Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) — Chapter 34
Chapter 34 condemns trust in dreams and divination (vv. 1-8), then praises the value of travel and experience as sources of practical wisdom (vv. 9-13), and gives a beautiful exposition of the hope and security of those who fear God (vv. 14-20). The chapter concludes with a powerful section condemning sacrifices made from robbery of the poor (vv. 21-31).
Verse 1
The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful; and dreams lift up fools. Dreams and vain hopes deceive the foolish. Lapide conducts a systematic analysis of the three types of dreams (natural, diabolical, and divine) and establishes the principles for discerning when dreams may be trusted and when they must be ignored.
Verse 9
He that hath not been tempted, what manner of things doth he know? A man that hath much experience shall think of many things; and he that hath learned many things shall shew forth understanding. Experience and temptation are the great teachers: the untested man knows little. Lapide treats this as Siracides' personal testimony (vv. 12-13 speaking of his own travels and dangers).
Verse 14
The spirit of those that fear God is sought after, and by His regard shall be blessed. The spirit of the God-fearing is precious to God, who actively watches over it. Lapide expounds verses 14-20 as a systematic theology of divine Providence for those who trust in God.
Verse 16
He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid; for the Lord is His hope. The perfect fearlessness of the man who truly fears God alone. Lapide cites Gregory, Bernard, and Augustine on the paradox that the greater our fear of God, the less we fear all other things.
Verse 21
The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable. Sacrifices made from stolen goods are rejected and mocked by God. Lapide quotes Ambrose and Augustine: \"God does not accept sacrifice from robbery; offer what is your own, not what belongs to another.\"
Verse 24
Who offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the sight of his father. Offering to God what was robbed from the poor is compared to slaughtering a man's son before his eyes. Lapide treats this as the most severe condemnation in the chapter: such sacrifice is not piety but sacrilegious injustice.
Verse 30
He that is baptized from a dead man, and toucheth him again, what doth his washing profit him? He who repents and then returns to sin is like one who washes from contact with a corpse but immediately touches it again. Lapide applies this to repeated sin after repeated sacramental absolution, teaching the need for a firm purpose of amendment.