Sirach 6

Verse 1. Instead. Greek “and instead,” and so forth Syriac begins this chapter with the preceding verse, with which this is connected. Detraction will separate friends.

Verse 2. Extol. This conduct is inimical to true friendship, which requires that we should make allowance for one another’s faults. Calmet.—Like. Greek “lest thy soul be torn away like a bull. Thou wilt eat,” and so forth Bible.—Vulg. is better. Calmet.

Verse 3. Wilderness. Thus was Nabuchodonosor humbled. Daniel 4. Menochius.

Verse 5. Appeaseth. Greek “and an eloquent tongue multiplies good words.” Bible.—The affable gain our affections. Gideon pacified the incensed Ephraimites by a mild answer. Judith 8. Worthington.

Verse 6. Counsellor. Only few are capable of this office, ( Bible.) or of keeping a secret. Yet we must have peace, if possible, with all. Romans 12:18. Calmet.—The Scythians condemned many friends, no less than many wives, (Luc. Tox.) and Aristotle (Eth. 9:10) commends this maxim of Hesiod: μητε πολυξεινος μητ αζεινος; “neither to have too many guests, or intimate friends, nor to be without any.”

Verse 7. Get. Lit. “dost possess a friend, possess him in trial,” ( Bible.) as the Greek also has it. But the Hebrew term kanah, means likewise, “to acquire,” and a friend ought to be chosen with judgment. It is too late to try him after he has been received. Calmet.—One must try much before a companion be chosen, that he may be afterwards preserved. Plut.—“Possess not friends quickly, but those whom thou hast obtained, reject not with disgrace.” Solon. Laert. i. and ii. 8.

Verse 8. Trouble. Such are interested friends; but true friendship is a kind and perfect agreement in all divine and human affairs.” Cic. Saint Augustine c. Acad. iii.—Religion must be the foundation.

Verse 9. Reproaches. Disclosing all your imperfections. Calmet.—“The closest alliances, being broken, produce the most bitter enmities.” Pliny, xxxvii. 4.

Verse 12. Humble. “Friends must have a respect for each other.” Cic.

Verse 13. Friends. Such as have been just described. Of these the maxim of Bias may be true, that people should “love as if they were to hate,” at some future period. Laert. i.—Entire confidence becomes those who are friends indeed.

Verse 14. Defence. Jonathas and Chusai saved David.

Verse 16. And immortality, is not in Greek. Calmet.—But shews the meaning of life is this place; as a true friend will not cease to give good advice for eternity. Bible.—But even in this world, nothing can be more advantageous. Calmet.—Amicus magis necessarius est quam ignis et aqua. Cic. Saint Ambrose off iii.—Him. Cicero himself says, “friendship can subsist only among the virtuous.” Yet these, judging others by themselves, are more easily imposed upon, and ought, therefore, to address themselves to God. Calmet.

Verse 17. Be. He will instill into his friend sentiments of piety, if he have them not before. Amicitia similes invenit aut facit. “Pythagoras desires that in friendship one should be formed of many.” Cic. verse 11. Bible.

Verse 18. Wisdom. A good education will, at last, bring forth fruit, though the passions may choke the good seed for a time. Calmet.—“Take wisdom for the provision on thy journey, from youth to old age.” Bias. Laert. i.

Verse 22. Trial. Such stones were used to try people’s strength, (Zach. 12:3. Calmet.) or to try gold. Vat.—The Syriac explains it of a precious stone. But the first idea is preferable. Many will not so much as attempt to become acquainted with wisdom and piety.

Verse 23. Name. Perhaps the author may compare the Greek word Sophia, ( Calmet.) with Tsopuie, ( Bible.) “hidden,” or with the Greek term, zophos, which means “darkness.” See chapter 43:8 and 46:1. The original Hebrew test is lost, so that we cannot determine to what word allusion is made. See Corn. a Lapide, who has written the best commentary on this book.—But, and so forth is not in Greek. Calmet.—Many prefer learning before piety. But Saint Augustine says, the unlearned rise and take the kingdom of heaven, while we with our learning, devoid of heart, (or charity. Bible.) behold we fall into the dirt. Conf. viii. 8. Worthington.

Verse 28. Thee. She will even seek thee first. Wisd. 6:14. Proverbs 8. Matthew 7:7.—Gotten. Continence does not here signify being chaste, ( Calmet.) though this is one of the fruits of wisdom. Wisd. 8:21. Galatians 5:23. Bible.

Verse 30. Firm. Lit. “bases of virtue;” ( Bible.) which is not in Greek and rather embarrasses the sentence; ( Calmet.) though it may signify, that if we serve the Lord with fidelity, our building will never be overturned. Bible.

Verse 35. Wise. Lit. “prudent.” The Latin has this epithet, because old people are not always such, though it may be expected of them. Calmet.—“While wisdom increases, all other faculties decrease.” Saint Jerome ad Nepot.

Verse 36. Morning, with the utmost diligence. Calmet.—“The very meeting of the wise is of advantage; and thou mayst learn something of a great man, though he open not his mouth.” Sen. ep. xciv.