Day 200: Sirach 35 - 39

(ECCLESIASTICUS, OR THE WISDOM OF JESUS, SON OF SIRACH)

Chapter 35

1: One who keeps the law makes many offerings;
2: one who heeds the commandments makes an offering of well-being.
3: One who returns a kindness offers choice flour,
4: and one who gives alms sacrifices a thank-offering.
5: To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord, and to forsake unrighteousness is an atonement.
6: Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,
7: for all that you offer is in fulfilment of the commandment.
8: The offering of the righteous enriches the altar, and its pleasing odour rises before the Most High.
9: The sacrifice of the righteous is acceptable, and it will never be forgotten.
10: Be generous when you worship the Lord, and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.
11: With every gift show a cheerful face, and dedicate your tithe with gladness.
12: Give to the Most High as he has given to you, and as generously as you can afford.
13: For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold.
14: Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it;
15: and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him there is no partiality.
16: He will not show partiality to the poor; but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.
17: He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan, or the widow when she pours out her complaint.
18: Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek
19: as she cries out against the one who causes them to fall?
20: One whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, and his prayer will reach to the clouds.
21: The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and it will not rest until it reaches its goal; it will not desist until the Most High responds
22: and does justice to the righteous, and executes judgement. Indeed, the Lord will not delay, and like a warrior will not be patient until he crushes the loins of the unmerciful
23: and repays vengeance on the nations; until he destroys the multitude of the insolent, and breaks the sceptres of the unrighteous;
24: until he repays mortals according to their deeds, and the works of all according to their thoughts;
25: until he judges the case of his people and makes them rejoice in his mercy.
26: His mercy is as welcome in time of distress as clouds of rain in time of drought.

Chapter 36

1: Have mercy upon us, O God of all,
2: and put all the nations in fear of you.
3: Lift up your hand against foreign nations and let them see your might.
4: As you have used us to show your holiness to them, so use them to show your glory to us.
5: Then they will know, as we have known, that there is no God but you, O Lord.
6: Give new signs, and work other wonders;
7: make your hand and right arm glorious.
8: Rouse your anger and pour out your wrath;
9: destroy the adversary and wipe out the enemy.
10: Hasten the day, and remember the appointed time, and let people recount your mighty deeds.
11: Let survivors be consumed in the fiery wrath, and may those who harm your people meet destruction.
12: Crush the heads of hostile rulers who say, ‘There is no one but ourselves.’
13: Gather all the tribes of Jacob,

(Owing to a dislocation in the Greek mss of Sirach, the verse numbers 14 and 15 are not used in chapter 36, though no text is missing)

16: and give them their inheritance, as at the beginning.
17: Have mercy, O Lord, on the people called by your name, on Israel, whom you have named your firstborn,
18: Have pity on the city of your sanctuary, Jerusalem, the place of your dwelling.
19: Fill Zion with your majesty, and your temple with your glory.
20: Bear witness to those whom you created in the beginning, and fulfil the prophecies spoken in your name.
21: Reward those who wait for you and let your prophets be found trustworthy.
22: Hear, O Lord, the prayer of your servants, according to your goodwill towards your people, and all who are on the earth will know that you are the Lord, the God of the ages.
23: The stomach will take any food, yet one food is better than another.
24: As the palate tastes the kinds of game, so an intelligent mind detects false words.
25: A perverse mind will cause grief, but a person with experience will pay him back.
26: A woman will accept any man as a husband, but one girl is preferable to another.
27: A woman’s beauty lights up a man’s face, and there is nothing he desires more.
28: If kindness and humility mark her speech, her husband is more fortunate than other men.
29: He who acquires a wife gets his best possession, a helper fit for him and a pillar of support.
30: Where there is no fence, the property will be plundered; and where there is no wife, a man will become a fugitive and a wanderer.
31: For who will trust a nimble robber that skips from city to city? So who will trust a man that has no nest, but lodges wherever night overtakes him?

