Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) — Chapter 2

Son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice and fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation. Lapide teaches that Siracides follows the order of the Decalogue, beginning with God and His worship. Three precepts are given: serve God, stand in justice and fear, and prepare for the inevitable trials of a godly life. Lapide cites the persecution of the Jews under Ptolemy Lagi as the immediate historical occasion.

Humble thy heart, and endure; incline thine ear, and receive the words of understanding. Lapide treats this as containing multiple remedies: depression of heart (humility), patience, listening to wise counsel, and not being hasty in time of affliction. He cites St. Paula's practice of arming herself with Scripture verses against each temptation.

Wait on God with patience; join thyself to God, and endure, that thy life may increase in the latter end. The sixth remedy against temptation is to cleave to God like glue (Greek \"conglutinare\"): those who fly to God in trial soar above it, while those who seek human help sink like fish. Life (grace and merit) increases after trial endured faithfully.

Accept whatsoever is brought upon thee, and bear pain with patience in the vicissitude of thine humiliation. The seventh remedy is resignation to God's will, accepting suffering from His hand as from Father, Doctor, and Lord. Lapide explains \"humiliation\" (Hebrew \"ana\") as meaning affliction itself; Job is the model of this virtue.

For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. Temptation is the divine furnace: gold (the patient) is purified, while chaff (the impatient) is burned away. Lapide cites Augustine's beautiful allegory of the wine-press as the Church under trial, pressing out the pure wine of grace from the grapes of tribulation.

Believe God, and He will recover thee; and direct thy way, and trust in Him. Keep His fear, and grow old therein. The eighth remedy is firm faith and trust in God. The addition \"Keep His fear and grow old therein\" (absent from Greek) is the ninth remedy: persevering fear is the Christian's sword, book, and pharmacy—all equipment for the spiritual life. Lapide cites Psalm 90 as the classic text on divine protection for those who trust.

Ye that fear the Lord, wait for His mercy, and go not aside from Him lest ye fall. Beginning the second part, Lapide notes that abandonment of God's service leads inevitably to ruin. The first reason to persist: to leave God is to fall. Lapide cites Chrysostom that even sinners who hold the anchor of hope remain indestructible.

Ye that fear the Lord, believe Him, and your reward shall not be made void. Perseverance preserves the merit of all good works; apostasy (citing Ezek. 18) evacuates all prior merit. Lapide emphasizes that the reward of eternal life is guaranteed to those who maintain faith and persist in God's service to the end.

Ye that fear the Lord, hope in Him, and mercy shall come to you for your delight. The third fruit of hope in God is mercy—God's tender care flowing to those who trust Him. Lapide connects hope with the preceding faith and the following charity, noting this verse addresses the theological virtue of hope directly.

Ye that fear the Lord, love Him, and your hearts shall be enlightened. (Absent from Greek.) Lapide follows Rabanus: the three theological virtues—faith (v.8), hope (v.9), and charity (v.10)—are addressed in order, each bringing its own reward. Through charity the heart is enlightened for contemplation of the Trinity.

Consider the generations of old, and see: did ever any one trust in the Lord and was confounded? Lapide calls readers to survey history: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the Maccabees—all who hoped in God were delivered. He cites Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews as a parallel catalogue of faith's heroes.

Or did any abide in His commandment and was forsaken? or who did call upon Him and He despised him? Even sinners who hold fast to hope are made impregnable (Chrysostom). Lapide notes that no sincere call upon God has ever gone unanswered in all of sacred history.

For God is compassionate and merciful, and in the day of tribulation is forgiving, and is a Protector to all that seek Him in truth. Lapide cites the Syriac version showing God \"hears the voice of works done according to His will.\" Divine mercy is the foundation of all hope; God is never deaf to those who seek Him sincerely.

Woe to them with a double heart and to wicked lips, and to evil hands, and to the sinner that goeth on the earth two ways. Lapide lists four types of double-heartedness: diffidence dividing hope between God and creatures; hypocrisy; levity and inconstancy; and serving God and mammon simultaneously. The historical context is the Samaritans' schismatic temple at Gerizim, drawing Jews to divided worship.

Woe to the dissolved in heart, who believe not God; and therefore they shall not be protected by Him. Those who are lax and tepid in faith, unstable under trial, forfeit God's protection. Lapide gives the example of St. Francis Xavier's firmness in the Japan mission, recognizing that diabolical opposition to fruitful works must be resisted with steadfast trust.

Woe to them that have lost patience, and that have forsaken the right ways, and have gone aside into crooked ways. Spoken primarily of Jews who, under Ptolemy Lagi's prolonged persecution, lost patience and apostatized to paganism. Lapide applies this also to all who abandon the right path under the pressure of suffering.

And what will they do, when the Lord shall begin to examine? Lapide explains this as metalepsis: \"examination/inspection\" implies judgment and punishment. Woe to those who live without accountability to God's omniscient scrutiny.

They that fear the Lord will not be incredulous to His word; and they that love Him will keep His ways. Those who fear and love God obey His commandments. Lapide cites Bernard: \"Learn from Christ how to love Christ—sweetly, prudently, strongly; lest we be deceived, deflected, or overcome.\"

They that fear the Lord will seek the things that are well pleasing to Him; and they that love Him shall be filled with His law. The God-fearing meditate on His law day and night (Ps. 1), constantly inquiring what is God's good, pleasing, and perfect will (Rom. 12). This is the fruit of the fear of the Lord.

They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and in His sight will sanctify their souls. Interior preparation and sanctification before God characterizes those who truly fear Him. Lapide notes this disposition must precede all prayer and action.

They that fear the Lord, keep His commandments, and will have patience even until His visitation. Perseverance in God's commandments until the day of divine visitation (death and judgment) is the mark of authentic fear. Lapide emphasizes that patient fidelity to the end is what distinguishes true servants from apostates.

Saying: If we do not penance we shall fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men. Those who fear God prefer to fall into His merciful hands rather than those of men; they embrace penance willingly. Lapide comments on the wisdom of anticipating God's judgment through voluntary satisfaction.

For according to His greatness, so also is His mercy with Him. God's mercy is infinite, proportionate to His infinite greatness. Lapide concludes: the immensity of divine mercy is the final encouragement for all who seek Him through penance and perseverance.