Sirach
Verse 1. Sluggard. Who neglects his own and others’ welfare. Calmet.—Disgrace. He is still despised here, and punished eternally. Matthew 25:30. Worthington.
EXPLANATIONS
Sirach 22
Historical chapter commentary
Sirach
Verse 2. Pelted. Greek “compared to a lump of dung.” Bible.
Sirach
Verse 3. Loss. “I wish,” said Augustus, “I had never married, or that I had died without children.” Suet.
Sirach
Verse 4. Inheritance. Her wisdom and economy. Proverbs 31:29. Women had no inheritance among the Jews, when they had brothers.
Sirach
Verse 5. Bold. In speaking and acting without restraint. Calmet.
Sirach
Verse 6. Mourning. Saint Jerome (ep. ad Julian) quoting this sentence, calls it “divine Scripture.” Proverbs 25:20.—Of time. Or “stripes and instruction well-timed, are wisdom.” Bible.—Only the wise know how to correct with advantage.
Sirach
Verse 7. Fool. Who is incapable of understanding. Those who have sense may be corrected, though they may have taken evil courses.
Sirach
Verse 9. This? The Athenian philosophers and Festus derided Saint Paul. Acts 17:32.
Sirach
Verse 10. For the fool. In the language of the Holy Ghost, he is styled a fool that turns away from God to follow vanity and sin. And what is said by the wise man against fools is meant of such fools as these. Challoner.—Their wicked life is worse than death. Worthington.
Sirach
Verse 13. Day. There was a longer time assigned for great men. Genesis 50:3. Numbers 20:30 and Deuteronomy 34:8.—Life. This is understood of those who have lost all reason, or sense of religion. S. Monica wept for her son, hoping that he would repent, as a certain bishop had comforted her. Saint Augustine Conf. iii. ult.
Sirach
Verse 17. Lead? Gold alone is heavier. But the fool is compared with lead, and is most insupportable.
Sirach
Verse 19. Wood. Such were used in the walls of Jerusalem, (4 Maccabees 2) and of the temple and palace. 3 Kennicott. 6:36 and 7:12.
Sirach
Verse 21. Cost. Of lime. Calmet.—Greek omits this comparison, as well as the 23d verse. Bible.
Sirach
Verse 23. Not fear. This seems contrary to what goes before. But fools are sometimes intrepid even to harshness. Calmet.
Sirach
Verse 24. Resentment. Or “sense,” ( Bible.) by means of pungent reprimands. Calmet.
Sirach
Verse 25. Away, (Gr.) Lit. “will knock them down,” dejiciet. Bible.—Deliberate provocations (verse 27) are pardoned with more difficulty than a sudden impulse of wrath. verse 26. On such occasions we may withdraw our confidence, but not our charity and patience. Matthew 5:11. Calmet.—A true friend will not be lost for a temporal damage; but he must not be slighted. Worthington.
Sirach
Verse 29. Inheritance. Greek adds, “for poverty is not always contemptible, nor is the senseless rich worthy of admiration.” Bible.
Sirach
Verse 32. Of him. Yet I will not follow their example. Calmet.—If my friend has behaved ill to me, he will be the greatest sufferer. Bible.
Sirach
Verse 33. Not. Psalms 140:3. Who can sufficiently guard his tongue? Calmet.
Sirach
Verses 9 and 10 are omitted by the best authorities.
Sirach
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.