“Sicut qui mel multum comedit non est ei bonum, sic qui scrutator est majestatis opprimetur a gloria.”
“It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.”
“It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.”
“It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.”
“It is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.”
Majesty, viz., of God. For to search into that incomprehensible Majesty, and to pretend to sound the depths of the wisdom of God, is exposing our weak understanding to be blinded with an excess of light and glory, which it cannot comprehend. (Challoner) — When the Church proposes to us any mystery, we have only to believe. Hebrew, “but it is glorious to sound their glory,” and see where the wicked end, that we may not envy them, chap. iii. 31., and Psalm xxxvi. 7. (Calmet) — Protestants, “so for men to search their own glory, is not glory,” but a sin. (Haydock) — “It is not good to eat too much honey,” (Chaldean) or to sound the glorious words of God and wisdom, or the mysteries of religion. Septuagint, “But it is right to reverence glorious speeches,” (Calmet) with esteem and humility. (Cat. Gręc.)
1. The confidence of an unfaithful man (so some read it) will be like a broken tooth; his policy, his power, his interest, all that which he trusted in to support him in his wickedness, will fail him in time of trouble, Ps 52 7. 2. Confidence in an unfaithful man (so we read it), in a man whom we thought trusty and therefore depended on, but who proves otherwise; it proves not only unserviceable, but painful and vexatious, like a broken tooth, or a foot out of joint, which, when we put any stress upon it, not only fails us, but makes us feel from it, especially in time of trouble, when we most expect help from it; it is like a broken reed, Isa 36 6. Confidence in a faithful God, in time of trouble, will not prove thus; on him we may rest and in him dwell at ease.