Chapter 37

1: Every friend says, ‘I too am a friend’; but some friends are friends only in name.
2: Is it not a sorrow like that for death itself when a dear friend turns into an enemy?
3: O inclination to evil, why were you formed to cover the land with deceit?
4: Some companions rejoice in the happiness of a friend, but in time of trouble they are against him.
5: Some companions help a friend for their stomachs’ sake, yet in battle they will carry his shield.
6: Do not forget a friend during the battle, and do not be unmindful of him when you distribute your spoils.
7: All counsellors praise the counsel they give, but some give counsel in their own interest.
8: Be wary of a counsellor, and learn first what is his interest, for he will take thought for himself. He may cast the lot against you
9: and tell you, ‘Your way is good’, and then stand aside to see what happens to you.
10: Do not consult one who regards you with suspicion; hide your intentions from those who are jealous of you.
11: Do not consult with a woman about her rival or with a coward about war, with a merchant about business or with a buyer about selling, with a miser about generosity or with the merciless about kindness, with an idler about any work or with a seasonal labourer about completing his work, with a lazy servant about a big task - pay no attention to any advice they give.
12: But associate with a godly person whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, who is like-minded with yourself, and who will grieve with you if you fail.
13: And heed the counsel of your own heart, for no one is more faithful to you than it is.
14: For our own mind sometimes keeps us better informed than seven sentinels sitting high on a watch-tower.
15: But above all pray to the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.
16: Discussion is the beginning of every work, and counsel precedes every undertaking.
17: The mind is the root of all conduct;
18: it sprouts four branches, good and evil, life and death; and it is the tongue that continually rules them.
19: Some people may be clever enough to teach many, and yet be useless to themselves.
20: A skilful speaker may be hated; he will be destitute of all food,
21: for the Lord has withheld the gift of charm, since he is lacking in all wisdom.
22: If a person is wise to his own advantage, the fruits of his good sense will be praiseworthy.
23: A wise person instructs his own people, and the fruits of his good sense will endure.
24: A wise person will have praise heaped upon him, and all who see him will call him happy.
25: The days of a person’s life are numbered, but the days of Israel are without number.
26: One who is wise among his people will inherit honour, and his name will live forever.
27: My child, test yourself while you live; see what is bad for you and do not give in to it.
28: For not everything is good for everyone, and no one enjoys everything.
29: Do not be greedy for every delicacy, and do not eat without restraint;
30: for overeating brings sickness, and gluttony leads to nausea.
31: Many have died of gluttony, but one who guards against it prolongs his life.

Chapter 38

1: Honour physicians for their services, for the Lord created them;
2: for their gift of healing comes from the Most High, and they are rewarded by the king.
3: The skill of physicians makes them distinguished, and in the presence of the great they are admired.
4: The Lord created medicines out of the earth, and the sensible will not despise them.
5: Was not water made sweet with a tree in order that its power might be known?
6: And he gave skill to human beings that he might be glorified in his marvellous works.
7: By them the physician heals and takes away pain;
8: the pharmacist makes a mixture from them. God’s works will never be finished; and from him health spreads over all the earth.
9: My child, when you are ill, do not delay, but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.
10: Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly, and cleanse your heart from all sin.
11: Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial portion of choice flour, and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford.
12: Then give the physician his place, for the Lord created him; do not let him leave you, for you need him.
13: There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians,
14: for they too pray to the Lord that he will grant them success in diagnosis and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.
15: He who sins against his Maker will be defiant towards the physician
16: My child, let your tears fall for the dead, and as one in great pain begin the lament.
Lay out the body with due ceremony, and do not neglect the burial.
17: Let your weeping be bitter and your wailing fervent; make your mourning worthy of the departed, for one day, or two, to avoid criticism; then be comforted for your grief.
18: For grief may result in death, and a sorrowful heart saps one’s strength.
19: When a person is taken away, sorrow is over; but the life of the poor weighs down the heart.
20: Do not give your heart to grief; drive it away, and remember your own end.
21: Do not forget there is no coming back; you do the dead no good, and you injure yourself.
22: Remember his fate, for yours is like it; yesterday it was his, and today it is yours.
23: When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest too, and be comforted for him when his spirit has departed.
24: The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure; only the one who has little business can become wise.
25: How can one become wise who handles the plough, and who glories in the shaft of a goad, who drives oxen and is occupied with their work, and whose talk is about bulls?
26: He sets his heart on ploughing furrows, and he is careful about fodder for the heifers.
27: So it is with every artisan and master artisan who labours by night as well as by day; those who cut the signets of seals, each is diligent in making a great variety; they set their heart on painting a lifelike image, and they are careful to finish their work.
28: So it is with the smith, sitting by the anvil, intent on his ironwork; the breath of the fire melts his flesh, and he struggles with the heat of the furnace; the sound of the hammer deafens his ears, and his eyes are on the pattern of the object. He sets his heart on finishing his handiwork, and he is careful to complete its decoration.
29: So it is with is the potter sitting at his work and turning the wheel with his feet; he is always deeply concerned over his products, and he produces them in quantity.
30: He moulds the clay with his arm and makes it pliable with his feet; he sets his heart on finishing the glazing, and he takes care in firing the kiln.
31: All these rely on their hands, and all are skilful in their own work.
32: Without them no city can be inhabited, and wherever they live, they will not go hungry. Yet they are not sought out for the council of the people,
33: nor do they attain eminence in the public assembly. They do not sit in the judge’s seat, nor do they understand the decisions of the courts; they cannot expound discipline or judgement, and they are not found among the rulers.
34: But they maintain the fabric of the world, and their concern is for the exercise of their trade. How different the one who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High!

