God created man of the earth, and made him after his own image.2 And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with strength according to himself.3 He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power over all things that are upon the earth.4 He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion over beasts and fowls.5 He created of him a helpmate like to himself: he gave them counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: and he filled them with the knowledge of understanding.6 He created in them the science of the spirit, he filled their heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil.7 He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the greatness of his works:8 That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and glory in his wondrous acts, that they might declare the glorious things of his works.9 Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life for an inheritance.10 He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed them his justice and judgments.11 And their eye saw the majesty of his glory. and their ears heard his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity.12 And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his neighbour.13 Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from his eyes.14 Over every nation he set a ruler.15 And Israel was made the manifest portion of God.
And made. This is transposed in Greek to the end of the third verse. (Haydock) — The creation of other things had been specified before. Man was designed to be immortal, and was made like to God in his soul, which is spiritual, intelligent, &c. But sin caused his days to be shortened. (Calmet) — By original sin, he lost the justice which he had at first received. (Worthington)
Life. The observance of which will insure life both now and for ever, Romans x. 5. This was the peculiar privilege of Israel, (Calmet) though the natural law had the same effect, and God had left none without sufficient light. (Haydock) — The law was for a trial of obedience, Genesis ii. (Worthington)
Eyes. He conducted them in the pillar, and always watched over them. Roman Greek adds, “their ways are bent on evils from youth, and he could not.” Complutensian, “for every man is bent on evils from youth, and they could not from stony hearts make them fleshy, (Ezechiel xxxvi. 26.; Calmet) for in the division of the nations of all the earth ( 14. ) over,” &c. (Grabe)
God. Complutensian adds, “he nourishes him as his first-born with instruction, and dividing the light of love, he does not abandon him.” (Haydock) — But the Roman edition agrees with us. God declared himself king of Israel, (Calmet) and its guardian, while he intrusted other nations to angels. (Origen; St. Augustine; Psalm cxxxviii.; Glossa.; Deuteronomy xxxii. 8.)
As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him:14 For he knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust:15 Man’s days are as grass, as the flower of the field so shall he flourish.16 For the spirit shall pass in him, and he shall not be: and he shall know his place no more.17 But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear him: And his justice unto children’s children,18 To such as keep his covenant, And are mindful of his commandments to do them.
Our life on earth, brothers, is such that our existence is very transitory. We play, as it were, a game on earth: we do not exist, and we are born, and being born we are dissolved. We are like a fleeting dream, an apparition without substance, the flight of a bird that passes, a ship that leaves no trace on the sea. We are dust, a vapor, the morning dew, a flower growing but a moment and withering in a moment. "[A] man's days are as grass: as the flower of the field, so shall he flourish." Beautifully has blessed David meditated on our weakness. Again he says, "Declare to me how few are my days." He defines the days of humankind as the measure of a handbreadth. What would you say to Jeremiah, who, complaining of his birth, even blames his mother, and that, for the failings of others? "I have seen everything," says Ecclesiastes. I have reviewed in my mind all human things, wealth, luxury, power, glory that is not stable, wisdom that eludes us more often that it is mastered.
And they brought to him young children, that he might touch them. And the disciples rebuked them that brought them.14 Whom when Jesus saw, he was much displeased, and saith to them: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.15 Amen I say to you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter into it.16 And embracing them, and laying his hands upon them, he blessed them.
(Matt. tom. xv. 7) If any of those who profess to hold the office of teaching1 in the Church should see a person bringing to them some of the foolish of this world, and low born, and weak, who for this reason are called children and infants, let him not forbid the man who offers such an one to the Saviour, as though he were acting without judgment. After this He exhorts those of His disciples who are already grown to full stature to condescend to be useful to children, that they may become to children as children, that they may gain children; for He Himself, when He was in the form of God, humbled Himself, and became a child. On which He adds: For of such is the kingdom of heaven. (1 Cor. 9:22)
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)