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Verse 1. Death is terrible to all, but most to those who live comfortably. Calmet.—O vita misero longa, felici brevis. Sen.
EXPLANATIONS
Sirach 41
Historical chapter commentary
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Verse 3. Sentence, pronounced on Adam and all his posterity. Calmet.
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Verse 5. Flesh. “It is a great consolation to share the fate of all.” Sen. Provid. v.
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Verse 6. What. Greek “why wouldst thou refuse to submit to the?” and so forth Bible.
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Verse 7. Life. Thou wilt not be asked how long, but how well thou hast lived. No one will then envy thy long life. Calmet.—It will be in vain to plead that the length or shortness of life has occasioned thy sins; for God does all with justice and for the best, if men would use rightly his benefits. Worthington.—Thou wilt not repine at having lived too short a time. Menochius.—An evil life will be alone condemned. Wisd. v. D.
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Verse 8. Ungodly. They adopt the wicked manners of their parents ( Calmet.) and companions, and thus become still more criminal. Bible.
Œtas parentum pejor avis tulit
Nos nequiores, mox daturos
Progeniem vitiosiorem. Hor. ii. ode 6.
—This was terribly verified in the three French assemblies, which overturned the Church and state. A. 1793. See Barruel. Bible.
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Verse 10. Father. He is rather their executioner, ( Calmet.) and would have been less cruel, if he had murdered them while they were innocent. Wisd. 12:10. Bible.
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Verse 12. Portion. It would have been better for them never to have existed. Matthew 26:24. This the case of heresiarchs. Calmet.
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Verse 13. From. Greek “go to destruction.” Bible.—It is their destination (Calmet. 40:11. Calmet.) and choice. Bible.
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Verse 14. Body. The death of the body is bewailed in the just, but that of the soul also of wicked people calls for our tears. They will soon perish. Psalms 9:7.
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Verse 15. Great. The concern which all have for a good name, is one of the strongest proofs of the souls’ immortality. Proverbs 22:11.
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Verse 17. Peace, with docility, (Matthew 11:25) or in the midst of prosperity, be on your guard. Calmet. 20:32. Calmet.
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Verse 19. Have a shame, and so forth That is to say, be ashamed of doing any of these things, which I am now going to mention: for though sometimes shamefacedness is not to be indulged, yet it is often good and necessary; as in the following cases. Challoner.—Disciples ought to esteem what their masters teach, though they do not perceive the reasonableness of what they assert. Worthington.
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Verse 20. Opinion. Grotius corrects the Greek “It is not laudable to be incredulous in all.”
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Verse 21. Mother. Thy misconduct seems to redound to their dishonour, as if they had not given thee a proper education.
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Verse 22. People. They will stone thee. Remember the fate of Roboam. 3 Kennicott. 12. Calmet.
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Verse 24. And of. Lit. “out of respect for the,” and so forth De veritate Dei & testamento. Bible.—The same words occur Calmet. 42:2.; whence Jansenius thinks they have been transferred hither. Most refer them to what goes before. Blush for lying, which is contrary to the truth of God; and for the other sins which injure his covenant.—Meat. This posture betrays idleness or pride.
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Verse 25. Harlot. The eyes must be chaste. Jeremiah 9:21. Matthew 5:28.—Kinsman, when he is poor, and refusing to assist him. Calmet.
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Verse 26. Turn. Greek “of taking away a portion and gift,” made already to God or men; (27) “of considering attentively another’s wife; of being too busy about his,” and so forth Bible.
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or, the place of the dead or, Sheol
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The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.