Bible Commentaries
41

Verse 1

Death is terrible to all, but most to those who live comfortably. (Calmet) --- O vita misero longa, felici brevis. (Seneca)

Verse 3

Sentence, pronounced on Adam and all his posterity. (Calmet)

Verse 5

Flesh. "It is a great consolation to share the fate of all." (Seneca, Provid. v.)

Verse 6

What. Greek, "why wouldst thou refuse to submit to the?" &c. (Haydock)

Verse 7

Life. Thou wilt not be asked how long, but how well thou hast lived. No one will then envy thy long life. (Calmet) --- It will be in vain to plead that the length or shortness of life has occasioned thy sins; for God does all with justice and for the best, if men would use rightly his benefits. (Worthington) --- Thou wilt not repine at having lived too short a time. (Menochius) --- An evil life will be alone condemned, Wisdom v. (Du Hamel)

Verse 8

Ungodly. They adopt the wicked manners of their parents (Calmet) and companions, and thus become still more criminal. (Haydock) Œtas parentum pejor avis tulit

Nos nequiores, mox daturos

Progeniem vitiosiorem. (Horace, ii. ode 6.)

--- This was terribly verified in the three French assemblies, which overturned the Church and state. (The year of our Lord 1793.) See Barruel. (Haydock)

Verse 10

Father. He is rather their executioner, (Calmet) and would have been less cruel, if he had murdered them while they were innocent, Wisdom xii. 10. (Haydock)

Verse 12

Portion. It would have been better for them never to have existed, Matthew xxvi. 24. This [is] the case of heresiarchs. (Calmet)

Verse 13

From. Greek, "go to destruction." (Haydock) --- It is their destination (chap. xl. 11.; Calmet) and choice. (Haydock)

Verse 14

Body. The death of the body is bewailed in the just, but that of the soul also of wicked people calls for our tears. They will soon perish, Psalm ix. 7.

Verse 15

Great. The concern which all have for a good name, is one of the strongest proofs of the souls’ immortality, Proverbs xxii. 11.

Verse 17

Peace, with docility, (Matthew xi. 25.) or in the midst of prosperity, be on your guard, chap. xx. 32. (Calmet)

Verse 19

Have a shame, &c. That is to say, be ashamed of doing any of these things, which I am now going to mention: for though sometimes shamefacedness is not to be indulged, yet it is often good and necessary; as in the following cases. (Challoner) --- Disciples ought to esteem what their masters teach, though they do not perceive the reasonableness of what they assert. (Worthington)

Verse 20

Opinion. Grotius corrects the Greek, "It is not laudable to be incredulous in all."

Verse 21

Mother. Thy misconduct seems to redound to their dishonour, as if they had not given thee a proper education.

Verse 22

People. They will stone thee. Remember the fate of Roboam, 3 Kings xii. (Calmet)

Verse 24

And of. Literally, "out of respect for the," &c. De veritate Dei & testamento. (Haydock) --- The same words occur [in] chap. xlii. 2.; whence Jansenius thinks they have been transferred hither. Most refer them to what goes before. Blush for lying, which is contrary to the truth of God; and for the other sins which injure his covenant. --- Meat. This posture betrays idleness or pride.

Verse 25

Harlot. The eyes must be chaste, Jeremias ix. 21., and Matthew v. 28. --- Kinsman, when he is poor, and refusing to assist him. (Calmet)

Verse 26

Turn. Greek, "of taking away a portion and gift," made already to God or men; (27.) "of considering attentively another’s wife; of being too busy about his," &c. (Haydock)

Verse 32

CHAPTER XLI.