“Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him, and made no account of his labours.”
Then. At the day of judgment. The just and the reprobate know each other’s condition, Luke xvi. 20. — Labours. Defrauding them of their wages, (Leviticus xix. 13.) or plundering them. Septuagint, “despised, (Calmet) or frustrated his labours.” (Haydock) — Worldlings deride those who strive to obtain the goods of eternity, (Calmet) and think they labour in vain. (Worthington)
“And they repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit shall say within themselves, This was he, whom we had sometimes in derision, and a proverb of reproach:”
Within. Or among themselves. — Repenting. In despair. — Reproach. We diverted ourselves with turning them to ridicule. (Calmet) — This change of sentiment (Haydock) proceeds not from the love of virtue, and is useless. (Worthington)
“How is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints!”
God. As they styled themselves truly, through the merits of Christ, chap. ii. 18.
“Therefore have we erred from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness hath not shined unto us, and the sun of righteousness rose not upon us.”
Understanding in not in the Roman (Calmet) or the Alexandrian copy [of the Septuagint]. (Haydock) — Some read “of justice,” Ephesians v. 11. (Calmet)
“All those things are passed away like a shadow, and as a post that hasted by;”
Post. Septuagint, “fame.” —
“Even so we in like manner, as soon as we were born, began to draw to our end, and had no sign of virtue to shew; but were consumed in our own wickedness.”
Virtue. How quickly passes the life of man, (Proverbs xxx. 18.) and how few leave behind them a good reputation! Many of those whose actions are recorded in history, were falsely admired, (Calmet) and indeed the scourges of mankind. (Haydock)
“For the hope of the ungodly is like dust that is blown away with the wind; like a thin froth that is driven away with the storm; like as the smoke which is dispersed here and there with a tempest, and passeth away as the remembrance of a guest that tarrieth but a day.”
Such, &c. This is not in the original; but supplied to complete the sense, (Calmet) as otherwise the following remarks would seem to be the confession of the damned in hell, (Haydock) or before the judgment-seat. (Castro.) — The past time is used to shew the certainty of the event. (Worthington)
“But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High.”
Dust. Septuagint, Psalm i. 4. Literally, “like the tender beard, (Haydock) or wool.” Lanugo. (Calmet)
“Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them.”
Care. Literally, “thought.” (Haydock) — God thinks and provides for them.
“He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies.”
Crown. The Scripture thus represents the glory of the blessed, because there is nothing more desirable than independence. But the happiness of the elect will be to throw their crowns at the foot of God’s throne, (Apocalypse vii. 10.; Calmet) in whom they find every advantage. (St. Augustine, ser. i. de vit. apost.)
“He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet.”
Armour. Septuagint, “he will take zeal, his complete armour.” (Haydock) — See Isaias lix. 17., and Ephesians vi. 16. (Calmet) — The misery of the damned is unchangeable. (Worthington)
“Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark.”
Unwise. “As we have sinned in all, we are wounded by every thing.” (St. Gregory, hom. 25.; Ev.)
“And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them.”
Directly. Straight to the mark. (Menochius)
“Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.”
Casting. He alludes to the ballista, used to throw stones, Josue x. 11. These comparisons shew the power of God over all nature. (Calmet)