Ecclesiasticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach

Name

In modern tradition, the book goes by three names that reflect three of its major language traditions. In most Greek manuscripts, it bears the title, “The Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach.” Latin manuscripts generally have “The Book of Jesus, Son of Sirach,” but it is known in the Latin tradition as Ecclesiasticus, “Belonging to the Church,” a title that reflects its place in the Christian scriptural canon. No title proper survives in the ancient Hebrew manuscripts, but one medieval manuscript from the Cairo Genizah preserves an apparent title: “The Wisdom of Yeshua son of Eleazar son of Sira.” The rabbis refer to it as “The Book (or Instruction) of Ben Sira.” In modern use the shortened “Sirach” can refer to the Greek tradition or to the entire book and “Ben Sira” to the sage himself, to the Hebrew tradition, or to the entire book.

Canonical Status

Sirach was never included in the Jewish canon. Yet some ancient Jews accorded it significance, as the fragmentary manuscripts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls and at Masada show. Even later rabbinic authorities continued to cite it. The Greek translation made by Ben Sira's grandson became part of the larger collection of translations called the Septuagint (LXX), which comprised the scriptures of the early Christian Church. Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, whose traditions have followed the Septuagint, have Sirach in their Old Testament among the wisdom books. The usual order is Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Wisdom of Solomon, and Sirach/Ecclesiasticus. Sirach is not in the Protestant canon. During the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther thought that the books of Christian scripture should match those of the Jewish Bible. He relegated Sirach (along with other “deuterocanonical” books) to the so-called Apocrypha, and in his German translation he placed them between the Old and New Testaments, where they are located in many modern Protestant editions of the Bible.

Author, Date, and Historical Context

Sirach is one of only a few early Jewish texts in which the author identifies himself. In 50.27 he gives his name as “Yeshua (Joshua/Jesus) son of Eleazar son of Sira.” The Greek translation of the verse identifies him as a Jerusalemite. He further indicates that he operated a “house of instruction” (Heb bet midrash, 51.23) where he trained young men for careers as scribes and sages, likely to work in the official bureaucracy as he did.

Ben Sira wrote in Hebrew ca. 180 bce, a date that can be deduced from several pieces of evidence. In ch 50 Ben Sira refers to the high priest Simon II (219–196 bce) in language suggesting that Simon was already dead. Moreover, Ben Sira shows no awareness of the conflicts with the Seleucid monarch Antiochus IV Epiphanes after 175 bce that resulted in the Maccabean revolt. Finally, in the Prologue to the Greek translation, the grandson says that he came to Egypt “in the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Euergetes the king” (Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II), ca. 132 bce. If one moves backward from grandson to grandfather, Ben Sira's date is ca. 180 bce as well.

Ben Sira's time was one of political turmoil. Around 200 bce, he experienced the transfer of control of ancient Judea from the Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt to that of the Seleucids in Syria. After a period of relative calm, the Romans defeated the Seleucid ruler Antiochus III and placed a heavy financial indemnity on him that his son Seleucus IV inherited. This situation likely resulted in economic hardship in Judea as Seleucus tried to raise funds for repayment. As a literate scribe and sage, Ben Sira would likely have worked for the priestly aristocracy that ruled Judea in this period, and he holds a very high view of the scribe/sage within Judean society (38.34c–39.11). He expresses strong support for Temple rituals and the Jerusalem priesthood (7.29–31; 35.1–13), and he portrays Simon II as an ideal high priest. Otherwise, specific references to contemporary events are difficult to identify, although his comments on kings and rulers may point to his attitude toward foreign domination of Judea. A scribe of Ben Sira's caliber might also travel extensively outside of Judea, perhaps in an official capacity (34.9–13).

Like all ancient literature, the Wisdom of Ben Sira is a product of its time. It reflects the social presumptions and mores of Ben Sira's world, the early second century bce. His views on women, children, and slaves, especially, reflect that time period—views that modern readers will not generally share. Ben Sira lived in a society that was governed by the values of honor and shame. A man's material wealth, along with his ability to control other culturally defined elements, such as his women, his political influence, and his reputation, determined his social standing. Maintaining that honor required constant vigilance. So while women, children, and slaves had little or no opportunity to gain honor for themselves, they had a significant impact on a man's honor. Ben Sira's teaching must be understood within his social context.

Literary History

Sirach has had a complicated textual history. Its main language of transmission has been the Greek translation—made by the author's grandson according to the Prologue—which was included in the Christian Old Testament. It serves as the basis for the English translation here, although with some supplementation from the Hebrew, Syriac, and Latin versions (see the textual notes). The Hebrew text fell into obscurity, although the rabbis knew some proverbs associated with the name of Ben Sira. Six fragmentary medieval Hebrew manuscripts of Sirach were discovered in the Genizah (storeroom) in a synagogue in Cairo at the end of the nineteenth century. Another fragmentary ancient manuscript came to light at Masada just west of the Dead Sea, and some fragments were found in Caves 2 and 11 among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Today about 70 percent of the book survives in Hebrew. Important translations were made in antiquity into Syriac and Latin. The text of Sirach underwent expansion in which proverbs were added to the book. These are given in the text in small type in the footnotes, which explains why some verse numbers are missing in the main text (see, for example, 1.4–6). In the Greek tradition all manuscripts contain a transposition where 30.25–33.13a and 33.13b–36.16a have been reversed, which accounts for the different chapter/verse numbering in some translations and scholarly studies. The present translation restores the text to its proper order.

Structure and Contents

Like the book of Proverbs, Sirach is an anthology or collection of smaller, individual units on a variety of subjects. The book has no discernible structure on which scholars have agreed. The self-praise of Wisdom, which is personified as a woman in ch 24, forms the centerpiece of the book, with other poems on seeking and finding wisdom punctuating the text (1.1–10; 14.20–15.10; 38.24–39.11). The book culminates in the praise of God's glory in creation (42.15–43.33) and the recital of Israel's “famous men” (44.1–49.16), which reaches its climax with the sage's glorious description of Simon II in language that evokes Ben Sira's picture of Wisdom herself (ch 50). Finally, the sage describes his own search for Wisdom in ch 51, which functions like an epilogue.

Ben Sira formulated his teaching using a wide array of literary forms, such as maxims or proverbs, analogies or comparisons (Heb meshalim), beatitudes and woes, numerical sayings, questions and answers, refrains and repetitions, prohibitions and admonitions, numerical sayings, hymns, aretalogy (self-praise), first-person accounts, and paraphrases of earlier texts. These techniques helped students (and later readers) retain his teaching, through which he shaped their understanding of their world and their ability to succeed in it. The Greek and Hebrew manuscript traditions include some titles that indicate new sections of the text. See, for example, in the NRSV titles before 23.7, 24.1, 30.1, 30.18, 44.1, 51.1, all of which are in Greek manuscripts. Hebrew Ms B from the Cairo Geniza preserves titles before 31.12 and 44.1.

Interpretation

Sirach is the longest wisdom book that we have from ancient Judaism, and it offers important insight into life in ancient Judea during a period for which we lack many other sources. While Ben Sira incorporates the insights of traditional ancient Near Eastern wisdom teaching on topics like friendship, speech, women, death, business, wealth, creation, and fear of the Lord, he innovates by bringing that traditional teaching under the umbrella of the distinctive traditions of Israel, particularly “the law that Moses commanded us” (24.23).