Chapter 39

1: He seeks out the wisdom of all the ancients, and is concerned with prophecies;
2: he preserves the sayings of the famous and penetrates the subtleties of parables;
3: he seeks out the hidden meanings of proverbs and is at home with the obscurities of parables.
4: He serves among the great and appears before rulers; he travels in foreign lands and learns what is good and evil in the human lot.
5: He sets his heart on rising early to seek the Lord who made him, and to petition the Most High; he opens his mouth in prayer and asks pardon for his sins.
6: If the great Lord is willing, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.
7: The Lord will direct his counsel and knowledge, as he meditates on his mysteries.
8: He will show the wisdom of what he has learned, and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.
9: Many will praise his understanding; it will never be blotted out. His memory will not disappear, and his name will live through all generations.
10: Nations will speak of his wisdom, and the congregation will proclaim his praise.
11: If he lives long, he will leave a name greater than a thousand, and if he goes to rest, it is enough for him.
12: I have more on my mind to express; I am full like the full moon.
13: Listen to me, my faithful children, and blossom like a rose growing by a stream of water.
14: Send out fragrance like incense, and put forth blossoms like a lily. Scatter the fragrance, and sing a hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all his works.
15: Ascribe majesty to his name and give thanks to him with praise, with songs on your lips, and with harps; this is what you shall say in thanksgiving:
16: ‘All the works of the Lord are very good, and whatever he commands will be done at the appointed time.
17: No one can say, “What is this?” or “Why is that?”- for at the appointed time all such questions will be answered. At his word the waters stood in a heap, and the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth.
18: When he commands, his every purpose is fulfilled, and none can limit his saving power.
19: The works of all are before him, and nothing can be hidden from his eyes.
20: From the beginning to the end of time he can see everything, and nothing is too marvellous for him.
21: No one can say, “What is this?” or “Why is that?” - for everything has been created for its own purpose.
22: ‘His blessing covers the dry land like a river, and drenches it like a flood.
23: But his wrath drives out the nations, as when he turned a watered land into salt.
24: To the faithful his ways are straight, but full of pitfalls for the wicked.
25: From the beginning good things were created for the good, but for sinners, good things and bad.
26: The basic necessities of human life are water and fire and iron and salt and wheat flour and milk and honey, the blood of the grape and oil and clothing.
27: All these are good for the godly, but for sinners they turn into evils.
28: ‘There are winds created for vengeance, and in their anger they can dislodge mountains; on the day of reckoning they will pour out their strength and calm the anger of their Maker.
29: Fire and hail and famine and pestilence, all these have been created for vengeance;
30: the fangs of wild animals and scorpions and vipers, and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction.
31: They take delight in doing his bidding, always ready for his service on earth; and when their time comes they never disobey his command.’
32: So from the beginning I have been convinced of all this and have thought it out and left it in writing:
33: All the works of the Lord are good, and he will supply every need in its time.
34: No one can say, ‘This is not as good as that’, for everything proves good in its appointed time.
35: So now sing praise with all your heart and voice, and bless the name of the Lord.

