My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
Read Chapter 7
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Web. Hebrew, "the weaver's shuttle "chap. xvi. 23., and Isaias xxxviii. 12. (Haydock)
The pagans have used the same comparison. But they make the three daughters of Necessity guide the thread of life. (Plato, Rep. xii.; Natal. iii. 6.)
Septuagint, "my life is swifter than speech. "Tetrapla, "than a runner. "(Calmet)
Hope. Heu fugit Ah! time is flying , never to return! (Haydock)
“My days pass more swiftly than the weaving of cloth by the weaver.” In a very suitable image, the time of the flesh is compared with a cloth web. As the web advances thread by thread, so this mortal life passes day by day; in proportion as the web increases, so it advances to its completion. Just as we said before, while the time in our hands passes, the time before us is shortened. Moreover, of the whole length of our lives, the days to come are proportionally fewer to those days that have gone by. - "Morals on the Book of Job 8.26"
26. By a very suitable image the time of the flesh is compared to a web. For as the web advances by threads, so this mortal life by the several days; but in proportion as it grows to its bigness, it is advancing to its cutting off. For as we have also said above, whilst the time in our hands passes, the time before us is shortened. And of the whole space of our lives those portions are rendered fewer that are to come, in proportion as those are many in number that have gone by. For a web, being fastened above and below, is bound to two pieces of wood that it may be woven; but in proportion as below the part woven is rolled up, so above the part that remains to be woven is being unwound, and by the same act, by which it augments itself in growth, that is rendered less which remains. Just so with the periods of our life, we as it were roll up below those that are past, and unwind at top those that are to come, in that in the same proportion that the past become more, the future hav...
