“My son, defraud not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long.”
Alms. Greek, “life,” and of what is necessary to support it. Si non pavisti, occidisti. St. Thomas Aquinas (ii. 2. q. xxxii. 5.) quoting the offices of St. Ambrose, though the sentence is not to be found there. (Calmet) — Christians are not master of what is superfluous, no more than those who have the goods of the Church. (St. Chrysostom) (Cornelius a Lapide) — Turn. Greek, “draw not after thee indigent eyes.” (Haydock) — Make not the poor wait long for relief, 2 Corinthians ix. 7., Romans xii 8., and Proverbs viii. 28. (Calmet) — Qui tarde dat, diu noluit. (Seneca, Ben. i. 1.) — Fames et mora bilem in nasum concitant. (Plaut.)
“Turn not away thine eye from the needy, and give him none occasion to curse thee:”
For….anger, and behind, &c., is not in Greek. (Haydock) — He thrice repeats the same injunction, Exodus xxii. 22. (Calmet) — Deal not cruelly with the poor; for God will revenge their injuries. (Worthington)
“Get thyself the love of the congregation, and bow thy head to a great man.”
Of the. Greek, “and bow,” &c. (Haydock) — Submission to magistrates is enforced. (Calmet)
“Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor, and give him a friendly answer with meekness.”
And…owest, is not in Greek. (Haydock) — People in office must attend to all. (Calmet)
“Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations: and he that attendeth unto her shall dwell securely.”
One. Or “sanctuary.” They shall be honoured like priests, Isaias lxi. 6. Birth, rather than merit, gave a title to the Jewish priests; but those who are wise shall minister in a more glorious temple. (Calmet)
“Then will she return the straight way unto him, and comfort him, and shew him her secrets.”
In temptation, &c. The meaning is, that before wisdom will choose any for her favourites, she will try them by leading them through contradictions, afflictions, and temptations, the usual noviceship of the children of God. (Challoner) — Greek, “for sideways or through crooked paths she shall walk with him at first, (19.) she,” &c. (Haydock) — The narrow path leads to heaven, (Matthew vii. 13.) and to virtue. (Hesiod.)
“For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame which is glory and grace.”
To him. And explain why she has treated him so roughly.
“Accept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall.”
Enemy. Greek, “ruin.” This road leads to eternal misery. (Haydock)
“And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.”
Time. For all things, Ecclesiastes iii. 1. All depends on the proper season.
“For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word of the tongue.”
Ashamed, to ask for relief, (ver. 25.; Calmet) or to say the truth, as the martyrs have done. This is not in Greek.
“In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance.”
Sin. Thus to refuse asking for what is necessary to support life, would be criminal. — Grace. When we refrain from doing things truly shameful, chap. xli. (Calmet) — To abhor sin is glorious; but to yield to it, through shamefacedness, or not to reprove it, is vicious. (Worthington)
“Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the person of the mighty.”
Fall. Excuse not his faults, (Calmet) lest thou partake in them.
“Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee.”
Hide, &c., is not in the Alexandrian copy, though inserted by Grabe. (Haydock) — Ostentation is blameable; still we must speak in defence of the truth. (Calmet)
“Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.”
Tongue. Greek, “by speech, wisdom shall be known, and instruction by the word of the tongue.”
“Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy servants.”
Lie. Greek, “of thy want of information.” Yet Grabe and the Complutensian edition have lie, &c. (Haydock) — Always yield to the truth, (Calmet) and never tell a lie, but speak the truth at proper times. (Worthington)
River. Useless resistance is to be avoided; and when it is requisite to oppose the demands of the great, we must do it with reserve, ver. 33. (Calmet)
Strive. Greek, “unto death strive for the truth, and the Lord God will fight for thee.” (Haydock) — The saints were modest, but intrepid. (Calmet) — All must rather lose their lives than act against justice or truth. (Worthington)
Works. Perform what thou hast promised.