Sirach 19 Commentary

“Whoso taketh pleasure in wickedness shall be condemned: but he that resisteth pleasures crowneth his life.”

Hateth. Greek, “resisteth pleasure, shall crown his life. He who guardeth his tongue, shall live without contention: and he,” &c. (Haydock)

“He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil.”

He. Greek omits this explication of the preceding verse.

“Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not.”

Not. Only to God and his minister. Friends do not require to be informed of such things. Greek, “disclose not the conduct of others.” — Be. Greek, “be not.” Do not boast of sins which thou hast not committed, (Calmet) as St. Augustine did before his conversion. (Haydock) — But the Vulgate seems preferable. (Calmet) — In ordinary conversation to reveal our faults would be dangerous, but not in confession, or in religious orders, for advancement in virtue. (Worthington)

“For he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.”

Hate thee. Whether thou hast spoken of thy own or of others’ faults, he will distrust thee.

“If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee.”

Burst thee. Like poison, or as new wine (Calmet) does a leathern bottle. (Haydock) — This expression well implies the eagerness which some manifest to divulge a secret injurious to their neighbour. (Calmet)

“Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it: and if he have done it, that he do it no more.”

Understood. Greek, “done it.” (Haydock) — For want of coming to a timely explanation, many friendships are broken, owing to groundless surmises.

“Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.”

Committed. Or “a false report,” commissio. (Calmet) — Greek, “a foolish calumny.” (Haydock) — Monere et moneri proprium est verę amicitię. (Cicero)

“Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the most High.”

Him. Gentle means must be first tried, Matthew xviii. 15., and Galatians vi. 1. (Haydock)

“The fear of the Lord is the first step to be accepted of him, and wisdom obtaineth his love.”

Place. Love true piety. (Calmet) — Disposition. Greek, “complying with.” (Haydock) — The Complutensian has several additions which are not in the Roman edition. (Calmet) — Grabe inserts them. But it is not necessary to mark here every such variation. (Haydock)

“The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence.”

Unjust. St. James (iii. 15.) describes true and false wisdom, Romans xvi. 19. (Calmet)

“There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom.”

Wickedly. Greek, “in black,” (Haydock) wearing the robes of mourning. (Grotius)

“He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High.”

And. Greek, “there,” &c. (Haydock) — The hypocrite abstains from exterior crimes, only through fear. (Calmet) — False pretence of piety, is hypocrisy; and it is wrong for a superior to reveal his secret faults to his subjects. Reason must direct. (Worthington)

“There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit,”

Countenance. Yet this is not always the case, ver. 28. We may sometimes condemn a person unjustly, on such outward appearances. (Calmet)

“And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.”

Lying. Greek, “a reproof which is not seemly; and there is one,” &c. (Haydock)