35:1 [Qui conservat legem multiplicat oblationem.
*H He that keepeth the law, multiplieth offerings.
Ver. 1. Offerings. He cannot otherwise observe the law. H. — Virtue is the most acceptable sacrifice. C. — The sacrifices of penance, of justice, and of praise, are to be preferred before all external ones. W.
35:2 Sacrificium salutare est attendere mandatis, et discedere ab omni iniquitate.
*H It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the commandments, and to depart from all iniquity.
Ver. 2. And to. Gr. (4.) "He," &c. H. — The peace-offering and that for sin, as well as the oblation of fine flour and of praise, (which is the most perfect of all) are noticed. C. — External sacrifice must not be neglected. W.
* Footnote * 1_Kings 15 : 22
And Samuel said: Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, and not rather that the voice of the Lord should be obeyed? For obedience is better than sacrifices: and to hearken rather than to offer the fat or rams.
35:3 Et propitiationem litare sacrificii super injustitias : et deprecatio pro peccatis, recedere ab injustitia.
And to depart from injustice, is to offer a propitiatory sacrifice for injustices, and a begging of pardon for sins.
35:4 Retribuet gratiam qui offert similaginem : et qui facit misericordiam offert sacrificium.
*H He shall return thanks, that offereth fine flour: and he that doth mercy, offereth sacrifice.
Ver. 4. Sacrifice. Gr. adds, "of praise." H. — This was the true spirit of the law. C.
35:5 Beneplacitum est Domino recedere ab iniquitate : et deprecatio pro peccatis recedere ab injustitia.
To depart from iniquity is that which pleaseth the Lord, and to depart from injustice, is an entreaty for sins.
* Footnote * Jeremias 7 : 3
Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Make your ways and your doings good: and I will dwell with you in this place.* Footnote * Jeremias 26 : 13
Now therefore amend your ways, and your doings, and hearken to the voice of the Lord your God: and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath spoken against you.
35:6 Non apparebis ante conspectum Domini vacuus :
*H Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of the Lord.
Ver. 6. Lord. The poor, who present a virtuous heart, are more acceptable than the rich, who are buried in sin, though the latter may offer the most splendid sacrifices. H. — God requires that all should do according to their abilities. If they have nothing, they must fulfil the commandments, and he will be satisfied. Some have inferred from Ex. xxiii. 16. that the poor were rejected. But the meaning of the law is here explained. C.
* Footnote * Exodus 23 : 15
Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month of new corn, when thou didst come forth out of Egypt: thou shalt not appear empty before me.* Footnote * Exodus 34 : 20
The firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep: but if thou wilt not give a price for it, it shall be slain. The firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem: neither shalt thou appear before me empty.* Footnote * Deuteronomy 16 : 16
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. No one shall appear with his hands empty before the Lord:
35:7 haec enim omnia propter mandatum Dei fiunt.
For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of God.
35:8 Oblatio justi impinguat altare, et odor suavitatis est in conspectu Altissimi.
The oblation of the just maketh the altar fat, and is an odour of sweetness in the sight of the most High.
35:9 Sacrificium justi acceptum est, et memoriam ejus non obliviscetur Dominus.
The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will not forget the memorial thereof.
35:10 Bono animo gloriam redde Deo, et non minuas primitias manuum tuarum.
*H Give glory to God with a good heart: and diminish not the firstfruits of thy hands.
Ver. 10. Heart. Lit. "mind." Gr. "eye," (H.) free from avarice. 2 Cor. ix. 7.
35:11 In omni dato hilarem fac vultum tuum, et in exsultatione sanctifica decimas tuas.
*H In every gift shew a cheerful countenance, and sanctify thy tithes with joy.
Ver. 11. Sanctify: "set apart" for the use of the ministers, and of the temple. C. — God will reward thee much more. W.
* Footnote * 2_Corinthians 9 : 7
Every one as he hath determined in his heart, not with sadness or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
35:12 Da Altissimo secundum datum ejus, et in bono oculo adinventionem facito manuum tuarum,
Give to the most High according to what he hath given to thee, and with a good eye do according to the ability of thy hands:
35:13 quoniam Dominus retribuens est, et septies tantum reddet tibi.
For the Lord maketh recompense, and will give thee seven times as much.
35:14 Noli offerre munera prava, non enim suscipiet illa.
*H Do not offer wicked gifts, for such he will not receive.
Ver. 14. Wicked; defective. Lev. xxii. 21. Mal. i. 7. Gr. "curtailed, or ill-acquired," (C.) or "do not bribe" God; ( δοροκοπει. Grot.) as the word is used 2 Mac. God will not regard our gifts, to let our offences escape punishment. Is. xlii. 1. C.
