“A Prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach. I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:”
Sirach. This prayer may be in imitation of the book of Wisdom. (Haydock) — Grotius assigns it to the grandson, without reason; as the author continues to speak of his travels, &c. He seems to have lived under Onias III and under Seleucus and Antiochus Epiphanes, of Syria, to whom he was probably accused, and hence took occasion to retire into Egypt, where Ptolemy Epiphanes was king. (Calmet) — Others think (Haydock) that he was accused before Ptolemy Lagus, when he took Jerusalem. (Menochius) — We know too little of his life to decide any thing. (Calmet) See chap. l. 1. (Haydock) — Saviour. When we are not able to make a return, we must shew greater marks of gratitude, and particularly to God, for the favours which we have not deserved. (Worthington)
“And hast delivered me, according to the multitude of they mercies and greatness of thy name, from the teeth of them that were ready to devour me, and out of the hands of such as sought after my life, and from the manifold afflictions which I had;”
By. To accuse me, Zacharias iii. 1. (Calmet)
“From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words.”
Gates. Greek, “many.” (Haydock) — He exaggerates the danger to which he was exposed, as he was not miraculously delivered from the flames, &c., (Calmet) though this might be the case. At least he thanks God for preserving him (Haydock) from the various torments which were then in use.
“By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my soul drew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell beneath.”
In. Greek, “from the midst of a fire which I did not enkindle,” or deserve by any crime.
“They compassed me on every side, and there was no man to help me: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none.”
Hell. The grave. I was preserved like Jonas. (Calmet) — Unjust. Greek, “the accusation was made to the king, by an unjust tongue. My soul approached unto death, and my life,” &c. (Haydock)
“I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:”
World. Shewn to Noe[Noah], Joseph, &c. (Calmet) — Nations. Greek, “enemies,” ver. 12.
“When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer.”
Thou. Greek, “I raised my supplicating voice from the earth, and I,” &c. (Haydock)
“I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the end.”
The Father. Grotius asserts boldly, that it should be, “my Father,” and that some Christian has changed this. But his authority may be rejected, when he brings no proof; and Bossuet has solidly refuted him. The passage clearly proves the belief of the second person, and seems to allude to Psalm cix. 1. (Drusius; Vatable, &c.) (Calmet)
“For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.”
When. He now gives some account of himself, and exhorts all to seek for wisdom. (Haydock) — He was advanced in years, when he fell into the aforesaid danger, after his travels, chap. xxxiv. 9. (Calmet) — Wisdom is most easily acquired, while a person is innocent, Ecclesiastes xii. (Worthington)
“My soul hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I stretched forth my hands to the heaven above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.”
After her. Being convinced that prayer is requisite for the preservation and improvement of such a treasure. See 3 Kings iii. 8. (Calmet) — And. Greek, “from the flower as of a ripening grape. My heart,” &c.
“The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him therewith.”
Wisdom. Greek, “instruction for myself.” (Haydock)
“I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.”
Wrestled. Against pleasure, idleness, &c. This shews how arduous a task it is to attain wisdom. (Calmet) — Confirmed. Greek, “in earnest.”
“Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest.”
Knowledge. Greek (Alexandrian), “time of harvest.” Grabe substitutes, “in purification,” (Haydock) or the practice of virtue, Wisdom i. 4.
“Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.”
Heart. Or understanding, as the Hebrew place this in the heart, 3 Kings iii. 9.
“Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.”
Her. I did it, with all solicitude, Canticle of Canticles v. 4., and Jeremias iv. 19. (Calmet)
“Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.”
Tongue. Eloquence, (Menochius) which I will exert in praising him.
Gather. Greek, “dwell in the,” &c. (Haydock) — He addresses those who are walking in the broad road.
Silver. Only good-will is necessary, which all may have, Isaias lv. 1., Romans x. 6., and Wisdom vi. 13.
Gold. The wise man has more opportunities of enriching himself than others; but he despises unnecessary wealth. (Calmet) — We must labour for wisdom more than for riches, and we shall be rewarded hereafter. (Worthington)
The time. It is never too soon to be wise. In doing good let us not fail, (Galatians vi. 9.) in order to obtain that food, which remains for ever, Isaias vi. 7. Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is all man, Ecclesiastes xii. 13. (Calmet) — This is the sum of the sapiential works, and of all the Scriptures: To depart from evil is understanding, Job xxviii. 28. (Haydock)