Sirach · WEB-C
Sirach
14
Bible textSynthetic voice (AI)
Blessed is the man who has not slipped with his mouth, and doesn’t suffer from sorrow for sins. Blessed is he whose soul does not condemn him, and who has not given up hope. Riches are not appropriate for a stingy person. What would a miser do with money? He who gathers by denying himself gathers for others. Others will revel in his goods. If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be good? He won’t enjoy his possessions. There is none more evil than he who is grudging to himself. This is a punishment for his wickedness. Even if he does good, he does it in forgetfulness. In the end, he reveals his wickedness. A miser is evil. He turns away and disregards souls. A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion. Wicked injustice dries up his soul. A miser begrudges bread, and it is lacking at his table. My son, according to what you have, treat yourself well, and bring worthy offerings to the Lord. Remember that death will not wait, and that the covenant of Hades hasn’t been shown to you. Do good to your friends before you die. According to your ability, reach out and give to them. Don’t deprive yourself of a good day. Don’t let your share of a desired good pass you by. Won’t you leave your labors to another, and your toils be divided by lot? Give, take, and treat yourself well, because there is no seeking of luxury in Hades. All flesh grows old like a garment, for the covenant from the beginning is, “You must die!” Like the leaves flourishing on a thick tree, some it sheds, and some grow, so also are the generations of flesh and blood: one comes to an end and another is born. Every work rots and falls away, and its builder will depart with it. Blessed is the man who meditates on wisdom, and who reasons by his understanding. He who considers her ways in his heart will also have knowledge of her secrets. Go after her like a hunter, and lie in wait in her paths. He who peers in at her windows will also listen at her doors. He who lodges close to her house will also fasten a nail in her walls. He will pitch his tent near at hand to her, and will lodge in a lodging where good things are. He will set his children under her shelter, and will rest under her branches. By her he will be covered from heat, and will lodge in her glory.
Reflections
No reviewed reflections for this passage yet.
Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)12 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Sirach 14:1
Ver. 1. Mouth. He is perfect. James iii. 2.
↑ 1Sirach 14:3
Ver. 3. Envious. Who will neither use his wealth himself, nor bestow it. The true use of riches is to take a sufficiency, and to relieve the poor. C.
↑ 3Sirach 14:4
Ver. 4. Gathereth. Gr. "taketh from his," &c. H. --- Such misers are continually derided, but will never be cured. Eccle. ii. 18. and vi. 2. An old proverb says,
"The miser doth nothing right but when he dies." C.
↑ 4Sirach 14:6
Ver. 6. Envieth. By refusing himself the necessaries of life, he rejects God's gifts, and scandalizes his neighbour. W.
↑ 6Sirach 14:7
Ver. 7. Wickedness. Persisting covetous till death, as is commonly the case.
↑ 7Sirach 14:11
Ver. 11. Offerings. Make a proper use of what God has bestowed. C.
↑ 11Sirach 14:12
Ver. 12. The covenant of hell. The decree by which all are to go down to the regions of death, (Ch.) which hell frequently denotes. H. --- Under the old law, all went down into some part of hell. W. --- Hath been. Gr. "hath not," &c. We know not when we shall die, though all must taste of death, (H.) and therefore we must make haste to do good. M. --- Shall, or "is, he shall die the death,"
(Gen. ii. 17.) as the Greek has this sentence. v. 18. H.
Certo veniunt ordine Parcæ,
Nulli jusso cessare licet. Sen. Hercul.
↑ 12Sirach 14:15
Ver. 15. Sorrows. Gr. "toils," or what thou hast amassed with much care. H.
↑ 15Sirach 14:16
Ver. 16. Take. Alms-deeds will ensure the remission of sins. This usury is lawful. We must also keep up a good society with our friends. C. --- Justify. Gr.
"sanctify thy soul (17.) for." Grabe.
H. --- Some read "love," or divert thy soul by lawful amusements. The argument is addressed to Jews and Gentiles. C.
↑ 16Sirach 14:18
Ver. 18. Fade. Gr. "grow old like a garment. For the covenant from the beginning is, he shall die the death. Like a leaf flourishing on a bushy tree." H.
--- Homer has the same thought, Il. vi.
↑ 18Sirach 14:20
Ver. 20. End. The fruits of the Spirit are alone immortal. v. 21. Gal. vi. 8.
↑ 20Sirach 14:27
Ver. 27. Glory. As under the miraculous pillar. Ex. xxiv. 17. He who shall abide with wisdom shall have nothing to fear. C.
↑ 27License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses