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Verse 1. Poverty. Greek “the indifferent thing,” as the Stoics represented money. Calmet. 7:20.—Sinned. Hence proceeds the danger to which little merchants are exposed. Involuntary povery is very miserable. Proverbs 30:9
EXPLANATIONS
Sirach 27
Historical chapter commentary
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Verse 2. Fast. Anacharsis styled “the market-place the receptacle of mutual cheating.” Laert. 1.—The seller praises his goods to get them off: (Hor.) the buyer says it is bad. Proverbs 20:14. The next verse is a gloss omitted in Greek Calmet.
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Verse 4. Fear. By this the soul is preserved in a good state. Worthington.
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Verse 5. Thoughts. The more he thinks on some things, the more is he perplexed. Calmet.—After sin is purged away, there remains some defects like dust. Psalms 50:4. Worthington.
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Verse 6. Affliction. Greek “thought,” ( Bible.) or speech. Calmet.—A young man being brought to Socrates, that he might pass judgment on his dispositions, the philosopher ordered him to “speak.” Cic.
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Verse 7. As. Greek “the fruit shews the dressing,” and so forth
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Verse 9. Honour. The desire of justice is the sure method to obtain it. The rest is not in Greek Bible.
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Verse 11. Iniquities. They fall deeper, or sin entails punishment. Calmet.
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Verse 12. A. Greek “the speech of the wise man is wisdom throughout: but,” and so forth Bible.—The fool always mixes something improper with what good he speaks. Calmet.—Sun. The wise man preserves his virtue, whether it appear or not. Worthington.
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Verse 13. Keep. Greek “wait an opportunity.” Bible.—Go but seldom. Their discourse tends to promote iniquity, (verse 14) and blasphemous oaths, (verse 15) and bloodshed. verse 16. Calmet.
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Verse 15. Ears. The Jews did so, when they heard blasphemy. Acts 7:56. Menochius.
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Verse 17. Mind. In Egypt, those who disclosed a secret to the enemy, were condemned to have their tongues cut out. Diod. ii. 2.
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Verse 19. Him. He will never trust thee more. verse 22.
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Verse 20. Friend. Septuagint Rom. and Alex. “enemy.” Bible.—This crime is like murder. The Romans sometimes solemnly renounced the friendship of those who had offended them, as Germanicus and Caius did that of Piso. Tacit. An. 2. Suet. 3.
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Verse 22. Because. Greek “for one may bind up a wound, and an insult may be pardoned. But he who hath revealed secrets, hath lost all hope,” ( Bible.) or “confidence.” verse 24 chapter 22:27.
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Verse 25. Off. Some Greek copies have, “he who knows him will depart from him.” It is difficult to guard against a false friend, who winks as if he desired to please us, ( Calmet.) while he really seeks our ruin. verse 26.
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Verse 28. Wound. Greek “deal wounds. He,” and so forth Bible.—Traitors, in the dark, often wound their fellows, ( Calmet.) or themselves. Menochius.
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Verse 29. Setteth. Greek “layeth a snare, shall perish in it.”
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Verse 30. Him. God will punish, when the sinner has perhaps forgotten his offence. Calmet.—Such are often chastised here, and always hereafter. Worthington.
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Verse 33. Them. He shall feel the indignation of God, ( Calmet.) and shall repine. Bible.