Wisdom 4:7-14
The just man if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest. For venerable age is not that of long time, nor counted by the number of years; but the understanding of a man is grey hairs. And a spotless life is old age. He pleased God and was beloved, and living among sinners he was translated. He was taken away lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind. Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time. For his soul pleased God: therefore He hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities.
Haydock
Verse 7. Death. He is always ready; but dies in his youth. C. — Whenever death comes, it is for his advantage, and if he depart in his youth, his immaculate life is to be preferred before the old age of the wicked. v. 16. W.
Verse 11. Away. Like Henoch. Gen. v. 24. Heb. xi. 5. C. — “Bad conversations corrupt the best manners.” 1 Cor. xv. 33. Is. lvii. 1. But could not God have supported the just under temptation? Undoubtedly. His judgments are unsearchable. S. Aug. de Præd. xiv. C. — The holy doctor thence proves, that those who die in a just state, might have forfeited it, if they had lived longer. God knew this possibility, and that it would not take place, and his foreknowledge agrees with man’s free-will, which some, inclining to Pelagianism, would controvert. They objected to this authority: and he was therefore obliged to prove that the book of Wisdom is canonical. Ib. W.
Verse 12. Bewitching. Thus the pleasures and goods of the world are well described. For as fascination consists in a delusion of the people, who suppose that their senses are deceived by vain appearances; so it is the mistake of worldlings to believe that the objects of their desires are real goods, and contain no danger.