Ben Sira trained young men for careers as scribes and sages for public service, most likely in the bureaucratic employ of the priestly class. He strongly supported the Temple and the priests. Thus, he did not occupy the highest place on the social ladder, and his teaching reveals this in-between status. While he encouraged his trainees to seek the full measure of wisdom, he cautioned them about the many potential pitfalls that lay in their path. For example, he warns his charges to be wary when dealing with the rich, because one misstep could be disastrous (8.1–2). His notoriously negative attitude toward women, which makes his teaching difficult for contemporary readers, also stems from a framework of honor and shame, in which women's behavior can affect his students’ careers. Ben Sira struggles to maintain the traditional understanding of theodicy, in which the wise and righteous prosper and the foolish and wicked suffer. But his realization that the prosperous are often unwise or unrighteous and that the poor can outshine the rich in virtue tempers his views. With his doctrine of the “pairs” (33.7–15), Ben Sira attempts to account for evil, in the end ascribing all things to God. He does not seek to change the status quo with respect to the poor, and he is not an agent of social change. Although he exhorts his students to alleviate the suffering of the poor and oppressed “for the commandment's sake” (29.8–10), Ben Sira holds a traditional Israelite view of immortality that depends on one's children, one's good name, and the memory that one leaves behind (30.4–6; 38.16–23; 41.1–13).

Benjamin G. Wright

THE PROLOGUE

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

You are invited therefore to read it with goodwill and attention, and to be indulgent 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 book, but even the Law itself, the Prophecies, and the rest of the books differ not a little when read in the original.

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.^c It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote some diligence and labor to the translation of this book. During that time I have applied my skill day and night to complete and publish the book for those living abroad who wished to gain learning and are disposed to live according to the law.

1

mAll 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^a—who can search them out?

⁴Wisdom was created before all other things,

  and prudent understanding from eternity.^b

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

  Her subtleties—who knows them?^c

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.^d

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.^e

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^f among human beings 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^g whole house with desirable goods,

  and their^g storehouses with her produce.

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

  making peace and perfect health to flourish.^h

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.ⁱ

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;

  then the lips of many tell of their 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 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.

2

My child, when you come to serve the Lord,

  prepare yourself for testing.^a

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.^b

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.^c

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^d 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 your nerve!

  What will you do when the Lord's reckoning comes?

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

  and those who love him keep his ways.

¹⁶Those who fear the Lord seek to please him,

  and those who love him are filled with his law.

¹⁷Those who fear the Lord prepare their hearts,

  and 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,

  and equal to his name are his works.^a

3

Listen to me your father, O children;

  act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety.

²For the Lord honors a father above his children,

  and he confirms a mother's right over her children.

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 own children,

  and when they pray they will be heard.

⁶Those who respect their father will have long life,

  and those who honor^b their mother obey the Lord;

⁷they will serve their parents as their masters.^c

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 dishonoring your father,

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

¹¹The glory of one's father is one's own glory,

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

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;

  because you have all your faculties do not despise him.

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.

¹⁷My child, perform your tasks with humility;^a

  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.^b

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.

²³Do not meddle in matters that are beyond you,

  for more than you can understand has 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.^c

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.

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.

4

My 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 desperate,

  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 politely.

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.

¹¹Wisdom teaches^a her children

  and gives help to those who seek her.

¹²Whoever loves her loves life,

  and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.

¹³Whoever holds her fast inherits glory,

  and the Lord blesses the place she^b enters.

¹⁴Those who serve her minister to the Holy One;

  the Lord loves those who love her.

¹⁵Those who obey her will judge the nations,

  and all who listen to her will live secure.

¹⁶If they remain faithful, they will inherit her;

  their descendants will also obtain her.

¹⁷For at first she will walk with them on tortuous paths;

  she will bring fear and dread upon them,

and will torment them by her discipline until she trusts them,^c

  and she will test them with her ordinances.

¹⁸Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them,

  and will reveal her secrets to them.

¹⁹If they go astray she will forsake them,

  and hand them over to their ruin.

²⁰Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil,

  and do not be ashamed to be yourself.

²¹For there is a shame that leads to sin,

  and there is a shame that is glory and favor.

²²Do not show partiality, to your own harm,

  or deference, to your downfall.

²³Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment,^d

  and do not hide your wisdom.^e

²⁴For wisdom becomes known through speech,

  and education through the words of the tongue.

²⁵Never speak against the truth,

  but be ashamed of your ignorance.

²⁶Do not be ashamed to confess your sins,

  and do not try to stop the current of a river.

²⁷Do not subject yourself to a fool,

  or show partiality to a ruler.

²⁸Fight to the death for truth,

  and the Lord God will fight for you.

²⁹Do not be reckless in your speech,

  or sluggish and remiss in your deeds.

³⁰Do not be like a lion in your home,

  or suspicious of your servants.

³¹Do not let your hand be stretched out to receive

  and closed when it is time to give.

5

Do not rely on your wealth,

  or say, “I have enough.”

²Do not follow your inclination and strength

  in pursuing the desires of your heart.

³Do not say, “Who can have power over me?”

  for the Lord will surely punish you.

⁴Do not say, “I sinned, yet what has happened to me?”

  for the Lord is slow to anger.

⁵Do not be so confident of forgiveness^a

  that you add sin to sin.

⁶Do not say, “His mercy is great,

  he will forgive^b the multitude of my sins,”

for both mercy and wrath are with him,

  and his anger will rest on sinners.

⁷Do not delay to turn back to the Lord,

  and do not postpone it from day to day;

for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come upon you,

  and at the time of punishment you will perish.

⁸Do not depend on dishonest wealth,

  for it will not benefit you on the day of calamity.

⁹Do not winnow in every wind,

  or follow every path.^c

¹⁰Stand firm for what you know,

  and let your speech be consistent.

¹¹Be quick to hear,

  but deliberate in answering.

¹²If you know what to say, answer your neighbor;

  but if not, put your hand over your mouth.

¹³Honor and dishonor come from speaking,

  and the tongue of mortals may be their downfall.

¹⁴Do not be called double-tongued^d

  and do not lay traps with your tongue;

for shame comes to the thief,

  and severe condemnation to the double-tongued.

¹⁵In great and small matters cause no harm,^e

6

¹and do not become an enemy instead of a friend;

  for a bad name incurs shame and reproach;

so it is with the double-tongued sinner.

²Do not fall into the grip of passion,^f

  or you may be torn apart as by a bull.^g

³Your leaves will be devoured and your fruit destroyed,

  and you will be left like a withered tree.

⁴Evil passion destroys those who have it,

  and makes them the laughingstock of their enemies.

⁵Pleasant speech multiplies friends,

  and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.

⁶Let those who are friendly with you be many,

  but let your advisers be one in a thousand.

⁷When you gain friends, gain them through testing,

  and do not trust them hastily.

⁸For there are friends who are such when it suits them,

  but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.

⁹And there are friends who change into enemies,

  and tell of the quarrel to your disgrace.

¹⁰And there are friends who sit at your table,

  but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.

¹¹When you are prosperous, they become your second self,

  and lord it over your servants;

¹²but if you are brought low, they turn against you,

  and hide themselves from you.

¹³Keep away from your enemies,

  and be on guard with your friends.

¹⁴Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter:

  whoever finds one has found a treasure.

¹⁵Faithful friends are beyond price;

  no amount can balance their worth.

