Sirach 30:1–40:30

30 1 He that loveth his son bwill continueb (to lay) cstrokes upon himc,

That he may rejoice over him at the last.

2 He that disciplineth his son dshall have satisfactiond of him,

And among ehis acquaintancee glory in him.

3 He that teacheth his son maketh his enemy jealous,

And in the presence of friends exulteth in him.

4 When his father dieth fhe dieth not altogetherf,.

For he hath left one behind him like himself.

5 In his life he sawg and rejoicedh,

And in death he hath not been grieved.

6 iAgainst enemies he hath left behind jan avengerj,

And to friends one that requiteth favouri.

7 kHe that pampereth his sonk lshall bind up his woundsl,

And his heart mtremblethm at every cry.

8 An unbroken horse nbecometh stubbornn,

And a son oleft at largeo pbecometh headstrongp.

G 9 qCockerq thy son rand he will terrify theer;

sPlay with hims tand he will grieve theet.

10 uLaugh not with himu, vlest he vex theev,

vvAnd make thee gnash thy teethvv at the last.

HB 11 wLet him not have freedomw in his youth,

xAnd overlook notx yhis mischievous actsy.

12 z aBow down ⌈his neck⌉ in his youtha,

And smite his loins sore while he is littlez—

Lestb he become stubbornb cand rebel against theec,

dAnd thou experience anguish of soul on his accountd.

13 Discipline thy son eand make his yoke heavye,

Lest fin his follyf g⌈he stumble⌉g.

(b) 30:14–20. The blessing of good health

(= 3 + 1 + 3 distichs).

14 Better is one that is poor, hand is healthy in his bodyh,

Than a rich man who is plagued in his flesh.

HB 15 iHealth and soundnessi jhave I desiredj more than fine gold,

kAnd a cheerful spiritk lmore than pearlsl.

16 There is no wealth mabove the wealthm nof a sound bodyn,

And no nngoodnn above oa good dispositiono.

17 pBetter death qthan a wretched lifeq,

And eternal rest rthan continual painr p.

18 Good things spoured outs before a mouth that is closed

tAre as an offeringt uthat is placed before an idolu.

19 vHow can (such) wprofitw xthe imagesx of the heathen

Which are unable either to eat or smelly?

HB zSo is he who possesseth wealth,

aAnd hath no enjoymenta bof itb z:

20 cHe seeth itc with his eyes cand sighethc,

As da eunuchd that embraceth a maidene v.

(c) 30:21–25. An exhortation to dismiss sorrow and care

(= 2 + 2 + 2 distichs).

21 Give not thy soul eeto sorrowee,

fAnd let not thyself become unsteadied with caref.

22 Heart-joy is life for a man,

And human gladness ffprolongeth daysff.

23 gEntice thyselfg hand sootheh thine heart,

And ibanishi jvexationj from thee:

For sorrow khath slaink many,

And there is no lprofitl min vexationm.

HB 24 Envy and anger shorten days,

And anxiety nmaketh old untimelyn.

(= G 33:13 b, c) 25 oThe sleepo pof a cheerful heart is like daintiesp,

qAnd his food is agreeable unto himq.

(d) 31:(34:)1–4. The anxieties of poverty and riches

(= 2 + 2 distichs).

31HB 1 rWatchful care over wealthr swasteth the fleshs,

tAnd anxiety about itt udissipateth slumberu.

2 vAnxiety about sustenancev wbreaketh off (?)w slumber,

xEven as severe sickness dissipateth sleepx.

3 The rich man ylabourethy zto gatherz riches,

And when he resteth, it is to apartake of delightsa.

4 bThe poor man ctoilethc dfor the needs of his housed,

And if he rest ehe becometh needye b.

(e) 31:(34:)5–11. The perils of mammon-worship

(= 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 distichs).

HB 5 He that flovethf gold gshall not go unpunishedg,

And he that fpursuethf hhireh ierreth therebyi.

6 Many there are that have jbound themselves to goldj

kAnd have put their trust in coralsk.

7 lIt is a stumbling-blockl mfor the foolishm,

nAnd whoso is simple is snared therebyn.

8 Happy is othe rich mano that is found blameless,

And that hath not pgone astray followingp mammon!

9 Who is he? that we may felicitate him—

For he hath done wondrously among his people.

10 Who qhath been testedq by it rand remained unharmedr,

sSo that it hath redounded to his glory?s

H Who could tfall awayt, and did not fall away;

uAnd (could) inflictu harm, vand did notv?

11 wThereforew shall his good fortune xbe steadfastx,

And the congregation shall declare yhis praisey.

(f) 31:(34:)12–24. a Instruction concerning bread and wine togethera

(= 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 2 distichs).

12 bIf thou sittest cat a great man’s tablec,

dBe not greedy upon itd;

eSay not: fThere is abundance upon itf—

13  gRemember that an evil eye is an evil thingg,

HB hGod hath createdh nothing more evil than the eye;

iTherefore over everything must it weepi.

15 j kBe consideratek to lthy companion as thyselfl,

And be mindful of all mthou detestestm.

14 Stretch not out the hand nwherever he may lookn,

oAnd collide not with himo pin the dishp j.

16 qEat like a man rwhat is put before theer,

sAnd be not ravenouss, lest thou become dislikedq.

17 tLeave off firstt ufor manners’ sakeu,

vAnd devour not voraciouslyv wlest thou become offensivew.

HB 18 And, moreover, when thou art seated xin a large companyx

Stretch not the hand out ybefore a neighboury.

19 Surely a little is sufficient for za man of understandingz,

And he need not achokea upon his bed.

20(c) bPain and sleeplessness, and distressb,

20(d)  cAnd inward disorderc dare with a foolish mand.

