Et sicut qui dimittit avem de manu sua, sic dereliquisti proximum tuum, et non eum capies.
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 27:21 Commentary
1 historical voiceHow the Church has read Sirach 27:21 across two millennia — Matthew Henry, John Calvin, Augustine of Hippo, John Chrysostom and more, gathered verse by verse from the public domain.
Voices across the centuries
Medieval 1
ON ECCLESIASTICUS 6:7
Treachery is the worst evil, and of difficult remedy. This was shown by the example of Judas the traitor, of whom it was said through the prophet in the psalm, “Even the friend in whom I trusted, even he, who ate my bread, raises his heel against me.” One who despairs in horror at the consciousness of his own sin thinks more of the noose than of the salutary medicine of repentance. This is why it is written about him, “He loved cursing: may it fall on him! He did not want blessing: may it be far from him!”