¹⁶Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;

  and those who fear the Lord will find them.

¹⁷Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright,

  for as they are, so are their neighbors also.

¹⁸My child, from your youth choose discipline,

  and when you have gray hair you will still find wisdom.

¹⁹Come to her like one who plows and sows,

  and wait for her good harvest.

For when you cultivate her you will toil but little,

  and soon you will eat of her produce.

²⁰She seems very harsh to the undisciplined;

  fools cannot remain with her.

²¹She will be like a heavy stone to test them,

  and they will not delay in casting her aside.

²²For wisdom is like her name;

  she is not readily perceived by many.

²³Listen, my child, and accept my judgment;

  do not reject my counsel.

²⁴Put your feet into her fetters,

  and your neck into her collar.

²⁵Bend your shoulders and carry her,

  and do not fret under her bonds.

²⁶Come to her with all your soul,

  and keep her ways with all your might.

²⁷Search out and seek, and she will become known to you;

  and when you get hold of her, do not let her go.

²⁸For at last you will find the rest she gives,

  and she will be changed into joy for you.

²⁹Then her fetters will become for you a strong defense,

  and her collar a glorious robe.

³⁰Her yoke^a is a golden ornament,

  and her bonds a purple cord.

³¹You will wear her like a glorious robe,

  and put her on like a splendid crown.^b

³²If you are willing, my child, you can be disciplined,

  and if you apply yourself you will become clever.

³³If you love to listen you will gain knowledge,

  and if you pay attention you will become wise.

³⁴Stand in the company of the elders.

  Who is wise? Attach yourself to such a one.

³⁵Be ready to listen to every godly discourse,

  and let no wise proverbs escape you.

³⁶If you see an intelligent person, rise early to visit him;

  let your foot wear out his doorstep.

³⁷Reflect on the statutes of the Lord,

  and meditate at all times on his commandments.

It is he who will give insight to^a your mind,

  and your desire for wisdom will be granted.

7

Do no evil, and evil will never overtake you.

²Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you.

³Do^b not sow in the furrows of injustice,

  and you will not reap a sevenfold crop.

⁴Do not seek from the Lord high office,

  or the seat of honor from the king.

⁵Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord,

  or display your wisdom before the king.

⁶Do not seek to become a judge,

  or you may be unable to root out injustice;

  you may be partial to the powerful, and so mar your integrity.

⁷Commit no offense against the public,

  and do not disgrace yourself among the people.

⁸Do not commit a sin twice;

  not even for one will you go unpunished.

⁹Do not say, “He will consider the great number of my gifts,

  and when I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.”

¹⁰Do not grow weary when you pray;

  do not neglect to give alms.

¹¹Do not ridicule a person who is embittered in spirit,

  for there is One who humbles and exalts.

¹²Do not devise^c a lie against your brother,

  or do the same to a friend.

¹³Refuse to utter any lie,

  for it is a habit that results in no good.

¹⁴Do not babble in the assembly of the elders,

  and do not repeat yourself when you pray.

¹⁵Do not hate hard labor

  or farm work, which was created by the Most High.

¹⁶Do not enroll in the ranks of sinners;

  remember that retribution does not delay.

¹⁷Humble yourself to the utmost,

  for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.^d

¹⁸Do not exchange a friend for money,

  or a real brother for the gold of Ophir.

¹⁹Do not dismiss^a a wise and good wife,

  for her charm is worth more than gold.

²⁰Do not abuse slaves who work faithfully,

  or hired laborers who devote themselves to their task.

²¹Let your soul love intelligent slaves;^b

  do not withhold from them their freedom.

²²Do you have cattle? Look after them;

  if they are profitable to you, keep them.

²³Do you have children? Discipline them,

  and make them obedient^c from their youth.

²⁴Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity,^d

  and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.

²⁵Give a daughter in marriage, and you complete a great task;

  but give her to a sensible man.

²⁶Do you have a wife who pleases you?^e Do not divorce her;

  but do not trust yourself to one whom you detest.

²⁷With all your heart honor your father,

  and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother.

²⁸Remember that it was of your parents^f you were born;

  how can you repay what they have given to you?

²⁹With all your soul fear the Lord,

  and revere his priests.

³⁰With all your might love your Maker,

  and do not neglect his ministers.

³¹Fear the Lord and honor the priest,

  and give him his portion, as you have been commanded:

the first fruits, the guilt offering, the gift of the shoulders,

  the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of the holy things.

³²Stretch out your hand to the poor,

  so that your blessing may be complete.

³³Give graciously to all the living;

  do not withhold kindness even from the dead.

³⁴Do not avoid those who weep,

  but mourn with those who mourn.

³⁵Do not hesitate to visit the sick,

  because for such deeds you will be loved.

³⁶In all you do, remember the end of your life,

  and then you will never sin.

8

Do not contend with the powerful,

  or you may fall into their hands.

²Do not quarrel with the rich,

  in case their resources outweigh yours;

for gold has ruined many,

  and has perverted the minds of kings.

³Do not argue with the loud of mouth,

  and do not heap wood on their fire.

⁴Do not make fun of one who is ill-bred,

  or your ancestors may be insulted.

⁵Do not reproach one who is turning away from sin;

  remember that we all deserve punishment.

⁶Do not disdain one who is old,

  for some of us are also growing old.

⁷Do not rejoice over anyone's death;

  remember that we must all die.

⁸Do not slight the discourse of the sages,

  but busy yourself with their maxims;

because from them you will learn discipline

  and how to serve princes.

⁹Do not ignore the discourse of the aged,

  for they themselves learned from their parents;^a

from them you learn how to understand

  and to give an answer when the need arises.

¹⁰Do not kindle the coals of sinners,

  or you may be burned in their flaming fire.

¹¹Do not let the insolent bring you to your feet,

  or they may lie in ambush against your words.

¹²Do not lend to one who is stronger than you;

  but if you do lend anything, count it as a loss.

¹³Do not give surety beyond your means;

  but if you give surety, be prepared to pay.

¹⁴Do not go to law against a judge,

  for the decision will favor him because of his standing.

¹⁵Do not go traveling with the reckless,

  or they will be burdensome to you;

for they will act as they please,

  and through their folly you will perish with them.

¹⁶Do not pick a fight with the quick-tempered,

  and do not journey with them through lonely country,

because bloodshed means nothing to them,

  and where no help is at hand, they will strike you down.

¹⁷Do not consult with fools,

  for they cannot keep a secret.

¹⁸In the presence of strangers do nothing that is to be kept secret,

  for you do not know what they will divulge.^b

¹⁹Do not reveal your thoughts to anyone,

  or you may drive away your happiness.^c

9

Do not be jealous of the wife of your bosom,

  or you will teach her an evil lesson to your own hurt.

²Do not give yourself to a woman

  and let her trample down your strength.

³Do not go near a loose woman,

  or you will fall into her snares.

⁴Do not dally with a singing girl,

  or you will be caught by her tricks.

⁵Do not look intently at a virgin,

  or you may stumble and incur penalties for her.

⁶Do not give yourself to prostitutes,

  or you may lose your inheritance.

⁷Do not look around in the streets of a city,

  or wander about in its deserted sections.

⁸Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman,

  and do not gaze at beauty belonging to another;

many have been seduced by a woman's beauty,

  and by it passion is kindled like a fire.

⁹Never dine with another man's wife,

  or revel with her at wine;

or your heart may turn aside to her,

  and in blood^a you may be plunged into destruction.

