Bonaventure, on Eccl 7:18

“Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.”

“Here is noted the third instruction, in which he counsels the display of mercy: and he sets forth first the exhortation and then adds the reason. He exhorts, when he says: "It is good for you to support the just one," namely in justice: Proverbs 24: "Do not lie in wait nor seek wickedness in the house of the just, and do not lay waste to his rest"; because it is said in Proverbs 17: "It is not good to inflict harm upon the just, nor to strike the prince who judges rightly." Not only is the just one to be supported in a just cause, but also a hand is to be extended to him through almsgiving: whence he adds: "But also from him do not withdraw your hand": Sirach 12: "Do good to the just, and you will find great recompense: and if not from him, certainly from God." Having thus set forth the exhortation, he adds a threefold reason: and the first is the divine will, on account of which he says: "He who fears God neglects nothing," namely of those things which God wills to be done; Sirach 7: "Fear God with your whole soul, and purge yourself of your negligence with few." Likewise, there is a question about what he says: "He who fears God neglects nothing." But whoever sins neglects something; therefore no one who sins fears God. But "there is no just person who does not sin"; therefore there is no just person who fears God. I respond: it must be said that negligence in one way implies contempt, and thus it is a mortal sin, and thus it is understood here; in another way, it implies any omission of circumstance whatsoever, and thus it is venial, and no one is without it.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.