Category: SIRACH

The Bible – Old Testament

Sirach

Index

Int. For. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 

22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 

32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.

 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.

Introduction

The Book of Sirach derives its name from the author, Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sirach (⇒ Sirach 50:27). Its earliest title seems to have been “Wisdom of the Son of Sirach.” The designation “Liber Ecclesiasticus,” meaning “Church Book,” appended to some Greek and Latin manuscripts was due to the extensive use which the church made of this book in presenting moral teaching to catechumens and to the faithful.

The author, a sage who lived in Jerusalem, was thoroughly imbued with love for the law, the priesthood, the temple, and divine worship. As a wise and experienced observer of life he addressed himself to his contemporaries with the motive of helping them to maintain religious faith and integrity through study of the holy books, and through tradition.

The book contains numerous maxims formulated with care, grouped by affinity, and dealing with a variety of subjects such as the individual, the family, and the community in their relations with one another and with God. It treats of friendship, education, poverty and wealth, the law, religious worship, and many other matters which reflect the religious and social customs of the time.

Written in Hebrew between 200 and 175 B.C., the text was translated into Greek sometime after 132 B.C. by the author’s grandson, who also wrote a Foreword which contains information about the book, the author, and the translator himself. Until the close of the nineteenth century Sirach was known only in translations, of which this Greek rendering was the most important. From it the Latin version was made. Between 1896 and 1900, again in 1931, and several times since 1956, manuscripts were discovered containing in all about two thirds of the Hebrew text, which agrees substantially with the Greek. One such text, from Masada, is pre-Christian in date.

Though not included in the Hebrew Bible after the first century A.D., nor accepted by Protestants, the Book of Sirach has always been recognized by the Catholic Church as divinely inspired and canonical. The Foreword, though not inspired, is placed in the Bible because of its antiquity and importance.

The contents of Sirach are of a discursive nature, not easily divided into separate parts. Sir 1-43 deal largely with moral instruction; ⇒ Sirach 44:1-⇒ 50:24 contain a eulogy of the heroes of Israel and some of the patriarchs. There are two appendices in which the author expresses his gratitude to God, and appeals to the unlearned to acquire true wisdom.

The Church uses the Book of Sirach extensively in her liturgy.

Index

Int. For. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 

22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 

32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.

 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.

The Bible – Old Testament

Sirach

Index

Int. For. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 

22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 

32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.

 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.

Chapter 4

1

¹ My son, rob not the poor man of his livelihood; force not the eyes of the needy to turn away.

2

A hungry man grieve not, a needy man anger not;

3

Do not exasperate the downtrodden; delay not to give to the needy.

4

A beggar in distress do not reject; avert not your face from the poor.

5

From the needy turn not your eyes, give no man reason to curse you;

6

For if in the bitterness of his soul he curse you, his Creator will hear his prayer.

7

Endear yourself to the assembly; before a ruler bow your head.

8

Give a hearing to the poor man, and return his greeting with courtesy;

9

Deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor; let not justice be repugnant to you.

10

To the fatherless be as a father, and help their mother as a husband would; Thus will you be like a son to the Most High, and he will be more tender to you than a mother.

11

² Wisdom instructs her children and admonishes those who seek her.

12

He who loves her loves life; those who seek her out win her favor.

13

He who holds her fast inherits glory; wherever he dwells, the LORD bestows blessings.

14

Those who serve her serve the Holy One; those who love her the LORD loves.

15

He who obeys her judges nations; he who hearkens to her dwells in her inmost chambers.

16

If one trusts her, he will possess her; his descendants too will inherit her.

17

She walks with him as a stranger, and at first she puts him to the test; Fear and dread she brings upon him and tries him with her discipline; With her precepts she puts him to the proof, until his heart is fully with her.

18

Then she comes back to bring him happiness and reveal her secrets to him.

19

But if he fails her, she will abandon him and deliver him into the hands of despoilers.

20

³ Use your time well; guard yourself from evil, and bring upon yourself no shame.

21

There is a sense of shame laden with guilt, and a shame that merits honor and respect.

22

Show no favoritism to your own discredit; let no one intimidate you to your own downfall.

23

Refrain not from speaking at the proper time, and hide not away your wisdom;

24

For it is through speech that wisdom becomes known, and knowledge through the tongue’s rejoinder.

25

Never gainsay the truth, and struggle not against the rushing stream.

26

Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed.

27

Do not abase yourself before an impious man, nor refuse to do so before rulers.

28

Even to the death fight for truth, and the LORD your God will battle for you.

29

Be not surly in your speech, nor lazy and slack in your deeds.

30

Be not a lion at home, nor sly and suspicious at work.

31

Let not your hand be open to receive and clenched when it is time to give.

1 [1] Eyes of the needy: when they look for help; cf ⇒ Sirach 18:17.

2 [11-19] The Hebrew text presents wisdom speaking in the first person, as in Sirach 24. The precious fruits of wisdom: life, favor, glory, blessings, God’s love, are intended to arouse desire for her (⇒ Sirach 4:11-14). Her disciples are like priests (⇒ Sirach 4:14) and judges (⇒ Sirach 4:15), even partners who possess her for themselves and their descendants (⇒ Sirach 4:16). They enjoy happiness and penetrate her profound secrets after surviving her tests (⇒ Sirach 4:17, ⇒ 18). Those who fail her are abandoned to destruction (⇒ Sirach 4:19).

3 [20-31] Besides the interior trials of discipline and precept, the disciple of wisdom is warned against external dangers to his sincerity and justice, namely evil, human respect (⇒ Sirach 4:20, ⇒ 21), compromise of liberty in speech and action (⇒ Sirach 4:22-25), false shame, and ignorance (⇒ Sirach 4:26). He must fight for the truth (⇒ Sirach 4:28), and avoid cynicism and laziness (⇒ Sirach 4:29), and inconsistency in his conduct (⇒ Sirach 4:30).

The Bible – Old Testament

Sirach

Index

Int. For. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 

22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 

32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.

 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.

The Bible – Old Testament

Sirach

Index

Int. For. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 

22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 

32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.

 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.

Chapter 2

1

¹ My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials.

2

Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity.

3

Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great.

4

Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient;

5

For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation.

6

Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him.

7

You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall.

8

You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost.

9

You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.

10

Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken? has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?

11

Compassionate and merciful is the LORD; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble.

12

² Woe to craven hearts and drooping hands, to the sinner who treads a double path!

13

Woe to the faint of heart who trust not, who therefore will have no shelter!

14

Woe to you who have lost hope! what will you do at the visitation of the LORD?

15

Those who fear the LORD disobey not his words; those who love him keep his ways.

16

Those who fear the LORD seek to please him, those who love him are filled with his law.

17

Those who fear the LORD prepare their hearts and humble themselves before him.

18

Let us fall into the hands of the LORD and not into the hands of men, For equal to his majesty is the mercy that he shows.

1 [1-11] Serving God is not without its trials (⇒ Sirach 2:1); moreover, it must be done with sincerity, steadfastness and fidelity (⇒ Sirach 2:2-3). Misfortune and humiliation merely purify man and prove his worth (⇒ Sirach 2:4-5). Patience and unwavering trust in God are always rewarded with the benefits of God’s mercy and of lasting joy (⇒ Sirach 2:6-11).

2 [12-17] A warning to those who compromise their religion in time of affliction; they fail in courage and trust and therefore have no security (⇒ Sirach 2:12-14). But those who fear the Lord through obedience, reverence, love and humility find his mercy equal to his majesty (⇒ Sirach 2:15-17).

Index

Int. For. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 

22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 

32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.

 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.