¹⁰Do not abandon old friends,

  for new ones cannot equal them.

A new friend is like new wine;

  when it has aged, you can drink it with pleasure.

¹¹Do not envy the success of sinners,

  for you do not know what their end will be like.

¹²Do not delight in what pleases the ungodly;

  remember that they will not be held guiltless all their lives.

¹³Keep far from those who have power to kill,

  and you will not be haunted by the fear of death.

But if you approach them, make no misstep,

  or they may rob you of your life.

Know that you are stepping among snares,

  and that you are walking on the city battlements.

¹⁴As much as you can, aim to know your neighbors,

  and consult with the wise.

¹⁵Let your conversation be with intelligent people,

  and let all your discussion be about the law of the Most High.

¹⁶Let the righteous be your dinner companions,

  and let your glory be in the fear of the Lord.

¹⁷A work is praised for the skill of the artisan;

  so a people's leader is proved wise by his words.

¹⁸The loud of mouth are feared in their city,

  and the one who is reckless in speech is hated.

10

A wise magistrate educates his people,

  and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered.

²As the people's judge is, so are his officials;

  as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants.

³An undisciplined king ruins his people,

  but a city becomes fit to live in through the understanding of its rulers.

⁴The government of the earth is in the hand of the Lord,

  and over it he will raise up the right leader for the time.

⁵Human success is in the hand of the Lord,

  and it is he who confers honor upon the lawgiver.^b

⁶Do not get angry with your neighbor for every injury,

  and do not resort to acts of insolence.

⁷Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals,

  and injustice is outrageous to both.

⁸Sovereignty passes from nation to nation

  on account of injustice and insolence and wealth.^c

⁹How can dust and ashes be proud?

  Even in life the human body decays.^a

¹⁰A long illness baffles the physician;^b

  the king of today will die tomorrow.

¹¹For when one is dead

  he inherits maggots and vermin^c and worms.

¹²The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;

  the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.

¹³For the beginning of pride is sin,

  and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.

Therefore the Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities,

  and destroys them completely.

¹⁴The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers,

  and enthrones the lowly in their place.

¹⁵The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations,^d

  and plants the humble in their place.

¹⁶The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations,

  and destroys them to the foundations of the earth.

¹⁷He removes some of them and destroys them,

  and erases the memory of them from the earth.

¹⁸Pride was not created for human beings,

  or violent anger for those born of women.

¹⁹Whose offspring are worthy of honor?

  Human offspring.

Whose offspring are worthy of honor?

  Those who fear the Lord.

Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?

  Human offspring.

Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?

  Those who break the commandments.

²⁰Among family members their leader is worthy of honor,

  but those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes.^e

²²The rich, and the eminent, and the poor—

  their glory is the fear of the Lord.

²³It is not right to despise one who is intelligent but poor,

  and it is not proper to honor one who is sinful.

²⁴The prince and the judge and the ruler are honored,

  but none of them is greater than the one who fears the Lord.

²⁵Free citizens will serve a wise servant,

  and an intelligent person will not complain.

²⁶Do not make a display of your wisdom when you do your work,

  and do not boast when you are in need.

²⁷Better is the worker who has goods in plenty

  than the boaster who lacks bread.

²⁸My child, honor yourself with humility,

  and give yourself the esteem you deserve.

²⁹Who will acquit those who condemn^f themselves?

  And who will honor those who dishonor themselves?^g

³⁰The poor are honored for their knowledge,

  while the rich are honored for their wealth.

³¹One who is honored in poverty, how much more in wealth!

  And one dishonored in wealth, how much more in poverty!

11

The wisdom of the humble lifts their heads high,

  and seats them among the great.

²Do not praise individuals for their good looks,

  or loathe anyone because of appearance alone.

³The bee is small among flying creatures,

  but what it produces is the best of sweet things.

⁴Do not boast about wearing fine clothes,

  and do not exalt yourself when you are honored;

for the works of the Lord are wonderful,

  and his works are concealed from humankind.

⁵Many kings have had to sit on the ground,

  but one who was never thought of has worn a crown.

⁶Many rulers have been utterly disgraced,

  and the honored have been handed over to others.

⁷Do not find fault before you investigate;

  examine first, and then criticize.

⁸Do not answer before you listen,

  and do not interrupt when another is speaking.

⁹Do not argue about a matter that does not concern you,

  and do not sit with sinners when they judge a case.

¹⁰My child, do not busy yourself with many matters;

  if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless.

If you pursue, you will not overtake,

  and by fleeing you will not escape.

¹¹There are those who work and struggle and hurry,

  but are so much the more in want.

¹²There are others who are slow and need help,

  who lack strength and abound in poverty;

but the eyes of the Lord look kindly upon them;

  he lifts them out of their lowly condition

¹³and raises up their heads

  to the amazement of the many.

¹⁴Good things and bad, life and death,

  poverty and wealth, come from the Lord.^a

¹⁷The Lord's gift remains with the devout,

  and his favor brings lasting success.

¹⁸One becomes rich through diligence and self-denial,

  and the reward allotted to him is this:

¹⁹when he says, “I have found rest,

  and now I shall feast on my goods!”

he does not know how long it will be

  until he leaves them to others and dies.

²⁰Stand by your agreement and attend to it,

  and grow old in your work.

²¹Do not wonder at the works of a sinner,

  but trust in the Lord and keep at your job;

for it is easy in the sight of the Lord

  to make the poor rich suddenly, in an instant.

²²The blessing of the Lord is^a the reward of the pious,

  and quickly God causes his blessing to flourish.

²³Do not say, “What do I need,

  and what further benefit can be mine?”

²⁴Do not say, “I have enough,

  and what harm can come to me now?”

²⁵In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten,

  and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered.

²⁶For it is easy for the Lord on the day of death

  to reward individuals according to their conduct.

²⁷An hour's misery makes one forget past delights,

  and at the close of one's life one's deeds are revealed.

²⁸Call no one happy before his death;

  by how he ends, a person becomes known.^b

²⁹Do not invite everyone into your home,

  for many are the tricks of the crafty.

³⁰Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the mind of the proud,

  and like spies they observe your weakness;^c

³¹for they lie in wait, turning good into evil,

  and to worthy actions they attach blame.

³²From a spark many coals are kindled,

  and a sinner lies in wait to shed blood.

³³Beware of scoundrels, for they devise evil,

  and they may ruin your reputation forever.

³⁴Receive strangers into your home and they will stir up trouble for you,

  and will make you a stranger to your own family.

12

If you do good, know to whom you do it,

  and you will be thanked for your good deeds.

²Do good to the devout, and you will be repaid—

  if not by them, certainly by the Most High.

³No good comes to one who persists in evil

  or to one who does not give alms.

⁴Give to the devout, but do not help the sinner.

  ⁵Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly;

hold back their bread, and do not give it to them,

  for by means of it they might subdue you;

then you will receive twice as much evil

  for all the good you have done to them.

⁶For the Most High also hates sinners

  and will inflict punishment on the ungodly.^d

⁷Give to the one who is good, but do not help the sinner.

⁸A friend is not known^e in prosperity,

  nor is an enemy hidden in adversity.

⁹One's enemies are friendly^f when one prospers,

  but in adversity even one's friend disappears.

¹⁰Never trust your enemy,

  for like corrosion in copper, so is his wickedness.

