Sirach
Verse 1. Lest. “A husband should teach his wife to be chaste by his own example.” Lact. Relig. vi.
Ipse miser docui quo posset ludere pacto
Custodes eheu! nunc premor arte meâ. Tibul.
EXPLANATIONS
Sirach 9
Historical chapter commentary
Sirach
Verse 4. Dancer. Greek “musician, lest,” and so forth Bible.—The same person is often given to both music and dancing, ( Menochius.) and these arts are very dangerous. Met. 14:6.—The dances in the East were more licentious than ours.
Sirach
Verse 5. Gaze. It is not always possible to avoid seeing them; but the greatest caution is requisite. Job 32:1. Matthew 5:28. Calmet.—Jealousy and all dangerous occasions must be avoided. Worthington.
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Verse 7. Streets. Greek “retired parts,” where bad women dwell. Calmet.
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Verse 8. Up. Greek “of a fine appearance.” Grabe substitutes, “who has found favour.” Bible.—The Fathers condemn too much dressing as a mark of levity and incontinence.
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Verse 12. Nor, and so forth is also admitted in many copies, though found in the Comp. and Ald edit. Calmet.—Grabe replaces it on the authority of Clem. (Pæd. ii. 7.) as he does many other passages, which are erroneously left out in several editions. Prolog. t. 4. chapter 3. It would therefore be injurious to the word of God, if we were always to reject the additions in the Vulg. which are not in the Vat. Greek copy; and they must not all at least be considered as interpolations.
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Verse 16. Envy not. If thou hast faith and wisdom, thou wilt rather dread his punishment. Psalms 36:1 and Proverbs 3:31. Calmet.—He is like a summer flower, that is quickly cut down. Worthington.
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Verse 17. Wrong. Greek “applauses of the unjust. Remember that they will not be justified even to hell.” Bible.—The world itself will finally approve only of virtue. Calmet.—The wicked will be condemned both by God and man. Bible.
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Verse 20. It. Greek “Know what thou art … walking on the pinnacles of the city.” Bible.—The same sense is given in the Vulg. as people walking among armed men in a rage, are exposed to imminent danger. Menochius.
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Verse 21. Beware. Greek “aim at.” Examine the person to whom thou intrusteth a secret.
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Verse 24. Artificers. All strive to excel in their profession.
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Verse 25. Hateful. Satirists are dangerous. Calmet.—
Dummodo risum
Excutiat sibi, non cuiquam parcet amico. Hor. i. sat. 4.
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The preceding line of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
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Greek Hades.
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Or, authority