Sirach 33 Commentary

“Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?”

Another. God’s will alone appoints one to be holy or fine; and another to be stormy, or dedicated to labour. (Calmet) — And one. Greek, “and all the light of the day throughout the year proceeds from the sun.”

“By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.”

The sun. Greek, “and he distinguished the seasons and holidays (10.) some,” &c.

“And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:”

Great. Greek, “holy.” (Haydock) — Thus all men are by nature equal. Yet what difference do we not find in their condition? Some live in obscurity, who might have shone upon the throne; and this is God’s will. (Calmet)

“Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.”

Station. Exterminating the Chanaanites. God disposes of all with sovereign power and justice, Romans ix. 29.

“Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.”

Ordering. All depend on God. (Calmet) — “The predestination of the saints is nothing but the foreknowledge and preparation of God’s benefits, by which those are most certainly liberated who obtain their freedom. But where are the rest left; except in the mass of perdition, by the just judgment of the Deity? (St. Augustine, Persev. xiv. n. 35, and Corrept. xiii. n. 42.)

“So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.”

Another. Lights and shades both contribute to form the beauty of a picture. (Haydock) — Antitheses adorn a discourse, as opposite things do the universe. (St. Augustine, City of God xi. 18.) — God will make the wicked subservient to his glory.

“I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and tred my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.”

Of all. Solomon, Ezechias, &c., made various collections of similar maxims. (Calmet) — The books of the Machabees were alone written after this in the Old Testament. (Menochius) — Greek places what follows after chap. xxx. 26. These four verses may be regarded as a sort of preface. (Haydock)

“For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.”

Change thee. That is, so as to have this power over thee. (Challoner) — Be inflexible on this head. (Calmet)

“At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.”

The pre-eminence. That is, be master in thy own house, and part not with thy authority. (Challoner) — Let not thy wife or servants rule in thy name. (Menochius)

“If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.”

Fodder. Greek prefixes “on slaves.” (Haydock) — They were bought like horses. Aristotle (Œcon. i. 5.) gives the like instructions on their treatment. (Calmet)

“Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil.”

A stiff. Greek, “the neck, (28.) torture,” &c. (Haydock)

“If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?”

Faithful, is not expressed in Greek but must be understood. — Blood. Taking him prisoner at the hazard of thy life. The like misfortune might easily have befallen thee. (Calmet) — Seneca (ep. 47.) says, “live so with thy inferior, as thou wouldst have thy superior live with thee.”

Thou. Greek, “on what road wilt thou seek for him?”