HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTICUS 4

CHAPTER IV.

Ver. 1. Alms. Gr. "life," and of what is necessary to support it. Si non pavisti, occidisti. S. Tho. (ii. 2. q. xxxii. 5.) quoting the offices of S. Amb. though the sentence is not to be found there. C. --- Christians are not master of what is superfluous, no more than those who have the goods of the Church. S. Chrys. Corn. a Lap. --- Turn. Gr. "draw not after thee indigent eyes." H. --- Make not the poor wait, long for relief. 2 Cor. ix. 7. Rom. xii 8. Prov. viii. 28. C. --- Qui tarde dat, diu noluit. Sen. Ben. i. 1. --- Fames et mora bilem in nasum concitant. Plaut.

Ver. 5. For...anger, and behind, &c. is not in Gr. H. -- He thrice repeats the same injunction. Ex. xxii. 22. C. --- Deal not cruelly with the poor; for God will revenge their injuries. W.

Ver. 7. Of the. Gr. "and bow," &c. H. --- Submission to magistrates is enforced. C.

Ver. 8. And...owest, is not in Gr. H. --- People in office must attend to all. C.

Ver. 15. One. Or "sanctuary." They shall be honoured like priests. Is. lxi. 6. Birth, rather than merit, gave a title to the Jewish priests; but those who are wise shall minister in a more glorious temple. C.

Ver. 18. In temptation, &c. The meaning is, that before wisdom will choose any for her favourites, she will try them by leading them through contradictions, afflictions, and temptations, the usual noviceship of the children of God. Ch. --- Gr. "for sideways or through crooked paths she shall walk with him at first, (19.) she," &c. H. --- The narrow path leads to heaven, (Matt. vii. 13.) and to virtue. Hesiod.

Ver. 21. To him. And explain why she has treated him so roughly.

Ver. 22. Enemy. Gr. "ruin." This road leads to eternal misery. H.

Ver. 23. Time. For all things. Eccl. iii. 1. All depends on the proper season.

Ver. 24. Ashamed, to ask for relief, (v. 25. C.) or to say the truth, as the martyrs have done. This is not in Greek.

Ver. 25. Sin. Thus to refuse asking for what is necessary to support life, would be criminal. --- Grace. When we refrain from doing things truly shameful. C. xli. C. --- To abhor sin is glorious; but to yield to it, through shamefacedness, or not to reprove it, is vicious. W.

Ver. 27. Fall. Excuse not his faults, (C.) lest thou partake in them.

Ver. 28. Hide, &c. is not in the Alex. copy, though inserted by Grabe. H. --- Ostentation is blameable; still we must in defence of the truth. C.

Ver. 29. Tongue. Gr. "by speech, wisdom shall be known, and instruction by the word of the tongue."

Ver. 30. Lie. Gr. "of thy want of information." Yet Grabe and the Comp. edit. have lie, &c. H. --- Always yield to the truth, (C.) and never tell a lie, but speak the truth at proper times. W.

Ver. 32. River. Useless resistance is to be avoided; and when it is requisite to oppose the demands of the great, we must do it with reserve. v. 33. C.

Ver. 33. Strive. Gr. "unto death strive for the truth, and the Lord God will fight for thee." H. --- The saints were modest, but intrepid. C. --- All must rather lose their lives than act against justice or truth. W.

Ver. 34. Works. Perform what thou hast promised.