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The interpretation timeline

Sir 4:10

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

Sir 4:10 · Douay-Rheims
“In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a husband to their mother.”
Scholastic c. 1100 – 1500
1274
A.D.
Bonaventure Medieval
c. A.D. 1221–1274
“You are the image of God; and image is called, as it were, imitage: therefore, if you are truly the image of God, you ought to conform yourself to God in piety. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: "In judging, be merciful to orphans as a father, and as a husband to their mother; and you will be as an obedient son of the Most High, and He will have mercy on you." "In judging," that is, in fostering justice, "be merciful to orphans," namely so that you may truly be a son of the Most High. When the glorious God has compassion on the wretched, why do you not imitate Him? If there were some fountain that caused withered plants to grow green, it would be greatly prized. The soul without piety has withered plants. The river of divine mercy pours itself out most abundantly and causes dead plants to grow green. Is it not necessary that you introduce that river into your soul? But you cannot introduce it except through piety. The first original influence of piety, therefore, is from the uncreated Trinity.”
Source
Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.