Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Above him. We are intent on things which regard us not, while we neglect the important concerns of heaven. Hebrew may be joined with the preceding. Calmet.—Prot. (11.) “seeing there are many thing which increase vanity, what is man the better? 12) for who knoweth?” and so forth Bible.—Some strive to obtain riches or honours, which will prove fatal to them. Calmet.—None can perfectly know the nature of things either present or future. Worthington.
Verse 2. Name. “It is necessary for the sake of others,” (Saint Augustine de B. Vid. xxii.) particularly for those who have to direct souls. Saint Gregory in Ezec. Calmet.—In this second part is shewn that felicity is procured by a good life. Worthington.—Death. Speaking of the just, for death is the beginning of sorrows to the wicked. Calmet.—Some nations mourned on the birth-day of their children. Val. Max. ii. 6. Eurip in Ctes.
Verse 3. Come. While at birth-day feasts (Genesis 40:20. Matthew 14:6) people give themselves up to joy, and cherish the idea of living long. Calmet.
Verse 4. Anger. That is, correction, or just wrath and zeal against evil, ( Challoner.) is preferable to a misguided complaisance. Proverbs 27:6. Calmet.—Anger, when rightly used, helps us to correct our faults. Worthington.
Verse 5. Mourning. They submit willingly to correction, (Saint Jerome) or think seriously on the dangers of sin and God’s judgments.
Verse 6. Wise man. Much prudence is requisite to correct with fruit, and to persuade the sinner that he is under a mistake. Calmet.
Verse 7. Laughter. It is loud and soon over. Sirach 21:23. Lu. 24:25. Calmet.
Verse 8. Oppression. Lit. “calumny.” The most perfect can hardly bear it. Hebrew “oppression (or calumny of others. Calmet.) will make the wise insane, and a present will ruin the heart.” Mont.—Avarice blinds us. Bible.—Deuteronomy 16:19 “a corrupt judge examines ill the truth.”
Verse 9. Speech. Hebrew “thing.” The best projects often are seen to fail.—Beginning, as the auditor is on longer kept in suspense.—Presumptuous. Rashness must not be confounded with courage. Calmet.—Hasty and immoderate anger is hurtful. Worthington.
Verse 10. Bosom, as in its proper place. The wise may feel its impressions, but he immediately makes resistance.
Verse 11. Foolish. Men endeavour to excuse themselves by the manners of the age. But there have always been both good and evil. Calmet. 1:10. Calmet.—Corruption was prevalent in former times as well as now. Menochius.
Verse 12. With. Hebrew also, “above, or much as riches.” Calmet.—These are impediments in the hands of the reprobate, while they promote virtue in the good.” Saint Ambrose Lu. viii. n. 85.—The man who has only wisdom, cannot do as much good as those who are also rich. Calmet.—The moderate use of riches helps the servants of God, while they do not set their hearts upon them. Worthington.—The sun, to men on earth.
Verse 13. Them. Money may procure necessaries for the body; ( Bible.) but wisdom gives a long and happy life. Proverbs 4:10. Baruch 3:28. Calmet.
Verse 14. Despised. God never neglects first. Trid. Ses. vi. 11.—He detests sin, and at last abandons the obstinate, though he never fails to offer sufficient graces. A person who is of an unhealthy constitution, or involved in sin, cannot be cured by man alone. Yet we must not cease to preach, and so forth while we expect all from God, who gives the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:7.
Verse 15. Complaint. Prosperity and adversity succeed each other, that we may be neither elated nor dejected too much. Saint Bernard ep. xxxvi.—If we enjoy the advantages of nature, we must be thankful; if we feel pain, we must cheerfully submit to God’s will. Bible.
Verse 16. Vanity, during this miserable life.—Wickedness. This seemed more incongruous under the old law, when long life was promised to the just, ( Calmet. Psalms 72:3. Exodus 20:12) though it chiefly regarded heaven. Bible.
Verse 17. Over just, that is By an excessive rigour in censuring the ways of God in bearing with the wicked. Challoner.—Give not way to scruples, (Saint Bernard) nor to self-conceit. Alcuin.—Become. Hebrew “perish,” being oppressed with majesty. Lorin. Tirinus. Calmet.
Verse 18. Overmuch. No sin can be tolerated. Calmet.—But as all offend in many things, (verse 21. Bible.) they are encouraged to rise again with diligence and sorrow.
Verse 19. From him. Who is otherwise withdrawn, and so forth Hebrew “take hold of this, and not neglect that: for he who feareth God, will walk with all them.” He will avoid all extremes both of virtue and vice. Calmet.—Prot. and Mont. “he shall come forth of them all,” and advance towards heaven. Bible.
Verse 20. City. It has the advantage over more strength. Calmet. 9:16.
Verse 21. Not. 1 John 1:8. Crates said it was “impossible to find one who falls not.” Laert. vi. Bible.—We must not flatter ourselves with impeccability, verse 18. Calmet.—See Seneca. Clem. i. 6. Peccavimus omnes, and so forth and de Ira. i. 28. Menochius.
Verse 23. Thy. We must be satisfied with a good conscience, as we cannot control the thoughts and words of all. Saint Ambrose Of. i. 1.
Verse 24. Me. This is a proof of having made great progress in wisdom, since the half-learned are the most presumptuous. Calmet.
Verse 25. Much. Prot. “the which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?” Bible.
Verse 26. Reason. Of all things. In this natural wisdom consists. Septuagint “and number.” He examined the pretensions of philosophy, which attempted thus to predict future events; but found that it was all deceit, like a harlot. Olympiod.—He explored the qualities of different things, as an arithmetician counts numbers. Menochius.
Verse 27. Her. He speaks by experience, (Saint Jerome) as none perhaps ever fell more terribly victims of impure love. Calmet.—Though a plurality of wives was then permitted, Solomon did wrong in marrying strangers; and in suffering himself to be deluded by them, so as to erect temples to their respective idols. Bible.—All the attractions of women are replete with danger, and can only be overcome by God’s grace, and by flight. 1 Corinthians 4:8. Proverbs 7:22 and 22:14. Calmet.
Verse 29. Man. The superior part of the soul rarely thinks of good; but the sensual part always inclines to evil. Worthington.—Solomon found danger from all women, (Saint Jerome) and there is none who may not prove fatal to those who are off their guard. Calmet.—Yet some are doubtless innocent, like the bless Virgin. Bible.
Verse 30. Right. He fell by his own free-will. Saint Augustine de Civ. Dei. xiv. 11. Worthington.—The great corruption of the world is not, therefore, to be attributed to God. Ephesians 4:23. Our first parents were led by curiosity to examine whether the fruit was good, and so forth (Saint Cyril Cat. ii. Chal. Boss.) or mankind, in general, make useless enquiries.—And he. Hebrew and Septuagint “they,” and so forth Calmet.—Of the word. That is, of this obscure and difficult matter ( Ch). if this sentence have any connection with the preceding. It is placed at the head of the next chapter in Hebrew Calmet.