_Of God. He seems to treat both alike, so that the just themselves cannot say whether their sufferings be a punishment or a trial. (St. Jerome) (Calmet) --- Knoweth not certainly, and in an ordinary manner. (Worthington) --- Hatred. Hebrew and Septuagint, "yet love and hatred man knoweth not." (Hayd... [ Continue Reading ]
_But. Hebrew joins this with the preceding not, " by all that is before them. All things come alike to all, there is one event to," &c. (Protestants) (Haydock) --- The pagans distinguished real goods and evils from those which were only apparent, like prosperity and adversity, which are determined o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Evil. People hence take occasion to indulge in vice, (chap. viii. 14.) though the conduct of God be irreproachable. (Calmet) --- Shall. Hebrew, "they go to the dead." (Haydock) --- Many think that these are the sentiments of the impious._... [ Continue Reading ]
There. Even those who have had the vanity to claim divine honours, never could persuade themselves that they would escape death. But the just forms a different conclusion from the wicked. He looks upon his life only as a preparation for the other, (Hebrews xi. 13., and Ephesians ii. 19.) while liber... [ Continue Reading ]
_Know nothing more, viz., As to the transactions of this world, in which they have now no part, unless it be revealed to them; neither have they any knowledge or power now of doing any thing to secure their eternal state, (if they have not taken care of it in their lifetime) nor can they now procure... [ Continue Reading ]
_God. Be grateful to him, and make a good use of his benefits, (St. Jerome, exp. 2.) or these are the words of libertines. (Bossuet) (St. Jerome, 1. explicat.) (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_White. As in times of joy, and among people of quality, chap. x. 17., and Proverbs xxxi. 23. --- Head. Our Saviour reproaches the Pharisees for neglecting this, Luke vii. 45._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wife. Some translate, "the woman," or harlot; as if the wicked still spoke._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Earnestly. Live in delights, or perform many good works, chap. ii. 5. Our Lord seems to allude to this passage. What thou dost, do quickly, John xiii. 27._... [ Continue Reading ]
_All. Thus it appears to the inattentive, and to the wicked. For Solomon frequently inculcates that Providence directs all wisely. Human industry is not always attended with success, Deuteronomy xxix. 19. This is a fresh proof of the vanity of all things. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_With. Hebrew adds, "evil." Net, (Montanus) or hook. (Haydock) --- Them. They may use precautions; but, without God's aid, they will not succeed, Psalm cxxvi. 1. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the siege, &c. Hebrew has only "great bulwarks over or against it." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Afterward, is not in Hebrew. The poor man was unnoticed before. (Calmet) --- Vulgate insinuates that he met with no return of gratitude, which is but too common; (Haydock) and this shews the vanity of the world._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heard? Ecclesiasticus xiii. 28. Men are so unjust as to despise wisdom, if it be in a poor man. The prudence of an individual has often saved cities, as was the case at Abela, and Bethulia; (2 Kings xx. 22.; Calmet) and Syracuse was defended a long time by Archimedes against the whole Roman army. ... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER IX. _ Fools. Though the wise often meet with contempt, it is only among fools, who form the majority. (Calmet) --- Vain declaimers in the Church shew their own folly, as well as that of their hearers. (St. Jerome)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Things. A woman saved Abela; and Achan almost ruined Israel. Want of prudence in a general is often fatal. Virtues are connected, as well as vices. (Calmet) --- For one transgression, many acts of virtue are lost. (St. Jerome)_... [ Continue Reading ]