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HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTICUS 25

CHAPTER XXV.

Ver. 1. Pleased. Wisdom still speaks. Solomon often makes similar division, to make the deeper impression. Prov. xxx. 15. 24.

Ver. 4. Fool. Gr. "adulterer, devoid of sense." Is. lxv. 20. C. --- Luxuria...senectuti fœdissima. Cic. off. i.

Ver. 5. Age? Wisdom, says Bias, "is more durable than other possessions." Laert.

Ver. 9. Things. Gr. "nine suppositions I have blessed in my heart," (H.) or thought that they may confer felicity. But the tenth will certainly do it. C. xiv.

Ver. 10. Enemies. Not out of revenge, but for the glory of God. See Matt. v. 43.

Ver. 12. A true. Gr. "prudence." C.

Ver. 14. Things. Gr. adds, "for light (15.) he that," &c. H.

Ver. 16. It. This is not in the edit. of Rome, or of Aldus: but it is in the rest. Fear commonly begins the work of salvation, and love perfects it. 1 Tim. i. 5. C. --- All happiness in this life is grounded on the fear of God. W.

Ver. 17. Evil. Gr. reads not this; but the Syriac does, omitting the two next verses. C. --- Heresy is described under the idea of a wicked woman, concealing her malice. W.

Ver. 18. Choose. Lit. "see." H. --- Some supply "send any plague," &c.

Ver. 21. Enemies. Which they wish, or may behold. C. xviii. 31. C.

Ver. 22. Head. Or poison, as the Heb. rosh signifies both. Rondet.

Ver. 23. Woman. Gr. "enemy." C. --- Revenge is the passion of little souls, and of women. Juv. xiii. --- Dragon. This is not exaggerated, if we reflect on the evils occasioned by Eve, Dalila, Athalia, &c. C. --- "A woman is the greatest wild-beast." Menander.

Ver. 24. Sackcloth. And is black when passion bursts forth, though women too frequently conceal their anger to take deeper vengeance.

Ver. 25. Groaned. Gr. "shall fall." --- Little. Gr. "bitterly." He cannot avoid hearing of his wife's misconduct. H. --- She will raise him enemies on all sides.

Ver. 26. Her. I could wish no greater evil to the worst of enemies. Eccles. vii. 27.

Ver. 27. Man. He cannot advance. C. --- Semper habet lites. Juv. vi.

Ver. 28. Beauty. Other qualifications of more importance must be regarded. H. --- He should choose one who may be a companion and assistant in domestic concerns. Grot.

Ver. 30. A. Gr. "If she bring a fortune to her husband," (H.) she will continually upbraid him with it, and cover him with confusion. v. 29. C. --- Lay-leadership in spiritual things is so unreasonable, that few heretics will endure it. W.

Ver. 32. Happy. A lazy wife will give no content.

Ver. 33. Die. Eve tempted her husband, and thus we are all involved in sin. 1 Tim. ii. 14.

Ver. 34. Water. Incontinency. C. xxvi. 15. Prov. v. 15. If water find a hole, it will presently flow away. Women were kept much at home in the East, as they are in many parts of Europe. C. --- Retirement and silence are the characteristics of a wise woman. Æschyl. Thebas.

Ver. 35. She will. Gr. "cut her off from thy flesh." Grabe and Comp. add, (H.) "give a bill of divorce or her dowry, and send her away." C.

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