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6:1 [Melior est sapientia quam vires, et vir prudens quam fortis.
*H Wisdom is better than strength: and a wise man is better than a strong man.


Ver. 1. Wisdom, &c. This is not in Greek, and seems out of its place, being taken from Prov. xvi. 32. or Eccles. ix. 16. C. — The connection with the preceding is observable in the next verse. H.

6:2 Audite ergo, reges, et intelligite ; discite, judices finium terrae.
*H Hear, therefore, ye kings, and understand, learn ye that are judges of the ends of the earth.


Ver. 2. Kings. The author puts these words in the mouth of Solomon to give them greater weight, (C.) or rather (H.) as the inspiration of God is the most unexceptionable authority, and it would be of no service to introduce a false personage speaking; these nine first chapters were written by Solomon, though the original has since disappeared. This has been the case with respect to the original text of Tobias and Judith, (Houbigant) as well as to that of the many canticles and parables which Solomon wrote. H.

6:3 Praebete aures, vos qui continetis multitudines, et placetis vobis in turbis nationum.
Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in multitudes of nations:
6:4 Quoniam data est a Domino potestas vobis, et virtus ab Altissimo : qui interrogabit opera vestra, et cogitationes scrutabitur.
*H For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, who will examine your works: and search out your thoughts:


Ver. 4. Power. All power is from God, and to be respected, even though the magistrate should sometimes abuse his authority. W. Rom. xiii. 1. — They must render an account to the common master. 2 Par. xix. 6.

* 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.
6:5 Quoniam cum essetis ministri regni illius, non recte judicastis, nec custodistis legem justitiae, neque secundum voluntatem Dei ambulastis.
Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will of God.
6:6 Horrende et cito apparebit vobis, quoniam judicium durissimum his qui praesunt fiet.
*H Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule.


Ver. 6. Rule. How severely did God chastise Moses, David, and Ezechias.

6:7 Exiguo enim conceditur misericordia ; potentes autem potenter tormenta patientur.
*H For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall be mightily tormented.


Ver. 7. Little, and ignorant. Those in power ought to know, and to perform their duty.

6:8 Non enim subtrahet personam cujusquam Deus, nec verebitur magnitudinem ejus cujusquam, quoniam pusillum et magnum ipse fecit, et aequaliter cura est illi de omnibus.
*H For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he hath equally care of all.


Ver. 8. Equally. In proportion to their exigencies, or he punishes all as they deserve. It is not clear that he speaks of grace, as the Pelagians would assert, (C.) abusing this passage. See S. Aug. ep. cvi. or clxxxvii.

* Footnote * Deuteronomy 10 : 17 Because the Lord your God he is the God of gods, and the Lord of lords, a great God and mighty and terrible, who accepteth no person nor taketh bribes.
* Footnote * 2_Paralipomenon 19 : 7 Let the fear of the Lord be with you, and do all things with diligence: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor desire of gifts.
* Footnote * Acts 10 : 34 And Peter opening his mouth, said: in very deed I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons.
* Footnote * Romans 2 : 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
* Footnote * Galatians 2 : 6 But of them who seemed to be some thing, (what they were some time it is nothing to me, God accepteth not the person of man): for to me they that seemed to be some thing added nothing.
* Footnote * Ephesians 6 : 9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatenings: knowing that the Lord both of them and you is in heaven. And there is no respect of persons with him.
* Footnote * Colossians 3 : 25 For he that doth wrong shall receive for that which he hath done wrongfully. And there is no respect of persons with God.
* Footnote * 1_Peter 1 : 17 And if you invoke as Father him who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every one's work: converse in fear during the time of your sojourning here.
6:9 Fortioribus autem fortior instat cruciatio.
*H But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty.


Ver. 9. Mighty. This cannot be too often inculcated, (v. 6.) lest the great should forget God and themselves. C. — Each must render an account of his charge, and be punished accordingly if he offend. S. Greg. hom. ix. Evang. W.

