Ecclesiasticus xxxvii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Death. Greek explains this: (Calmet) I mean (2.) “a companion and friend turned?” &c. (Haydock) — True friendship is most necessary, and false most dangerous. (Worthington)
Ver. 5. Will. Grotius suspects that not is wanting. Yet, if such a false friend take up arms, it will only be (Calmet) for his own belly. (Menochius) — Not is ill-omitted in the Complutensian edition in the last part of the following verse.
Ver. 7. Snare. Roman and Alexandrian Greek has at the end (Calmet) of ver. 11., “with him that suspecteth thee.” (Haydock)
Ver. 10. Stake, or stumbling-block. (Calmet)
Ver. 12. Treat not. The negation is omitted in the Vulgate, (Haydock) which speaks ironically in the three following verses. Greek, “consult not with him who suspecteth thee, and hide thy counsel from those who are jealous of thee. With a woman,” &c. Consult not, is always understood. Among the Jews, polygamy occasioned much jealousy. — Envious miser. (Calmet)
Ver. 13. Nor. Greek, “with the merciless concerning kindness, with the sluggard concerning any work. With one hired for the year, concerning coming to an end:” sunteleias. (Haydock) — He will never finish his work, or think he has sufficient wages.
Ver. 15. God, and is enlightened, as well as a good friend, ver. 16. (Calmet)
Ver. 17. It. Greek, “more faithful than it,” the well regulated heart. (Haydock) — It will give the best counsel, if we be not guided by passion.
Ver. 18. Holy is not in Greek, but must be understood. (Calmet) — The soul or heart, which is attentive to God, (ver. 17.) will be the best guide. (Haydock) — All good advice proceeds from the Lord. (St. Augustine, Doct. prol. 7.) — We must always have recourse to him, though we must use our best endeavours. (Worthington)
Ver. 20. In. Greek, “Reason is chief of every work, and counsel must go before every action.” (Haydock) — We must distrust our own lights.
Ver. 21. Them. The heart gives birth to good or evil, which the tongue utters, Matthew xii. 34., and xv. 18. — Soul. What will science, without charity, profit him, if he should even gain the world? (Matthew xvi. 26., and 1 Corinthians xiii. 1.)
Ver. 23. Hateful. His sophisms are soon discovered. Greek, “there is one wise, hateful in his discourses: he shall be devoid of all wisdom.”
Ver. 25. Soul. Being replenished with wisdom, he communicates it to others, and obtains an eternal reward. (Calmet)
Ver. 28. But. Greek, “And.” The wisest must soon die: Even the race of Israel shall end: But the virtuous shall be for ever remembered, ver. 29. (Haydock) — The blessed in heaven live for ever. (Worthington)
Ver. 30. Life. Attempt nothing above thy strength: or Greek, try what agrees with thy health or soul, (Calmet) and see thou give it not what is hurtful to it.” (Haydock) — St. Paul (1 Corinthians xi.) exhorts every one to prove or try himself and his own conscience. (Worthington)
Ver. 31. Soul. “We must not dispute about tastes.” (Haydock) — They are as various as men’s faces. All conditions do not suit every person.
Ver. 33. Choler, or indigestion. “Gluttony has slain more than the sword.” (Calmet)
Ecclesiasticus xxxvii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Death. Greek explains this: (Calmet) I mean (2.) “a companion and friend turned?” &c. (Haydock) — True friendship is most necessary, and false most dangerous. (Worthington)
Ver. 5. Will. Grotius suspects that not is wanting. Yet, if such a false friend take up arms, it will only be (Calmet) for his own belly. (Menochius) — Not is ill-omitted in the Complutensian edition in the last part of the following verse.
Ver. 7. Snare. Roman and Alexandrian Greek has at the end (Calmet) of ver. 11., “with him that suspecteth thee.” (Haydock)
Ver. 10. Stake, or stumbling-block. (Calmet)
Ver. 12. Treat not. The negation is omitted in the Vulgate, (Haydock) which speaks ironically in the three following verses. Greek, “consult not with him who suspecteth thee, and hide thy counsel from those who are jealous of thee. With a woman,” &c. Consult not, is always understood. Among the Jews, polygamy occasioned much jealousy. — Envious miser. (Calmet)
Ver. 13. Nor. Greek, “with the merciless concerning kindness, with the sluggard concerning any work. With one hired for the year, concerning coming to an end:” sunteleias. (Haydock) — He will never finish his work, or think he has sufficient wages.
Ver. 15. God, and is enlightened, as well as a good friend, ver. 16. (Calmet)
Ver. 17. It. Greek, “more faithful than it,” the well regulated heart. (Haydock) — It will give the best counsel, if we be not guided by passion.
Ver. 18. Holy is not in Greek, but must be understood. (Calmet) — The soul or heart, which is attentive to God, (ver. 17.) will be the best guide. (Haydock) — All good advice proceeds from the Lord. (St. Augustine, Doct. prol. 7.) — We must always have recourse to him, though we must use our best endeavours. (Worthington)
Ver. 20. In. Greek, “Reason is chief of every work, and counsel must go before every action.” (Haydock) — We must distrust our own lights.
Ver. 21. Them. The heart gives birth to good or evil, which the tongue utters, Matthew xii. 34., and xv. 18. — Soul. What will science, without charity, profit him, if he should even gain the world? (Matthew xvi. 26., and 1 Corinthians xiii. 1.)
Ver. 23. Hateful. His sophisms are soon discovered. Greek, “there is one wise, hateful in his discourses: he shall be devoid of all wisdom.”
Ver. 25. Soul. Being replenished with wisdom, he communicates it to others, and obtains an eternal reward. (Calmet)
Ver. 28. But. Greek, “And.” The wisest must soon die: Even the race of Israel shall end: But the virtuous shall be for ever remembered, ver. 29. (Haydock) — The blessed in heaven live for ever. (Worthington)
Ver. 30. Life. Attempt nothing above thy strength: or Greek, try what agrees with thy health or soul, (Calmet) and see thou give it not what is hurtful to it.” (Haydock) — St. Paul (1 Corinthians xi.) exhorts every one to prove or try himself and his own conscience. (Worthington)
Ver. 31. Soul. “We must not dispute about tastes.” (Haydock) — They are as various as men’s faces. All conditions do not suit every person.
Ver. 33. Choler, or indigestion. “Gluttony has slain more than the sword.” (Calmet)