HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTICUS 31

CHAPTER XXXI.

Ver. 1. Riches. Lit. "honesty" has this sense. H. --- The study of virtue and of the Scriptures removes temptations of the flesh. S. Jer. ad Rust. W.

Ver. 2. Hand. With too much anxiety. C. --- Gr. "the solicitude of watching will drive away slumber, and a grievous malady will moderate sleep," (Grabe. H.) or "sleep will alleviate a severe illness," as experience evinces. C.

Ver. 4. Poor. All have not equal success. Prov. x. 22. Ps. cxxvi. 1. Drus.

Ver. 5. Justified. He is exposed to various temptations. 1 Tim. vi. 9.

Ver. 7. To it. Being a sort of idol. Col. iii. 5. C. --- Woe. Gr. "and every," &c.

Ver. 8. Nor, &c. Gr. (9.) who, &c. "Pride is the worm of riches." S. Aug. --- "In delights, chastity is endangered; and humility in the midst of riches." S. Bern. conv. Cler. xxx. --- Not to transgress, on such occasions, is the greatest miracle. C. --- Man has free will, and those are happy, who, by God's grace, do not abuse it. W.

Ver. 11. In, &c. Gr. Alex. "and wisdom (Grabe substitutes the Church) shall proclaim his alms." H. --- God will bless his riches. C.

Ver. 12. Be, &c. Gr. "do not open," (H.) shew not too much greediness.

Ver. 14. Wicked. Jealous or avaricious, as if the person feared lest he should have to prepare the like sumptuous entertainment. Prov. xxiii. 1. Judas blamed the profusion of Magdalene. Jo. xii. 5.

Ver. 15. Face. Or portion set before him. 1 K. i. 5. C. --- When. Gr. "wheresoever it, (H.) or he (C.) shall look, stretch forth thy hand, and strive not with him in the dish. Judge," &c. Let the envious person (H.) or the master be served first. C.

Ver. 19. Use. Gr. "in all act considerately. Eat like a man," &c. (H.) not like a beast.

Ver. 20. First. Yet not too soon, lest the others should seem to be gluttons. C.

Ver. 21. Of all. Gr. "of them. How," &c. H. --- Politeness is grounded on virtue. C.

Ver. 22. Wine. Gr. specifies nothing, and to eat much is unwholesome. H.

Ver. 23. Choler. Or the cholic. The intemperate, infrunito, (C.) Gr. "insatiable," cannot sleep. H.

Ver. 25. Vomit. Some have omitted this term as indelicate; but the Scripture does not approve of intemperance, while it advises the preventing of a disorder. A man's stomach may sometimes be innocently overcharged. On such occasions, an emetic was prescribed. The ancients had nt the same horror of it as moderns. Prov. xxiii. 8. C. --- Cicero, addressing CÃ¦sar, says, Cum te vomere post cÃ¦nam velli dixisses. Pro. R. Dejot. --- And thou. Gr. "hear," &c.

Ver. 27. Quick. Intemperance and idleness are the great sources of illness.

Ver. 28. Bread. And other provisions; while the miser is contemned. Prov. xxii. 9. C. --- Bread supports the body, and instruction the soul. If it be bad, it does the reverse. W.

Ver. 30. Challenge. Not to fight, or rather (H.) to drink. Is. v. 22. C.

Ver. 31. Rebuke. Or disorder. Gr. "prove," (H.) or "lay open." C. --- Consilium retegis Lydo. Hor. iii. ode 21.

Ver. 32. Taken. Gr. "is as good as life," &c. --- Thou shalt. Gr. "what," &c.

Ver. 33. With. Gr. "destitute of wine, (35.) and this was created to," &c.

Ver. 35. And not. Greek, (36.) "sufficient wine taken in season is the," &c.

Ver. 37. Sober. Greek, (39.) "wine," &c. H. --- Anacharsis said that "the vine bore three clusters; the first of pleasure, the second of drunkenness, the third of discontent." Laert. i.

Ver. 42. Reproach. Alexander transfixed Clytus for so doing. Curt. viii. --- Again. By the pernicious custom of drinking healths, which still prevails in some countries, (C.) and occasions people to get drunk. Drus. --- Such abuses ought to be discouraged by every one. H.