Sirach 33:13–36:15

13 tAs the clay is in the power of the pottert,

uTo fashion itu according to his good pleasure;

vSo is manv in the power wof his creatorw,

xTo make him according to His ordinancex.

14 Over against evil (stands)y the good, and against deathy life;

zLikewise over against the godlyy the sinnerz.

15 aEven thus look upon all the works of Goda,

bEach differentb, one the opposite of the other.

(f) 33:16–18 (36:16 a, 30:20–22). Ben Sira’s right to give instruction asserted

(= 2 + 2 distichs).

16 cI, indeedc, dcame last of alld,

(30:25)eAs one that gleanethe after the grape-gatherers:

fI advanced fby the blessing of God,

And filled gmy winepressg as a grape-gatherer.

17 (30:26) hConsider that not for myself alone have I laboured,

iButi for all that seek jwisdomjh!

G(S) 18(30:27) Listen kunto mek, ye leaders lof the peoplel,

And ye rulers of the congregation, give ear!

(g) 33:19–23(30:28–32). Against surrendering one’s independence to others

(= 2 + 2 + 2 distichs).

19(30:28) To son or wife, to brother or friend,

Give no power over thyself while thou livest;

mAnd give not thy goods nto anothern

oSo as to have to ask for them againom.

20(30:29) Whilst thou art yet alive and breath remaineth in thee,

pGive not any creature power over thyselfp.

21(30:30) For it is better that thy children ask of thee

qThan that thou shouldst look to the hand of thy sonsq.

22(30:31) In all thy works rremain uppermostr,

Ands tlet no stain come on thine honourt.

23(30:32) Whenu the days of thy life are ended,

uIn the dayu of death, vdistribute thine inheritancev.

(h) 33:24–31 (30:33–40) On the treatment of subordinates

(= 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 distichs).

24(30:33) wFodderx and stick and burdensy for an ass,

zBread and disciplinez and work for a servant!

G(S) 25(30:34) aPut thy servant to worka, band he will seek restb;

cLeave his hands idlec, and he will seek liberty!

26(30:35) dYoke and thong bow down the neck,

And for an evil servant (there are) estocks and chastisement.e d

27(30:36) fPut thy servant to workf, gthat he be not idleg;

(30:37)Forhidlenessh teacheth much mischief.

28(30:38) iAppoint him (a task) in thy housei such as befitteth him,

And if he obey not jmake his fetters heavyj.

29 kBut be not overbearingk against any creature,

And do nothing lthat is without rightl.

30(30:39) mHast thou an only servantm, let him be as nthyselfn—

oFor pthou hast need of him as thy very selfpo.

31 mHast thou an only servantm, treat him as qthy brotherq—

o rBe not jealous against thy very lifer o!

G(S) (30:40) If thou treat him ill, sand he proceed to run aways,

On what way shalt thou find him?

(a) 34:(31:)1–8. The vanity of dreams and divinations

(= 3 + 1 + 3 + 1 distichs).

34S 1 aHe who seeketh vanity findeth delusion,a

G bAnd dreams elate foolsb.

2 As one catching at a shadow cand pursuing the windc,

So is dhe that trustethd ein dreamsc.

S 3 fAlike are mirror and dreamf,

gThe likeness of a face opposite a faceg.

4 hFrom the unclean what can be cleanh,

And from the false what can be true?

5 Divinations and soothsayings and dreams are vain;

Even ias thou hopest (so) seeth thy hearti.

S 6 iIf they be not sent from the Most High providentiallyj,

Do thou pay them no heed.

7 kFor many there are that have been led astray by dreamsk,

G lAnd through placing their hopes thereon have fallenl.

8 mWithout deceit shall the Law be fulfilledm,

nAnd wisdom is perfect in a mouth that is faithfuln.

(b) 34:9–17 (31:9–20). The practical value of true Wisdom

(= 2 + 2 + 3 + 3 distichs).

9 oAn (experienced man) knoweth much,

And (one that is well versed)o pdeclareth understandingp.

10 He that is without experience knoweth little,

(11) But qthe well-versedq hath much rskillr.

G 11(12) sIn my journeyings I have seen much,

S tAnd many things have befallen met.

12(13) Often was I in danger even unto death,

But was preserved ubecause of these thingsu.

13(14) vThe spirit of those that fear the Lord remaineth alivev,

(15) wFor their hope is upon Him that saves themw.

14(16) xHe that feareth the Lord is afraid of ynothingy,

And doth not lose courage—for He is his hope.

15(17) Of him that feareth the Lord—happy the soul!

(18) On whom doth he trust? And who is his stayz?

16(19) The eyes of the Lord are upon athem that fear Hima,

b A mighty shield, and strong stayb,

cA cover from scorching Siroccoc, da shadow from noontide heatd,

e A guard from stumblinge, and a succour from falling,

17(20) Heart-gladdenerf and eye-brightener,

gHealing, life, and blessingg!

(c) 34:18–26 (31:21–31). Unacceptable sacrifice

(= 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 distichs).

18(21) hThe sacrifice of the unrighteous man is a mocking offeringh,

(22) And unacceptable are ithe oblationsi of the godless.

G(S) 19(23) The Most High hath no pleasure in the offerings of the ungodly,

jNeither doth He forgive sins for a multitude of sacrificesj.

