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34:1 [Vana spes et mendacium viro insensato : et somnia extollunt imprudentes.
*H The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.


Ver. 1. The. Gr. "on dreams. The," &c. H. — No dependence can be had on the pretended interpretation of dreams, which do not come from God; (C.) as some do. Mat. i. Dan. ii. W.

34:2 Quasi qui apprehendit umbram et persequitur ventum, sic et qui attendit ad visa mendacia.
The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.
34:3 Hoc secundum hoc visio somniorum, ante faciem hominis similitudo hominis.
*H The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another: as when a man's likeness is before the face of a man.


Ver. 3. Man. When he turns away from the mirror, it appears no more. Jam. i. 23.

34:4 Ab immundo, quid mundabitur ? et a mendace, quid verum dicetur ?
*H What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?


Ver. 4. Unclean. This text has been abused, to prove that the sinner cannot confer grace in the sacraments. C. — But Christ does this by his ministry. S. Aug. Ps. x. n. 6.

34:5 Divinatio erroris, et auguria mendacia, et somnia malefacientium, vanitas est :
*H Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:


Ver. 5. Deceitful. Gr. "divinations, and auguries, and dreams, are vain."

34:6 et sicut parturientis, cor tuum phantasias patitur. Nisi ab Altissimo fuerit emissa visitatio, ne dederis in illis cor tuum :
*H And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it be a vision sent forth from the most High, set not thy heart upon them.


Ver. 6. Travail. Such things cannot be explained. Twenty people will all give different interpretations. — High, as those of Jacob, Joseph, &c. were. Yet it is difficult to make the discrimination. S. Greg. dial. iv. 48. — Homer admits of two sorts of dreams. Odys. xix.

34:7 multos enim errare fecerunt somnia, et exciderunt sperantes in illis.
*H For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.


Ver. 7. Them. The devil takes advantage of their weakness, and they have recourse to magic, &c. C.

34:8 Sine mendacio consummabitur verbum legis, et sapientia in ore fidelis complanabitur.]
*H The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.


Ver. 8. Law, which forbids attention to dreams. Lev. xix 26. Is. viii. 20. A Lap. — No part of the law shall perish; and some will always explain it truly. W.

34:9 [Qui non est tentatus quid scit ? vir in multis expertus cogitabit multa : et qui multa didicit enarrabit intellectum.
*H What doth he know, that hath not been tried? A man that hath much experience, shall think of many things: and he that hath learned many things, shall shew forth understanding.


Ver. 9. What. Gr. "A man who has travelled, knows much," &c. H. — Thus Ulysses became so wise, (Homer) as well as the ancient philosophers, Pythagoras, &c. S. Jer. ad Paulin. — The knowledge derived from books will not suffice. C.

34:10 Qui non est expertus pauca recognoscit : qui autem in multis factus est, multiplicat malitiam.
*H He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.


Ver. 10. Experienced. Gr. "much abroad, shall abound with subtlety. (11.) I," &c.

34:11 Qui tentatus non est qualia scit ? qui implanatus est abundabit nequitia.
He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.
34:12 Multa vidi errando, et plurimas verborum consuetudines.
*H I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things.


Ver. 12. And. Gr. "And I know more than I announce." Grabe's edit.

34:13 Aliquoties usque ad mortem periclitatus sum horum causa, et liberatus sum gratia Dei.]
*H Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God.


Ver. 13. For. Gr. "On account of these things I have been saved:" (H.) by my great experience, which gives weight to my instructions.

34:14 [Spiritus timentium Deum quaeritur, et in respectu illius benedicetur.
*H The spirit of those that fear God, is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed.


Ver. 14. Is. Gr. "shall live. (15.) For...them. (16.) He," &c. H.

