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3:1 [Justorum autem animae in manu Dei sunt, et non tanget illos tormentum mortis.
*H But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them.


Ver. 1. Of death, is not in Sept. During life the just are protected by God, (Lu. xii. 7.) and still more in death. This passage is very applicable to martyrs. C. — Temporal death is to the just the road to happiness, where they shall not incur damnation, or the torment of death. Though the martyrs seem to be utterly destroyed, they pass to joys eternal and unspeakable. W.

* Footnote * Deuteronomy 33 : 3 He hath loved the people, all the saints are in his hand: and they that approach to his feet, shall receive of his doctrine.
3:2 Visi sunt oculis insipientium mori, et aestimata est afflictio exitus illorum,
*H In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery:


Ver. 2. Die. In this the wicked are not under a mistake; but they err when they suppose that the just shall be no more. If the hopes of the pious were confined to this world, they would be the most miserable of all. 1 Cor. xv. 19. C.

3:3 et quod a nobis est iter exterminium ; illi autem sunt in pace :
And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are in peace.
3:4 etsi coram hominibus tormenta passi sunt, spes illorum immortalitate plena est.
And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality.
3:5 In paucis vexati sunt, in multis bene disponentur, quoniam Deus tentavit eos, et invenit illos dignos se.
Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself.
3:6 Tamquam aurum in fornace probavit illos, et quasi holocausti hostiam accepit illos, et in tempore erit respectus illorum.
*H As gold in the furnace, he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust, he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them.


Ver. 6. Holocaust. The sufferings (M.) which they have voluntarily endured, cause them to be pleasing to God. H. Zac. xiii. 9. — Time of judgment, or of death. C. — Sept. "at the time of their visitation, they shall shine, and," &c. v. 7. Matt. xiii. 43. H. Zac. xii. 6.

3:7 Fulgebunt justi et tamquam scintillae in arundineto discurrent.
The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds.
* Footnote * Matthew 13 : 41 The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity.
3:8 Judicabunt nationes, et dominabuntur populis, et regnabit Dominus illorum in perpetuum.
*H They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.


Ver. 8. Judge. All the just shall approve of God's condemning the wicked. W. — They shall be invested with power, (Apoc. ii. 26. Matt. xix. 28.) which, like that of Christ, will be of a spiritual nature, (H.) and will appear most terrible at the last day. Matt. xxviii. 18. Apoc. xix. 6. C.

* Footnote * 1_Corinthians 6 : 2 Know you not that the saints shall judge this world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3:9 Qui confidunt in illo intelligent veritatem, et fideles in dilectione acquiescent illi, quoniam donum et pax est electis ejus.
*H They that trust in him shall understand the truth: and they that are faithful in love, shall rest in him: for grace and peace are to his elect.


Ver. 9. Elect. Sept. add, "and a visitation for his saints." Charity secures both faith and hope; which, without it, are unavailing to happiness. H. — Those who have the virtue of hope, will await the completion of God's promises.

3:10 Impii autem secundum quae cogitaverunt correptionem habebunt : qui neglexerunt justum, et a Domino recesserunt.
But the wicked shall be punished according to their own devices: who have neglected the just, and have revolted from the Lord.
3:11 Sapientiam enim et disciplinam qui abjicit infelix est : et vacua est spes illorum, et labores sine fructu, et inutilia opera eorum.
For he that rejecteth wisdom, and discipline, is unhappy: and their hope is vain, and their labours without fruit, and their works unprofitable.
3:12 Mulieres eorum insensatae sunt, et nequissimi filii eorum.
*H Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked.


Ver. 12. Foolish. Dissolute, as the sequel shews. Prov. ix. 13. Rom. i. 26. The family of the wicked imitate his conduct, and become his torment. C. — This is often the case. In the moral sense, the sensuality and works of the impious are corrupt. W.

3:13 Maledicta creatura eorum, quoniam felix est sterilis ; et incoinquinata, quae nescivit thorum in delicto, habebit fructum in respectione animarum sanctarum ;
*H Their offspring is cursed, for happy is the barren: and the undefiled, that hath not known bed in sin, she shall have fruit in the visitation of holy souls.


Ver. 13. Barren. The Jews deemed this a reproach. But it is better than to have children by a crime. M. — Fruit. Her good works shall serve instead of children for her glory, at the hour of death.

3:14 et spado qui non operatus est per manus suas iniquitatem, nec cogitavit adversus Deum nequissima : dabitur enim illi fidei donum electum, et sors in templo Dei acceptissima.
And the eunuch, that hath not wrought iniquity with his hands, nor thought wicked things against God for the precious gift of faith shall be given to him, and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God.
* Footnote * Isaias 56 : 3 And let not the son of the stranger, that adhereth to the Lord, speak, saying: The Lord will divide and separate me from his people. And let not the eunuch say: Behold I am a dry tree.
3:15 Bonorum enim laborum gloriosus est fructus, et quae non concidat radix sapientiae.
For the fruit of good labours is glorious, and the root of wisdom never faileth.
3:16 Filii autem adulterorum in inconsummatione erunt, et ab iniquo thoro semen exterminabitur.
*H But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection, and the seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out.


Ver. 16. Perfection. Lit. "shall be in consummation," or wholly destroyed. H. — They shall not come to age, or Sept. "initiated." The pagans excluded the base-born from their mysteries, as the Church does from holy orders; and experience shews, that the fruits of adultery are often miserable, (C.) and while they imitate their parents, they can have no hope. v. 18.

3:17 Et si quidem longae vitae erunt, in nihilum computabuntur, et sine honore erit novissima senectus illorum :
And if they live long, they shall be nothing regarded, and their last old age shall be without honour.
3:18 et si celerius defuncti fuerint, non habebunt spem, nec in die agnitionis allocutionem.
*H And if they die quickly, they shall have no hope, nor speech of comfort in the day of trial.


Ver. 18. Trial. Lit. "of knowing" (H.) the works of all. The crime of adulterers is not imputed to their offspring; and it sometimes happens, that the children of saints are cast away.

3:19 Nationis enim iniquae dirae sunt consummationes.]
For dreadful are the ends of a wicked race.
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