Day 199: Sirach 30 - 34

(ECCLESIASTICUS, OR THE WISDOM OF JESUS, SON OF SIRACH)

Chapter 30

Concerning Children
1: He who loves his son will whip him often, so that he may rejoice at the way he turns out.
2: He who disciplines his son will profit by him, and will boast of him among acquaintances.
3: He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious, and will glory in him among his friends.
4: When the father dies he will not seem to be dead, for he has left behind him one like himself,
5: whom in his life he looked upon with joy and at death, without grief.
6: He has left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one to repay the kindness of his friends.
7: Whoever spoils his son will bind up his wounds, and will suffer heartache at every cry.
8: An unbroken horse turns out stubborn, and an unchecked son turns out headstrong.
9: Pamper a child, and he will terrorize you; play with him, and he will grieve you.
10: Do not laugh with him, or you will have sorrow with him, and in the end you will gnash your teeth.
11: Give him no freedom in his youth, and do not ignore his errors.
12: Bow down his neck in his youth, and beat his sides while he is young, or else he will become stubborn and disobey you, and you will have sorrow of soul from him.
13: Discipline your son and make his yoke heavy, so that you may not be offended by his shamelessness.
14: Better off poor, healthy, and fit than rich and afflicted in body.
15: Health and fitness are better than any gold, and a robust body than countless riches.
16: There is no wealth better than health of body, and no gladness above joy of heart.
17: Death is better than a life of misery, and eternal sleep than chronic sickness.

Concerning Foods
18: Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed are like offerings of food placed upon a grave.
19: Of what use to an idol is a sacrifice? For it can neither eat nor smell. So is one punished by the Lord;
20: he sees with his eyes and groans as a eunuch groans when embracing a girl.
21: Do not give yourself over to sorrow, and do not distress yourself deliberately.
22: A joyful heart is life itself, and rejoicing lengthens one’s life span.
23: Indulge yourself and take comfort, and remove sorrow far from you, for sorrow has destroyed many, and no advantage ever comes from it.
24: Jealousy and anger shorten life, and anxiety brings on premature old age.
25: Those who are cheerful and merry at table will benefit from their food.

Chapter 31

1: Wakefulness over wealth wastes away one’s flesh, and anxiety about it drives away sleep.
2: Wakeful anxiety prevents slumber, and a severe illness carries off sleep.
3: The rich person toils to amass a fortune, and when he rests he fills himself with his dainties.
4: The poor person toils to make a meagre living, and if ever he rests he becomes needy.
5: One who loves gold will not be justified; one who pursues money will be led astray by it.
6: Many have come to ruin because of gold, and their destruction has met them face to face.
7: It is a stumbling-block to those who are avid for it, and every fool will be taken captive by it.
8: Blessed is the rich person who is found blameless, and who does not go after gold.
9: Who is he, that we may praise him? For he has done wonders among his people.
10: Who has been tested by it and been found perfect? Let it be for him a ground for boasting. Who has had the power to transgress and did not transgress, and to do evil and did not do it?
11: His prosperity will be established, and the assembly will proclaim his acts of charity.
12: Are you seated at the table of the great? Do not be greedy at it, and do not say, ‘How much food there is here!’
13: Remember that a greedy eye is a bad thing. What has been created more greedy than the eye? Therefore it sheds tears for any reason.
14: Do not reach out your hand for everything you see, and do not crowd your neighbour at the dish.
15: Judge your neighbour’s feelings by your own, and in every matter be thoughtful.
16: Eat what is set before you like a well-bred person, and do not chew greedily, or you will give offence.
17: Be the first to stop, as befits good manners, and do not be insatiable, or you will give offence.
18: If you are seated among many others, do not help yourself before they do.
19: How ample a little is for a well-disciplined person! He does not breathe heavily when in bed.
20: Healthy sleep depends on moderate eating; he rises early, and feels fit. The distress of sleeplessness and of nausea and colic are with the glutton.
21: If you are overstuffed with food, get up to vomit, and you will have relief.
22: Listen to me, my child, and do not disregard me, and in the end you will appreciate my words. In everything you do be moderate, and no sickness will overtake you.
23: People bless someone who is liberal with food, and their testimony to his generosity is trustworthy.
24: The city complains of someone who is stingy with food, and their testimony to his stinginess is accurate.
25: Do not try to prove your strength by wine-drinking, for wine has destroyed many.
26: As the furnace tests the work of the smith, so wine tests hearts when the insolent quarrel.
27: Wine is very life to human beings if taken in moderation. What is life to one who is without wine? It has been created to make people happy.
28: Wine drunk at the proper time and in moderation is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul.
29: Wine drunk to excess leads to bitterness of spirit, to quarrels and stumbling.
30: Drunkenness increases the anger of a fool to his own hurt, reducing his strength and adding wounds.
31: Do not reprove your neighbour at a banquet of wine, and do not despise him in his merrymaking; speak no word of reproach to him, and do not distress him by making demands of him.

