Ecclesiasticus 24:23-31
As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits; for my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations. They that eat me, shall yet hunger; and they that drink me, shall yet thirst. He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded, and they that work by me, shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting.
Haydock
Verse 24. I, &c. Grabe restores this verse, and, instead of the next, has, “but I am given to all my children, being born myself for ever, to those who are specified by him. (26.) Come,” &c. H. — The text seems to be corrupt. C.
Verse 25. Life. Christ declares himself to be, the way, the truth, and the life.
Verse 27. Spirit. Greek, “remembrance.” It has not the following verse.
Verse 29. Thirst. Without being ever disgusted. Jo. iv. 13. C. — Experience of carnal delights is quite the reverse. S. Greg. hom. xxxvi. Ev. — The more grace a person has, the more he desireth and receiveth from God. W.
Verse 30. Sin. Or lose their labour. They shall be directed in the paths of life. C.
Verse 31. They. Gr. “all these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, the law which Moses gave unto us, an inheritance to the synagogues of Jacob.” Grabe puts in a different character from the Compl. “Lose not strength in the Lord, but stick to him, that he may strengthen you. The Lord Almighty is the only God, and there is no other Saviour.” Then follows, (v. 35.) “who,” &c. H. — Everlasting. Provided his life correspond with his doctrine. No occupation can be more glorious. C. — Let thy Scriptures be my chaste delights: let me not be deceived in them, nor deceive others by them. S. Aug. Conf. xi. 2. C. Dan. xii. M.