Sirach Prologue–51

my grandfather Jesus, having given himself much to the reading of the Law and the Prophets and the other books of our fathers, and having acquired considerable familiarity therein, was induced also himself to take a part in writing somewhat pertaining to instruction and wisdom, in order that those who are lovers of learning and instructed in these things might make so much the more progress by a manner of life ⁽lived⁽ in accordance with the Law. Ye are entreated, therefore, to make your perusal with favour and attention, and to be indulgent, if in any parts of what we have laboured to interpret we may seem to fail in some of the phrases. For things originally spoken in Hebrew have not the same force in them when they are translated into another tongue: and not only these, but the Law itself, and the Prophecies, and the rest of the books, have no small difference when they are spoken in their original form. Now, in the eight and thirtieth year under king Euergetes, having come into Egypt and continued there, I found opportunity for no small instruction. I, therefore, deemed it most necessary myself to devote some zeal and ‘love-labour’ to ⁽the task of⁽ interpreting this book; devoting, indeed, much sleepless care and skill in the interval in order, having brought the book to an end, to publish it for them also who in the land of their sojourning desire to be lovers of learning, being already prepared in respect of their moral culture to live by the Law.

1All wisdom cometh from the Lord,

And is with Him for ever.

The sand of the seas, and the drops of rain,

And the days of eternity,—who can number ⁽them⁽?

The height of the heaven, and the breadth of the earth,

And the deep,—who can trace ⁽them⁽ out?

Before them all was Wisdom created,

And prudent insight from everlasting.

The root of Wisdom, to whom hath it been revealed?

And her subtle thoughts, who hath known them?

One there is, greatly to be feared,

The Lord sitting upon His throne;

He himself created her, and saw, and numbered her,

And poured her out upon all His works;

Upon all flesh in measure,

But without measure doth He grant her to them that love Him.

The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation,

And gladness, and a crown of rejoicing.

The fear of the Lord delighteth the heart,

And giveth gladness, and joy, and length of days.

Whoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last,

And in the day of his death he shall be blessed.

To fear the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom,

And with the faithful was she created in the womb.

With faithful men is she, and she hath been established from eternity;

And with their seed shall she continue.

To fear the Lord is the fullness of Wisdom,

And she satiateth men with her fruits.

She filleth all her house with pleasant things,

And her garners with her produce.

The crown of Wisdom is the fear of the Lord,

And increaseth peace and life and health.

She is a strong staff and a glorious stay,

And everlasting honour to them that hold her fast.

To fear the Lord is the root of Wisdom,

And her branches are length of days.

Unrighteous wrath cannot be justified,

For the wrath. of his anger ⁽will prove⁽ his ruin.

He that is patient controlleth himself until the ⁽proper⁽ time,

And afterwards joy springeth up for him.

He suppresseth his words until the ⁽proper⁽ time,

And ⁽then⁽ shall the lips of many tell forth his understanding.

In the treasures of Wisdom ⁽there are⁽ wise proverbs;

But godliness is an abomination to sinners.

If thou desire Wisdom, keep the commandments,

And the Lord will give her freely unto thee.

For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction,

And faith and meekness are well-pleasing unto Him.

My son, disobey not the fear of the Lord,

And approach it not with a double heart.

Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men,

And take good heed to thy lips.

Exalt not thyself lest thou fall,

And bring disgrace upon thyself,

And the Lord reveal thy hidden ⁽thoughts⁽,

And cast thee down in the midst of the assembly,

Because thou camest not unto the fear of the Lord,

And thy heart was full of deceit.

2My son, when thou comest to serve the Lord,

Prepare thy soul for temptation.

Set thy heart aright and endure firmly,

And be not fearful in time of calamity.

Cleave unto Him, and let Him not go,

That thou mayst be wise in thy ways.

Accept whatsoever is brought upon thee,

And be patient in disease and poverty.

For gold is proved in the fire,

And men acceptable ^[to God^[ in the furnace of affliction.

Put thy trust in God, and He will help thee,

And hope in Him, and He will make straight thy ways.

Ye that fear the Lord, wait for His mercy;

And turn not aside, lest ye fall.

Ye that fear the Lord, put your trust in Him,

He will not withhold your reward.

Ye that fear the Lord, hope for His benefits,

And for eternal gladness and mercy.

Look at the generations of old and see,

Who ever trusted in the Lord, and was put to shame?

Or who did abide in His fear, and was forsaken?

Or who did call upon Him, and He did not hear him?

For compassionate and merciful is the Lord,

And He forgiveth sins, and sayeth in time of affliction.

Woe unto fearful hearts and unto faint hands,

And unto the sinner that goeth two ways.

