Sirach Prologue–51

¹Many great teachings have been given to us through the Law and the Prophets ²and the others^a that followed them, ³and for these we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom. ⁴Now those who read them must not only themselves understand them ⁵but must also as lovers of learning be able through ⁶both speaking and writing to help the outsiders. ⁷So my grandfather Jesus, who had devoted himself especially ⁸to the reading of the Law ⁹and the Prophets ¹⁰and the other books of our ancestors ¹¹and had acquired considerable proficiency in them, ¹²was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, ¹³so that by becoming familiar also with his book^b those who love learning ¹⁴might make even greater progress in living according to the law.

¹⁵You are invited, therefore, ¹⁷to read it ¹⁶with goodwill and attention ¹⁸and to be indulgent ¹⁹in cases where we may seem ²⁰to have rendered some phrases imperfectly, despite our diligent labor in translating. ^21–22For what was originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same effect when translated into another language. ²³Not only this book, ²⁴but even the Law itself, the Prophets,^{c 25}and the rest of the books ²⁶differ not a little when read in the original.

²⁷In the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Euergetes, ²⁸when I came to Egypt and stayed for some time, ²⁹I found a copy affording^d no little instruction. ³⁰It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote some diligence and labor to the translation of this book. ^31–32During that time I have applied my skill day and night ³³to complete and publish the book ³⁴for those living abroad who wish to gain learning and are ³⁵preparing ³⁶to live according to the law.^*

In Praise of Wisdom

¹All wisdom is from the Lord,

and with him it remains forever.^*

²The sand of the sea, the drops of rain,

and the days of eternity—who can count them?^*

³The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth,

the abyss, and wisdom^e—who can search them out?^*

⁴Wisdom was created before all things

and prudent understanding from eternity.^f*

⁶The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed?

Her subtleties—who knows them?^g*

⁸There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared,

seated upon his throne: the Lord.

⁹It is he who created her;

he saw her and took her measure;

he poured her out upon all his works,

¹⁰upon all the living according to his gift;

he lavished her upon those who love him.^h*

Fear of the Lord Is True Wisdom

¹¹The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation

and gladness and a crown of rejoicing.^*

¹²The fear of the Lord delights the heart

and gives gladness and joy and long life.^i*

¹³Those who fear the Lord will have a happy end;

on the day of their death they will be blessed.^*

¹⁴To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

she is created with the faithful in the womb.^*

¹⁵She made^j among humans an eternal foundation,

and among their descendants she will abide faithfully.

¹⁶To fear the Lord is fullness of wisdom;

she inebriates mortals with her fruits;^*

¹⁷she fills their^k whole house with desirable goods

and their^l storehouses with her produce.

¹⁸The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom,

making peace and perfect health to flourish.^m*

¹⁹She rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension,

and she heightened the glory of those who held her fast.^*

²⁰To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom,

and her branches are long life.^n*

²²Unjust anger cannot be justified,

for anger tips the scale to one’s ruin.^*

²³Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment,

and then cheerfulness comes back to them.^*

²⁴They hold back their words until the right moment,

and then the lips of many tell of their good sense.^*

²⁵In the treasuries of wisdom is insightful analogy,

but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.

²⁶If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments,

and the Lord will lavish her upon you.^*

²⁷For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline;

fidelity and humility are his delight.^*

²⁸Do not disobey the fear of the Lord;

do not approach him with a divided mind.^*

²⁹Do not be a hypocrite before others,

and keep watch over your lips.^*

³⁰Do not exalt yourself, or you may fall

and bring dishonor upon yourself.

The Lord will reveal your secrets

and overthrow you before the whole congregation,

because you did not come in the fear of the Lord,

and your heart was full of deceit.^*

Duties toward God

²My child, when you come to serve the Lord,

prepare yourself for testing.^o*

²Set your heart right and be steadfast,

and do not be impetuous in time of calamity.

³Cling to him and do not depart,

so that your last days may be prosperous.

⁴Accept whatever befalls you,

and in times of humiliation be patient.