20(a)eHealthy sleepe fhath a purged bellyf,

20(b)  And when he riseth in the morning ghis wits are with himg.

HB 21 hAnd even if thou hast been constrained with dainties,

iArise and vomiti, and thou shalt have ease.

22 jListen, my son, and despise me not,

kAnd in the endk thou shalt comprehend my wordsj.

In all thy doings be lmodestl,

And no mmishapm shall touch theeh.

23 nHim that is generous over meatn othe lipo blesseth;

pThe testimony of his generosityp is lasting:

24 Him who is niggardly over meat qthe city murmureth atq;

rThe testimony of his niggardlinessr is lasting.

(g) 31:(34:)25–31. The use and abuse of wine

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

25 In wine salsos show not thyself valiant,

For tnew winet uhath been the ruinu of many.

HB 26 vLike a furnacev which proveth wthe work of the smithw,

xSo is wine in the quarrelling of the scornfulx.

27 yLife-giving watery zis wine to a manz

If he drink it ain moderationa.

b cWhat lifec hath a man that lacketh new wine,

dSeeing it was createdd efor rejoicing from the beginninge b.

28 Joy of heart fand gladness and delightf

Is wine drunk gin season and (for) satisfactiong.

29 hHeadache, derision, and dishonourh

Is wine drunk iin strife and vexationi.

30 jMuch wine is for the fool a snarej—

It diminisheth strength and supplieth wounds.

31 At a banquet of wine k〈rebuke not〉k a friend,

lAnd 〈grieve him not in his joy〉l:

HB m〈Speak to him〉m no reproachful word,

n〈And quarrel not with him〉n oin the presence of (other) peopleo.

(h) 32:(35:)1–13. On behaviour at a banquet

(= 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 distichs).

32 1 p〈If thou hast been appointed (banquet-)master, do not exalt thyself〉p;

Be qto themq as one of themselves;

Take thought for them, rand afterwardsr be seated.

2  Supply stheir needss, and tafterwardst recline;

That thou mayst rejoice uon their accountu,

And vreceive considerationv wfor politenessw.

3 xSpeak, O elder, yfor it is thy privilegey:

zBut be discreet in understandingz, and ahinder nota songx.

HB 4 bIn a place of music pour not forth talkb,

cAnd at an unseasonable timec ddisplay not thy wisdomd

5 e fAs a signet-stone of carnelianf gon a necklace (?) of goldg

hIs a concert of songh at a banquet of winee.

6 i jSettings of fine gold and a seal of carbunclej

Is the sound of music kwith the pleasance of winek i.

7 lSpeak, O young man, mif thou art compelledm—

nIt thou art asked twice or thricen l.

8 o pSum up thy speechp, qsay much in littleq,

rAnd be liker one that knoweth and can keep silenceo.

9 Among selderss tassert not thyselft,

uAnd ply not seminent personss overmuchu.

10 vIn front of whailw speedeth the lightning,

And in front of xthe shamefastx speedeth favourv.

HB 11 y zAt the time of departurez be not last,

Depart home aand linger nota;

12 bAnd (there) whatsoever cometh up in thy mind, speakb,

cIn the fear of God and not in foolishnessc y.

13 dAnd for all these thingsd bless thy Maker,

Who satisfieth thee with His bounty.

32:(35:)14–17. (a) The god-fearing and the sinful man: a contrast

(= 2 + 2 distichs).

14 e fHe that seekethi God will receive discipline,

And he that resorteth to Him diligently shall obtain gfavourg e.

HB 15 hHe that seeketh out the Law ishall gain heri,

jBut the hypocritej shall be snared therebyh.

16 k lThey that fear Jahveh discern His judgementl,

mAnd elicit guidance from the darknessmk.

17 nThe man of violencen owresteth reproofso,

pẠnd forceth the Law to suit his necessityp.

(b) 32:(35:)18–24. Forethought before action

(= 2 + 2 + 2 distichs).

18 q rA wise manr swill not conceal understandings,

tAnd a scornert uwill not receive instructionuq.

19 vWithout counsel carry out nothing;

wAnd after the deedw, xrue it notx.

HB 20 yIn a way set with snaresy walk not,

And stumble not zat an obstacle twicez.

21 a bBe not carelessb cin a way …c

22  dAnd in thy paths be waryd a.

23 e fIn all thy works guard thyselff,

gFor he that so doeth keepeth the commandmentg e.

24 hHe that observeth the Law guardeth himselfh,

And he that trusteth in Jahveh ishall not be brought to shamei.

(c) 33:(36:)1–3. Loyalty to God’s Law brings its own reward

(= 3 distichs).

33 1 Him that feareth Jahveh no evil befalleth,

But jin temptationj k〈he shall again be delivered〉k.

2 l mHe that hateth the law is not wisem,

nAnd is tossed about 〈like a ship in a storm〉nl.

3 oA man of discernment pdiscerneth the Wordp,

qAnd the Law 〈is faithful unto him as the Urim〉qo.

(d) 33:(36:)4–6. Against thoughtlessness, especially in teaching

(=3 distichs).

G 4 r sPrepare thy speechs, tand sot ulet it be heardu;

vBind upv instruction, wand thenw replyr.

G(S) 5 xLike a cart-wheelx yis the mind of a fooly,

And his thought zlike a rolling wheel-rimz.

6 aLike a saddled horse is the love of a foola;

Under bwhatever riderb he neighs.

(e) 33:(36:)7–15. Divine preferences in Nature and Man justified

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

7 eWhy is one day distinguished from anotherc,

dWhen all daylight in the year is from the Sund?

8 eBy God’s 〈great〉 wisdome they were distinguished,

fAnd He differentiatedf gseasons and feastsg.

9 Some hHe blessed and hallowedh,

And others He made iordinary daysi.

G(S) 10 jLikewise…