Sirach · WEB-C
Sirach
47
Bible textSynthetic voice (AI)
After him, Nathan rose up to prophesy in the days of David. As is the fat when it is separated from the peace offering, so was David separated from the children of Israel. He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs of the flock. In his youth didn’t he kill a giant, and take away reproach from the people when he lifted up his hand with a sling stone, and beat down the boasting Goliath? For he called upon the Most High Lord, and he gave him strength in his right hand to kill a man mighty in war, to exalt the horn of his people. So they glorified him for his tens of thousands, and praised him for the blessings of the Lord, in that a glorious diadem was given to him. For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and defeated the Philistines his adversaries. He broke their horn in pieces to this day. In every work of his he gave thanks to the Holy One Most High with words of glory. He sang praise with his whole heart, and loved him who made him. He set singers before the altar, to make sweet melody by their music. He gave beauty to the feasts, and set in order the seasons to completion while they praised his holy name, and the sanctuary resounded from early morning. The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn forever. He gave him a covenant of kings, and a glorious throne in Israel. After him a wise son rose up, who because of him lived in security. Solomon reigned in days of peace. God gave him rest all around, that he might set up a house for his name, and prepare a sanctuary forever. How wise you were made in your youth, and filled as a river with understanding! Your influence covered the earth, and you filled it with parables and riddles. Your name reached to the far away islands, and you were loved for your peace. For your songs, proverbs, parables, and interpretations, the countries marveled at you. By the name of the Lord God, who is called the God of Israel, you gathered gold like tin, and multiplied silver like lead. You bowed your loins to women, and in your body you were brought into subjection. You blemished your honor, and defiled your offspring, to bring wrath upon your children. I was grieved for your folly, because the sovereignty was divided, and a disobedient kingdom ruled out of Ephraim. But the Lord will never forsake his mercy. He won’t destroy any of his works, nor blot out the posterity of his elect. He won’t take away the offspring of him who loved him. He gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David a root from his own family. So Solomon rested with his fathers. Of his offspring, he left behind him Rehoboam, the foolishness of the people, and one who lacked understanding, who made the people revolt by his counsel. Also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, and gave a way of sin to Ephraim. Their sins were multiplied exceedingly, until they were removed from their land. For they sought out all manner of wickedness, until vengeance came upon them.
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)24 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 47:1
Ver. 1. Nathan. Many other prophets lived at the same time. But he was most conspicuous, and crowned Solomon. C. --- Gr. "and after him Nathan arose to prophesy," (H.) and keep up the succession.
↑ 1Sirach 47:2
Ver. 2. Flesh. Gr. "peace-offering." The fat was deemed most delicate.
↑ 2Sirach 47:3
Ver. 3. Played. Tearing them to pieces with the greatest ease. 1 K. xvii. 34. C.
↑ 3Sirach 47:6
Ver. 6. Nation. Who were no longer under the control of the Philistines. H.
↑ 6Sirach 47:7
Ver. 7. Thousand. This was sung in the cities, (1 K. xviii. 7. C.) and excited the envy of Saul, who nevertheless could not prevent David's exaltation. H. --- Did he, or the people who praised the Lord and David. C.
↑ 7Sirach 47:8
Ver. 8. Horn. Power and glory. H. --- For ever, is not in Gr. David defeated the Philistines at the beginning of his reign. C.
↑ 8Sirach 47:9
Ver. 9. Glory. Contained in the Psalms. H. --- He was always very grateful. C. ---
His pure and sincere heart pleased God more than his other works. W.
↑ 9Sirach 47:11
Ver. 11. Altar. Of holocausts. Moses had not appointed singing.
↑ 11Sirach 47:12
Ver. 12. Set. Lit. "adorned the times." --- Of his. Gr. "while they praised his holy name, and sounded forth holiness early." H. --- David strove to give all perfection to the sacred ceremonies of religion, that the people might be attracted to the tabernacle, (C.) and serve the Lord with gladness. H.
