HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTICUS 20

CHAPTER XX.

Ver. 1. Prayer. A friend's excuses must be heard. C. --- Gr. "and he who apologises shall be preserved from ruin." Grabe adds, "how good it is for one who has been rebuked," &c. v. 4. H. --- Thus the guilty merit pardon, and the innocent obtain a greater reward, and satisfy for former offences. W.

Ver. 2. Maiden. Or "woman," (H.) who has been entrusted to his care. M. --- Such people are not free from concupiscence, which must be restrained by the virtue of chastity. S. Aug. c. Jul. vi. 14.

Ver. 8. Hated. As the pests of society. See Cic. off. 1.

Ver. 9. Loss. The prosperity of the wicked must not be envied. Ps. xxxviii. 1, 8. C.

Ver. 11. Glory. Galba "would have been universally deemed worthy of the empire, if he had not reigned." Tacit. Hist. 1. --- Adrian VI. thought the pontificate the greatest misfortune to which he had been exposed; and this observation ws engraven on his tomb. --- Estate. By merit.

Ver. 12. Sevenfold. As the merchandise was good for nothing, which the miser had obtained for a little money, thinking to save thereby.

Ver. 13. Graces. Or favours bestowed with ill-nature.

Ver. 14. Sevenfold. He expects more. C. --- His intention is full of guile, who flattereth and detracteth for the sake of gain. W.

Ver. 15. Much. As Dido did. "This is to make a display of favours to excite hatred." Sen. Ben.

Ver. 16. Hateful. He seems to distrust you, and will not permit his goods to be of any service. C.

Ver. 17. Have. Gr. "say I have," &c. --- His. Gr. "my," as also v. 18. H. --- Such is the language of the fool.

Ver. 19. That, &c. Riches and poverty are both wrong to misers and fools. Gr. "he had as well be without any thing." C.

Ver. 20. Pavement. It is equally destructive.

Ver. 21. Grace, (acharis) impolite and importunate. C.

Ver. 23. Shall. Gr. adds, "not." Yet if a person has had the will to offend, he must repent, though the could not put it in execution. H.

Ver. 24. Himself. Being afraid to beg for necessaries, or given too much.

Ver. 25. Nothing. People are always displeased, when a promise is broken. C.

Ver. 26. Man. "It is the vice of slaves." Arist. Ethic.

Ver. 27. Lying. He exposes honour and virtue, without making restitution. C. --- He throws all into confusion, and we can trust him with nothing. M.

Ver. 29. A. Gr. adds a title, "discourses of proverbs."

Ver. 30. And...exalted, is not in Gr. but explains the meaning of the former sentence. --- Escape. Gr. "obtain pardon for iniquity." H. --- The great will protect him.

Ver. 31. Make. Gr. "like a bit in the mouth, remove corrections." Ex. xxiii. 8. C.

Ver. 32. Both? He who, through a false humility refuses to take charge of others, resembles a man who locks up his corn in time of scarcity. S. Greg. Part. iii. 26. Matt. xxv. C. --- Wisdom must be shewn for the benefit of others. W.

Ver. 33. Folly. He may still appear to have some sense, and injures none. --- It is convenient to conceal faults, provided they be amended. W.