6:10 Ad vos ergo, reges, sunt hi sermones mei : ut discatis sapientiam, et non excidatis.
*H To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it.


Ver. 10. Kings. Sept. "tyrants." But this title was not formerly odious.

6:11 Qui enim custodierint justa juste, justificabuntur ; et qui didicerint ista, invenient quid respondeant.
*H For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.


Ver. 11. Just. Sept. "holy." The Jewish judges were generally priests. — Answer. The sovereign judge, to whom Job and David confidently appeal.

6:12 Concupiscite ergo sermones meos ; diligite illos, et habebitis disciplinam.
Covet ye, therefore, my words, and love them, and you shall have instruction.
6:13 Clara est, et quae numquam marcescit, sapientia : et facile videtur ab his qui diligunt eam, et invenitur ab his qui quaerunt illam.
*H Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by them that love her, and is found by them that seek her.


Ver. 13. Seek her. With the assistance of divine grace. Deut. xxx. 11. Rom. x. 6. The advantages of wisdom invite us to seek her. C.

6:14 Praeoccupat qui se concupiscunt, ut illis se prior ostendat.
She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth herself unto them.
6:15 Qui de luce vigilaverit ad illam non laborabit ; assidentem enim illam foribus suis inveniet.
*H He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall find her sitting at his door.


Ver. 15. Door. Ready to introduce herself. H. Prov. i. 20. and viii. 34. and ix. 1.

6:16 Cogitare ergo de illa sensus est consummatus, et qui vigilaverit propter illam cito securus erit.
*H To think, therefore, upon her, is perfect understanding: and he that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure.


Ver. 16. Think. With eager desire to be guided by her maxims. C.

6:17 Quoniam dignos se ipsa circuit quaerens, et in viis ostendit se hilariter, et in omni providentia occurrit illis.
*H For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with all providence.


Ver. 17. Providence. To facilitate our just designs. Prov. ix. M. — She is on the watch to save us. H.

6:18 Initium enim illius verissima est disciplinae concupiscentia.
*H For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline.


Ver. 18. Discipline. We must begin with a sincere desire of instruction, and submit to correction, (C.) if we would come near to God. v. 20. H. — Wisdom is attained by this gradation. W.

6:19 Cura ergo disciplinae dilectio est, et dilectio custodia legum illius est ; custoditio autem legum consummatio incorruptionis est ;
And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of incorruption:
6:20 incorruptio autem facit esse proximum Deo.
And incorruption bringeth near to God.
6:21 Concupiscentia itaque sapientiae deducit ad regnum perpetuum.
*H Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting kingdom.


Ver. 21. Everlasting is not in Greek. Wisdom conducts to the throne, (v. 22. C.) which shall last for ever. H. — The sense of the Vulg. is very just. C. v. 17.

6:22 Si ergo delectamini sedibus et sceptris, o reges populi, diligite sapientiam, ut in perpetuum regnetis :
If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever.
6:23 diligite lumen sapientiae, omnes qui praeestis populis.]
Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples.
6:24 [Quid est autem sapientia, et quemadmodum facta sit, referam, et non abscondam a vobis sacramenta Dei : sed ab initio nativitatis investigabo, et ponam in lucem scientiam illius, et non praeteribo veritatem.
*H Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to light, and will not pass over the truth:


Ver. 24. Now. The pagans attributed the invention of wisdom to Socrates, or to Pythagoras. But she proceeds from the bosom of God, and was practised long before their times.

6:25 Neque cum invidia tabescente iter habebo, quoniam talis homo non erit particeps sapientiae.
*H Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom.


Ver. 25. Envy. I will not imitate such. C. vii. 13. Wisdom ought to be diffused. C.

6:26 Multitudo autem sapientium sanitas est orbis terrarum, et rex sapiens stabilimentum populi est.
*H Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.


Ver. 26. World. The wicked is ransomed and healed by the wise. Philo.

6:27 Ergo accipite disciplinam per sermones meos, et proderit vobis.]
Receive, therefore, instruction by my words, and it shall be profitable to you.
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