¹¹Even if he humbles himself and walks bowed down,

  take care to be on your guard against him.

Be to him like one who polishes a mirror,

  to be sure it does not become completely tarnished.

¹²Do not put him next to you,

  or he may overthrow you and take your place.

Do not let him sit at your right hand,

  or else he may try to take your own seat,

and at last you will realize the truth of my words,

  and be stung by what I have said.

¹³Who pities a snake charmer when he is bitten,

  or all those who go near wild animals?

¹⁴So no one pities a person who associates with a sinner

  and becomes involved in the other's sins.

¹⁵He stands by you for a while,

  but if you falter, he will not be there.

¹⁶An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips,

  but in his heart he plans to throw you into a pit;

an enemy may have tears in his eyes,

  but if he finds an opportunity he will never have enough of your blood.

¹⁷If evil comes upon you, you will find him there ahead of you;

  pretending to help, he will trip you up.

¹⁸Then he will shake his head, and clap his hands,

  and whisper much, and show his true face.

13

Whoever touches pitch gets dirty,

  and whoever associates with a proud person becomes like him.

²Do not lift a weight too heavy for you,

  or associate with one mightier and richer than you.

How can the clay pot associate with the iron kettle?

  The pot will strike against it and be smashed.

³A rich person does wrong, and even adds insults;

  a poor person suffers wrong, and must add apologies.

⁴A rich person^a will exploit you if you can be of use to him,

  but if you are in need he will abandon you.

⁵If you own something, he will live with you;

  he will drain your resources without a qualm.

⁶When he needs you he will deceive you,

  and will smile at you and encourage you;

  he will speak to you kindly and say, “What do you need?”

⁷He will embarrass you with his delicacies,

  until he has drained you two or three times,

  and finally he will laugh at you.

Should he see you afterwards, he will pass you by

  and shake his head at you.

⁸Take care not to be led astray

  and humiliated when you are enjoying yourself.^b

⁹When an influential person invites you, be reserved,

  and he will invite you more insistently.

¹⁰Do not be forward, or you may be rebuffed;

  do not stand aloof, or you will be forgotten.

¹¹Do not try to treat him as an equal,

  or trust his lengthy conversations;

for he will test you by prolonged talk,

  and while he smiles he will be examining you.

¹²Cruel are those who do not keep your secrets;

  they will not spare you harm or imprisonment.

¹³Be on your guard and very careful,

  for you are walking about with your own downfall.^a

¹⁵Every creature loves its like,

  and every person the neighbor.

¹⁶All living beings associate with their own kind,

  and people stick close to those like themselves.

¹⁷What does a wolf have in common with a lamb?

  No more has a sinner with the devout.

¹⁸What peace is there between a hyena and a dog?

  And what peace between the rich and the poor?

¹⁹Wild asses in the wilderness are the prey of lions;

  likewise the poor are feeding grounds for the rich.

²⁰Humility is an abomination to the proud;

  likewise the poor are an abomination to the rich.

²¹When the rich person totters, he is supported by friends,

  but when the humble^b falls, he is pushed away even by friends.

²²If the rich person slips, many come to the rescue;

  he speaks unseemly words, but they justify him.

If the humble person slips, they even criticize him;

  he talks sense, but is not given a hearing.

²³The rich person speaks and all are silent;

  they extol to the clouds what he says.

The poor person speaks and they say, “Who is this fellow?”

  And should he stumble, they even push him down.

²⁴Riches are good if they are free from sin;

  poverty is evil only in the opinion of the ungodly.

²⁵The heart changes the countenance,

  either for good or for evil.^c

²⁶The sign of a happy heart is a cheerful face,

  but to devise proverbs requires painful thinking.

14

Happy are those who do not blunder with their lips,

  and need not suffer remorse for sin.

²Happy are those whose hearts do not condemn them,

  and who have not given up their hope.

³Riches are inappropriate for a small-minded person;

  and of what use is wealth to a miser?

⁴What he denies himself he collects for others;

  and others will live in luxury on his goods.

⁵If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be generous?

  He will not enjoy his own riches.

⁶No one is worse than one who is grudging to himself;

  this is the punishment for his meanness.

⁷If ever he does good, it is by mistake;

  and in the end he reveals his meanness.

⁸The miser is an evil person;

  he turns away and disregards people.

⁹The eye of the greedy person is not satisfied with his share;

  greedy injustice withers the soul.

¹⁰A miser begrudges bread,

  and it is lacking at his table.

¹¹My child, treat yourself well, according to your means,

  and present worthy offerings to the Lord.

¹²Remember that death does not tarry,

  and the decree^a of Hades has not been shown to you.

¹³Do good to friends before you die,

  and reach out and give to them as much as you can.

¹⁴Do not deprive yourself of a day's enjoyment;

  do not let your share of desired good pass by you.

¹⁵Will you not leave the fruit of your labors to another,

  and what you acquired by toil to be divided by lot?

¹⁶Give, and take, and indulge yourself,

  because in Hades one cannot look for luxury.

¹⁷All living beings become old like a garment,

  for the decree^b from of old is, “You must die!”

¹⁸Like abundant leaves on a spreading tree

  that sheds some and puts forth others,

so are the generations of flesh and blood:

  one dies and another is born.

¹⁹Every work decays and ceases to exist,

  and the one who made it will pass away with it.

²⁰Happy is the person who meditates on^c wisdom

  and reasons intelligently,

²¹who^d reflects in his heart on her ways

  and ponders her secrets,

²²pursuing her like a hunter,

  and lying in wait on her paths;

²³who peers through her windows

  and listens at her doors;

²⁴who camps near her house

  and fastens his tent peg to her walls;

²⁵who pitches his tent near her,

  and so occupies an excellent lodging place;

²⁶who places his children under her shelter,

  and lodges under her boughs;

²⁷who is sheltered by her from the heat,

  and dwells in the midst of her glory.

15

Whoever fears the Lord will do this,

  and whoever holds to the law will obtain wisdom.^e

²She will come to meet him like a mother,

  and like a young bride she will welcome him.

³She will feed him with the bread of learning,

  and give him the water of wisdom to drink.

⁴He will lean on her and not fall,

  and he will rely on her and not be put to shame.

⁵She will exalt him above his neighbors,

  and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.

⁶He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing,

  and will inherit an everlasting name.

⁷The foolish will not obtain her,

  and sinners will not see her.

⁸She is far from arrogance,

  and liars will never think of her.

⁹Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner,

  for it has not been sent from the Lord.

¹⁰For in wisdom must praise be uttered,

  and the Lord will make it prosper.

¹¹Do not say, “It was the Lord's doing that I fell away”;

  for he does not do^a what he hates.

¹²Do not say, “It was he who led me astray”;

  for he has no need of the sinful.

¹³The Lord hates all abominations;

  such things are not loved by those who fear him.

¹⁴It was he who created humankind in the beginning,

  and he left them in the power of their own free choice.

¹⁵If you choose, you can keep the commandments,

  and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.

¹⁶He has placed before you fire and water;

  stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.

¹⁷Before each person are life and death,

  and whichever one chooses will be given.

¹⁸For great is the wisdom of the Lord;

  he is mighty in power and sees everything;

¹⁹his eyes are on those who fear him,

  and he knows every human action.

²⁰He has not commanded anyone to be wicked,

  and he has not given anyone permission to sin.

16

Do not desire a multitude of worthless^b children,

  and do not rejoice in ungodly offspring.

