Sirach 17

Verse 1. And made. This is transposed in Greek to the end of the third verse. Bible.—The creation of other things had been specified before. Man was designed to be immortal, and was made like to God in his soul, which is spiritual, intelligent, and so forth But sin caused his days to be shortened. Calmet.—By original sin, he lost the justice which he had at first received. Worthington.

Verse 4. Dominion. This is greatly diminished since the fall. Calmet.

Verse 6. Evil. Man has understanding, and may merit, which brutes cannot.

Verse 7. Hearts. God will bring them to judgment, and has given them a law. Calmet.

Verse 10. Everlasting. The gospel has perfected or fulfilled the law. Matthew 5:17.

This line is added by the best authorities.

Verse 11. Saw. When he gave the law on Mount Sinai. Challoner. Exodus 20:18.—Voice. Thunder. Psalms 28:4. Calmet.

Verse 12. Neighbour. Of whom the second table, or the seven last precepts of the law, speak. Bible.

Verse 13. Eyes. He conducted them in the pillar, and always watched over them. Greek Rom. adds, “their ways are bent on evils from youth, and he could not.” Comp. “for every man is bent on evils from youth, and they could not from stony hearts make them fleshy, (Ezekiel 36:26. Calmet.) for in the division of the nations of all the earth (14) over,” and so forth Grabe.

Verse 15. God. Comp. adds, “he nourishes him as his first-born with instruction, and dividing the light of love, he does not abandon him.” Bible.—But the Rom. edit. agrees with us. God declared himself king of Israel, ( Calmet.) and its guardian, while he intrusted other nations to angels. Orig. Saint Augustine Ps. cxxxviii. Glossa. Deuteronomy 32:8.

Verse 17. Covenants. Greek “injustices were not concealed from him, and all,” and so forth Bible.—God. Complutensian adds, “but the Lord being good, and knowing his work, neither left nor abandoned them, still sparing them.” Hebrews 13:5. Bible.—This is a gloss omitted in the Rom. edit. Psalms 77:34.

The preceding part of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.

Verse 22. Offend less: minue offendicula. That is, remove sins, and the occasions of sins. Challoner.

The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.

Verse 24. And. Greek “return to the Highest, and be converted from injustice, (for he shall lead from darkness to the light of health) and greatly abhor abomination. Who shall praise the most high in hell, instead of the living, and of those who make a return of praise, or confession? Praise perisheth from the dead, as from one who has had no being. The living and sound of heart shall praise the Lord. (28.) How,” and so forth Bible. Psalms 87:11. Calmet.—We cannot merit perseverance, but must pray for it incessantly. Worthington.

Verse 25. Go to the side, and so forth Fly from the side of satan and sin, and join with the holy ones that follow God and godliness. Challoner.—Christ is styled the father of the age to come. Isaiah 9. Menochius.

A line is here omitted by the best authorities.

Verse 29. Immortal. We all stand in need of a pardon. Calmet.—And. Greek (30.) “what … and it fails. And flesh and blood shall study evil. (31.) He.” Bible.—We cannot exact absolute perfection from any mortal. But still a person may be watchful, and trust in God’s mercies. Calmet. 18. Calmet.