Chapter 32

1: If they make you master of the feast, do not exalt yourself; be among them as one of their number. Take care of them first and then sit down;
2: when you have fulfilled all your duties, take your place, so that you may be merry along with them and receive a garland for your excellent leadership.
3: Speak, you who are older, for it is your right, but with accurate knowledge, and do not interrupt the music.
4: Where there is entertainment, do not pour out talk; do not display your cleverness at the wrong time.
5: A ruby seal in a setting of gold is a concert of music at a banquet of wine.
6: A seal of emerald in a rich setting of gold is the melody of music with good wine.
7: Speak, you who are young, if you are obliged to, but no more than twice, and only if asked.
8: Be brief; say much in few words; be as one who knows and can still hold his tongue.
9: Among the great do not act as their equal; and when another is speaking, do not babble.
10: Lightning travels ahead of the thunder, and approval goes before one who is modest.
11: Leave in good time and do not be the last; go home quickly and do not linger.
12: Amuse yourself there to your heart’s content, but do not sin through proud speech.
13: But above all bless your Maker, who fills you with his good gifts.
14: One who seeks God will accept his discipline, and those who rise early to seek him will find favour.
15: One who seeks the law will be filled with it, but the hypocrite will stumble at it.
16: Those who fear the Lord will form true judgements, and they will kindle righteous deeds like a light.
17: The sinner will shun reproof, and will find a decision according to his liking.
18: A sensible person will not overlook a thoughtful suggestion; an insolent and proud person will not be deterred by fear.
19: Do nothing without deliberation, but when you have acted, do not regret it.
20: Do not go on a path full of hazards, and do not stumble at an obstacle twice.
21: Do not be overconfident on a smooth road,
22: and give good heed to your paths.
23: Guard yourself in every act, for this is the keeping of the commandments.
24: One who keeps the law preserves himself, and one who trusts the Lord will not suffer loss.

Chapter 33

1: No evil will befall someone who fears the Lord, but in trials such a one will be rescued again and again.
2: The wise will not hate the law, but someone who is hypocritical about it is like a boat in a storm.
3: The sensible person will trust in the law; for such a one the law is as dependable as a divine oracle.
4: Prepare what to say, and then you will be listened to; draw upon your training, and give your answer.
5: The heart of a fool is like a cartwheel, and his thoughts like a turning axle.
6: A mocking friend is like a stallion that neighs no matter who the rider is.
7: Why is one day more important than another, when all the daylight in the year is from the sun?
8: By the Lord’s wisdom they were distinguished, and he appointed the different seasons and festivals.
9: Some days he exalted and hallowed, and some he made ordinary days.
10: All human beings come from the ground, and humankind was created out of the dust.
11: In the fullness of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them and appointed their different ways.
12: Some he blessed and exalted, and some he made holy and brought near to himself; but some he cursed and brought low, and turned them out of their place.
13: Like clay in the hand of the potter, to be moulded as he pleases, so all are in the hand of their Maker, to be given whatever he decides.
14: Good is the opposite of evil, and life the opposite of death; so the sinner is the opposite of the godly.
15: Look at all the works of the Most High; they come in pairs, one the opposite of the other.
16: Now I was the last to keep vigil; I was like a gleaner following the grape-pickers;
17: by the blessing of the Lord I arrived first, and like a grape-picker I filled my wine press.
18: Consider that I have not laboured for myself alone, but for all who seek instruction.
19: Hear me, you who are great among the people, and you leaders of the congregation, pay heed!
20: To son or wife, to brother or friend, do not give power over yourself, as long as you live; and do not give your property to another, in case you change your mind and must ask for it.
21: While you are still alive and have breath in you, do not let anyone take your place.
22: For it is better that your children should ask from you than that you should look to the hand of your children.
23: Excel in all that you do; bring no stain upon your honour.
24: At the time when you end the days of your life, in the hour of death, distribute your inheritance.
25: Fodder and a stick and burdens for a donkey; bread and discipline and work for a slave.
26: Set your slave to work, and you will find rest; leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty.
27: Yoke and thong will bow the neck, and for a wicked slave there are racks and tortures.
28: Put him to work, in order that he may not be idle,
29: for idleness teaches much evil.
30: Set him to work, as is fitting for him, and if he does not obey, make his fetters heavy. Do not be overbearing towards anyone, and do nothing unjust.
31: If you have but one slave, treat him like yourself, because you have bought him with blood. If you have but one slave, treat him like a brother, for you will need him as you need your life.
32: If you ill-treat him, and he leaves you and runs away,
33: which way will you go to seek him?

