1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

Presents commentary in a tabular format for ease of reading.Click to learn more.





Sirach 32:1 Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.

Ruler. Or king of the feast, alluding to an ancient custom, Esther 1:8. (Calmet) --- Nec regna vini sortiere talis. (Horace, Athen. Dipn.; Plut.[Plutarch?], Symp. 1:q. 14.) --- Humility is most requisite for those in power, and it is most difficult to contemn vain honours, when enjoyed. (St. Gregory, pastor.) (Worthington)
Sirach 32:2 Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:

Sirach 32:3 That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

Contribution, towards the feast, (Menochius) or company. This sentence is not in Greek, "rejoice on their account, and for the excellent disposition, mayst receive a corner." (Haydock)
Sirach 32:4 Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,

Sirach 32:5 To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not music.

Music. Which usually accompanied the meals of the rich. (Horace, 2:ode 11.) --- "A lyre is handed round, on which each one plays. When Themistocles confessed that he knew not how, he was deemed deficient." indoctior. (Tusc. 1:Quint. i.)
Sirach 32:6 Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted up out of season with thy wisdom.

Words. Some Greek copies have, "where there is a concert, pour," etc. (Calmet) --- And be. Greek, "and utter not wise sayings out of season."
Sirach 32:7 A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.

Wine was not used at all meals. (Calmet) --- After they were ended, the pagans sung in honour of Bacchus, or of great men. (Plut.[Plutarch?], Sym.) --- But the Jews directed their hymns to God, Matthew 26:30. (Philo, Contemp.)
Sirach 32:8 As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.

Sirach 32:9 Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

Hear. Greek, (10.) "young man speak if there be wanted of thee; scarcely twice if thou be asked. Sum up thy speech, much in few words. Be knowing and still silent. (11.) In the," etc. (Haydock)
Sirach 32:10 Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.

Sirach 32:11 If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.

Sirach 32:12 In many things, be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence, and withal seeking.

Sirach 32:13 In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.

Thee. Greek implies to be equal. (Calmet)
Sirach 32:14 Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

Storm. Literally, "hail." Greek, "thunder." (Haydock) --- It comes forth at the same time as the lightning, but travels slower. (Calmet) --- For. Greek, (15.) "at," etc. (Haydock) --- Young people must leave the table, and take recreation.
Sirach 32:15 And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.

Sirach 32:16 And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sins or proud speech.

Sirach 32:17 And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.

Bless. This is taught by the light of reason, (chap. 5:7.) and the omission before or after meals betrays a want of faith and gratitude, particularly in Christians. --- Replenisheth. Greek, "inebriateth thee with his goods." (Haydock)
Sirach 32:18 He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.

Sirach 32:19 He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumbling-block therein.

Sirach 32:20 They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.

Light. They shall advance in virtue and glory, Proverbs 4:18. (Calmet)
Sirach 32:21 A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.

Excuse. Literally, "comparison." "He will bend the law to his desires." Thus heretics interpret Scripture. (Haydock) --- Greek, "he will find condemnation."
Sirach 32:22 A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:

Sirach 32:23 Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.

Sirach 32:24 My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.

Without counsel; or "by himself," (Calmet) cum eo. --- And. Greek, "do nothing without counsel, and in acting do not repent," (Haydock) but execute what has been prudently devised. (Calmet) --- God directs; yet he would have us to ask advice. (Worthington)
Sirach 32:25 Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a stumbling-block to thy soul.

Rugged way. The end of which is unknown, Luke 14:28. (Calmet) --- Lest. Greek, "and keep a guard over thy children. In every good work confide in thy soul; for," etc. (Haydock)
Sirach 32:26 And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.

Sirach 32:27 In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.

In faith. That is, follow sincerely thy soul in her faith and conscience, (Challoner) when it is well informed. Greek, "in every good work believe thy soul; for," etc. (Calmet) --- Act not in opposition to it. (Worthington) --- Rondet and Grotius would read, "in every work believe in God with all thy soul." --- All that is not of faith is sin, (Romans 14:23.) inasmuch as it is against conscience. (Haydock)
Sirach 32:28 He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.