Sirach · WEB-C
Sirach
43
Bible textSynthetic voice (AI)
The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear sky, the appearance of heaven, in the spectacle of its glory. The sun, when it appears, bringing tidings as it rises, is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High. At noon, it dries up the land. Who can stand against its burning heat? A man tending a furnace is in burning heat, but the sun three times more, burning up the mountains, breathing out fiery vapors, and sending out bright beams, it blinds the eyes. Great is the Lord who made it. At his word, he hastens on its course. The moon marks the changing seasons, declares times, and is a sign for the world. From the moon is the sign of feast days, a light that wanes when it completes its course. The month is called after its name, increasing wonderfully in its changing— an instrument of the army on high, shining in the structure of heaven, the beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord. At the word of the Holy One, they will stand in due order. They won’t faint in their watches. Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it. It is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. It encircles the sky with its glorious circle. The hands of the Most High have stretched it out. By his commandment, he makes the snow fall and swiftly sends the lightnings of his judgment. Therefore the storehouses are opened, and clouds fly out like birds. By his mighty power, he makes the clouds strong and the hailstones are broken in pieces. At his appearing, the mountains will be shaken. At his will, the south wind will blow. The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth. So does the northern storm and the whirlwind. Like birds flying down, he sprinkles the snow. It falls down like the lighting of locusts. The eye is dazzled at the beauty of its whiteness. The heart is amazed as it falls. He also pours out frost on the earth like salt. When it is freezes, it has points like thorns. The cold north wind blows and ice freezes on the water. It settles on every pool of water. The water puts it on like it was a breastplate. It will devour the mountains, burn up the wilderness, and consume the green grass like fire. A mist coming speedily heals all things. A dew coming after heat brings cheerfulness. By his counsel, he has calmed the deep and planted islands in it. Those who sail on the sea tell of its dangers. We marvel when we hear it with our ears. There are also those strange and wondrous works in it— variety of all that has life and the huge creatures of the sea. Because of him, his messengers succeed. By his word, all things hold together. We may say many things, but couldn’t say enough. The summary of our words is, “He is everything!” How could we have strength to glorify him? For he is himself the greater than all his works. The Lord is awesome and exceedingly great! His power is marvelous! Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can! For even yet, he will surpass that. When you exalt him, summon your full strength. Don’t be weary, because you can’t praise him enough. Who has seen him, that he may describe him? Who can magnify him as he is? Many things greater than these are hidden, for we have seen just a few of his works. For the Lord made all things. He gave wisdom to the godly.
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)27 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 43:1
Ver. 1. Shew. We cannot behold these things without admiration of God.
↑ 1Sirach 43:2
Ver. 2. High. The sun is the most excellent of all irrational creatures, affording light (W.) and heat for the production of things; (H.) whence Aristotle (de Anima ii.) styles it "father of men and of gods." Yet it is inferior to man, being devoid of reason. All creatures manifest God's majesty; the little as well as the great.
W.
↑ 2Sirach 43:5
Ver. 5. Hastened. Some Gr. copies read "slackened," alluding to Jos. x. 13.
↑ 5Sirach 43:6
Ver. 6. In all. Gr. Comp. "to stand guard." Other copies agree with the Vulg.
though embarrassed. --- World. To mark out the seasons. Gen. i. 14. Ps. ciii. 19.
↑ 6Sirach 43:7
Ver. 7. Day. The lunar system prevailed only after the captivity. The Passover was celebrated on the 14th of the moon of Nisan.
↑ 7Sirach 43:8
Ver. 8. Name. Meni is used for the moon, (Jer. lxv. 11.) which resembles the Gr.
mén, "month."
This is also derived from méné, "the moon." We know not what Heb. words were used. C. vi. 23.
The two former may both come from manah, "to divide."
↑ 8Sirach 43:9
Ver. 9. Armies. The stars, &c. are compared to a camp or army.
↑ 9Sirach 43:11
Ver. 11. Judgment. The angels are not pure before God; (Job iv. 18. and xv. 15.) or rather the stars obey his orders. Bar. iii. 34. Judg. v. 20. Ps. cxviii. 91. C.
↑ 11Sirach 43:12
Ver. 12. Brightness. Mille trahit varios adverso sole colores. Æn. 5.
↑ 12Sirach 43:14
Ver. 14. Judgment, to punish the wicked. Ex. xiv. 24. Is. xxxvii. 36. C.
↑ 14Sirach 43:15
Ver. 15. Birds, sent to give information by letters, as the Egyptians still do.
Bochart i. 2. Is. lx.
5. --- Tempests execute God's judgments. Job xxxviii. 22.
↑ 15Sirach 43:16
Ver. 16. Broken, as from huge mountains. Job xxxviii. 39. C.
↑ 16Sirach 43:18
Ver. 18. Strike. Gr. "upbraid, (Drus.) or make the earth fall in labour," odinesen.
Grabe. H.
↑ 18Sirach 43:19
Ver. 19. Lightning. Gr. "flying, he." H. --- Locusts. "They cover the cornfields with a destructive cloud." Pliny xi. 29.
↑ 19Sirach 43:20
Ver. 20. Shower, as if God were about to drown the world. The melting of snow occasions dreadful inundations. C. --- Its whiteness sometimes deprives people of their sight. Xenoph.
Anab. iv.
↑ 20Sirach 43:21
Ver. 21. Thistles. Gr. "stakes," pointed as it were with steel. M.
↑ 21Sirach 43:22
Ver. 22. Crystal, or ice. C.
↑ 22Sirach 43:23
Ver. 23. Burn. Cold destroys verdure no less than fire. Gen. xxxi. 40.
↑ 23Sirach 43:24
Ver. 24. Overpower it. Gr. "give joy; (25.) with," &c. H. --- Warmth and rain restore beauty to the earth, after the horrors of winter.
↑ 24Sirach 43:25
Ver. 25. Still. Lit. "silent." Matt. viii. 26. --- Lord. Gr. Rom. "Jesus planted it;"
which is a mistake for nesous, islands. C. --- "He planted islands in it." Grabe thus corrects the Alex. copy, though it agree with the Rom. and Aldine editions. H.
↑ 25Sirach 43:26
Ver. 26. Thereof. Ps. cvi. 23. "He who has not sailed has seen nothing evil."
Possidip.
↑ 26Sirach 43:27
Ver. 27. Monstrous. Gr. "creation of whales." H.
↑ 27Sirach 43:28
Ver. 28. Is. Gr. "his angel gives a prosperous journey." --- Regulated. Gr.
"blended." H. --- If God be angry, all will go to the bottom. Grot.
↑ 28Sirach 43:29
Ver. 29. All. Lit. "in all." Every thing obeys God. C. xlii. 15. Eccle. xii. 13.
↑ 29Sirach 43:30
Ver. 30. Him. So the Gr. reads. Vulg. seems to say, "boasting in all, what shall we be able to do?" What is man, fighting against the Lord! C.
↑ 30Sirach 43:32
Ver. 32. His. Gr. "exalting the Lord, exert your power; and labour, for you will not come up to him: (35.) who," &c. H. --- He is above all praise. Ps. cxliv. 3. C.
↑ 32Sirach 43:35
Ver. 35. From. Gr. "many hidden things are," &c. H. --- The angels, and many secrets of nature, have not been mentioned. C.
↑ 35License: 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