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17:1 [Deus creavit de terra hominem, et secundum imaginem suam fecit illum :
*H God created man of the earth, and made him after his own image.


Ver. 1. And made. This is transposed in Gr. to the end of the third verse. H. — The creation of other things had been specified before. Man was designed to be immortal, and was made like to God in his soul, which is spiritual, intelligent, &c. But sin caused his days to be shortened. C. — By original sin, he lost the justice which he had at first received. W.

* Footnote * Genesis 1 : 27 And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him: male and female he created them.
* Footnote * Genesis 5 : 1 This is the book of the generation of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him to the likeness of God.
17:2 et iterum convertit illum in ipsam, et secundum se vestivit illum virtute.
And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with strength according to himself.
17:3 Numerum dierum et tempus dedit illi, et dedit illi potestatem eorum quae sunt super terram.
He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power over all things that are upon the earth.
17:4 Posuit timorem illius super omnem carnem, et dominatus est bestiarum et volatilium.
*H He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion over beasts and fowls.


Ver. 4. Dominion. This is greatly diminished since the fall. C.

17:5 Creavit ex ipso adjutorium simile sibi : consilium, et linguam, et oculos, et aures, et cor dedit illis excogitandi, et disciplina intellectus replevit illos.
He created of him a helpmate like to himself, he gave them counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: and he filled them with the knowledge of understanding.
* Footnote * Genesis 2 : 18 And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone: let us make him a help like unto himself.
17:6 Creavit illis scientiam spiritus, sensu implevit cor illorum, et mala et bona ostendit illis.
*H He created in them the science of the spirit, he fired their heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil.


Ver. 6. Evil. Man has understanding, and may merit, which brutes cannot.

17:7 Posuit oculum suum super corda illorum, ostendere illis magnalia operum suorum :
*H He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the greatness of his works:


Ver. 7. Hearts. God will bring them to judgment, and has given them a law. C.

17:8 ut nomen sanctificationis collaudent, et gloriari in mirabilibus illius ; ut magnalia enarrent operum ejus.
That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and glory in his wondrous act that they might declare the glorious things of his works.
17:9 Addidit illis disciplinam, et legem vitae haereditavit illos.
*H Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life for an inheritance.


Ver. 9. Life. The observance of which will insure life both now and for ever. Rom. x. 5. This was the peculiar privilege of Israel, (C.) though the natural law had the same effect, and God had left none without sufficient light. H. — The law was for a trial of obedience. Gen. ii. W.

17:10 Testamentum aeternum constituit cum illis, et justitiam et judicia sua ostendit illis.
*H He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed them his justice and judgments.


Ver. 10. Everlasting. The gospel has perfected or fulfilled the law. Matt. v. 17.

17:11 Et magnalia honoris ejus vidit oculus illorum, et honorem vocis audierunt aures illorum. Et dixit illis : Attendite ab omni iniquo.
*H And their eye saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity.


Ver. 11. Saw. When he gave the law on Mount Sinai. Ch. Ex. xx. 18. — Voice. Thunder. Ps. xxviii. 4. C.

17:12 Et mandavit illis unicuique de proximo suo.
*H And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his neighbour.


Ver. 12. Neighbour. Of whom the second table, or the seven last precepts of the law, speak. H.

17:13 Viae illorum coram ipso sunt semper : non sunt absconsae ab oculis ipsius.
*H Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from his eyes.


Ver. 13. Eyes. He conducted them in the pillar, and always watched over them. Gr. Rom. adds, "their ways are bent on evils from youth, and he could not." Comp. "for every man is bent on evils from youth, and they could not from stony hearts make them fleshy, (Ezec. xxxvi. 26. C.) for in the division of the nations of all the earth (14.) over," &c. Grabe.

17:14 In unamquamque gentem praeposuit rectorem :
Over every nation he set a ruler.
* Footnote * Romans 13 : 1 Let every soul be subject to higher powers. For there is no power but from God: and those that are ordained of God.
17:15 et pars Dei Israel facta est manifesta.
*H And Israel was made the manifest portion of God.


Ver. 15. God. Comp. adds, "he nourishes him as his first-born with instruction, and dividing the light of love, he does not abandon him." H. — But the Rom. edit. agrees with us. God declared himself king of Israel, (C.) and its guardian, while he intrusted other nations to angels. Orig. S. Aug. Ps. cxxxviii. Glossa. Deut. xxxii. 8.

17:16 Et omnia opera illorum velut sol in conspectu Dei : et oculi ejus sine intermissione inspicientes in viis eorum.
*H And all their works are as the sun in the sight of God: and his eyes are continually upon their ways.


Ver. 16. Ways. He suffers them not to follow their own inclinations, like the Gentiles; but chastises them if they have done wrong. Acts xiv. 15. C.

