“O Lord, Father and Governor of all my whole life, leave me not to their counsels, and let me not fall by them.”
By them. Viz., the tongue and the lips, mentioned in the last verse of the foregoing chapter. (Challoner) — We cannot resist of ourselves, and must therefore pray to God. (Worthington) — We have need of a good master to correct our eagerness in speaking. (Calmet)
“Who will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over mine heart? that they spare me not for mine ignorances, and it pass not by my sins:”
Ignorances, &c. That is, that the scourges and discipline of wisdom may restrain the ignorances, that is, the slips and offences which are usually committed by the tongue and the lips. (Challoner) — The tongue is a restless evil, James iii. 8.
“Lest mine ignorances increase, and my sins abound to my destruction, and I fall before mine adversaries, and mine enemy rejoice over me, whose hope is far from thy mercy.”
Over me. The noblest motives are not always proposed first.
“Turn away from me vain hopes and concupiscence, and thou shalt hold him up that is desirous always to serve thee.”
Eyes. God never makes such presents, but he permits us to fall in punishment of former transgressions. (Calmet) — Coveting. Greek, “from thy servants all giant-like affection. Vain hopes and desires remove from me; and thou shalt possess him who wishes to serve thee without ceasing.” (Grabe) (Haydock)
“Let not the greediness of the belly nor lust of the flesh take hold of me; and give not over me thy servant into an impudent mind.”
Foolish, (infrunitæ) is used in this sense by Seneca. (Calmet) — Greek has not this epithet. The title, “instruction of the mouth,” follows, (Haydock) to ver. 20. (Calmet)
“For as a servant that is continually beaten shall not be without a blue mark: so he that sweareth and nameth God continually shall not be faultless.”
Them. Alexandrian Greek has only (9.) “swearing, (10.) and have not a custom of naming the Most High.” Other editions have “the holy one.” (Haydock) — Rash and false oaths are forbidden, Jeremias iv., and Matthew v. (Worthington)
“A man that useth much swearing shall be filled with iniquity, and the plague shall never depart from his house: if he shall offend, his sin shall be upon him: and if he acknowledge not his sin, he maketh a double offence: and if he swear in vain, he shall not be innocent, but his house shall be full of calamities.”
Sin. “No swearing is secure.” (St. Augustine) — Slaves were forced to confess the truth by torments; free-men took an oath; and priests gave their word. (Plut.[Plutarch?] Prob.)
“Use not thy mouth to intemperate swearing, for therein is the word of sin.”
Dissemble. Greek, “despise.” He will be punished, at least, by God. (Calmet)
“Remember thy father and thy mother, when thou sittest among great men. Be not forgetful before them, and so thou by thy custom become a fool, and wish that thou hadst not been born, and curse they day of thy nativity.”
In vain. Without a design to execute, (Grotius) or through levity, or rather falsely, Exodus xxiii. 1., and Deuteronomy v. 11.
“The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words will never be reformed all the days of his life.”
Opposite. Or equal. Greek, “clothed with death.” He denotes blasphemy, (Leviticus xxiv. 14.) or the invitation to idolatry, (Deuteronomy xiii. 1.) or calumny, ver. 17., and Leviticus xix. 12. (Calmet) — In oaths God is called to witness, as being unable to deceive. But blasphemy attributes to him or to others what does not belong to them. (Worthington)
“Two sorts of men multiply sin, and the third will bring wrath: a hot mind is as a burning fire, it will never be quenched till it be consumed: a fornicator in the body of his flesh will never cease till he hath kindled a fire.”
Merciful. Or true believers, Assideans, 1 Machabees ii. 42.
“All bread is sweet to a whoremonger, he will not leave off till he die.”
Of sin. A Hebrew idiom, to imply something criminal. Those who have laid aside shame, are capable of any wickedness.
“A man that breaketh wedlock, saying thus in his heart, Who seeth me? I am compassed about with darkness, the walls cover me, and no body seeth me; what need I to fear? the most High will not remember my sins:”
Men. Treat thy parents with no less regard, (Calmet) even though thou shouldst be exalted in dignity. (Lyr.[Lyranus?]) —Thus thou wilt be rewarded, (Calmet) of if thou transgress, wilt be brought to judgment. (Bossuet) — Greek, “thou shalt sit,” &c. (Haydock)
“Such a man only feareth the eyes of men, and knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, beholding all the ways of men, and considering the most secret parts.”
Nativity. Wish not that thou hadst not been born of such parents. (Grotius)
“He knew all things ere ever they were created; so also after they were perfected he looked upon them all.”
Life. For who will admonish him?
“This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and where he suspecteth not he shall be taken.”
Two. The first is a passionate man, (ver. 22.) the second a libertine, (ver. 23.) and the third an adulterer, ver. 25. (Calmet)
“Thus shall it go also with the wife that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an heir by another.”
Hot. With any furious passion, (Vatable) or anger, (Calmet) avarice, (Worthington) or lust. (Menochius)
“For first, she hath disobeyed the law of the most High; and secondly, she hath trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she hath played the whore in adultery, and brought children by another man.”
Mouth. Greek, “body.” — Fire. Shameful diseases will come upon him, chap. xix. 3. His brutal passion will never be satiated. (Calmet)
“She shall be brought out into the congregation, and inquisition shall be made of her children.”
Sweet. He is not delicate in his choice. (Haydock) — All obstacles increase his irregular desires, Proverbs ix. 17. (Calmet)
“And they that remain shall know that there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord, and that there is nothing sweeter than to take heed unto the commandments of the Lord.”
And. Greek, “the eyes of men are his dread.” (Haydock) — Such is the folly of the adulterer!
And he. Greek, “and where,” &c. He shall be stoned, Leviticus xx. 10. (Calmet) — Taken. Greek subjoins (ver. 32.) “so,” &c. (Haydock) — If carnal adultery be thus punished, how much more will spiritual adultery, schism, and apostacy from the Catholic religion? (Worthington)
Shall. Greek, “that thou shouldst be taken under his protection.” (Haydock)