HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTICUS 29

CHAPTER XXIX.

Ver. 1. Hand. That is, he that is hearty and bountiful in lending to his neighbour in his necessity. Ch. --- FÅ“nus, in this book means simply "lending." Rondet. --- This is a work of mercy, and a sort of alms. Justice requires that the thing should be restored, and if any refuse on purpose, he is as bad as a thief. W. -- He who lends will receive usury from the Lord. Prov. xix. 17. Ps. xxxvi. 21. --- In hand. Rich.

Ver. 2. Time. The neglect of this causes many to be unwilling to lend. C.

Ver. 5. Hands. Like slaves. Macrob. 1. --- Others kiss the face, neck, &c. Acts xx. 37.

Ver. 7. Found it. Seeming to make thee partaker of his good fortune, (Jans.) or he will keep the other half as his own. Grot.

Ver. 9. Injuries. Thus one loses both money and friends. Must we then never lend? If the person be poor, we must be ready to give. C.

Ver. 11. And delay. Or lit. "and for an alms, drag him not along." H. --- Let not the fraud of many deter thee from assisting the poor, for the sake of God and justice. C. --- Si fraudaris pecunia acquiris justitiam. S. Amb. Tob. iii. n. 11.

Ver. 12. Commandment. Deut. xv. 7. Else where is your merit?

Ver. 13. Friend. He is entitled to partake of all thy goods. If he be only thy fellow-creature, assist him; and God will reward thee. Mat. vi. 19.

Ver. 15. Heart. Gr. "thy store-houses," the poor. C. --- I never read that one who was liberal to the poor came to an evil death, as he has so many to intercede for him, whose prayers must be heard. S. Jer. ad Nepot. --- Works of mercy produce the best fruits. W.

Ver. 18. Himself. Yet he will not engage his word for more than he can pay, (v. 27. c. viii. 16.) nor encourage the negligence of debtors. Prov. vi. 1.

Ver. 19. Life. Or his subsistence, (c. xix. 28.) though some answered for the person of another. 3 K. xx. 39.

Ver. 20. And. Gr. "will turn away the goods of his surety, (21.) and the ungrateful in mind will abandon his redeemer." H. --- "All hate the ungrateful," (Cic. off. ii.) and the Persians punished such with death. Xenop. Cyr. i. --- Him. Gr. subjoins v. 23. H.

Ver. 23. Estate, (dirigentes) whose affairs were prosperous. M. --- Hence Solomon dissuades any rash engagements.

Ver. 25. Things. Tax-gatherers may deserve to fall into this misery. C.

Ver. 26. Not. Prudence requires that we should not ruin ourselves to help others. W.

Ver. 27. Shame. Clothing is like a portable house. Grot. --- Man stands in need of little, and those who are content will not need to borrow. v. 29.

Ver. 31. Shall. Or "has formerly entertained" those, who now reproach him, make him serve in the meanest offices, and at last cast him forth. It may also signify that people who receive ungrateful vagabonds, will be required to serve them, and had better keep them out. v. 33. C. --- Gr. "thou shalt entertain and give drink to the most disagreeable things." H.

Ver. 32. Others. Gr. "me." M. --- Travellers carried their provisions with them. C.

Ver. 33. Give. Gr. "depart, stranger, from the face of glory; for," &c. H.

Ver. 34. Lender. Who demands his money, and upbraids his debtor. M.