Wisdom 3:1-8
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, and their departure was taken for misery; and their going away from us for utter destruction: but they are in peace. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of Himself. As gold in the furnace He hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust He hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them. The just shall shine; and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign forever.
Haydock
Verse 1. Of death, is not in Sept. During life the just are protected by God, (Lu. xii. 7.) and still more in death. This passage is very applicable to martyrs. C. — Temporal death is to the just the road to happiness, where they shall not incur damnation, or the torment of death. Though the martyrs seem to be utterly destroyed, they pass to joys eternal and unspeakable. W.
Verse 2. Die. In this the wicked are not under a mistake; but they err when they suppose that the just shall be no more. If the hopes of the pious where confined to this world, they would be the most miserable of all. 1 Cor. xv. 19. C.
Verse 6. Holocaust. The sufferings (M.) which they have voluntarily endured, cause them to be pleasing to God. H. Zac. xiii. 9. — Time of judgment, or of death. C. — Sept. “at the time of their visitation, they shall shine, and,” &c. v. 7. Matt. xiii. 43. H. Zac. xii. 6.
Verse 8. Judge. All the just shall approve of God’s condemning the wicked. W. — They shall be invested with power, (Apoc. ii. 26. Matthew xix. 28.) which, like that of Christ, will be of a spiritual nature, (H.) and will appear most terrible at the last day. Matt. xxviii. 18. Apoc. xix. 6. C.