Sirach Prologue–51

The Prologue

Whereas many great teachings have been given to us through the law and the prophets and the others that followed them, on account of which we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom; and since it is necessary not only that the readers themselves should acquire understanding but also that those who love learning should be able to help the outsiders by both speaking and writing, my grandfather Jesus, after devoting himself especially to the reading of the law and the prophets and the other books of our fathers, and after acquiring considerable proficiency in them, was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, in order that, by becoming conversant with this also, those who love learning should make even greater progress in living according to the law.

You are urged therefore to read with good will and attention, and to be indulgent^a in cases where, despite our diligent labor in translating, we may seem to have rendered some phrases imperfectly. For what was originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same sense when translated into another language. Not only this work, but even the law itself, the prophecies, and the rest of the books differ not a little as originally expressed.

When I came to Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Euergetes and stayed for some time, I found opportunity for no little instruction.^b It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote some pains and labor to the translation of the following book, using in that period of time great watchfulness and skill in order to complete and publish the book for those living abroad who wished to gain learning, being prepared in character to live according to the law.

Chapter 1

¹All wisdom comes from the Lord

and is with him for ever.

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—who can search them out?

⁴Wisdom was created before all things,

and prudent understanding from eternity.^c

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

Her clever devices—who knows them?^d

⁸There is One who is wise, greatly to be feared,

sitting upon his throne.

⁹The Lord himself created wisdom;^e

he saw her and apportioned her,

he poured her out upon all his works.

¹⁰She dwells with all flesh according to his gift,

and he supplied her to those who love him.

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.

¹³With him who fears the Lord it will go well at the end;

on the day of his death he will be blessed.

¹⁴To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

she is created with the faithful in the womb.

¹⁵She made^f among men an eternal foundation,

and among their descendants she will be trusted.

¹⁶To fear the Lord is wisdom’s full measure;

she satisfies^g men with her fruits;

¹⁷she fills their whole house with desirable goods,

and their storehouses with her produce.

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

making peace and perfect health to flourish.

¹⁹He saw her and apportioned her;

he rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension,

and he exalted the glory of those who held her fast.

²⁰To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom,

and her branches are long life.

²²Unrighteous anger cannot be justified,

for a man’s anger tips the scale to his ruin.

²³A patient man will endure until the right moment,

and then joy will burst forth for him.

²⁴He will hide his words until the right moment,

and the lips of many will tell of his good sense.

²⁵In the treasuries of wisdom are wise sayings,

but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.

²⁶If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments,

and the Lord will supply it for you.

²⁷For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction,

and he delights in fidelity and meekness.

²⁸Do not disobey the fear of the Lord;

do not approach him with a divided mind.

²⁹Be not a hypocrite in men’s sight,ⁱ

and keep watch over your lips.

³⁰Do not exalt yourself lest you fall,

and thus bring dishonor upon yourself.

The Lord will reveal your secrets

and cast you down in the midst of the congregation,

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

and your heart was full of deceit.

Chapter 2

¹My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord,

prepare yourself for temptation.^j

²Set your heart right and be steadfast,

and do not be hasty in time of calamity.

³Cleave to him and do not depart,

that you may be honored at the end of your life.

⁴Accept whatever is brought upon you,

and in changes that humble you be patient.

⁵For gold is tested in the fire,

and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.

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;

and turn not aside, lest you fall.

⁸You who fear the Lord, trust in him,

and your reward will not fail;

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

for everlasting joy and mercy.

¹⁰Consider the ancient generations and see:

who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame?

Or who ever persevered in the fear of the Lord^k and was forsaken?

Or who ever called upon him and was overlooked?

¹¹For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;

he forgives sins and saves in time of affliction.

¹²Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands,

and to the sinner who walks along two ways!

¹³Woe to the faint heart, for it has no trust!

Therefore it will not be sheltered.

¹⁴Woe to you who have lost your endurance!

What will you do when the Lord punishes you?

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 approval,

and those who love him will be filled with the 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 men;

for as his majesty is,

so also is his mercy.

Chapter 3

¹Listen to me your father, O children;

and act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety.

²For the Lord honored the father above the children,

and he confirmed the right of the mother over her sons.

³Whoever honors his father atones for sins,

⁴and whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasure.

⁵Whoever honors his father will be gladdened by his own children,

and when he prays he will be heard.

⁶Whoever glorifies his father will have long life,

and whoever obeys the Lord will refresh his mother;

⁷he will serve his parents as his masters.^m

⁸Honor your father by word and deed,

that a blessing from him 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 dishonoring your father,

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

¹¹For a man’s glory comes from honoring his father,

and it is a disgrace for children not to respect their mother.

¹²O son, help your father in his old age,

and do not grieve him as long as he lives;

¹³even if he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance;

in all your strength do not despise him.

¹⁴For kindness to a father will not be forgotten,

and against your sins it will be credited to you;

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

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

¹⁶Whoever forsakes his father is like a blasphemer,

and whoever angers his mother is cursed by the Lord.

¹⁷My son, perform your tasks in meekness;

then you will be loved by those whom God accepts.

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

so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord.

²⁰For great is the might of the Lord;

he is glorified by the humble.

²¹Seek not what is too difficult for you,

nor investigate what is beyond your power.

²²Reflect upon what has been assigned to you,

for you do not need what is hidden.

²³Do not meddle in what is beyond your tasks,

for matters too great for human understanding have been shown you.

²⁴For their hasty judgment has led many astray,

and wrong opinion has caused their thoughts to slip.

²⁶A stubborn mind will be afflicted at the end,

and whoever loves danger will perish by it.

²⁷A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles,

and the sinner will heap sin upon sin.

²⁸The affliction of the proud has no healing,

for a plant of wickedness has taken root in him.

²⁹The mind of the intelligent man will ponder a parable,

and an attentive ear is the wise man’s desire.

³⁰Water extinguishes a blazing fire:

so almsgiving atones for sin.

³¹Whoever requites favors gives thought to the future;

at the moment of his falling he will find support.

Chapter 4

¹My son, deprive not the poor of his living,

and do not keep needy eyes waiting.

²Do not grieve the one who is hungry,

nor anger a man in want.

³Do not add to the troubles of an angry mind,

nor delay your gift to a beggar.

⁴Do not reject an afflicted suppliant,

nor turn your face away from the poor.

⁵Do not avert your eye from the needy,

nor give a man occasion to curse you;

⁶for if in bitterness of soul he calls down a curse upon you,

his Creator will hear his prayer.

⁷Make yourself beloved in the congregation;

bow your head low to a great man.

⁸Incline your ear to the poor,

and answer him peaceably and gently.

⁹Deliver him who is wronged from the hand of the wrongdoer;

and do not be fainthearted in judging a case.

¹⁰Be like a father to orphans,

and instead of 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.

¹¹Wisdom exalts her sons

and gives help to those who seek her.

¹²Whoever loves her loves life,

and those who seek her early will be filled with joy.

¹³Whoever holds her fast will obtain glory,

and the Lord will bless the place she^p enters.

¹⁴Those who serve her will minister to the Holy One;^q

the Lord…