1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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





Sirach 39:1 The wise man will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets.

Ancients. The Essenes (Josephus, Jewish Wars 1:7.) and Therapeuts (Philo, Comtemp.) were most famous for doing so. In general the Jews despise the learning of foreign nations: but some have applied themselves to it, particularly Philo, Josephus, etc., 1 Machabees 1:11., and 2 Machabees 6:11.) --- Prophets. These required the utmost study, before the coming of Christ, 1 Peter 1:11., and Daniel 9:9. (Calmet) --- The virtuous must follow both an active and contemplative life. (Worthington)
Sirach 39:2 He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal into the subtilties of parables.

Sayings, or history of Abraham, etc. --- Parables. This was most in vogue, 3 Kings 10. --- But mechanics abstained from this study, Ecclesiasticus 38:38. (Calmet) --- To meditate well, 1. knowledge; 2. virtue; 3. humility; and 4. hope, are requisite. (Worthington)
Sirach 39:3 He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be conversant in the secrets of parables.
Sirach 39:4 He shall serve among great men, and: appear before the governor.

Governor of the province or army. The most enlightened were chosen, like Joseph, Daniel 1:4., etc.
Sirach 39:5 He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and evil among men:

Men. Travelling was very requisite, (chap. 34:11.) and history records the actions of the bad as well as of the good, for the instruction of the public.
Sirach 39:6 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord, that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the Most High.

Pray. Diligence and prayer are the means to acquire wisdom, Ecclesiasticus 4:13.
Sirach 39:7 He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for his sins.
Sirach 39:8 For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:
Sirach 39:9 And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in his prayer he will confess to the Lord.

Lord, being in a sort of rapture, and enlightened by Him.
Sirach 39:10 And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.
Sirach 39:11 He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
Sirach 39:12 Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten.
Sirach 39:13 The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in request from generation to generation.

Generation. With what care do we not preserve the Scriptures? etc.
Sirach 39:14 Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth his praise.
Sirach 39:15 If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if he rest, it shall be to his advantage.

Thousand. Children or other men. --- Rest, in death. (Calmet)
Sirach 39:16 I will yet meditate, that I may declare: for I am filled as with a holy transport.

With. Greek, "as the moon in the first quarter," dichomenia. The Vulgate has read Diomenia, "divine transport." The author declares that he was inspired. (Calmet)
Sirach 39:17 By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.

By. Greek, "Hear me, ye holy children." --- Offspring. Literally, "fruits." (Haydock) --- He speaks to the children of Israel, the people of God: whom he exhorts to bud forth and flourish with virtue. (Challoner)
Sirach 39:18 Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.
Sirach 39:19 Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.

Bring. Greek, "praise a canticle."
Sirach 39:20 Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps: and in praising him, you shall say in this manner:

Voice. Greek, "songs of your lips, (Haydock) and with ancient lyres," etc. (Calmet)
Sirach 39:21 *All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.

Genesis 1:31.; Mark 7:37.
Sirach 39:22 *At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters:

Genesis 8:3. 		Waters. At the world's creation, or at the passage of the Israelites. [Exodus 14:21., and Josue 3:13.] (Calmet)
Sirach 39:23 For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no diminishing of his salvation.

Salvation. None can prevent the salvation of God's elect. (Haydock)
Sirach 39:24 The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.
Sirach 39:25 He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing wonderful before him.

Wonderful, or new. (Calmet) --- The greatest miracles cost him nothing. (Haydock)
Sirach 39:26 There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all things shall be sought in their time.

Time. The veil shall be withdrawn, and Providence will appear. Greek, "all things are made for their proper use."
Sirach 39:27 His blessing hath overflowed like a river:
Sirach 39:28 *And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit the nations that have not sought after him:

Genesis 7:21. 		That. Greek, "as he changed the waters into saltness," (Haydock) at Sodom, (Calmet) "his ways are plain for the saints: so to sinners they are stumbling-blocks," ver. 30. The Red Sea gave a passage to Israel, and overwhelmed the Egyptians. (Haydock) --- Him. God does all with grandeur. He poured his graces upon Israel, and overwhelmed the giants in the deluge. (Calmet)
Sirach 39:29 *Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the earth was made dry: and his ways were made plain for their journey: so to sinners they are stumbling-blocks in his wrath.

Exodus 14:21.
Sirach 39:30 Good things were created for the good from the beginning; so for the wicked, good and evil things.

Good and, is omitted in Greek. Before the fall, all was happiness. Now, the wicked have still some mixture of good, ver. 32. (Bossuet)
Sirach 39:31 *The principal things necessary for the life of men, are: water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and honey, and the cluster of the grape, and oil, and clothing.

Ecclesiasticus 29:28. 		Water and fire. These are requisite to prepare bread. The Romans refused them to the enemies of the state. --- Cluster. Greek, "blood," as [in] Deuteronomy 32:14. (Calmet) --- God gives the necessaries of life, which the virtuous use well, for their reward; and the wicked ill, to their ruin. (Worthington)
Sirach 39:32 All these things shall be for good to the holy; so to the sinners, and the ungodly, they shall be turned into evil.

Evil. The good or bad use of them decides all, Wisdom 14:11., Romans 8:18., and Titus 1:15.
Sirach 39:33 There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on grievous torments:

Spirits. Storms (Psalm 10:7., and 148:8.) good angels, (Genesis 19:11., and Isaias 37:36.) or rather devils: who, though created in holiness, fell, and became executioners of the wicked. (Calmet) --- They abused their free-will, and are eternally punished. (Worthington)
Sirach 39:34 In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and they shall appease the wrath of him that made them.

Destruction, and final ruin of the impious, or at the last day. (Calmet) --- Appease. God is pleased with the execution of justice. (Menochius) --- Yet the devils cannot obtain a reconciliation; neither do they act to please God, having their wills obstinately bent against his, though they be forced to obey. (Haydock)
Sirach 39:35 Fire, hail, famine, and death: all these were created for vengeance.
Sirach 39:36 The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction.

Beasts. Wolves, etc., with which the country was infested, Deuteronomy 7:22., and 22:24. --- Sword. War.
Sirach 39:37 In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be ready upon earth when need is, and when their time is come, they shall not transgress his word.

Feast. Greek, "rejoice," as at a feast, Ezechiel 39:16. --- Word. They will be ready at the first sign. (Calmet) --- All creatures, but the rebel angels and man, obey God. (Haydock)
Sirach 39:38 Therefore, from the beginning I was resolved, and I have meditated and thought on these things, and left them in writing.

Resolved. Literally, "confirmed" in this opinion by a divine light, ver. 16, 21.
Sirach 39:39 *All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish every work in due time.

Genesis 1:31.; Mark 7:37. 		Time. If we receive not at first, we must have patience.
Sirach 39:40 It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be well approved in their time.

That. Even sin contributes to manifest the justice and mercy of God; and we are not to judge of his works, but to praise him; as every thing is created for wise purposes, and evil proceeds from our abuse of things. (Calmet)
Sirach 39:41 Now, therefore, with the whole heart and mouth praise ye him, and bless the name of the Lord.