Rejoice. Greek, "desire not an useless multitude of children," &c.

Verse 2

Labours. All will end in ruin which springs from corruption. (Haydock) --- Achab and Gedeon had seventy sons, but all were presently exterminated, while Abraham had a numerous posterity by his son Isaac.

Verse 7

Out. They shall perish by civil and foreign wars, (Calmet) and by God's indignation, Deuteronomy xxxii. 23. (Haydock) --- They who yield to the fire of concupiscence, will feel God's wrath for ever. (Worthington)

Verse 9

Of their word, is not in Greek, but may imply the effrontery of the Sodomites, who were not ashamed of openly professing their brutality, Ezechiel xvi. 49. (Calmet)

Verse 11

Six hundred thousand footmen, &c. Viz., the children of Israel, whom he sentenced to die in the wilderness, Numbers xiv., (Challoner) and Exodus xii. 37.

Verse 14

Off. The virtuous shall be rewarded, Romans ii. 6. Greek, "the patience of the impious shall not delay." He shall soon be punished, (Haydock) while he who gives only a cup of cold water to the poor, shall find a recompense, Matthew x. (Worthington)

Verse 15

And, &c., is not in Greek, the different editions of which vary. (Calmet) --- Instead of this sentence, Grabe inserts from the Complutensian, "the Lord hardened Pharao, that he might not know him, that his surprising works might be manifest under heaven. To every creature his mercy is evident, and he has divided his light from darkness with adamant.["] (Haydock) --- His counsels are unsearchable, and the good are entirely separated from the reprobate, 1 Timothy vi. 16., and Luke xvi. 26.

Verse 16

High. God would not be God if he were indifferent about virtue. None of his creatures can be beneath his notice. All the world is but like a drop of water to him, Isaias xl 15, 22. He cannot be distracted. (Calmet)

Verse 20

And. Greek, "his ways," ver. 21. (Haydock) --- God's threats and promises touch not the sinner.

Verse 21

CHAPTER XVI.

Verse 22

Testament. The law, or the judgment, which God shall pronounce. (Calmet)

Verse 26

And their. The heavenly bodies continue their courses, (Grotius; Jansenius) and all things still subsist, (Haydock) being formed and preserved by an intelligent being. He refutes the epicureans. (Calmet)

Verse 29

Be. Greek, "they shall not disobey his order for ever." (Haydock) --- After the sun, &c., had been regulated on the fourth day, God set in order sublunary things, ver. 30. (Calmet)

Verse 31