²If they multiply, do not rejoice in them,

  unless the fear of the Lord is in them.

³Do not trust in their survival,

  or rely on their numbers;^c

for one can be better than a thousand,

  and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.

⁴For through one intelligent person a city can be filled with people,

  but through a clan of outlaws it becomes desolate.

⁵Many such things my eye has seen,

  and my ear has heard things more striking than these.

⁶In an assembly of sinners a fire is kindled,

  and in a disobedient nation wrath blazes up.

⁷He did not forgive the ancient giants

  who revolted in their might.

⁸He did not spare the neighbors of Lot,

  whom he loathed on account of their arrogance.

⁹He showed no pity on the doomed nation,

  on those dispossessed because of their sins;^a

¹⁰or on the six hundred thousand foot soldiers

  who assembled in their stubbornness.^b

¹¹Even if there were only one stiff-necked person,

  it would be a wonder if he remained unpunished.

For mercy and wrath are with the Lord;^c

  he is mighty to forgive—but he also pours out wrath.

¹²Great as is his mercy, so also is his chastisement;

  he judges a person according to his or her deeds.

¹³The sinner will not escape with plunder,

  and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.

¹⁴He makes room for every act of mercy;

  everyone receives in accordance with his or her deeds.^d

¹⁷Do not say, “I am hidden from the Lord,

  and who from on high has me in mind?

Among so many people I am unknown,

  for what am I in a boundless creation?

¹⁸Lo, heaven and the highest heaven,

  the abyss and the earth, tremble at his visitation!^e

¹⁹The very mountains and the foundations of the earth

  quiver and quake when he looks upon them.

²⁰But no human mind can grasp this,

  and who can comprehend his ways?

²¹Like a tempest that no one can see,

  so most of his works are concealed.^f

²²Who is to announce his acts of justice?

  Or who can await them? For his decree^g is far off.”^h

²³Such are the thoughts of one devoid of understanding;

  a senseless and misguided person thinks foolishly.

²⁴Listen to me, my child, and acquire knowledge,

  and pay close attention to my words.

²⁵I will impart discipline preciselyⁱ

  and declare knowledge accurately.

²⁶When the Lord created^j his works from the beginning,

  and, in making them, determined their boundaries,

²⁷he arranged his works in an eternal order,

  and their dominion^k for all generations.

They neither hunger nor grow weary,

  and they do not abandon their tasks.

²⁸They do not crowd one another,

  and they never disobey his word.

²⁹Then the Lord looked upon the earth,

  and filled it with his good things.

³⁰With all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,

  and into it they must return.

17

The Lord created human beings out of earth,

  and makes them return to it again.

²He gave them a fixed number of days,

  but granted them authority over everything on the earth.^a

³He endowed them with strength like his own,^b

  and made them in his own image.

⁴He put the fear of them^c in all living beings,

  and gave them dominion over beasts and birds.^d

⁶Discretion and tongue and eyes,

  ears and a mind for thinking he gave them.

⁷He filled them with knowledge and understanding,

  and showed them good and evil.

⁸He put the fear of him into^e their hearts

  to show them the majesty of his works.^f

¹⁰And they will praise his holy name,

⁹to proclaim the grandeur of his works.

¹¹He bestowed knowledge upon them,

  and allotted to them the law of life.^g

¹²He established with them an eternal covenant,

  and revealed to them his decrees.

¹³Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,

  and their ears heard the glory of his voice.

¹⁴He said to them, “Beware of all evil.”

  And he gave commandment to each of them concerning the neighbor.

¹⁵Their ways are always known to him;

  they will not be hid from his eyes.^h

¹⁷He appointed a ruler for every nation,

  but Israel is the Lord's own portion.ⁱ

¹⁹All their works are as clear as the sun before him,

  and his eyes are ever upon their ways.

²⁰Their iniquities are not hidden from him,

  and all their sins are before the Lord.^j

²²One's almsgiving is like a signet ring with the Lord,^k

  and he will keep a person's kindness like the apple of his eye.^l

²³Afterward he will rise up and repay them,

  and he will bring their recompense on their heads.

²⁴Yet to those who repent he grants a return,

  and he encourages those who are losing hope.

²⁵Turn back to the Lord and forsake your sins;

  pray in his presence and lessen your offense.

²⁶Return to the Most High and turn away from iniquity,^a

  and hate intensely what he abhors.

²⁷Who will sing praises to the Most High in Hades

  in place of the living who give thanks?

²⁸From the dead, as from one who does not exist, thanksgiving has ceased;

  those who are alive and well sing the Lord's praises.

²⁹How great is the mercy of the Lord,

  and his forgiveness for those who return to him!

³⁰For not everything is within human capability,

  since human beings are not immortal.

³¹What is brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed.

  So flesh and blood devise evil.

³²He marshals the host of the height of heaven;

  but all human beings are dust and ashes.

18

He who lives forever created the whole universe;

  ²the Lord alone is just.^b

⁴To none has he given power to proclaim his works;

  and who can search out his mighty deeds?

⁵Who can measure his majestic power?

  And who can fully recount his mercies?

⁶It is not possible to diminish or increase them,

  nor is it possible to fathom the wonders of the Lord.

⁷When human beings have finished, they are just beginning,

  and when they stop, they are still perplexed.

⁸What are human beings, and of what use are they?

  What is good in them, and what is evil?

⁹The number of days in their life is great if

  they reach one hundred years.^c

¹⁰Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand,

  so are a few years among the days of eternity.

¹¹That is why the Lord is patient with them

  and pours out his mercy upon them.

¹²He sees and recognizes that their end is miserable;

  therefore he grants them forgiveness all the more.

¹³The compassion of human beings is for their neighbors,

  but the compassion of the Lord is for every living thing.

He rebukes and trains and teaches them,

  and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock.

¹⁴He has compassion on those who accept his discipline

  and who are eager for his precepts.

¹⁵My child, do not mix reproach with your good deeds,

  or spoil your gift by harsh words.

¹⁶Does not the dew give relief from the scorching heat?

  So a word is better than a gift.

¹⁷Indeed, does not a word surpass a good gift?

  Both are to be found in a gracious person.

¹⁸A fool is ungracious and abusive,

  and the gift of a grudging giver makes the eyes dim.

¹⁹Before you speak, learn;

  and before you fall ill, take care of your health.

²⁰Before judgment comes, examine yourself;

  and at the time of scrutiny you will find forgiveness.

²¹Before falling ill, humble yourself;

  and when you have sinned, repent.

²²Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow promptly,

  and do not wait until death to be released from it.

²³Before making a vow, prepare yourself;

  do not be like one who puts the Lord to the test.

²⁴Think of his wrath on the day of death,

  and of the moment of vengeance when he turns away his face.

²⁵In the time of plenty think of the time of hunger;

  in days of wealth think of poverty and need.

²⁶From morning to evening conditions change;

  all things move swiftly before the Lord.

²⁷One who is wise is cautious in everything;

  when sin is all around, one guards against wrongdoing.

²⁸Every intelligent person knows wisdom,

  and praises the one who finds her.

²⁹Those who are skilled in words become wise themselves,

  and pour forth apt proverbs.^a

                 

SELF-CONTROL^b

³⁰Do not follow your base desires,

  but restrain your appetites.

³¹If you allow your soul to take pleasure in base desire,

  it will make you the laughingstock of your enemies.

