1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Sirach 38:1 Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the Most High hath created him.

Honour and pay, Proverbs 8:9. (Calmet) --- Greek adds, "with his fees." (Haydock) --- The health of body and soul must be regarded. (Worthington)
Sirach 38:2 For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the king.

King. Physicians were formerly kept at the king's expense. (Pliny, [Natural History?] 29:1.)
Sirach 38:3 The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall be praised.
Sirach 38:4 The Most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.

Them, as he will all superstitious remedies. (Calmet) --- "A crowd of physicians killed Caesar," said Adrian, on his death-bed. They often try experiments, and kill with impunity, (Pliny 29:1.) --- Yet we must not condemn the prudent use of medicine. (Calmet)
Sirach 38:5 *Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?

Exodus 15:25. 		Wood, of various sorts. (Grotius) --- Many suppose that he alludes to the miracle of Moses, (Exodus 15:25.) who thus was supernaturally informed (Calmet) of the effects of a certain wood. (Tirinus) (Menochius) (St. Augustine, q. lvii. in Ex.)
Sirach 38:6 The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and the Most High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in his wonders.

The. Greek, "that his or its virtue might be known by man."
Sirach 38:7 By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end.

These plants. --- And of. Greek, "Of these the maker of ointments shall compose a mixture and his works are not yet finished, when peace (health) from him appears on the face of the earth." (Haydock) --- Diseases flee before him; so powerful are his medicines, that the very smell effects a cure.
Sirach 38:8 For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth.
Sirach 38:9 *My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and he shall heal thee.

Isaias 38:3. 		Thee. We must neither trust too much in physicians, (2 Paralipomenon 16:12.) nor despise them, as this would be tempting God.
Sirach 38:10 Turn away from sin, and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence.

Sin. All diseases are in consequence of original sin, and many are inflicted for actual transgressions, John 9:2., and 1 Corinthians 11:30., and Numbers 12:10. (Calmet)
Sirach 38:11 Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.

Then. Greek, "as being no longer. Yet give," etc. (Haydock) --- Be converted and offer sacrifice, as if there were no hopes of life. Still do not despair. (Calmet)
Sirach 38:12 For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for his works are necessary.
Sirach 38:13 For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands:

Thou. Greek, "a sweet smell (success) shall be in their hands." (Haydock)
Sirach 38:14 And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper what they give for ease and remedy, for their conversation.
Sirach 38:15 He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the hands of the physician.

Physician. This state is very troublesome, and a punishment of sin, ver. 10.
Sirach 38:16 My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his body, and neglect not his burial.

Burial. Thus we must shew our respect for the deceased. The Jews also prayed for them, 2 Machabees 12:42. (Calmet) --- "The care....and pomp of funerals are rather the consolations of survivors than of service to the dead." (St. Augustine, cura 2.)
Sirach 38:17 And for fear of being ill spoken of, weep bitterly for a day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.

For. Greek, "and shed burning tears of mourning, (18.) and lament for," etc. (Haydock) --- Sorrow would be unsuitable for the saints, and useless for the damned, who being rebellious to God do not deserve our lamentations. Yet nature dictates, and people expect we should allow something to the first emotions of sorrow, (Calmet) for a day or two; and we may receive the consolatory visits of our friends, during the seven days of mourning, Ecclesiasticus 22:13., and John 11:19. (St. Paulin. ad Pam.) --- To avoid the evil reports of men, we must shew ourselves to be really sorry; yet we must not suffer grief to hurt our health. (Worthington)
Sirach 38:18 And make mourning for him according to his merit, for a day or two, for fear of detraction.
Sirach 38:19 *For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck.

Proverbs 15:13.; Proverbs 17:22. 		And the, etc., is not in Greek. Excessive sorrow brings on sickness, and renders us unfit for any thing.
Sirach 38:20 In withdrawing aside, sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the poor is according to his heart.

Aside, in solitude. --- Substance; or what the poor has to live on, will seem sweet or bitter according as he is affected with joy or grief.
Sirach 38:21 Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and remember the latter end.

End. This is the chief utility derived from attending funerals.
Sirach 38:22 Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him no good, and shalt hurt thyself.
Sirach 38:23 Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so: yesterday for me, and to-day for thee.

Thee. A man on his death-bed, or already dead, is introduced speaking. (Calmet)
Sirach 38:24 *When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort him in the departing of his spirit.

2 Kings 12:21. 		Him. Greek, "thyself." He is at rest, we hope; (Haydock) be thou so too. (Calmet)
Sirach 38:25 The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he that is less in action, shall receive wisdom.

A scribe; that is, a doctor of the law, or a learned man. (Challoner) --- Sorrow (Haydock) and too much employment, are injurious to learning. (Calmet) --- Sapientiae otia negotia sunt. (St. Bernard, ser. 85. Cant.) --- When pastors have leisure, they would do well to write, in imitation of St. Paul, etc. (Worthington)
Sirach 38:26 With what wisdom shall he be furnished that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth the oxen therewith, and is occupied in their labours, and his whole talk is about the offspring of bulls?
Sirach 38:27 He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is to give the kine fodder.
Sirach 38:28 So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day, he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and by his watching shall finish the work.

Work: engraving on gold, or silver, or on precious stones.
Sirach 38:29 So doth the smith sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron-work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace:

Sitting. Such was the ancient custom of smiths, (Calmet) who carried all their implements with them, and laboured with much pain. (Chardin.)
Sirach 38:30 The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is upon the pattern of the vessel he maketh.
Sirach 38:31 He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to polish them to perfection.
Sirach 38:32 So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel about with his feet, who is always carefully set to his work, and maketh all his work by number:
Sirach 38:33 He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet.
Sirach 38:34 He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.

Glazing. The earthen vessel would otherwise spoil all but oil and water. (Calmet)
Sirach 38:35 All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his own art.
Sirach 38:36 Without these a city is not built.
Sirach 38:37 And they shall not dwell nor walk about therein, and they shall not go up into the assembly.

Dwell. Greek, "travel," to get a livelihood, (Grotius) or to acquire wisdom, (chap. 34:9., and 39:5.) and walk about like the ancient philosophers. They shall not be chosen magistrates. (Calmet)
Sirach 38:38 Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are spoken:

Spoken. They have not leisure to attend the lectures of sages; (Haydock) nor are they ever quoted by them.
Sirach 38:39 But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and searching in the law of the Most High.

World, giving children to the commonwealth, (Menochius) and employing themselves in useful arts. The Jews would not allow magicians, players, etc., to reside in their country. --- Craft. They pray that they may succeed in their employment, while some also strive to comply with their religious duties. (Calmet) --- Applying. Greek refers this to the following chapter, "As for him who applies his soul and meditates on the law of the Most High, he will," etc. (Haydock)