↑ 12Sirach 47:13
Ver. 13. Sins. Remitting the punishment, (2 K. xii. 13. C.) and the guilt also, (H.) in consequence of his repentance. --- Covenant. Engaging that his posterity should enjoy the throne (2 K. vii. 12. C.) if they continued faithful. Ps. cxxxi. 11.
sup.c. xlv. 31.
↑ 13Sirach 47:14
Ver. 14. Enemies. The piety of David was thus rewarded. H. --- It must have been the greatest satisfaction to him, to see so wise a son on the throne, and all in perfect peace. 3 K. i. 48. and iv.
24. C. --- These blessings were a reward of his virtue. W.
↑ 14Sirach 47:15
Ver. 15. Youth. When other are less informed. This serves to place the apostacy of Solomon in a more striking light. C. --- The author seems astonished both at the wisdom and at the folly of this prince, (H.) and apostrophises him. W.
↑ 15Sirach 47:16
Ver. 16. Earth. Or explored all the secrets of nature, retexit. 3 K. iv. 29.
↑ 16Sirach 47:18
Ver. 18. Interpretations of riddles. Hence people praised the Lord. 3 K. x. 24.
↑ 18Sirach 47:20
Ver. 20. Copper, ( aurichalcum. ) Gr. "tin." 2 Par. ix. 13.
↑ 20Sirach 47:21
Ver. 21. Thyself. Lit. "thy thighs." Gr. "sides." Syr. "strength." --- Subjection.
Lit. "thou hadst power over thy body," (H.) using it as if it belonged not to God.
He was guilty of excess in marrying a thousand wives, and yielding to idolatry, (C.) fearing to displease those whom he loved to his own ruin." S. Aug. de Gen.
ad lit. xi. 42. --- Dreadful infatuation! H.
↑ 21Sirach 47:22
Ver. 22. Defiled. Consecrating some even to Moloch, (Pineda vii. 11.) or having children by those whom the law prohibited. Deut. vii. 2. and xxiii. 2. C. --- His sins were punished: yet God's mercy preserved his posterity. W. Ps. lxxxviii.
↑ 22Sirach 47:23
Ver. 23. Rebellious. (Gr.) Lit. "hard." H. --- Jeroboam was at the head of it. 3 K.
xii. 14. C.
↑ 23Sirach 47:24
Ver. 24. Lord. David's piety caused the sceptre to be still preserved in his family, (H.) though Solomon's conduct deserved to lose it. C.
↑ 24Sirach 47:25
Ver. 25. Of the. Gr. "a root from him," to govern a part, while Jeroboam reigned over the other tribes of Jacob. H. --- God fulfilled his promises to Jacob and David. M.
↑ 25Sirach 47:26
Ver. 26. Fathers. Some would hence infer, that Solomon died penitent. H.
↑ 26Sirach 47:27
Ver. 27. Folly. A most imprudent prince, despised by the whole nation. He answered the people roughly, and lost the ten tribes; but idolatry was his greatest folly, and from this he was never reclaimed. 3 K. xiv. 22. C.
↑ 27Sirach 47:29
Ver. 29. Jeroboam. Though not of his seed, as we only find Roboam mentioned of all the thousand wives of Solomon. He left behind him Jeroboam, notwithstanding his desire to have him slain; and this man brought ruin on the nation. H. --- Sin. This is the usual title given to this introducer of idolatry. He engaged the ten tribes in the worship of the golden calves, which ruined the state and religion of Israel.
↑ 29Sirach 47:31
Ver. 31. Vengeance, ( defensio) and put, &c. in not in Gr. Theglatphalasar and Salmanasar carried the tribes away into captivity. 1 Par. v. 26. and 4 K. xiv. xvii.
6. C. --- Many hereupon opened their eyes, (M.) as we may hope. Those who returned with the rest of the Jews relapsed not, at least into idolatry, in such an open manner. H.
↑ 31License: 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