Sirach
Verse 1. Rejoice. Greek “desire not an useless multitude of children,” and so forth
EXPLANATIONS
Sirach 16
Historical chapter commentary
Sirach
Verse 2. Labours. All will end in ruin which springs from corruption. Bible.—Achab and Gedeon had seventy sons, but all were presently exterminated, while Abraham had a numerous posterity by his son Isaac.
Sirach
Verse 7. Out. They shall perish by civil and foreign wars, ( Calmet.) and by God’s indignation. Deuteronomy 32:23. Bible.—They who yield to the fire of concupiscence, will feel God’s wrath for ever. Worthington.
Sirach
Verse 9. Of their word, is not in Greek but may imply the effrontery of the Sodomites, who were not ashamed of openly professing their brutality. Ezekiel 16:49. Calmet.
Sirach
Verse 11. Six hundred thousand footmen, and so forth that is the children of Israel, whom he sentenced to die in the wilderness. Numbers 14. ( Challoner.) Exodus 12:37.
Sirach
Verse 14. Off. The virtuous shall be rewarded. Romans 2:6. Greek “the patience of the impious shall not delay.” He shall soon be punished, ( Bible.) while he who gives only a cup of cold water to the poor, shall find a recompense. Matthew 10. Worthington.
Sirach
Verse 15. And, and so forth is not in Greek the different editions of which vary. Calmet.—Instead of this sentence, Grabe inserts from the Comp. “the Lord hardened Pharao, that he might not know him, that his surprising works might be manifest under heaven. To every creature his mercy is evident, and he has divided his light from darkness with adamant. Bible.—His counsels are unsearchable, and the good are entirely separated from the reprobate. 1 Timothy 6:16. Lu. 16:26.
Sirach
Verse 16. High. God would not be God if he were indifferent about virtue. None of his creatures can be beneath his notice. All the world is but like a drop of water to him. Isaiah 40:15. 22. He cannot be distracted. Calmet.
Sirach
Verse 20. And. Greek “his ways.” verse 21. Bible.—God’s threats and promises touch not the sinner.
Sirach
Verse 22. Testament. The law, or the judgment, which God shall pronounce. Calmet.
Sirach
Verse 26. And their. The heavenly bodies continue their courses, (Grot. Jans.) and all things still subsist, ( Bible.) being formed and preserved by an intelligent being. He refutes the epicureans. Calmet.
Sirach
Verse 29. Be. Greek “they shall not disobey his order for ever.” Bible.—After the sun, and so forth had been regulated on the fourth day, God set in order sublunary things. verse 30. Calmet.
Sirach
Verse 31. Forth, the glory and power of God upon the earth. Challoner.—Before. Greek “hath covered its (the earth’s) face, and into it,” and so forth Bible.—All living creatures shall return to dust. Psalms 103:29. Calmet.—Rational and brute creatures praise God by answering the ends designed by him. Worthington.
Sirach
Verses 15 and 16 are omitted by the best authorities.
Sirach
Greek among hidden things.
Sirach
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
Sirach
Greek heart.