HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTICUS 13

CHAPTER XIII.

Ver. 1. Pride. We are naturally prone to it, and the friendship and manners of the proud will increase it. C. --- If, therefore, the rich be not virtuous, it is dangerous to keep their company, (W.) both for this and the next world.

Ver. 3. Kettle. Made of iron. It will presently be broken. So the poor must suffer, if they marry, or have society with those who are much above their rank. C.

Ver. 7. Thou? Distrust those who promise much. C. --- Spem pretio non emo. Ter.

Ver. 8. Drawn. Lit. "exhaust." H. --- He will feast thee, while he wants thy service, or he will come to dine with thee, and thus reduce thee to distress. Prov. xxiii. 1. C.

Ver. 10. Humbled. By foolishly attempting to rival the sumptuous feasts of the great. V. 9. and 11. are not in the Greek. H.

Ver. 11. Wisdom. Depend not on others' bounty. M. --- When the cause of God is at stake, be firm, like S. Paul. C. --- Pusillanimity in a superior might cause him to neglect his duty. W.

Ver. 14. Concerning, &c. is not expressed in Gr. H. --- If a person be so weak as to disclose his secret to a great man, he will never be trusted by him. C.

Ver. 17. Awake. Be cautious even in sleep, if possible; or seem not to hear what passes at court. C.

Ver. 19. Himself. Similarity of manners and of condition is favourable to friendship. C. --- The good and bad cannot be friends, their manners are so different. Cic.

Ver. 21. Lamb. Christ has taught people of different tempers to embrace the faith, which shows his admirable power. Is. xi. 6.

Ver. 25. Away. Ps. lxi. 4. C. --- "It is human to push those who are falling." Cic. pro Rabir.

Ver. 26. Helpers. Who prevent his ruin, (C.) and turn his words to good sense. M. --- Proud. Gr. "what should not be disclosed," aporrhta. H. C. --- Their "fault increases, being fed by applause." S. Greg. Mor. iv. 29.

Ver. 28. Clouds. People suppose that the rich must possess genius. Hor. ii. Sat. iii. --- "Every one honours the rich." Theog. C. --- Exception of persons hinders many good counsels, and promotes evil. W.

Ver. 30. Ungodly. The abuse of riches is alone blameable. All things are clean for the clean, while the wicked perverts every advantage.

Ver. 31. Evil. Sorrow will manifest itself. C. --- Imago animi vultus. Cic. Decorat. iii.

Ver. 32. Find. Few are perfectly sincere. C. --- Gr. "a cheerful countenance is the vestige of a heart in good things, (H. prosperity. M.) and the discovery of parables is the effect of laborious enquiries." H. --- Study makes the countenance serious. C.