* Footnote * Leviticus 22 : 21
The man that offereth a victim of peace offerings to the Lord, either paying his vows, or offering of his own accord, whether of beeves or of sheep, shall offer it without blemish, that it may be acceptable. There shall be no blemish in it.* Footnote * Deuteronomy 15 : 21
But if it have a blemish, or be lame, or blind, or in any part disfigured or feeble, it shall not be sacrificed to the Lord thy God.
35:15 Et noli inspicere sacrificum injustum, quoniam Dominus judex est, et non est apud illum gloria personae.
And look not upon an unjust sacrifice, for the Lord is judge, and there is not with him respect of person.
* Footnote * Deuteronomy 10 : 17
Because the Lord your God he is the God of gods, and the Lord of lords, a great God and mighty and terrible, who accepteth no person nor taketh bribes.* Footnote * 2_Paralipomenon 19 : 7
Let the fear of the Lord be with you, and do all things with diligence: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor desire of gifts.* Footnote * Job 34 : 19
Who accepteth not the persons of princes: nor hath regarded the tyrant, when he contended against the poor man: for all are the work of his hands.* Footnote * Wisdom 6 : 8
For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he hath equally care of all.* Footnote * Romans 2 : 11
For there is no respect of persons with God.* Footnote * Galatians 2 : 6
But of them who seemed to be some thing, (what they were some time it is nothing to me, God accepteth not the person of man): for to me they that seemed to be some thing added nothing.* Footnote * Colossians 3 : 25
For he that doth wrong shall receive for that which he hath done wrongfully. And there is no respect of persons with God.* Footnote * Acts 10 : 34
And Peter opening his mouth, said: in very deed I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons.* Footnote * 1_Peter 1 : 17
And if you invoke as Father him who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every one's work: converse in fear during the time of your sojourning here.
35:16 Non accipiet Dominus personam in pauperem, et deprecationem laesi exaudiet.
The Lord will not accept any person against a poor man, and he will hear the prayer of him that is wronged.
35:17 Non despiciet preces pupilli, nec viduam, si effundat loquelam gemitus.
He will not despise the prayers of the fatherless: nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint.
35:18 Nonne lacrimae viduae ad maxillam descendunt, et exclamatio ejus super deducentem eas ?
Do not the widow's tears run down the cheek, and her cry against him that causeth them to fall?
35:19 A maxilla enim ascendunt usque ad caelum, et Dominus exauditor non delectabitur in illis.
*H For from the cheek they go up even to heaven, and the Lord that heareth will not be delighted with them.
Ver. 19. For, &c. is not in Greek. God will protect the defenceless. H.
35:20 Qui adorat Deum in oblectatione suscipietur, et deprecatio illius usque ad nubes propinquabit.]
He that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer shall approach even to the clouds.
35:21 [Oratio humiliantis se nubes penetrabit, et donec propinquet non consolabitur, et non discedet donec Altissimus aspiciat.
*H The prayer of him that humbleth himself, shall pierce the clouds: and till it come nigh he will not be comforted: and he will not depart till the most High behold.
Ver. 21. He, or "it." C. — Prayer is personified, and presents itself before God.
35:22 Et Dominus non elongabit : et judicabit justos, et faciet judicium : et Fortissimus non habebit in illis patientiam, ut contribulet dorsum ipsorum :
*H And the Lord will not be slack, but will judge for the just, and will do judgment: and the Almighty will not have patience with them, that he may crush their back:
Ver. 22. Them, the Gentiles, &c. v. 23. Gr. "will not delay to punish them, till he crush the loins of the unmerciful. And," &c. H.
35:23 et gentibus reddet vindictam, donec tollat plenitudinem superborum, et sceptra iniquorum contribulet :
*H And he will repay vengeance to the Gentiles, till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptres of the unjust,
Ver. 23. Unjust Egyptians, Syrians, and Greeks, who then oppressed the Jews.
35:24 donec reddat hominibus secundum actus suos, et secundum opera Adae, et secundum praesumptionem illius :
*H Till he have rendered to men according to their deeds: and according to the works of Adam, and according to his presumption,
Ver. 24. Adam, who was not spared. C. — Gr. "of men and their desires." H. — Our version seems to be taken from the Heb. D. — Adam sometimes denotes any man. M.
35:25 donec judicet judicium plebis suae, et oblectabit justos misericordia sua.
Till he have judged the cause of his people, and he shall delight the just with his mercy.
35:26 Speciosa misericordia Dei in tempore tribulationis, quasi nubes pluviae in tempore siccitatis.]
*H The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of affliction, as a cloud of rain in the time of drought.
Ver. 26. The. Gr. "mercy is beautiful," &c. Ps. ix. 10. H.