_Beginning. Hebrew, "afar" from that God, who is ancient, and not of human invention; (Jeremias xxiii. 23.) or from the consideration of the heavens. Nothing could be more magnificent than the descriptions which conclude this fourth part of the discourse. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lie. Every orator will promise to speak the truth, and will do so sometimes to gain credit. (Worthington) --- Shall be. Hebrew, "is with thee." Thou art not devoid of sense, and thou wilt (Calmet) surely approve my reasons, which are suggested by the God of all knowledge. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_God. Septuagint, "Know that the Lord will not cast away the innocent." Theodotion continues to ver. 12: "The mighty, in strength of heart, (Wisdom vi.) will not make the impious live, and will render judgment to the poor." (Haydock) --- They seem to have read Thom, which is now wanting in Hebrew. ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Just. Hebrew, Syriac, &c., "the just man, he will place him with kings on the throne." (Calmet) --- Exalted, or "extolled" for ever, if they have done well. (Worthington) --- He always disposes of kingdoms. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Violent, while in power and on the throne, or because even in a private station, their will has risen up in rebellion against God. (Haydock) --- Poverty and afflictions are scourges, which are often inflicted by mercy, to bring us to a sense of duty. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ear, by secret inspirations, or by the admonition of pastors. (Calmet) --- Afflictions will also speak louder to them than any orator. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Folly. Hebrew, "without knowledge." He speaks of princes, (Calmet) and of all the wicked, who have not known the day of their visitation. (Haydock) --- They shall suffer the punishment prepared for fools or wicked men. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bound, in misery and evil habits. They will not have recourse to God by humble prayer, though they perceive his displeasure, and design in punishing them._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Storm. Hebrew and Septuagint, "in youth," (Haydock) being suddenly cut off, without having deplored the sins of their youth. (Calmet) --- Effeminate. Hebrew, "the consecrated" to prostitution. Eliu compares those who will not attend unto God, to the most infamous characters. (Calmet) --- Septuagint... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXXVI. _ He shall. He would have prevented thee from falling into this irremediable distress, if thou hadst imitated the poor who trust in Him. (Calmet) --- Yea, he will still restore thee to favour, if thou wilt repent. (Haydock) --- He will fill thee with joy and plenty. (Menochius) --- F... [ Continue Reading ]
_Recover. Thou shalt be treated as thou hast treated others. Hebrew is not well understood. It may be, "Thou hast spoken like the impious; but judgment and justice rule. (18) Beware lest wrath overtake thee, so that thy prayers may not avert it. (19) Will He regard thy cries, thy riches, gold or str... [ Continue Reading ]
_Without, or before thou be forced by tribulation. (Menochius) --- Lay aside all sentiments of pride, (St. Gregory) or keep in awe the mighty, who administer justice in thy name. (Menochius) --- Protestants, "Will he esteem thy riches? No, not gold, nor all the forces of strength." Septuagint, "Let... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prolong not the night, &c. Prolong not causes that are brought before thee, but dispatch, by early rising, the business of them that come up to thee. (Challoner) --- Septuagint, "and all the men of power do not withdraw in the night," from just punishment. Theodotion adds, "that the people may come... [ Continue Reading ]
_Iniquity, or blaspheming, (chap. xxxiv. 37.; Menochius) and murmurs, to which alone thou hast given way since thy fall. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lawgivers. Hebrew more, "a master." In Chaldean, "a sovereign." (Grotius) Septuagint, "what potentate is against him?" (Haydock) --- What art thou, to dare thus to resist him? (Calmet) --- St. Gregory (xxvii. 1.) explains this as a prediction of Christ, "or singular lawgiver." God is most able to p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not, is omitted in Hebrew and Septuagint. "Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold;" Protestants, (Haydock) or "thou hast magnified," formerly. Do so again. --- Sung. The memory of great exploits was commonly preserved by canticles. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_All. The rest of this chapter, and the five first verses of the next, seem to be inserted in the Septuagint from Theodotion. "Every man sees in himself how many mortals are wounded," &c. --- Off, in the stars, &c., or in ancient times, what wonders God has performed. (Calmet) --- The works of God a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Floods. God causes the water on the earth to evaporate, (Calmet) to form the clouds, (Haydock) which afterwards fall in torrents. (Menochius) --- Theodotion, "the drops of rain are numbered by him," &c., chap. xxvi. 8._... [ Continue Reading ]
_If. Hebrew, "Also can any understand the spreading out of the clouds, the elevation or noise of his pavilion?" (Haydock) --- What could be more magnificent that the throne of God! (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ends. Literally, "the hinges," or poles, cardines. (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "roots;" Aristotle (Meteor. ii. 1.) and Hesoid (Theog. 727,) use the same term, (Calmet) to denote the fountains which supply the sea. (Haydock) --- Who ever discovered these deep recesses? Eliu describes a thunder-storm, when... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mortals. Hebrew, "in abundance." (Haydock) --- By thunder he overwhelms many nations, while by moderate rains, he causes the earth ot fructify (Calmet) and nourish mankind. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hands, or clouds, which are compared to a hand, 3 Kings xviii. 44. He opens his hand, and light appears. This expression denotes the utmost facility with which a very surprising thing is effected. --- To come. Hebrew, "by this obstacle." He alludes to the sun's eclipse, as if God's hand covered its... [ Continue Reading ]
_To it. The tabernacle of God is designed for his friends. Hebrew is very obscure. "Thunder announces the rain, and the very animals know it;" (Virgil describes their signs, Geor. i.) or "His thunder announces from above the clouds his wrath to men." (Calmet) --- "The noise thereof sheweth concernin... [ Continue Reading ]