Woe unto the faint heart, for it believeth not,

Therefore shall it not be sheltered.

Woe unto you that have lost your endurance,

And what will ye do when the Lord visiteth you?

They that fear the Lord will not be disobedient to His words,

And they that love Him will keep His ways.

They that fear the Lord will seek His good pleasure,

And they that love Him will be filled with ⁽His⁽ Law.

They that fear the Lord will make ready their hearts,

And will humble their souls before Him:

^[‘Let us fall into the hands of the Lord,

And not into the hands of men;’^[

For as is His majesty, so also is His mercy,

And as is His name, so also are His works.

3Hearken, ye children, to the judgement of your father,

And do thereafter, that ye may be saved.

For the Lord hath given the father glory as touching the children,

And hath established the judgement of the mother as touching the sons.

He that honoureth his father maketh atonement for sins,

And as one that layeth up treasure is he that honoureth his mother.

He that honoureth his father shall have joy of his children,

And what time he prayeth he shall be heard.

He that giveth glory to his father shall have length of days,

And he that giveth rest to his mother shall receive reward from God.

He that feareth the Lord honoureth his father,

And serveth his parents as masters.

My son, in word and in deed honour thy father,

That every blessing may overtake thee.

The blessing of a father establisheth ⁽his⁽ seed,

But the curse of a mother rooteth up the young plant.

Glorify not thyself in the dishonour of thy father,

For that is no glory to thee.

A man’s glory is the glory of his father,

And he that dishonoureth his mother multiplieth sin.

My son, help thy father in his old age,

And grieve him not all the days of his life;

And even if his understanding fail, be considerate with him,

And dishonour him not all the days of his life.

Benevolence to a father shall not be blotted out,

And as a substitute for sins it shall be firmly planted.

In the day of affliction it shall be remembered ‘to thy credit’,

It shall obliterate thine iniquities as heat ⁽disperseth⁽ hoar-frost.

As one that acteth presumptuously is he that despiseth his father,

And as one that provoketh his Creator is he that curseth his mother.

My son, when thou art in prosperity walk humbly,

And thou wilt be loved more than him that giveth gifts.

Humble thyself in all greatness,

And thou wilt find mercy in the sight of God.

For many are the mercies of God,

And to the humble He revealeth His secret.

Seek not ⁽to understand⁽ what is too wonderful for thee,

And search not out that which is hid from thee.

Meditate upon that which thou must grasp,

And be not occupied with that which is hid.

Have naught to do with that which is beyond thee,

For more hath been shown to thee than thou canst understand.

For many are the conceits of the sons of men,

And evil imaginations lead astray.

Where ⁽there is⁽ no apple of the eye, light is lacking,

And where ⁽there is⁽ no knowledge wisdom is wanting.

A stubborn heart shall fare ill at its latter end,

But he that loveth good things shall be led by them.

⁽As for⁽ the stubborn heart, its griefs shall be increased,

And the profane man heapeth iniquity upon iniquity.

⁽As for⁽ the wound of the scorner, there is no healing for it,

For an evil growth is his plant.

A wise heart understandeth the proverbs of the wise,

And the ear that listeneth to wisdom rejoiceth.

A flaming fire doth water quench,

So doth almsgiving atone for sin.

He that doeth good, it shall meet him on his ways,

And when he tottereth he shall find a stay.

4My son, defraud not the poor of his sustenance,

And grieve not the eyes of him that is bitter in ⁽his⁽ soul.

Despise not the needy soul,

And vex not the heart of the oppressed.

Hurt not the feelings of the afflicted,

And withhold not a gift from the poor.

Despise not the supplication of the poor,

And turn not away from the afflicted soul.

From him that asketh turn not thine eye away,

And give him none occasion to curse thee;

When in anguish of soul the broken-hearted crieth,

He that created him heareth his plaint.

Make thyself beloved in the assembly,

And to the rulerof the city bow thy head.

Incline thine ear to the afflicted,

And return his salutation in meekness.

Deliver the oppressed from his oppressors,

And let not thy spirit hatejust judgement.

Be as a father to orphans,

And in place of a husband to widows;

Then God will call thee ‘son’,

And will be gracious to thee, and deliver thee from the Pit.

Wisdom instructeth her sons,

And enlighteneth all who give heed to her.

They that love her love life,

And they that seek her shall obtain grace from the Lord.

They that take hold of her shall find glory from the Lord,

And they shall abide in the blessing of the Lord.

They that serve her serve the Holy One,

And God loveth them that love her.

He that hearkeneth unto me shall judge ⁽in⁽ truth,

And he that giveth ear unto me shall dwell in my innermost chamber.

If he trust me, he shall…