34:15 Spes enim illorum in salvantem illos, et oculi Dei in diligentes se.
For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him.
34:16 Qui timet Dominum nihil trepidabit : et non pavebit, quoniam ipse est spes ejus.
He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid: for he is his hope.
34:17 Timentis Dominum, beata est anima ejus.
The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.
34:18 Ad quem respicit, et quis est fortitudo ejus ?
To whom doth he look, and who is his strength?
34:19 Oculi Domini super timentes eum : protector potentiae, firmamentum virtutis, tegimen ardoris, et umbraculum meridiani :
The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, he is their powerful protector, and strong stay, a defence from the heat, and a cover from the sun at noon,
* Footnote * Psalms 33 : 16 The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers.
34:20 deprecatio offensionis, et adjutorium casus : exaltans animam, et illuminans oculos, dans sanitatem, et vitam, et benedictionem.]
*H A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling: he raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and life, and blessing.


Ver. 20. From falling, or when a person is fallen.

34:21 [Immolantis ex iniquo oblatio est maculata, et non sunt beneplacitae subsannationes injustorum.
*H The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.


Ver. 21. Mockeries. Some Gr. copies have "gifts." Such unjust presents or sacrifices, God will abhor. Is. xli. 8. Deut. xxiv. 15. C.

* Footnote * Proverbs 21 : 27 The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are offered of wickedness.
34:22 Dominus solus sustinentibus se in via veritatis et justitiae.
*H The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice.


Ver. 22. Lord. Gr. (23.) "most...wicked, nor," &c.

34:23 Dona iniquorum non probat Altissimus, nec respicit in oblationes iniquorum, nec in multitudine sacrificiorum eorum propitiabitur peccatis.
The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked: neither hath he respect to the oblations of the unjust, nor will he be pacified for sins by the multitude of their sacrifices.
* Footnote * Proverbs 15 : 8 The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord: the vows of the just are acceptable.
34:24 Qui offert sacrificium ex substantia pauperum, quasi qui victimat filium in conspectu patris sui.
He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.
34:25 Panis egentium vita pauperum est : qui defraudat illum homo sanguinis est.
The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.
34:26 Qui aufert in sudore panem, quasi qui occidit proximum suum.
*H He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour.


Ver. 26. Bread. Gr. "a livelihood, killeth his neighbour; and he sheddeth blood, who keepeth back the hire of the workman." H.

34:27 Qui effundit sanguinem, et qui fraudem facit mercenario, fratres sunt.
He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the laborer of his hire, are brothers.
* Footnote * Deuteronomy 24 : 14 Thou shalt not refuse the hire of the needy, and the poor, whether he be thy brother, or a stranger that dwelleth with thee in the land, and is within thy gates:
34:28 Unus aedificans, et unus destruens : quid prodest illis, nisi labor ?
*H When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have they but the labour?


Ver. 28. Labour? So, if your sacrifices be ill-gotten, they will not be received; and if you relapse, you will be as bad as ever. C.

34:29 Unus orans, et unus maledicens : cujus vocem exaudiet Deus ?
When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear?
34:30 Qui baptizatur a mortuo, et iterum tangit eum, quid proficit lavatio illius ?
*H He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail?


Ver. 30. Dead. Lit. "is baptized by or from the dead;" baptizatur a mortuo. H. — S. Cyprian thought this text was peremptory against the baptism of heretics; and the Donatists were of the same opinion. They seem not to have read, if he touch him again, which entirely alters the meaning. S. Aug. admonishes them of this; though he explains it of the pagan rather than of the Jewish purifications, to which it refers. Num. xix. 11. See S. Aug. c. Cres. i. 24. and ii. 25. c. Petil. i. 9. S. Cyp. ep. ad Quint. C.

34:31 Sic homo qui jejunat in peccatis suis, et iterum eadem faciens : quid proficit humiliando se ? orationem illius quis exaudiet ?]
*H So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same again, what doth his humbling himself profit him? who will hear his prayer?


Ver. 31. Prayer. A relapse makes the former repentance unless. Mat. xviii. 33. W.

* Footnote * 2_Peter 2 : 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice than, after they have known it, to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them.
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