Sirach
Verse 1. Riches. Lit. “honesty” has this sense. Bible.—The study of virtue and of the Scriptures removes temptations of the flesh. Saint Jerome ad Rust. Worthington.
EXPLANATIONS
Sirach 31
Historical chapter commentary
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Verse 2. Hand. With too much anxiety. Calmet.—Greek “the solicitude of watching will drive away slumber, and a grievous malady will moderate sleep,” (Grabe. Bible.) or “sleep will alleviate a severe illness,” as experience evinces. Calmet.
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Verse 4. Poor. All have not equal success. Proverbs 10:22. Psalms 126:1. Drus.
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Verse 5. Justified. He is exposed to various temptations. 1 Timothy 6:9.
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Verse 7. To it. Being a sort of idol. Colossians 3:5. Calmet.—Woe. Greek “and every,” and so forth
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Verse 8. Nor, and so forth Greek (9.) who, and so forth “Pride is the worm of riches.” Saint Augustine—“In delights, chastity is endangered; and humility in the midst of riches.” Saint Bernard conv. Cler. xxx.—Not to transgress, on such occasions, is the greatest miracle. Calmet.—Man has free will, and those are happy, who, by God’s grace, do not abuse it. Worthington.
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Verse 11. In, and so forth Greek Alex. “and wisdom (Grabe substitutes the Church) shall proclaim his alms.” Bible.—God will bless his riches. Calmet.
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Verse 12. Be, and so forth Greek “do not open,” ( Bible.) shew not too much greediness.
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Verse 14. Wicked. Jealous or avaricious, as if the person feared lest he should have to prepare the like sumptuous entertainment. Proverbs 23:1. Judas blamed the profusion of Magdalene. John 12:5.
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Verse 15. Face. Or portion set before him. 1 Kennicott. 1:5. Calmet.—When. Greek “wheresoever it, ( Bible.) or he ( Calmet.) shall look, stretch forth thy hand, and strive not with him in the dish. Judge,” and so forth Let the envious person ( Bible.) or the master be served first. Calmet.
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Verse 19. Use. Greek “in all act considerately. Eat like a man,” and so forth ( Bible.) not like a beast.
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Verse 20. First. Yet not too soon, lest the others should seem to be gluttons. Calmet.
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Verse 21. Of all. Greek “of them. How,” and so forth Bible.—Politeness is grounded on virtue. Calmet.
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Verse 22. Wine. Greek specifies nothing, and to eat much is unwholesome. Bible.
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Verse 23. Choler. Or the cholic. The intemperate, infrunito, ( Calmet.) Greek “insatiable,” cannot sleep. Bible.
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Verse 25. Vomit. Some have omitted this term as indelicate; but the Scripture does not approve of intemperance, while it advises the preventing of a disorder. A man’s stomach may sometimes be innocently overcharged. On such occasions, an emetic was prescribed. The ancients had nt the same horror of it as moderns. Proverbs 23:8. Calmet.—Cicero, addressing Cæsar, says, Cum te vomere post cænam velli dixisses. Pro. R. Dejot.—And thou. Greek “hear,” and so forth
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Verse 27. Quick. Intemperance and idleness are the great sources of illness.
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Verse 28. Bread. And other provisions; while the miser is contemned. Proverbs 22:9. Calmet.—Bread supports the body, and instruction the soul. If it be bad, it does the reverse. Worthington.
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Verse 30. Challenge. Not to fight, or rather ( Bible.) to drink. Isaiah 5:22. Calmet.
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Verse 31. Rebuke. Or disorder. Greek “prove,” ( Bible.) or “lay open.” Calmet.—Consilium retegis Lydo. Hor. iii. ode 21.
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Verse 32. Taken. Greek “is as good as life,” and so forth—Thou shalt. Greek “what,” and so forth
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Verse 33. With. Greek “destitute of wine, (35) and this was created to,” and so forth
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Verse 35. And not. Greek, (36.) “sufficient wine taken in season is the,” and so forth
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Verse 37. Sober. Greek, (39.) “wine,” and so forth Bible.—Anacharsis said that “the vine bore three clusters; the first of pleasure, the second of drunkenness, the third of discontent.” Laert. i.
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Verse 42. Reproach. Alexander transfixed Clytus for so doing. Curt. viii.—Again. By the pernicious custom of drinking healths, which still prevails in some countries, ( Calmet.) and occasions people to get drunk. Drus.—Such abuses ought to be discouraged by every one. Bible.