Chapter 34

1: The senseless have vain and false hopes, and dreams give wings to fools.
2: As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is anyone who believes in dreams.
3: What is seen in dreams is but a reflection, the likeness of a face looking at itself.
4: From an unclean thing what can be clean? And from something false what can be true?
5: Divinations and omens and dreams are unreal, and like a woman in labour, the mind has fantasies.
6: Unless they are sent by intervention from the Most High, pay no attention to them.
7: For dreams have deceived many, and those who put their hope in them have perished.
8: Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled, and wisdom is complete in the mouth of the faithful.
9: An educated person knows many things, and one with much experience knows what he is talking about.
10: An inexperienced person knows few things,
11: but he that has travelled acquires much cleverness.
12: I have seen many things in my travels, and I understand more than I can express.
13: I have often been in danger of death, but have escaped because of these experiences.
14: The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live,
15: for their hope is in him who saves them.
16: Those who fear the Lord will not be timid, or play the coward, for he is their hope.
17: Happy is the soul that fears the Lord!
18: To whom does he look? And who is his support?
19: The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him, a mighty shield and strong support, a shelter from scorching wind and a shade from noonday sun, a guard against stumbling and a help against falling.
20: He lifts up the soul and makes the eyes sparkle; he gives health and life and blessing.
21: If one sacrifices ill-gotten goods, the offering is blemished;
22: the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable.
23: The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly, nor for a multitude of sacrifices does he forgive sins.
24: Like one who kills a son before his father’s eyes is the person who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor.
25: The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of it is a murderer.
26: To take away a neighbour’s living is to commit murder;
27: to deprive an employee of wages is to shed blood.
28: When one builds and another tears down, what do they gain but hard work?
29: When one prays and another curses, to whose voice will the Lord listen?
30: If one washes after touching a corpse, and touches it again, what has been gained by washing?
31: So if someone fasts for his sins, and goes again and does the same things, who will listen to his prayer? And what has he gained by humbling himself?

Day 198: Sirach 25 - 29

 (ECCLESIASTICUS, OR THE WISDOM OF JESUS, SON OF SIRACH)

Chapter 25

Those Who Are Worthy of Praise
1: I take pleasure in three things, and they are beautiful in the sight of God and of mortals: agreement among brothers and sisters, friendship among neighbours, and a wife and husband who live in harmony.
2: I hate three kinds of people, and I loathe their manner of life: a pauper who boasts, a rich person who lies, and an old fool who commits adultery.
3: If you gathered nothing in your youth, how can you find anything in your old age?
4: How attractive is sound judgement in the grey-haired, and for the aged to possess good counsel!
5: How attractive is wisdom in the aged, and understanding and counsel in the venerable!
6: Rich experience is the crown of the aged, and their boast is the fear of the Lord.
7: I can think of nine whom I would call blessed, and a tenth my tongue proclaims: a man who can rejoice in his children; a man who lives to see the downfall of his foes.
8: Happy the man who lives with a sensible wife, and one who does not plough with ox and ass together. Happy is one who does not sin with the tongue, and one who has not served an inferior.
9: Happy is one who finds a friend, and one who speaks to attentive listeners.
10: How great is one who finds wisdom! But none is superior to one who fears the Lord.
11: Fear of the Lord surpasses everything; to whom can we compare one who has it?

Some Extreme Forms of Evil
13: Any wound, but not a wound of the heart! Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a woman!
14: Any suffering, but not suffering from those who hate! And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies!
15: There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom, and no anger worse than a woman’s wrath.

The Evil of a Wicked Woman
16: I would rather live with a lion and a dragon than live with an evil woman.
17: A woman’s wickedness changes her appearance, and darkens her face like that of a bear.
18: Her husband sits among the neighbours, and he cannot help sighing bitterly.
19: Any iniquity is small compared to a woman’s iniquity; may a sinner’s lot befall her!
20: A sandy ascent for the feet of the aged - such is a garrulous wife to a quiet husband.
21: Do not be ensnared by a woman’s beauty, and do not desire a woman for her possessions.
22: There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace when a wife supports her husband.
23: Dejected mind, gloomy face, and wounded heart come from an evil wife. Drooping hands and weak knees come from the wife who does not make her husband happy.
24: From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die.
25: Allow no outlet to water and no boldness of speech to an evil wife.
26: If she does not go as you direct, separate her from yourself.

