Sirach 4

Verse 1. Alms. Greek “life,” and of what is necessary to support it. Si non pavisti, occidisti. Saint Thomas Aquinas (ii. 2. q. xxxii. 5.) quoting the offices of Saint Ambrose though the sentence is not to be found there. Calmet.—Christians are not master of what is superfluous, no more than those who have the goods of the Church. Saint John Chrysostom Corn. a Lap.—Turn. Greek “draw not after thee indigent eyes.” Bible.—Make not the poor wait, long for relief. 2 Corinthians 9:7. Romans 12:8. Proverbs 8:28. Calmet.—Qui tarde dat, diu noluit. Sen. Ben. i. 1.—Fames et mora bilem in nasum concitant. Plaut.

Verse 5. For … anger, and behind, and so forth is not in Greek Bible.—He thrice repeats the same injunction. Exodus 22:22. Calmet.—Deal not cruelly with the poor; for God will revenge their injuries. Worthington.

Verse 7. Of the. Greek “and bow,” and so forth Bible.—Submission to magistrates is enforced. Calmet.

Verse 8. And … owest, is not in Greek Bible.—People in office must attend to all. Calmet.

Or, she

Verse 15. One. Or “sanctuary.” They shall be honoured like priests. Isaiah 61:6. Birth, rather than merit, gave a title to the Jewish priests; but those who are wise shall minister in a more glorious temple. Calmet.

Verse 18. In temptation, and so forth The meaning is, that before wisdom will choose any for her favourites, she will try them by leading them through contradictions, afflictions, and temptations, the usual noviceship of the children of God. Challoner.—Greek “for sideways or through crooked paths she shall walk with him at first, (19) she,” and so forth Bible.—The narrow path leads to heaven, (Matthew 7:13) and to virtue. Hesiod.

Verse 21. To him. And explain why she has treated him so roughly.

Verse 22. Enemy. Greek “ruin.” This road leads to eternal misery. Bible.

Verse 23. Time. For all things. Ecclesiastes 3:1. All depends on the proper season.

Some manuscripts omit this line.

Verse 24. Ashamed, to ask for relief, (verse 25. Calmet.) or to say the truth, as the martyrs have done. This is not in Greek.

Verse 25. Sin. Thus to refuse asking for what is necessary to support life, would be criminal.—Grace. When we refrain from doing things truly shameful. Calmet. 41. Calmet.—To abhor sin is glorious; but to yield to it, through shamefacedness, or not to reprove it, is vicious. Worthington.

Verse 27. Fall. Excuse not his faults, ( Calmet.) lest thou partake in them.

Verse 28. Hide, and so forth is not in the Alex. copy, though inserted by Grabe. Bible.—Ostentation is blameable; still we must in defence of the truth. Calmet.

Verse 29. Tongue. Greek “by speech, wisdom shall be known, and instruction by the word of the tongue.”

Verse 30. Lie. Greek “of thy want of information.” Yet Grabe and the Comp. edit. have lie, and so forth Bible.—Always yield to the truth, ( Calmet.) and never tell a lie, but speak the truth at proper times. Worthington.