Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 19

Little. Small expenses, often repeated, will ruin an estate, (Haydock) and the neglect of venial sins is of the most dangerous consequence. (Calmet)

The best way to avoid great faults, is to guard against small ones. (Worthington)

Off. From God (Calmet) and religion. See Genesis xix. 33., and 2 Kings xi. 1., and Osee iv. 11.

Number. Of the living. (Haydock)

The venereal disease seems to be described.

Credit. To harlots, 1 Corinthians vi. 18. (Calmet)

Hateth. Greek, “resisteth pleasure, shall crown his life. He who guardeth his tongue, shall live without contention: and he,” &c. (Haydock)

He. Greek omits this explication of the preceding verse.

Not. Only to God and his minister. Friends do not require to be informed of such things. Greek, “disclose not the conduct of others.”

Be. Greek, “be not.” Do not boast of sins which thou hast not committed, (Calmet) as St. Augustine did before his conversion. (Haydock)

But the Vulgate seems preferable. (Calmet)

In ordinary conversation to reveal our faults would be dangerous, but not in confession, or in religious orders, for advancement in virtue. (Worthington)

Hate thee. Whether thou hast spoken of thy own or of others’ faults, he will distrust thee.

Burst thee. Like poison, or as new wine (Calmet) does a leathern bottle. (Haydock)

This expression well implies the eagerness which some manifest to divulge a secret injurious to their neighbour. (Calmet)

Understood. Greek, “done it.” (Haydock)

For want of coming to a timely explanation, many friendships are broken, owing to groundless surmises.

Committed. Or “a false report,” commissio. (Calmet)

Greek, “a foolish calumny.” (Haydock)

Monere et moneri proprium est veræ amicitiæ. (Cicero)

Him. Gentle means must be first tried, Matthew xviii. 15., and Galatians vi. 1. (Haydock)

Place. Love true piety. (Calmet)

Disposition. Greek, “complying with.” (Haydock)

The Complutensian has several additions which are not in the Roman edition. (Calmet)

Grabe inserts them. But it is not necessary to mark here every such variation. (Haydock)

Unjust. St. James (iii. 15.) describes true and false wisdom, Romans xvi. 19. (Calmet)

Wickedly. Greek, “in black,” (Haydock) wearing the robes of mourning. (Grotius)

And. Greek, “there,” &c. (Haydock)

The hypocrite abstains from exterior crimes, only through fear. (Calmet)

False pretence of piety, is hypocrisy; and it is wrong for a superior to reveal his secret faults to his subjects. Reason must direct. (Worthington)

Countenance. Yet this is not always the case, ver. 28. We may sometimes condemn a person unjustly, on such outward appearances. (Calmet)

Lying. Greek, “a reproof which is not seemly; and there is one,” &c. (Haydock)