17:17 Non sunt absconsa testamenta per iniquitatem illorum, et omnes iniquitates eorum in conspectu Dei.
*H Their covenants were not hid by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God.


Ver. 17. Covenants. Gr. "injustices were not concealed from him, and all," &c. H. — God. Comp. adds, "but the Lord being good, and knowing his work, neither left nor abandoned them, still sparing them." Heb. xiii. 5. H. — This is a gloss omitted in the Rom. edit. Ps. lxxvii. 34.

17:18 Eleemosyna viri quasi signaculum cum ipso, et gratiam hominis quasi pupillam conservabit.
*H The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall preserve the grace of a man as the apple of the eye:


Ver. 18. Alms, and all good works are placed in God's treasury, and as a ring which a person wears on his finger with the utmost care. Jer. xxii. 24. Cant. viii. 6. — Eye. Gr. Comp. adds, (C.) "dividing to his sons and daughters penance, (19.) And." H. — The Rom. and Ald. edit. agree with the Vulg. — Head. Giving a crown of glory. — And shall, &c. is not in Greek. It implies that the wicked will be punished like Core. C.

17:19 Et postea resurget, et retribuet illis retributionem, unicuique in caput ipsorum, et convertet in interiores partes terrae.
And afterward he shall rise up, and shall render them their reward, to every one upon their own head, and shall turn them down into the bowels of the earth.
* Footnote * Matthew 25 : 35 For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in:
17:20 Poenitentibus autem dedit viam justitiae, et confirmavit deficientes sustinere, et destinavit illis sortem veritatis.]
But to the penitent he hath given the way of justice, and he hath strengthened them that were fainting in patience, and hath appointed to them the lot of truth.
17:21 [Convertere ad Dominum, et relinque peccata tua :
Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy sins:
17:22 precare ante faciem Domini, et minue offendicula.
*H Make thy prayer before the face of the Lord, and offend less.


Ver. 22. Offend less: minue offendicula. That is, remove sins, and the occasions of sins. Ch.

17:23 Revertere ad Dominum, et avertere ab injustitia tua, et nimis odito execrationem :
Return to the Lord, and turn away from thy injustice, and greatly hate abomination.
17:24 et cognosce justitias et judicia Dei, et sta in sorte propositionis, et orationis altissimi Dei.
*H And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high God.


Ver. 24. And. Gr. "return to the Highest, and be converted from injustice, (for he shall lead from darkness to the light of health) and greatly abhor abomination. Who shall praise the most high in hell, instead of the living, and of those who make a return of praise, or confession? Praise perisheth from the dead, as from one who has had no being. The living and sound of heart shall praise the Lord. (28.) How," &c. H. Ps. lxxxvii. 11. C. — We cannot merit perseverance, but must pray for it incessantly. W.

17:25 In partes vade saeculi sancti, cum vivis et dantibus confessionem Deo.
*H Go to the side of the holy age, with them that live and give praise to God.


Ver. 25. Go to the side, &c. Fly from the side of satan and sin, and join with the holy ones that follow God and godliness. Ch. — Christ is styled the father of the age to come. Is. ix. M.

* Footnote * Psalms 6 : 6 For there is no one in death, that is mindful of thee: and who shall confess to thee in hell?
* Footnote * Isaias 38 : 19 The living, the living, he shall give praise to thee, as I do this day: the father shall make the truth known to the children.
17:26 Non demoreris in errore impiorum : ante mortem confitere : a mortuo, quasi nihil, perit confessio.
Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before death. Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing.
17:27 Confiteberis vivens, vivus et sanus confiteberis : et laudabis Deum, et gloriaberis in miserationibus illius.
Give thanks whilst thou art living, whilst thou art alive and in health thou shalt give thanks, and shalt praise God, and shalt glory in his mercies.
17:28 Quam magna misericordia Domini, et propitiatio illius convertentibus ad se !
How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to them that turn to him !
17:29 Nec enim omnia possunt esse in hominibus, quoniam non est immortalis filius hominis, et in vanitate malitiae placuerunt.
*H For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal, and they are delighted with the vanity of evil.


Ver. 29. Immortal. We all stand in need of a pardon. C. — And. Gr. (30.) "what...and it fails. And flesh and blood shall study evil. (31.) He." H. — We cannot exact absolute perfection from any mortal. But still a person may be watchful, and trust in God's mercies. C. xviii. C.

17:30 Quid lucidius sole ? et hic deficiet ; aut quid nequius quam quod excogitavit caro et sanguis ? et hoc arguetur.
What is brighter than the sun; yet it shall be eclipsed. Or what is more wicked than that which flesh and blood hath invented? and this shall be reproved.
17:31 Virtutem altitudinis caeli ipse conspicit : et omnes homines terra et cinis.]
He beholdeth the power of the height of heaven: and all men are earth and ashes.
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