Everlastingly. is such a short-lived creature an object worthy of thy eternal wrath? (Job xiii. 25., and xiv. 1., and Psalm cii. 13.)

Verse 4

Dead; banished, (ver. 11., and Ezechiel xxxvii. 5.) or of the ancient patriarchs. This motive is frequently urged, Exodus xxxii. 13., Leviticus xxvi. 41., Deuteronomy ix. 27., Daniel iii. 35., and Jeremias xv. 1. (Calmet) --- People in sin and misery seem dead, (ver. 11.) yet may revive by grace. (Worthington)

Verse 5

Hand. Save us by thy power, and for thy own name's sake, Josue vii. 9.

Verse 8

Offence. Greek, "debt." Parents might sell their children, Matthew xviii. 25. God threatens his rebellious people, that they shall be forced to borrow, Deuteronomy xxviii. 44. (Calmet)

Verse 9

Hear. God replies. (Haydock) --- The Church has long read this has holy scripture, on the eves of Easter and Pentecost. (Worthington) --- This second part contains an instruction respecting true wisdom; which is to be found in God alone, (Calmet) in in the people to whom he is pleased to communicate it. (Haydock)

Verse 11

Grown. Houbigant, "growing." Five years had not elapsed: (Cappellus) yet they knew their captivity would be long. --- Dead. Some might yield to idolatry, Daniel iii. 7, 12. (Haydock) --- They were in a manner buried, (Psalm lxxxvii. 5.) and forced to dwell among people where they were exposed to many defilements, as if they had been near a dead body, Leviticus xi. 25.

Verse 13

Peace. There is none for the wicked; but only for the observers of the law. --- For ever. Many read, "upon the land," conformably to the Greek.

Verse 15

Treasures? How few are truly wise and virtuous! The great men of the world have missed their aim. Israel has received the law. Yet where is the fruit of it? This is developed in the sequel.

Verse 16

Nations of Assyria? &c. They esteemed themselves as lords of nature, and delighted in hunting. The beasts and birds are subject to them, Genesis i. 26., Jeremias xxvii. 6., and Daniel ii. 38. (Calmet)

Verse 18

Unsearchable? Shall they not find the fruit of their works? (Worthington)

Verse 20

Men; heirs of those conquerors, and equally in the dark. (Calmet)

Verse 22

Theman, the capital city of Edom. (Challoner) --- Eliphaz was king, Jeremias xlix. 7. --- The Phœnicians, so famous for industry, had no idea of true wisdom, no more then the Ismaelites, &c. (Calmet)

Verse 23

Agar, the mother of the Ismaelites. (Challoner) --- Merrha, probably in Arabia. --- Fables. This may be a reproach, or a commendation. Those nations delighted in enigmatical and sententious discourses, 3 Kings x. 1. (Calmet) --- Instructors of mankind deserve praise, not those who devise false gods for lucre. (St. Augustine, City of God vi. 5., &c.) (Worthington)

Verse 24

Possession. All the world belongs to him: yet how few partake of his wisdom!

Verse 26

Giants, before and after the deluge, Genesis vi. Noe[Noah] and Israel were preferred before them.

Verse 29

Clouds? No human industry can procure this blessing. God alone is the dispenser of it, Deuteronomy xxx. 12. (Calmet) --- His grace makes the discovery easy, Matthew xi. 30. (Worthington)

Verse 32

Evermore. Literally, "in the eternal time," or so long ago; (Haydock) designed to continue, while kingdoms shall change, Ecclesiastes i. 4.

Verse 33

Trembling. The sun stops, goes back, or withdraws its light, at his command, Josue x. 12., and 4 Kings xx. 9., Matthew xxvii. 45., and Job xxxvi. 30.

Verse 34

Watches. They are like his soldiers, Judges v. 20., and Ecclesiasticus xliii. 12. (Calmet)

Verse 35

CHAPTER III.

Verse 38

Earth, &c., by the mystery of the incarnation, by means of which the son of God came visibly amongst us, and conversed with men. The prophets often speak of things to come as if they were past, to express the certainty of the event of the things foretold. (Challoner) (Calmet) --- Most of the Fathers prove Christ's divinity from this text. (Worthington) See Tertullian, contra Prax. 6.; St. Cyprian, contra Jud. ii. 5.; Eusebius, Dem. vi. 19. --- If we explain it of wisdom, it comes to the same purpose, as Christ is the wisdom of God, 1 Corinthians i. 30. Compare Proverbs viii. 30., Ecclesiasticus xxiv. 12., and Wisdom ix. 10., which no one ever suspected to be interpolated. (Calmet) (Preface)