And thou mourn at the last, when thou shalt have spent thy flesh and thy body, and say;
וְנָהַמְתָּ֥ בְאַחֲרִיתֶ֑ךָ בִּכְל֥וֹת בְּ֝שָׂרְךָ֗ וּשְׁאֵרֶֽךָ׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The instructor reiterates to his young disciples the wise counsel of his parents, cautioning them against the allure of foreign wives, while encouraging them to seek joy and love within their own families. He emphasizes that they should pursue this path without reservation, for before God, all of a man's actions are visible, and any departure from His commands carries severe consequences.
When the physical form of your body has become frail, you may find yourself pondering how you could despise the discipline intended to instruct you, while your heart turns away from correction. In addition to the external miseries already referenced, there will arise an inner anguish stemming from a late realization of your faults. Amidst the revelry of indulgence, the gentle whispers of conscience and wisdom went unheeded. However, a day will come when the life of moral recklessness can no longer be sustained as the body, weary from excess and the ailments linked to it, succumbs to fatigue, and the fervor of sinful desires wanes.
At that moment, one will be compelled to confront the truth, acknowledging their wrongdoing and irrationality, while simultaneously recognizing the irretrievability of what has been lost—be it health or wealth. The necessity will emerge to reflect: How could I have abhorred the very suffering meant for my correction, while my heart turned away from all reproach? How did I descend into such folly, despising the loving advice of those who wished me well, treating them with bitterness? I was intolerant of anyone attempting to interfere in my life. There was a time when, after taking a careless step, I still had the chance to pause and refrain from pursuing further down the path of sin. Friends and family—my neighbors, my parents, my spouse—warned me against my misconduct, but my heart was so hard that their rebukes failed to penetrate. I could not bear the truthful voice of admonition or heed the warnings which, in due course, materialized as reality. Those days when I could have avoided the impending calamity are gone, beyond my reach; all that remains is the bitter regret of what cannot be undone.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS