HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTICUS 27

CHAPTER XXVII.

Ver. 1. Poverty. Gr. "the indifferent thing," as the Stoics represented money. C. vii. 20. --- Sinned. Hence proceeds the danger to which little merchants are exposed. Involuntary povery is very miserable. Prov. xxx. 9

Ver. 2. Fast. Anacharsis styled "the market-place the receptacle of mutual cheating." Laert. 1. --- The seller praises his goods to get them off: (Hor.) the buyer says it is bad. Prov. xx. 14. The next verse is a gloss omitted in Gr. C.

Ver. 4. Fear. By this the soul is preserved in a good state. W.

Ver. 5. Thoughts. The more he thinks on some things, the more is he perplexed. C. --- After sin is purged away, there remains some defects like dust. Ps. l. 4. W.

Ver. 6. Affliction. Gr. "thought," (H.) or speech. C. --- A young man being brought to Socrates, that he might pass judgment on his dispositions, the philosopher ordered him to "speak." Cic.

Ver. 7. As. Gr. "the fruit shews the dressing," &c.

Ver. 9. Honour. The desire of justice is the sure method to obtain it. The rest is not in Gr. H.

Ver. 11. Iniquities. They fall deeper, or sin entails punishment. C.

Ver. 12. A. Gr. "the speech of the wise man is wisdom throughout: but," &c. H. --- The fool always mixes something improper with what good he speaks. C. --- Sun. The wise man preserves his virtue, whether it appear or not. W.

Ver. 13. Keep. Gr. "wait an opportunity." H. --- Go but seldom. Their discourse tends to promote iniquity, (v. 14.) and blasphemous oaths, (v. 15.) and bloodshed. v. 16. C.

Ver. 15. Ears. The Jews did so, when they heard blasphemy. Acts vii. 56. M.

Ver. 17. Mind. In Egypt, those who disclosed a secret to the enemy, were condemned to have their tongues cut out. Diod. ii. 2.

Ver. 19. Him. He will never trust thee more. v. 22.

Ver. 20. Friend. Sept. Rom. and Alex. "enemy." H. --- This crime is like murder. The Romans sometimes solemnly renounced the friendship of those who had offended them, as Germanicus and Caius did that of Piso. Tacit. An. 2. Suet. 3.

Ver. 22. Because. Gr. "for one may bind up a wound, and an insult may be pardoned. But he who hath revealed secrets, hath lost all hope," (H.) or "confidence." v. 24. c. xxii. 27.

Ver. 25. Off. Some Gr. copies have, "he who knows him will depart from him." It is difficult to guard against a false friend, who winks as if he desired to please us, (C.) while he really seeks our ruin. v. 26.

Ver. 28. Wound. Gr. "deal wounds. He," &c. H. --- Traitors, in the dark, often wound their fellows, (C.) or themselves. M.

Ver. 29. Setteth. Gr. "layeth a snare, shall perish in it."

Ver. 30. Him. God will punish, when the sinner has perhaps forgotten his offence. C. --- Such are often chastised here, and always hereafter. W.

Ver. 33. Them. He shall feel the indignation of God, (C.) and shall repine. H.