20(24) k(As) one that killeth the son before the father’s eyes

Is he that offereth a sacrifice from the goods of the poork.

21(25) lA scanty bread is the life of the poorl:

mHe that depriveth him thereofm is na man of bloodn.

22(26) oHe slayeth his neighbour who taketh away his livingo,

(27) p And a blood-shedder is he that depriveth the hireling of his hirep.

23(28) One building qand anotherq pulling down—

What have they gained but remptyr toil?

24(29) One sprayings and tanothert cursing—

To whose voice shall uthe Lordu listen?

25(30) He who washeth after (contact with) a dead body vand toucheth it againv,

wWhat hath he gained by his bathingw?

G(S) 26(31) So a man fasting for his sins

And again doing the same—

xWho will listen to his prayer?

And what hath he gained yby his humiliationy x.

(d) z35:1–11 (32:1–13). Acceptable sacrifice

(= 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 distichs).

35 1(1) aHe that keepeth the law multiplieth offeringsa;

(2) bHe sacrificeth a peace-offering that heedeth the commandmentsb.

2(3) cHe that practiseth kindness offereth fine flourc,

(4) And he that doeth mercy dsacrificeth a thank-offeringd.

3(5) A thing well-pleasing to the Lord it is eto avoid wickednesse,

f And ga propitiationg to avoid what is wrongf.

4(6) Appear not with empty hands hin the presence of the Lordh,

5(7)  iFor all this (shall be done) because it is commandedi.

6(8) The offering of the righteous jmaketh the altar fatj,

kAnd its sweet savour (cometh) before the Most Highk.

7(9) lThe meal-offeringl of a righteous man is acceptable,

mAnd its memorial shall not be forgottenm.

G 8(10) With a good eye nglorify the Lordn,

And ostint not the heave-offering of thy handso.

HB 9(11) pIn all thy deedsp let thy countenance shine,

qAnd with gladness dedicate thy titheq.

10(12) Give rto Godr as He hath given sto thees,

ssWith goodness of eyess, and tas thine hand hath attainedt.

11(13) For He is ua God of requitalu,

And vsevenfoldv will He recompense thee.

(e) 35:12–20 (35:14–26). God hears the cry of the oppressed

(= 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 5 + 1 distichs).

12(14) wBribe notw, for He will not receivex;

(15) And put not thy trust yupon a sacrifice of extortiony,

For He is za God of justicez,

And with Him is no partiality.

13(16) aHe will not show partiality against the poor mana,

And the supplications of bthe distressedb He heareth.

14(17) He doth not ignore cthe cryc of the fatherless,

dNor the widow, when she poureth out (her) plaintd.

15(18) eDo not the tearsf run down the cheek,

(19) gAnd sigh against [him who causeth them to fall]g?

HB 16(20) hA bitterness acceptedh is (such)i [sighing]i,

jAnd (such) a cryj k[bendeth] the cloudsk.

17(21) The appeal of the lowly ltraverseth the skiesl,

mAnd resteth not till it reach (its goal).

It shall not remove till God doth visitm,

(22a) nAnd (till) the righteous Judge executeth judgement

18(22b) Yea, the Lord owill not tarryo,

pAnd the mighty One will not refrain Himselfp,

Till He smite qthe loins of the merciless,

(23) And requite vengeance r[to the arrogant]r;

Till He sdispossesss tthe sceptre of pridet,

And uthe staff of wickednessu utterly cut down;

19(24) Till He render to man vhis duev,

wAnd recompense peoplew according to their devising;

(25)Till He plead the cause of His people,

And rejoice them xwith His salvationx.

HB 20(26) y[Beauteous is His favour in a time] of stressy.

zAs a rain-cloudz in the season of zzdroughtzz.

(f) 36:1–17 (33:1–13 a, 36:16b–22). A prayer to God for Israel

(= 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 distichs).

36 1 a bSave usb, cO God of allc,

2  dAnd castd Thy fear upon all the nationse.

3 fShake Thy handf against gthe strange peopleg,

And let them see hThy powerh.

4 As Thou hast sanctified Thyself in us before them,

So iglorify Thyselfi jin themj before us;

5 That they may knowk, as we also know,

That there is none other God but Theel.

6 Renew mthe signsm, and repeat mthe wondersm,

(7) Make Hand and nRight Armn glorious.

7(8) Waken indignation and pour out wrath,

(9) oSubdueo the foe and pexpelp the enemy.

8(10) Hasten qthe ‘end’q and rordain the ‘appointed time’r,

sFor who may say to Thee: What doest Thou?s

G 9(11) tLet uhim that escapethu vbe devouredv in the wglowing firew,

And may Thy people’s xwrongersx yfind destructiony!

H 10(12) Make an end of zthe head of the enemy’s princesz

That saith: There is none beside me!

11a (G 33. 13a) Gather all the tribes of Jacoba,

11b (16b) bThat they may receive their inheritanceb cas in the days of oldc.

12(17) Compassionate dthe peopled that is called by Thy name,

Israel, ewhom Thou didst surname Firstborne.

13(18) Compassionate Thy holy city,

Jerusalem, fthe place of Thy dwellingf.

14(19) Fill Sion gwith Thy majestyg,

And hThy Templeh with Thy glory.

15(20) Give testimony ito the first of Thy worksi,

And establish jthe vision spoken in Thy namej.