Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) — Chapter 44

Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation. The opening of the Hymn of the Fathers: Siracides calls the community to recall its heroes of faith. Lapide cites Origen: \"The virtues of saints shine for all like luminaries, giving the form of good life to all under heaven.\"

Men rich in virtue, studying the beauty of things, living at peace in their houses. The multiform glory of the just: warriors, wise men, prophets, rulers, poets, composers, and peaceable householders are all included in the canon of praise. Lapide notes that every human vocation, well exercised in the fear of God, is a form of human greatness.

And there are some of whom there is no memorial; who are perished as if they had never been, and are become as if they had never been born. Those of whom no memory remains—the forgotten just. Lapide uses this soberly to motivate the writing of sacred history and the cultivation of good works that leave lasting spiritual traces.

But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed: their good things continue with their seed. The truly merciful whose holiness endures in their posterity: they are remembered by God even when forgotten by men. Lapide treats the mercy of the saints as generating a spiritual heredity that continues through their disciples and children.

Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations. Henoch's translation to paradise is interpreted by Lapide as a divine commissioning for the future role of Enoch in the Last Days. Lapide follows the tradition (Mal. 4:5; Rev. 11) that Henoch and Elijah will return as witnesses before the Second Coming.

Noe was found perfect and just, and in the time of wrath was made a reconciliation. Noah is the paradigm of righteousness amid universal wickedness—preserved by God to become the second father of the human race. Lapide expounds the typology of the Ark as a figure of the Church and of Noah as a figure of Christ.

Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and there was none found like to him in glory, who kept the law of the Most High. Abraham's unique glory: he was found faithful across all ten trials, kept the natural law, and entered covenant with God. Lapide cites the rabbinic tradition of Abraham's ten trials as the background for this praise.

Therefore God promised him by an oath that the nations should be blessed in his seed; that He would multiply him as the dust of the earth. The Abrahamic promise of universal blessing is expounded both literally (multiplication of physical descendants) and spiritually (all nations blessed in Christ, Abraham's supreme seed—Gal. 3:16). Lapide treats this as one of the most important prophetic promises in the entire Old Testament.