Bible Commentaries
4

Verse 1

Alms. Greek, "life," and of what is necessary to support it. Si non pavisti, occidisti. St. Thomas Aquinas ([Summa Theologiae] ii. 2. q. xxxii. 5.) quoting the offices of St. 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. (St. Chrysostom) (Cornelius a Lapide) --- Turn. Greek, "draw not after thee indigent eyes." (Haydock) --- Make not the poor wait, long for relief, 2 Corinthians ix. 7., Romans xii 8., and Proverbs viii. 28. (Calmet) --- Qui tarde dat, diu noluit. (Seneca, Ben. i. 1.) --- Fames et mora bilem in nasum concitant. (Plaut.)

Verse 5

For....anger, and behind, &c., is not in Greek. (Haydock) -- He thrice repeats the same injunction, Exodus xxii. 22. (Calmet) --- Deal not cruelly with the poor; for God will revenge their injuries. (Worthington)

Verse 7

Of the. Greek, "and bow," &c. (Haydock) --- Submission to magistrates is enforced. (Calmet)

Verse 8

And...owest, is not in Greek. (Haydock) --- People in office must attend to all. (Calmet)

Verse 15

One. Or "sanctuary." They shall be honoured like priests, Isaias lxi. 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, &c. 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," &c. (Haydock) --- The narrow path leads to heaven, (Matthew vii. 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. (Haydock)

Verse 23

Time. For all things, Ecclesiastes iii. 1. All depends on the proper season.

Verse 24

Ashamed, to ask for relief, (ver. 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, chap. xli. (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, &c., is not in the Alexandrian copy, though inserted by Grabe. (Haydock) --- 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 Complutensian edition have lie, &c. (Haydock) --- Always yield to the truth, (Calmet) and never tell a lie, but speak the truth at proper times. (Worthington)

Verse 32

River. Useless resistance is to be avoided; and when it is requisite to oppose the demands of the great, we must do it with reserve, ver. 33. (Calmet)

Verse 33

CHAPTER IV.

Strive. Greek, "unto death strive for the truth, and the Lord God will fight for thee." (Haydock) --- The saints were modest, but intrepid. (Calmet) --- All must rather lose their lives than act against justice or truth. (Worthington)

Verse 34

Works. Perform what thou hast promised.