Sirach 38:24–39:11

24 The wisdom of the scribe gincreaseth wisdomg,

And hhe that hath little businessh can become wise.

25 How can he become wise that holdeth ithe goadi,

And glorieth jin brandishing the lancej?

H kWho leadeth cattlek land turneth about oxenl,

mAnd whose discoursem is with bullocks?

26 mmHe is careful nto harrow [the seed-strip]n,

And his anxiety is oto complete the provendero.

27 pLikewise the maker of carving and cunning devicep,

Who by night as by day qhath no restq;

rWho engraveth signet-engravingsr,

sAnd whose art it is to make variety of designs;

He is careful tto make the likeness truet,

And his anxiety is to complete his work.

G(S) tt28 So also uthe smithu that sitteth vby the furnacev,

wAnd regardeth the weighty vesselsw:

The flame of the fire xcrackethx his flesh,

And with the heat of the furnace yhe glowethy;

zTo the sound of the hammer he inclineth his earz,

And to the pattern of the vessel adirectetha his eyes.

G(S) He is careful to complete his work,

And his anxiety is bto measure it off exactlyb.

S(G) 29 Likewise the potter who sitteth cat his wheelc,

dAnd driveth the vessel with the soles of his feetd;

eWho is all the time in anxiety over his worke,

fAnd all his handiwork is gby numbergf;

30 hHis arms are cracked by the clayh,

iAnd [before old age] he is bent and bowedi;

He is careful to complete jthe glazingj,

And his anxiety is kfor the heating ofk the furnace.

(b) 38:31–34. Though unfitted for the highest offices the craftsman fills an essential place

(= 2 + 2 + 2 distichs).

31 All these lare deftl with their hands,

And each is wise min his handiworkm.

32 Without them a city cannot be inhabited,

n* And wherever they dwell they hunger notn.

33 oBut they shall not be inquired of for public counselo,

And in the assembly pthey enjoy no precedencep.

S(G) qOn the seat of the judge they do not sit,

rAnd law and justicer they understand notq.

sThey do not expounds tthe instruction of wisdomt,

ttNor understand the proverbs of the wisett;

34 uBut they understand the work [they have wrought]u,

And vtheir thoughtv is on the practice of their craft.

(c) 39:1–11. The ideal scribe described

(= 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 2 distichs).

39 1 Not so he that applieth himself wto the fear of Godw,

xAnd to set his mindx upon the Law of the Most High;

Who searcheth out the wisdom of all the ancients,

And yis occupiedy zwith the prophets of oldz;

2 Who aheedetha bthe discoursesb of men of renown,

And centerethc dinto the deep things of parablesd;

3 Searcheth out ethe hidden meaninge of proverbs,

And fis conversantf gwith the dark sayings of parablesg;

4 hWho serveth among great men,

And appeareth before princesh;

Who travelleth ithrough the lands of the peoplesi,

jTestethj good and evil among men;

5 Who is careful kto seekk lunto his Makerl,

And mbeforem the Most High nentreateth mercyn;

S(G) Who openeth his mouth in prayer,

And omaketh supplicationo for his sins.

6 pIfp qit seem good to God Most Highq,

rHe shall be filledr with the spirit of understanding.

sHe himself poureth forth wise sayings in double measures,

And giveth thanks tunto the Lord in prayert.

7 He himself udirectethu vcounsel and knowledgev,

wAnd setteth his mindw on xtheirx secrets.

8 He himself declareth ywise instructiony,

And glorieth in the law zof the Lordz.

9 His understanding many do praise,

aAnda never shall bhis nameb be blotted out:

His memory cshall not ceasec,

And his name shall live from generation to generation.

H 10 d eHis wisdome doth fthe congregationf tell forth,

And ghis praiseg the assembly publisheth.

S(G) 11 hIf he live longh, ihe shall be accounted happyi more than a thousand;

And when he cometh to an end, jhis name sufficethj.

(d) Appendix. 39:12–35. Hymn in praise of creation

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