“Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth: think of the Lord with a good (heart,) and in simplicity of heart seek him.”
Goodness. Entertain just sentiments of the Deity, and avoid all duplicity. This truth is placed in the strongest light in the five first chapters, or preface.
“For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise.”
Unwise. He shews that their wisdom is all folly, and that they cannot withstand his power. (Calmet) — There are mortal sins of thought. (Worthington)
“For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.”
Subject. Or “enslaved to sin.” (Haydock) — Soul and body are intimately connected, so that the actions of one defile the other, and banish wisdom.
“For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.”
Discipline. The instructive light of the Holy Ghost. — Understanding. Those who deny God or Providence, (Calmet) and lead a wicked life, are abandoned. (Haydock) — Not abide. Elegchthesetai: “He shall be connected or manifested,” shewing that he will not acquit the guilty, ver. 6. (Menochius) — When Solomon fell, his wisdom ceased. Iniquity soon betrays itself. (Calmet)
“For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice.”
That. St. Augustine reads hic, “this who,” more correctly than hoc, as it refers to the spirit, (Calmet) which having made and filled all things, must be perfectly acquainted with every transaction. (Haydock)
“For the ear of jealousy heareth all things: and the noise of murmurings is not hid.”
Jealousy. God is strong and jealous, Exodus xx. (Calmet) — He examines the smallest deviation from the paths of rectitude. (Haydock)
“Seek not death in the error of your life: and pull not upon yourselves destruction with the works of your hands.”
Seek not with such eagerness (zelare) your own ruin, (Calmet) by an evil life, (Worthington) or rather throw not the blame on death, as if you were necessitated to sin. God created man to be immortal.
“For he created all things, that they might have their being: and the generations of the world were healthful; and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor the kingdom of death upon the earth:”
Health. Good, Genesis i. 31. (Calmet) — Poison, or medicine, (Worthington) medicamentum. (Worthington) — Poison and wild beasts become noxious to man only after sin. It is this which infects the veins. All may derive an antidote from Jesus Christ.
“But ungodly men with their works and words called it to them: for when they thought to have it their friend, they consumed to nought, and made a covenant with it, because they are worthy to take part with it.”
It. Septuagint, auton. — Death. The wicked strive (Menochius) to draw upon themselves the second death (Calmet) as they will not repent. (Worthington) (Isaias xxviii. 15.) (Haydock)