³²Do not revel in great luxury,

  or you may become impoverished by its expense.

³³Do not become a beggar by feasting with borrowed money,

  when you have nothing in your purse.^c

19

The one who does this^d will not become rich;

one who despises small things will fail little by little.

²Wine and women lead intelligent men astray,

  and the man who consorts with prostitutes is reckless.

³Decay and worms will take possession of him,

  and the reckless person will be snatched away.

⁴One who trusts others too quickly has a shallow mind,

  and one who sins does wrong to himself.

⁵One who rejoices in wickedness^a will be condemned,^b

  ⁶but one who hates gossip has less evil.

⁷Never repeat a conversation,

  and you will lose nothing at all.

⁸With friend or foe do not report it,

  and unless it would be a sin for you, do not reveal it;

⁹for someone may have heard you and watched you,

  and in time will hate you.

¹⁰Have you heard something? Let it die with you.

  Be brave, it will not make you burst!

¹¹Having heard something, the fool suffers birth pangs

  like a woman in labor with a child.

¹²Like an arrow stuck in a person's thigh,

  so is gossip inside a fool.

¹³Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it;

  or if he did, so that he may not do it again.

¹⁴Question a neighbor; perhaps he did not say it;

  or if he said it, so that he may not repeat it.

¹⁵Question a friend, for often it is slander;

  so do not believe everything you hear.

¹⁶A person may make a slip without intending it.

  Who has not sinned with his tongue?

¹⁷Question your neighbor before you threaten him;

  and let the law of the Most High take its course.^c

²⁰The whole of wisdom is fear of the Lord,

  and in all wisdom there is the fulfillment of the law.^d

²²The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom,

  nor is there prudence in the counsel of sinners.

²³There is a cleverness that is detestable,

  and there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.

²⁴Better are the God-fearing who lack understanding

  than the highly intelligent who transgress the law.

²⁵There is a cleverness that is exact but unjust,

  and there are people who abuse favors to gain a verdict.

²⁶There is the villain bowed down in mourning,

but inwardly he is full of deceit.

²⁷He hides his face and pretends not to hear,

  but when no one notices, he will take advantage of you.

²⁸Even if lack of strength keeps him from sinning,

  he will nevertheless do evil when he finds the opportunity.

²⁹A person is known by his appearance,

  and a sensible person is known when first met, face to face.

³⁰A person's attire and hearty laughter,

  and the way he walks, show what he is.

20

There is a rebuke that is untimely,

  and there is the person who is wise enough to keep silent.

²How much better it is to rebuke than to fume!

³And the one who admits his fault will be kept from failure.

⁴Like a eunuch lusting to violate a girl

  is the person who does right under compulsion.

⁵Some people keep silent and are thought to be wise,

  while others are detested for being talkative.

⁶Some people keep silent because they have nothing to say,

  while others keep silent because they know when to speak.

⁷The wise remain silent until the right moment,

  but a boasting fool misses the right moment.

⁸Whoever talks too much is detested,

  and whoever pretends to authority is hated.^a

⁹There may be good fortune for a person in adversity,

  and a windfall may result in a loss.

¹⁰There is the gift that profits you nothing,

  and the gift to be paid back double.

¹¹There are losses for the sake of glory,

  and there are some who have raised their heads from humble circumstances.

¹²Some buy much for little,

  but pay for it seven times over.

¹³The wise make themselves beloved by only few words,^b

  but the courtesies of fools are wasted.

¹⁴A fool's gift will profit you nothing,^c

  for he looks for recompense sevenfold.^d

¹⁵He gives little and upbraids much;

  he opens his mouth like a town crier.

Today he lends and tomorrow he asks it back;

  such a one is hateful to God and humans.^e

¹⁶The fool says, “I have no friends,

  and I get no thanks for my good deeds.

Those who eat my bread are evil-tongued.”

  ¹⁷How many will ridicule him, and how often!^f

¹⁸A slip on the pavement is better than a slip of the tongue;

  the downfall of the wicked will occur just as speedily.

¹⁹A coarse person is like an inappropriate story,

  continually on the lips of the ignorant.

²⁰A proverb from a fool's lips will be rejected,

  for he does not tell it at the proper time.

²¹One may be prevented from sinning by poverty;

  so when he rests he feels no remorse.

²²One may lose his life through shame,

  or lose it because of human respect.^a

²³Another out of shame makes promises to a friend,

  and so makes an enemy for nothing.

²⁴A lie is an ugly blot on a person;

  it is continually on the lips of the ignorant.

²⁵A thief is preferable to a habitual liar,

  but the lot of both is ruin.

²⁶A liar's way leads to disgrace,

  and his shame is ever with him.

PROVERBIAL SAYINGS^b

¹The wise person advances himself by his words,

  and one who is sensible pleases the great.

²⁸Those who cultivate the soil heap up their harvest,

  and those who please the great atone for injustice.

²⁹Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise;

  like a muzzle on the mouth they stop reproofs.

³⁰Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure,

  of what value is either?

³¹Better are those who hide their folly

  than those who hide their wisdom.^c

21

Have you sinned, my child? Do so no more,

  but ask forgiveness for your past sins.

²Flee from sin as from a snake;

  for if you approach sin, it will bite you.

Its teeth are lion's teeth,

  and can destroy human lives.

³All lawlessness is like a two-edged sword;

  there is no healing for the wound it inflicts.

⁴Panic and insolence will waste away riches;

  thus the house of the proud will be laid waste.^d

⁵The prayer of the poor goes from their lips to the ears of God,^e

  and his judgment comes speedily.

⁶Those who hate reproof walk in the sinner's steps,

  but those who fear the Lord repent in their heart.

⁷The mighty in speech are widely known;

  when they slip, the sensible person knows it.

⁸Whoever builds his house with other people's money

  is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound.^f

⁹An assembly of the wicked is like a bundle of tow,

  and their end is a blazing fire.

¹⁰The way of sinners is paved with smooth stones,

  but at its end is the pit of Hades.

¹¹Whoever keeps the law controls his thoughts,

  and the fulfillment of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.

¹²The one who is not clever cannot be taught,

  but there is a cleverness that increases bitterness.

¹³The knowledge of the wise will increase like a flood,

  and their counsel like a life-giving spring.

¹⁴The mind^a of a fool is like a broken jar;

  it can hold no knowledge.

¹⁵When an intelligent person hears a wise saying,

  he praises it and adds to it;

when a fool^b hears it, he laughs at^c it

  and throws it behind his back.

¹⁶A fool's chatter is like a burden on a journey,

  but delight is found in the speech of the intelligent.

¹⁷The utterance of a sensible person is sought in the assembly,

  and they ponder his words in their minds.

¹⁸Like a house in ruins is wisdom to a fool,

  and to the ignorant, knowledge is talk that has no meaning.

¹⁹To a senseless person education is fetters on his feet,

  and like manacles on his right hand.

²⁰A fool raises his voice when he laughs,

  but the wise^d smile quietly.

²¹To the sensible person education is like a golden ornament,

  and like a bracelet on the right arm.

²²The foot of a fool rushes into a house,

  but an experienced person waits respectfully outside.

²³A boor peers into the house from the door,

  but a cultivated person remains outside.

²⁴It is ill-mannered for a person to listen at a door;

  the discreet would be grieved by the disgrace.

²⁵The lips of babblers speak of what is not their concern,^e

  but the words of the prudent are weighed in the balance.