Chapter 26

The Joy of a Good Wife
1: Happy is the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.
2: A loyal wife brings joy to her husband, and he will complete his years in peace.
3: A good wife is a great blessing; she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord.
4: Whether rich or poor, his heart is content, and at all times his face is cheerful.

The Worst of Evils: A Wicked Wife
5: Of three things my heart is frightened, and of a fourth I am in great fear: Slander in the city, the gathering of a mob, and false accusation - all these are worse than death.
6: But it is heartache and sorrow when a wife is jealous of a rival, and a tongue-lashing makes it known to all.
7: A bad wife is a chafing yoke; taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.
8: A drunken wife arouses great anger; she cannot hide her shame.
9: The haughty stare betrays an unchaste wife; her eyelids give her away.
10: Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter, or else, when she finds liberty, she will make use of it.
11: Be on guard against her impudent eye, and do not be surprised if she sins against you.
12: As a thirsty traveler opens his mouth and drinks from any water near him, so she will sit in front of every tent-peg and open her quiver to the arrow.

The Blessing of a Good Wife
13: A wife’s charm delights her husband, and her skill puts flesh on his bones.
14: A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, and nothing is so precious as her self-discipline.
15: A modest wife adds charm to charm, and no scales can weigh the value of her chastity.
16: Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord, so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.
17: Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand, so is a beautiful face on a stately figure.
18: Like golden pillars on silver bases, so are shapely legs and steadfast feet.

(Other ancient authorities add verses 19:-27)

19: My child, keep sound the bloom of your youth, and do not give your strength to strangers.
20: Seek a fertile field within the whole plain, and sow it with your own seed, trusting in your fine stock.
21: So your offspring will prosper, and, having confidence in their good descent, will grow great.
22: A prostitute is regarded as spittle, and a married woman as a tower of death to her lovers.
23: A godless wife is given as a portion to a lawless man, but a pious wife is given to the man who fears the Lord.
24: A shameless woman constantly acts disgracefully, but a modest daughter will even be embarrassed before her husband.
25: A headstrong wife is regarded as a dog, but one who has a sense of shame will fear the Lord.
26: A wife honouring her husband will seem wise to all, but if she dishonours him in her pride she will be known to all as ungodly. Happy is the husband of a good wife, for the number of his years will be doubled.

Chapter 27

1: Many have committed sin for gain, and those who seek to get rich will avert their eyes.
2: As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones, so sin is wedged in between selling and buying.
3: If a person is not steadfast in the fear of the Lord, his house will be quickly overthrown.
4: When a sieve is shaken, the refuse appears; so do a person’s faults when he speaks.
5: The kiln tests the potter’s vessels; so the test of a person is in his conversation.
6: Its fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so a person’s speech discloses the cultivation of his mind.
7: Do not praise anyone before he speaks, for this is the way people are tested.
8: If you pursue justice, you will attain it and wear it like a glorious robe.
9: Birds roost with their own kind, so honesty comes home to those who practise it.
10: A lion lies in wait for prey; so does sin for evildoers.
11: The conversation of the godly is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon.
12: Among stupid people limit your time, but among thoughtful people linger on.
13: The talk of fools is offensive, and their laughter is wantonly sinful.
14: Their cursing and swearing make one’s hair stand on end, and their quarrels make others stop their ears.
15: The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed and their abuse is grievous to hear.
16: Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence, and will never find a congenial friend.
17: Love your friend and keep faith with him; but if you betray his secrets, do not follow after him.
18: For as a person destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbour.
19: And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand,
so you have let your neighbour go, and will not catch him again.
20: Do not go after him, for he is too far off, and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21: For a wound may be bandaged, and there is reconciliation after abuse, but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope.
22: Whoever winks the eye plots mischief, and those who know him will keep their distance.
23: In your presence his mouth is all sweetness, and he admires your words; but later he will twist his speech and with your own words he will trip you up.
24: I have hated many things, but him above all; even the Lord hates him.
25: Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head, and a treacherous low opens up many wounds.
26: Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever sets a snare will be caught in it.
27: If a person does evil, it will roll back upon him, and he will not know where it came from.
28: Mockery and abuse issue from the proud, but vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.
29: Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare, and pain will consume them before their death.
30: Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, yet a sinner holds on to them.

