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Verse 1. The. Greek “on dreams. The,” and so forth Bible.—No dependence can be had on the pretended interpretation of dreams, which do not come from God; ( Calmet.) as some do. Matthew 1. Daniel 2. Worthington.
EXPLANATIONS
Sirach 34
Historical chapter commentary
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Verse 3. Man. When he turns away from the mirror, it appears no more. Jam. 1:23.
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Verse 4. Unclean. This text has been abused, to prove that the sinner cannot confer grace in the sacraments. Calmet.—But Christ does this by his ministry. Saint Augustine Ps. x. n. 6.
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Verse 5. Deceitful. Greek “divinations, and auguries, and dreams, are vain.”
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Verse 6. Travail. Such things cannot be explained. Twenty people will all give different interpretations.—High, as those of Jacob, Joseph, and so forth were. Yet it is difficult to make the discrimination. Saint Gregory dial. iv. 48.—Homer admits of two sorts of dreams. Odys. xix.
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Verse 7. Them. The devil takes advantage of their weakness, and they have recourse to magic, and so forth Calmet.
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Verse 8. Law, which forbids attention to dreams. Leviticus 19:26. Isaiah 8:20. A. Lap.—No part of the law shall perish; and some will always explain it truly. Worthington.
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Verse 9. What. Greek “A man who has travelled, knows much,” and so forth Bible.—Thus Ulysses became so wise, (Homer) as well as the ancient philosophers, Pythagoras, and so forth Saint Jerome ad Paulin.—The knowledge derived from books will not suffice. Calmet.
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Verse 10. Experienced. Greek “much abroad, shall abound with subtlety. (11.) I,” and so forth
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Verse 12. And. Greek “And I know more than I announce.” Grabe’s edit.
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Verse 13. For. Greek “On account of these things I have been saved:” ( Bible.) by my great experience, which gives weight to my instructions.
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Verse 14. Is. Greek “shall live. (15.) For … them. (16.) He,” and so forth Bible.
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Verse 20. From falling, or when a person is fallen.
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Verse 21. Mockeries. Some Greek copies have “gifts.” Such unjust presents or sacrifices, God will abhor. Isaiah 41:8. Deuteronomy 24:15. Calmet.
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Verse 22. Lord. Greek (23.) “most … wicked, nor,” and so forth
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Verse 26. Bread. Greek “a livelihood, killeth his neighbour; and he sheddeth blood, who keepeth back the hire of the workman.” Bible.
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Verse 28. Labour? So, if your sacrifices be ill-gotten, they will not be received; and if you relapse, you will be as bad as ever. Calmet.
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Verse 30. Dead. Lit. “is baptized by or from the dead;” baptizatur a mortuo. Bible.—S. Cyprian thought this text was peremptory against the baptism of heretics; and Donatists were of the same opinion. They seem not to have read, if he touch him again, which entirely alters the meaning. Saint Augustine admonishes them of this; though he explains it of the pagan rather than of the Jewish purifications, to which it refers. Numbers 19:11. See Saint Augustine c. Cres. i. 24. and ii. 25. c. Petil. i. 9. S. Cyp. ep. ad Quint. Calmet.
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Verse 31. Prayer. A relapse makes the former repentance unless. Matthew 18:33. Worthington.