are recorded in history, were falsely admired, (C.) and indeed the scourges of mankind. H.

Ver. 14. Such, &c. This is not in the original; but supplied to complete the sense, (C.) as otherwise the following remarks would seem to be the confession of the damned in hell, (H.) or before the judgment-seat. Castro. --- The past time is used to shew the certainty of the event. W.

Ver. 15. Dust. Sept. Ps. i. 4. Lit. "like the tender beard, (H.) or wool." Lanugo. C.

Ver. 16. Care. Lit. "thought." H. --- God thinks and provides for them.

Ver. 17. Crown. The Scripture thus represents the glory of the blessed, because there is nothing more desirable than independence. But the happiness of the elect will be to throw their crowns at the foot of God's throne, (Apoc. vii. 10. C.) in whom they find every advantage. S. Aug. ser. i. de vit. apost.

Ver. 18. Armour. Sept. "he will take zeal, his complete armour." H. --- See Is. lix. 17. Eph. vi. 16. C. --- The misery of the damned is unchangeable. W.

Ver. 21. Unwise. "As we have sinned in all, we are wounded by every thing." S. Greg. hom. 25. Ev.

Ver. 22. Directly. Straight to the mark. M.

Ver. 23. Casting. He alludes to the ballista, used to throw stones. Jos. x. 11. These comparisons shew the power of God over all nature. C.