Sirach
Verse 1. Little. Small expenses, often repeated, will ruin an estate, ( Bible.) and the neglect of venial sins is of the most dangerous consequence. Calmet.—The best way to avoid great faults, is to guard against small ones. Worthington.
EXPLANATIONS
Sirach 19
Historical chapter commentary
Sirach
Verse 2. Off. From God ( Calmet.) and religion. See Genesis 19:33 and 2 Kennicott. 11:1. Os. 4:11.
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Verse 3. Number. Of the living. Bible.—The venereal disease seems to be described.
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Verse 4. Credit. To harlots. 1 Corinthians 6:18. Calmet.
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Verse 5. Hateth. Greek “resisteth pleasure, shall crown his life. He who guardeth his tongue, shall live without contention: and he,” and so forth Bible.
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Verse 6. He. Greek omits this explication of the preceding verse.
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Verse 8. Not. Only to God and his minister. Friends do not require to be informed of such things. Greek “disclose not the conduct of others.”—Be. Greek “be not.” Do not boast of sins which thou hast not committed, ( Calmet.) as Saint Augustine did before his conversion. Bible.—But the Vulg. seems preferable. Calmet.—In ordinary conversation to reveal our faults would be dangerous, but not in confession, or in religious orders, for advancement in virtue. Worthington.
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Verse 9. Hate thee. Whether thou hast spoken of thy own or of others’ faults, he will distrust thee.
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Verse 10. Burst thee. Like poison, or as new wine ( Calmet.) does a leathern bottle. Bible.—This expression well implies the eagerness which some manifest to divulge a secret injurious to their neighbour. Calmet.
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Verse 13. Understood. Greek “done it.” Bible.—For want of coming to a timely explanation, many friendships are broken, owing to groundless surmises.
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Verse 15. Committed. Or “a false report,” commissio. Calmet.—Greek “a foolish calumny.” Bible.—Monere et moneri proprium est veræ amicitiæ. Cic.
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Verse 17. Him. Gentle means must be first tried. Matthew 18:15. Galatians 6:1. Bible.
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Verse 18. Place. Love true piety. Calmet.—Disposition. Greek “complying with.” Bible.—The Complut. has several additions which are not in the Rom. edit. Calmet.—Grabe inserts them. But it is not necessary to mark here every such variation. Bible.
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Verse 22. Unjust. Saint James (3:15) describes true and false wisdom. Romans 16:19. Calmet.
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Verse 23. Wickedly. Greek “in black,” ( Bible.) wearing the robes of mourning. Grot.
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Verse 24. And. Greek “there,” and so forth Bible.—The hypocrite abstains from exterior crimes, only through fear. Calmet.—False pretence of piety, is hypocrisy; and it is wrong for a superior to reveal his secret faults to his subjects. Reason must direct. Worthington.
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Verse 26. Countenance. Yet this is not always the case. verse 28. We may sometimes condemn a person unjustly, on such outward appearances. Calmet.
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Verse 28. Lying. Greek “a reproof which is not seemly; and there is one,” and so forth Bible.
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The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
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The preceding part of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
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Verses 18 and 19 are omitted by the best authorities.
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The remainder of verse 20 and verse 21 are omitted by the best authorities.
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The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.