Chapter 28

1: The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance, for he keeps a strict account of their sins.
2: Forgive your neighbour the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
3: Does anyone harbour anger against another, and expect healing from the Lord?
4: If someone has no mercy towards another like himself, can he then seek pardon for his own sins?
5: If a mere mortal harbours wrath, who will make an atoning sacrifice for his sins?
6: Remember the end of your life, and set enmity aside; remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.
7: Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbour; remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook faults.
8: Refrain from strife, and your sins will be fewer; for the hot-tempered kindle strife,
9: and the sinner disrupts friendships and sows discord among those who are at peace.
10: In proportion to the fuel, so will the fire burn, and in proportion to the obstinacy, so will strife increase; in proportion to a person’s strength will be his anger, and in proportion to his wealth he will increase his wrath.
11: A hasty quarrel kindles a fire, and a hasty dispute sheds blood.
12: If you blow on a spark, it will glow; if you spit on it, it will be put out; yet both come out of your mouth.
13: Curse the gossips and the double-tongued, for they destroy the peace of many.
14: Slander has shaken many, and scattered them from nation to nation; it has destroyed strong cities, and overturned the houses of the great.
15: Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes, and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.
16: Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest, nor will they settle down in peace.
17: The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
18: Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.
19: Happy is one who is protected from it, who has not been exposed to its anger, who has not borne its yoke, and has not been bound with its fetters.
20: For its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its fetters are fetters of bronze;
21: its death is an evil death, and Hades is preferable to it.
22: It has no power over the godly; they will not be burned in its flame.
23: Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power; it will burn among them and will not be put out. It will be sent out against them like a lion; like a leopard it will mangle them.
24a: As you fence in your property with thorns,
25b: so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
24b: As you lock up your silver and gold,
25a: so make balances and scales for your words.
26: Take care not to err with your tongue, and fall victim to one lying in wait.

Chapter 29

1: The merciful lend to their neighbours; by holding out a helping hand they keep the commandments.
2: Lend to your neighbour in his time of need; repay your neighbour when a loan falls due.
3: Keep your promise and be honest with him, and on every occasion you will find what you need.
4: Many regard a loan as a windfall, and cause trouble to those who help them.
5: One kisses another’s hands until he gets a loan, and is deferential in speaking of his neighbour’s money; but at the time for repayment he delays, and pays back with empty promises, and finds fault with the time.
6: If he can pay, his creditor* will hardly get back half, and will regard that as a windfall. If he cannot pay, the borrower has robbed the other of his money, and he has needlessly made him an enemy; he will repay him with curses and reproaches, and instead of glory will repay him with dishonour.
7: Many refuse to lend, not because of meanness, but from fear of being defrauded needlessly.
8: Nevertheless, be patient with someone in humble circumstances, and do not keep him waiting for your alms.
9: Help the poor for the commandment’s sake, and in their need do not send them away empty-handed.
10: Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend, and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost.
11: Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will profit you more than gold.
12: Store up almsgiving in your treasury, and it will rescue you from every disaster;
13: better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear, it will fight for you against the enemy.
14: A good person will be surety for his neighbour, but one who has lost all sense of shame will fail him.
15: Do not forget the kindness of your guarantor, for he has given his life for you.
16: A sinner wastes the property of his guarantor,
17: and the ungrateful person abandons his rescuer.
18: Being surety has ruined many who were prosperous, and has tossed them about like waves of the sea; it has driven the influential into exile, and they have wandered among foreign nations.
19: The sinner comes to grief through surety; his pursuit of gain involves him in lawsuits.
20: Assist your neighbour to the best of your ability, but be careful not to fall yourself.
21: The necessities of life are water, bread, and clothing, and also a house to assure privacy.
22: Better is the life of the poor under their own crude roof than sumptuous food in the house of others.
23: Be content with little or much, and you will hear no reproach for being a guest.
24: It is a miserable life to go from house to house; as a guest you should not open your mouth;
25: you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked, and besides this you will hear rude words like these:
26: ‘Come here, stranger, prepare the table; let me eat what you have there.’
27: ‘Be off, stranger, for an honoured guest is here; my brother has come for a visit, and I need the guest-room.’
28: It is hard for a sensitive person to bear scolding about lodging and the insults of the moneylender.