⁵For gold is tested in the fire,

and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation.^p*

⁶Trust in him, and he will help you;

make your ways straight and hope in him.^*

⁷You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;

do not stray, or else you may fall.^*

⁸You who fear the Lord, trust in him,

and your reward will not be lost.^*

⁹You who fear the Lord, hope for good things,

for lasting joy and mercy.^q

¹⁰Consider the generations of old and see:

Has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed?

Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord^r and been forsaken?

Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected?^*

¹¹For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;

he forgives sins and saves in time of distress.^*

¹²Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands

and to the sinner who walks a double path!^*

¹³Woe to the fainthearted who have no trust!

Therefore they will have no shelter.

¹⁴Woe to you who have lost patience!

What will you do when the Lord’s reckoning comes?^*

¹⁵Those who fear the Lord will not disobey his words,

and those who love him will keep his ways.^*

¹⁶Those who fear the Lord will seek his favor,

and those who love him will be filled with his law.^*

¹⁷Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts

and will humble themselves before him.^*

¹⁸Let us fall into the hands of the Lord

but not into the hands of mortals,

for equal to his majesty is his mercy.^s

Duties toward Parents

³Listen to me your father, O children;

act accordingly, that you may be safe.

²For the Lord honors a father above his children,

and he confirms a mother’s judgment over her sons.^*

³Those who honor their father atone for sins,^*

⁴and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.^*

⁵Those who honor their father will have joy in their children,

and when they pray they will be heard.

⁶Those who respect their father will have long life,

and those who honor^t their mother obey the Lord;^u*

⁷they will serve their parents as their masters.^v*

⁸Honor your father by word and deed,

that his blessing may come upon you.^*

⁹For a father’s blessing strengthens the houses of the children,

but a mother’s curse uproots their foundations.^*

¹⁰Do not glorify yourself by your father’s dishonor,

for your father’s dishonor is no glory to you.

¹¹The honor of one’s father is one’s own glory,

and a mother dishonored is a disgrace to her children.^*

¹²My child, help your father in his old age,

and do not grieve him as long as he lives;^*

¹³even if his mind fails, be patient with him;

do not despise him because you have all your faculties.

¹⁴For kindness to a father will not be forgotten

and will be credited to you against your sins;^*

¹⁵in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favor;

like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.

¹⁶Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer,

and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord.^*

Humility

¹⁷My child, perform your tasks with humility;

then you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.^w

¹⁸The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;

so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord.^x*

²⁰For great is the might of the Lord,

but by the humble he is glorified.

²¹Neither seek what is too difficult for you

nor investigate what is beyond your power.^*

²²Reflect upon what you have been commanded,

for what is hidden is not your concern.^*

²³In matters greater than your own affairs, do not meddle,

for things beyond human understanding have been shown you.^*

²⁴For their conceit has led many astray,

and wrong opinion has impaired their judgment.^*

²⁵Without eyes there is no light;

without knowledge there is no wisdom.^y

²⁶A stubborn mind will fare badly at the end,

and whoever loves danger will perish in it.

²⁷A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles,

and the sinner adds sin to sins.^*

²⁸When calamity befalls the proud, there is no healing,

for an evil plant has taken root in him.^*

²⁹The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs,

and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise.^*

Alms for the Poor

³⁰As water extinguishes a blazing fire,

so almsgiving atones for sin.^*

³¹Those who repay favors give thought to the future;

when they fall they will find support.^*

Duties toward the Poor and the Oppressed

⁴My child, do not cheat the poor of their living,

and do not keep needy eyes waiting.^*

²Do not grieve the hungry

or anger one in need.

³Do not add to the troubles of the angry

or delay giving to the needy.^*

⁴Do not reject a suppliant in distress

or turn your face away from the poor.^*

⁵Do not avert your eye from the needy,

and give no one reason to curse you,^*

⁶for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you,

their Creator will hear their prayer.^*

⁷Endear yourself to the congregation;

bow your head low to the great.

⁸Give a hearing to the poor,

and return their greeting kindly.

⁹Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor,

and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.^*

¹⁰Be a father to orphans,

and be like a husband to their mother;

you will then be like a son of the Most High,

and he will love you more than does your mother.^*

The Rewards of Wisdom

¹¹Wisdom teaches^z her children

and takes hold of those who seek her.^*

¹²Whoever loves her loves life,

and those who seek her from early morning will be filled with…