HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTICUS 23

CHAPTER XXIII.

Ver. 1. By them. Viz. the tongue and the lips, mentioned in the last verse of the foregoing chapter. Ch. --- We cannot resist of ourselves, and must therefore pray to God. W. --- We have need of a good master to correct our eagerness in speaking. C.

Ver. 2. Ignorances, &c. That is, that the scourges and discipline of wisdom may restrain the ignorances, that is, the slips and offences which are usually committed by the tongue and the lips. Ch. --- The tongue is a restless evil. Jam. iii. 8.

Ver. 3. Over me. The noblest motives are not always proposed first.

Ver. 5. Eyes. God never makes such presents, but he permits us to fall in punishment of former transgressions. C. --- Coveting. Gr. "from thy servants all giant-like affection. Vain hopes and desires remove from me; and thou shalt possess him who wishes to serve thee without ceasing." Grabe. H.

Ver. 6. Foolish, (infrunitÃ¦) is used in this sense by Seneca. C. --- Greek has not this epithet. The title, "instruction of the mouth," follows, (H.) to v. 20. C.

Ver. 10. Them. Gr. Alex. has only (9.) "swearing, (10.) and have not a custom of naming the Most High." Other editions have "the holy one." H. --- Rash and false oaths are forbidden. Jer. iv. Matt. v. W.

Ver. 11. Sin. "No swearing is secure." S. Aug. --- Slaves were forced to confess the truth by torments; free-men took an oath; and priests gave their word. Plut. Prob.

Ver. 13. Dissemble. Gr. "despise." He will be punished, at least, by God. C.

Ver. 14. In vain. Without a design to execute, (Grot.) or through levity, or rather falsely. Ex. xxiii. 1. Deut. v. 11.

Ver. 15. Opposite. Or equal. Gr. "clothed with death." He denotes blasphemy, (Lev. xxiv. 14.) or the invitation to idolatry, (Deut. xiii. 1.) or calumny. v. 17. Lev. xix. 12. C. --- In oaths God is called to witness, as being unable to deceive. But blasphemy attributes to him or to others what does not belong to them. W.

Ver. 16. Merciful. Or true believers, Assideans. 1 Mac. ii. 42.

Ver. 17. Of sin. A Hebrew idiom, to imply something criminal. Those who have laid aside shame, are capable of any wickedness.

Ver. 18. Men. Treat thy parents with no less regard, (C.) even though thou shouldst be exalted in dignity. Lyr. ---Thus thou wilt be rewarded, (C.) of if thou transgress, wilt be brought to judgment. Bossuet. --- Gr. "thou shalt sit," &c. H.

Ver. 19. Nativity. Wish not that thou hadst not been born of such parents. Grot.

Ver. 20. Life. For who will admonish him?

Ver. 21. Two. The first is a passionate man, (v. 22.) the second a libertine, (v. 23.) and the third an adulterer. v. 25. C.

Ver. 22. Hot. With any furious passion, (Vat.) or anger, (C.) avarice, (W.) or lust. M.

Ver. 23. Mouth. Gr. "body." --- Fire. Shameful disease will come upon him. C. xix. 3. His brutal passion will never be satiated. C.

Ver. 24. Sweet. He is not delicate in his choice. H. --- All obstacles increase his irregular desires. Prov. ix. 17. C.

Ver. 27. And. Gr. "the eyes of men are his dread." H. --- Such is the folly of the adulterer!

Ver. 30. And he. Gr. "and where," &c. He shall be stoned. Lev. xx. 10. C. --- Taken. Gr. subjoins (v. 32.) "so," &c. H. --- If carnal adultery be thus punished, how much more will spiritual adultery, schism, and apostacy from the Catholic religion? W.

Ver. 38. Shall. Gr. "that thou shouldst be taken under his protection." H.