14:1 [Beatus vir qui non est lapsus verbo ex ore suo, et non est stimulatus in tristitia delicti.
*H Blessed is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin.
Ver. 1. Mouth. He is perfect. James iii. 2.
14:2 Felix qui non habuit animi sui tristitiam, et non excidit a spe sua.
Happy is he that hath had no sadness of his mind, and who is not fallen from his hope.
14:3 Viro cupido et tenaci sine ratione est substantia : et homini livido ad quid aurum ?
*H Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what should an envious man do with gold?
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.
14:4 Qui acervat ex animo suo injuste, aliis congregat, et in bonis illius alius luxuriabitur.
*H He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting.
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.
14:5 Qui sibi nequam est, cui alii bonus erit ? et non jucundabitur in bonis suis.
He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
14:6 Qui sibi invidet, nihil est illo nequius : et haec redditio est malitiae illius.
*H There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this is the reward of his wickedness:
Ver. 6. Envieth. By refusing himself the necessaries of life, he rejects God's gifts, and scandalizes his neighbour. W.
14:7 Et si bene fecerit, ignoranter et non volens facit : et in novissimo manifestat malitiam suam.
*H And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at the last he discovereth his wickedness.
Ver. 7. Wickedness. Persisting covetous till death, as is commonly the case.
14:8 Nequam est oculus lividi : et avertens faciem suam, et despiciens animam suam.
The eye of the envious is wicked: and he turneth away his face, and despiseth his own soul.
14:9 Insatiabilis oculus cupidi in parte iniquitatis : non satiabitur donec consumat arefaciens animam suam.
The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul, drying it up.
14:10 Oculus malus ad mala, et non saturabitur pane, sed indigens et in tristitia erit super mensam suam.
An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have his fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his own table.
14:11 Fili, si habes, benefac tecum, et Deo dignas oblationes offer.
*H My son, if thou have any thing, do good to thyself, and offer to God worthy offerings.
Ver. 11. Offerings. Make a proper use of what God has bestowed. C.
14:12 Memor esto quoniam mors non tardat, et testamentum inferorum, quia demonstratum est tibi : testamentum enim hujus mundi morte morietur.
*H Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of hell hath been shewn to thee: for the covenant of this world shall surely die.
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.
14:13 Ante mortem benefac amico tuo, et secundum vires tuas exporrigens da pauperi.
Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor.
* Footnote
* Tobias
4 : 7
Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not away thy face from any poor person: for so it shall come to pass that the face of the Lord shall not be turned from thee.
* Footnote
* Luke
16 : 9
And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity: that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.
14:14 Non defrauderis a die bono, et particula boni doni non te praetereat.
Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good gift overpass thee.
14:15 Nonne aliis relinques dolores et labores tuos in divisione sortis ?
*H Shalt thou not leave to others to divide by lot thy sorrows and labours?
Ver. 15. Sorrows. Gr. "toils," or what thou hast amassed with much care. H.
14:16 Da et accipe, et justifica animam tuam.
*H Give and take, and justify thy soul.
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.
14:17 Ante obitum tuum operare justitiam, quoniam non est apud inferos invenire cibum.
Before thy death work justice: for in hell there is no finding food.
14:18 Omnis caro sicut foenum veterascet, et sicut folium fructificans in arbore viridi.
*H All flesh shall fade as grass, and as the leaf that springeth out on a green tree.
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.
* Footnote
* Isaias
40 : 6
The voice of one, saying: Cry. And I said: What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field.
* Footnote
* James
1 : 10
And the rich, in his being low: because as the flower of the grass shall he pass away.
* Footnote
* 1_Peter
1 : 24
For all flesh is as grass and all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass is withered and the flower thereof is fallen away.
14:19 Alia generantur, et alia dejiciuntur : sic generatio carnis et sanguinis, alia finitur, et alia nascitur.
Some grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.
14:20 Omne opus corruptibile in fine deficiet, et qui illud operatur ibit cum illo.
*H Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and the worker thereof shall go with it.
Ver. 20. End. The fruits of the Spirit are alone immortal. v. 21. Gal. vi. 8.
14:21 Et omne opus electum justificabitur, et qui operatur illud honorabitur in illo.]
And every excellent work shall be justified: and the worker thereof shall be honoured therein.
14:22 [Beatus vir qui in sapientia morabitur, et qui in justitia sua meditabitur, et in sensu cogitabit circumspectionem Dei :
Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God.
* Footnote
* Psalms
1 : 2
But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.
14:23 qui excogitat vias illius in corde suo, et in absconditis suis intelligens, vadens post illam quasi investigator, et in viis illius consistens :
He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, and stayeth in her ways.
14:24 qui respicit per fenestras illius, et in januis illius audiens :
He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her door.
14:25 qui requiescit juxta domum illius, et in parietibus illius figens palum, statuet casulam suam ad manus illius, et requiescent in casula illius bona per aevum.
He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls shall set up his tent high unto her, where good things shall rest in his lodging for ever.
14:26 Statuet filios suos sub tegmine illius, et sub ramis ejus morabitur.
He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches:
14:27 Protegetur sub tegmine illius a fervore, et in gloria ejus requiescet.]
*H He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall rest in her glory.
Ver. 27. Glory. As under the miraculous pillar. Ex. xxiv. 17. He who shall abide with wisdom shall have nothing to fear. C.