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O death, how bitter is the memory of you to a man who is at peace in his possessions, to the man who has nothing to distract him and has prosperity in all things, and who still has strength to enjoy food!
Verse 1. Death is terrible to all, but most to those who live comfortably. Calmet.—O vita misero longa, felici brevis. Sen.
O death, your sentence is acceptable to a man who is needy and who fails in strength, who is in extreme old age, is distracted about all things, is perverse, and has lost patience!
Don’t be afraid of the sentence of death. Remember those who have been before you and who come after. This is the sentence from the Lord over all flesh.
Verse 3. Sentence, pronounced on Adam and all his posterity. Calmet.
And why do you refuse when it is the good pleasure of the Most High? Whether life lasts ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years, there is no inquiry about life in Hades.
or, the place of the dead or, Sheol
The children of sinners are abominable children and they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly.
Verse 5. Flesh. “It is a great consolation to share the fate of all.” Sen. Provid. v.
The inheritance of sinners’ children will perish and with their posterity will be a perpetual disgrace.
Verse 6. What. Greek “why wouldst thou refuse to submit to the?” and so forth Bible.
Children will complain of an ungodly father, because they suffer disgrace because of him.
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.
Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the Most High God!
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.
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
If you are born, you will be born to a curse. If you die, a curse will be your portion.
All things that are of the earth will go back to the earth; so the ungodly will go from a curse to perdition.
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.
The mourning of men is about their bodies; but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out.
Have regard for your name, for it continues with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold.
Verse 12. Portion. It would have been better for them never to have existed. Matthew 26:24. This the case of heresiarchs. Calmet.
A good life has its number of days, but a good name continues forever.
Verse 13. From. Greek “go to destruction.” Bible.—It is their destination (Calmet. 40:11. Calmet.) and choice. Bible.
My children, follow instruction in peace. But wisdom that is hidden and a treasure that is not seen, what benefit is in them both?
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.
Better is a man who hides his foolishness than a man who hides his wisdom.
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.
Therefore show respect for my words; for it is not good to retain every kind of shame. Not everything is approved by all in good faith.
Be ashamed of sexual immorality before father and mother, of a lie before a prince and a mighty man,
Verse 17. Peace, with docility, (Matthew 11:25) or in the midst of prosperity, be on your guard. Calmet. 20:32. Calmet.
of an offense before a judge and ruler, of iniquity before the congregation and the people, of unjust dealing before a partner and friend,
and of theft in the place where you sojourn. Be ashamed in regard of the truth of God and his covenant, of leaning on your elbow at dinner, of contemptuous behavior in the matter of giving and taking,
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.
of silence before those who greet you, of looking at a woman who is a prostitute,
Verse 20. Opinion. Grotius corrects the Greek “It is not laudable to be incredulous in all.”
of turning away your face from a kinsman, of taking away a portion or a gift, of gazing at a woman who has a husband,
Verse 21. Mother. Thy misconduct seems to redound to their dishonour, as if they had not given thee a proper education.
of meddling with his maid—and don’t come near her bed, of abusive speech to friends—and after you have given, don’t insult,
Verse 22. People. They will stone thee. Remember the fate of Roboam. 3 Kennicott. 12. Calmet.
of repeating and speaking what you have heard, and of revealing of secrets.
So you will be ashamed of the right things and find favor in the sight of every man.
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.