| Sirach 32:1
| Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.
| Ruler. Or king of the feast, alluding to an ancient custom, Esther 1:8. (Calmet) --- Nec regna vini sortiere talis. (Horace, Athen. Dipn.; Plut.[Plutarch?], Symp. 1:q. 14.) --- Humility is most requisite for those in power, and it is most difficult to contemn vain honours, when enjoyed. (St. Gregory, pastor.) (Worthington)
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| Sirach 32:2
| Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:
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| Sirach 32:3
| That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.
| Contribution, towards the feast, (Menochius) or company. This sentence is not in Greek, "rejoice on their account, and for the excellent disposition, mayst receive a corner." (Haydock)
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| Sirach 32:4
| Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,
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| Sirach 32:5
| To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not music.
| Music. Which usually accompanied the meals of the rich. (Horace, 2:ode 11.) --- "A lyre is handed round, on which each one plays. When Themistocles confessed that he knew not how, he was deemed deficient." indoctior. (Tusc. 1:Quint. i.)
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| Sirach 32:6
| Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted up out of season with thy wisdom.
| Words. Some Greek copies have, "where there is a concert, pour," etc. (Calmet) --- And be. Greek, "and utter not wise sayings out of season."
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| Sirach 32:7
| A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.
| Wine was not used at all meals. (Calmet) --- After they were ended, the pagans sung in honour of Bacchus, or of great men. (Plut.[Plutarch?], Sym.) --- But the Jews directed their hymns to God, Matthew 26:30. (Philo, Contemp.)
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| Sirach 32:8
| As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.
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| Sirach 32:9
| Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.
| Hear. Greek, (10.) "young man speak if there be wanted of thee; scarcely twice if thou be asked. Sum up thy speech, much in few words. Be knowing and still silent. (11.) In the," etc. (Haydock)
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| Sirach 32:10
| Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.
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| Sirach 32:11
| If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.
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| Sirach 32:12
| In many things, be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence, and withal seeking.
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| Sirach 32:13
| In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.
| Thee. Greek implies to be equal. (Calmet)
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| Sirach 32:14
| Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.
| Storm. Literally, "hail." Greek, "thunder." (Haydock) --- It comes forth at the same time as the lightning, but travels slower. (Calmet) --- For. Greek, (15.) "at," etc. (Haydock) --- Young people must leave the table, and take recreation.
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| Sirach 32:15
| And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.
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| Sirach 32:16
| And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sins or proud speech.
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| Sirach 32:17
| And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.
| Bless. This is taught by the light of reason, (chap. 5:7.) and the omission before or after meals betrays a want of faith and gratitude, particularly in Christians. --- Replenisheth. Greek, "inebriateth thee with his goods." (Haydock)
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| Sirach 32:18
| He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.
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| Sirach 32:19
| He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumbling-block therein.
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| Sirach 32:20
| They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.
| Light. They shall advance in virtue and glory, Proverbs 4:18. (Calmet)
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| Sirach 32:21
| A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.
| Excuse. Literally, "comparison." "He will bend the law to his desires." Thus heretics interpret Scripture. (Haydock) --- Greek, "he will find condemnation."
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| Sirach 32:22
| A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:
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| Sirach 32:23
| Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.
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| Sirach 32:24
| My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.
| Without counsel; or "by himself," (Calmet) cum eo. --- And. Greek, "do nothing without counsel, and in acting do not repent," (Haydock) but execute what has been prudently devised. (Calmet) --- God directs; yet he would have us to ask advice. (Worthington)
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| Sirach 32:25
| Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a stumbling-block to thy soul.
| Rugged way. The end of which is unknown, Luke 14:28. (Calmet) --- Lest. Greek, "and keep a guard over thy children. In every good work confide in thy soul; for," etc. (Haydock)
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| Sirach 32:26
| And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.
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| Sirach 32:27
| In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.
| In faith. That is, follow sincerely thy soul in her faith and conscience, (Challoner) when it is well informed. Greek, "in every good work believe thy soul; for," etc. (Calmet) --- Act not in opposition to it. (Worthington) --- Rondet and Grotius would read, "in every work believe in God with all thy soul." --- All that is not of faith is sin, (Romans 14:23.) inasmuch as it is against conscience. (Haydock)
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| Sirach 32:28
| He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.
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