²⁶The mind of fools is in their mouth,

  but the mouth of the wise is in^f their mind.

²⁷When an ungodly person curses an adversary,^g

  he curses himself.

²⁸A whisperer degrades himself

  and is hated in his neighborhood.

22

The idler is like a filthy stone,

  and every one hisses at his disgrace.

²The idler is like the filth of dunghills;

  anyone that picks it up will shake it off his hand.

³It is a disgrace to be the father of an undisciplined son,

  and the birth of a daughter is a loss.

⁴A sensible daughter obtains a husband of her own,

  but one who acts shamefully is a grief to her father.

⁵An impudent daughter disgraces father and husband,

  and is despised by both.

⁶Like music in time of mourning is ill-timed conversation,

  but a thrashing and discipline are at all times wisdom.^a

⁹Whoever teaches a fool is like one who glues potsherds together,

  or who rouses a sleeper from deep slumber.

¹⁰Whoever tells a story to a fool tells it to a drowsy man;

  and at the end he will say, “What is it?”

¹¹Weep for the dead, for he has left the light behind;

  and weep for the fool, for he has left intelligence behind.

Weep less bitterly for the dead, for he is at rest;

  but the life of the fool is worse than death.

¹²Mourning for the dead lasts seven days,

  but for the foolish or the ungodly it lasts all the days of their lives.

¹³Do not talk much with a senseless person

  or visit an unintelligent person.^b

Stay clear of him, or you may have trouble,

  and be spattered when he shakes himself off.

Avoid him and you will find rest,

  and you will never be wearied by his lack of sense.

¹⁴What is heavier than lead?

  And what is its name except “Fool”?

¹⁵Sand, salt, and a piece of iron

  are easier to bear than a stupid person.

¹⁶A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building

  is not loosened by an earthquake;

so the mind firmly resolved after due reflection

  will not be afraid in a crisis.

¹⁷A mind settled on an intelligent thought

  is like stucco decoration that makes a wall smooth.

¹⁸Fences^c set on a high place

  will not stand firm against the wind;

so a timid mind with a fool's resolve

  will not stand firm against any fear.

¹⁹One who pricks the eye brings tears,

  and one who pricks the heart makes clear its feelings.

²⁰One who throws a stone at birds scares them away,

  and one who reviles a friend destroys a friendship.

²¹Even if you draw your sword against a friend,

  do not despair, for there is a way back.

²²If you open your mouth against your friend,

  do not worry, for reconciliation is possible.

But as for reviling, arrogance, disclosure of secrets, or a treacherous blow—

  in these cases any friend will take to flight.

²³Gain the trust of your neighbor in his poverty,

  so that you may rejoice with him in his prosperity.

Stand by him in time of distress,

  so that you may share with him in his inheritance.^d

²⁴The vapor and smoke of the furnace precede the fire;

  so insults precede bloodshed.

²⁵I am not ashamed to shelter a friend,

  and I will not hide from him.

²⁶But if harm should come to me because of him,

  whoever hears of it will beware of him.

²⁷Who will set a guard over my mouth,

  and an effective seal upon my lips,

so that I may not fall because of them,

  and my tongue may not destroy me?

23

O Lord, Father and Master of my life,

  do not abandon me to their designs,

and do not let me fall because of them!

²Who will set whips over my thoughts,

  and the discipline of wisdom over my mind,

so as not to spare me in my errors,

  and not overlook my^a sins?

³Otherwise my mistakes may be multiplied,

  and my sins may abound,

and I may fall before my adversaries,

  and my enemy may rejoice over me.^b

⁴O Lord, Father and God of my life,

  do not give me haughty eyes,

⁵and remove evil desire from me.

⁶Let neither gluttony nor lust overcome me,

  and do not give me over to shameless passion.

DISCIPLINE OF THE TONGUE^c

⁷Listen, my children, to instruction concerning the mouth;

  the one who observes it will never be caught.

⁸Sinners are overtaken through their lips;

  by them the reviler and the arrogant are tripped up.

⁹Do not accustom your mouth to oaths,

  nor habitually utter the name of the Holy One;

¹⁰for as a servant who is constantly under scrutiny

  will not lack bruises,

so also the person who always swears and utters the Name

  will never be cleansed^d from sin.

¹¹The one who swears many oaths is full of iniquity,

  and the scourge will not leave his house.

If he swears in error, his sin remains on him,

  and if he disregards it, he sins doubly;

if he swears a false oath, he will not be justified,

  for his house will be filled with calamities.

¹²There is a manner of speaking comparable to death;^e

  may it never be found in the inheritance of Jacob!

Such conduct will be far from the godly,

  and they will not wallow in sins.

¹³Do not accustom your mouth to coarse, foul language,

  for it involves sinful speech.

¹⁴Remember your father and mother

  when you sit among the great,

or you may forget yourself in their presence,

  and behave like a fool through bad habit;

then you will wish that you had never been born,

  and you will curse the day of your birth.

¹⁵Those who are accustomed to using abusive language

  will never become disciplined as long as they live.

¹⁶Two kinds of individuals multiply sins,

  and a third incurs wrath.

Hot passion that blazes like a fire

  will not be quenched until it burns itself out;

one who commits fornication with his near of kin

  will never cease until the fire burns him up.

¹⁷To a fornicator all bread is sweet;

  he will never weary until he dies.

¹⁸The one who sins against his marriage bed

  says to himself, “Who can see me?

Darkness surrounds me, the walls hide me,

  and no one sees me. Why should I worry?

  The Most High will not remember sins.”

¹⁹His fear is confined to human eyes

  and he does not realize that the eyes of the Lord

are ten thousand times brighter than the sun;

  they look upon every aspect of human behavior

  and see into hidden corners.

²⁰Before the universe was created, it was known to him,

  and so it is since its completion.

²¹This man will be punished in the streets of the city,

  and where he least suspects it, he will be seized.

²²So it is with a woman who leaves her husband

  and presents him with an heir by another man.

²³For first of all, she has disobeyed the law of the Most High;

second, she has committed an offense against her husband;

  and third, through her fornication she has committed adultery

  and brought forth children by another man.

²⁴She herself will be brought before the assembly,

  and her punishment will extend to her children.

²⁵Her children will not take root,

  and her branches will not bear fruit.

²⁶She will leave behind an accursed memory

  and her disgrace will never be blotted out.

²⁷Those who survive her will recognize

  that nothing is better than the fear of the Lord,

  and nothing sweeter than to heed the commandments of the Lord.^a

24

THE PRAISE OF WISDOM^b

Wisdom praises herself,

  and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.

²In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,

  and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:

³“I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,

  and covered the earth like a mist.

⁴I dwelt in the highest heavens,

  and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.

⁵Alone I compassed the vault of heaven

  and traversed the depths of the abyss.

⁶Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,

  and over every people and nation I have held sway.^a

⁷Among all these I sought a resting place;

  in whose territory should I abide?

⁸“Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,

  and my Creator chose the place for my tent.

He said, ‘Make your dwelling in Jacob,

  and in Israel receive your inheritance.’

⁹Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,

  and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.

¹⁰In the holy tent I ministered before him,

  and so I was established in Zion.

¹¹Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting place,

  and in Jerusalem was my domain.

¹²I took root in an honored people,

  in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.

¹³“I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon,

  and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.

¹⁴I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedi,^b

  and like rosebushes in Jericho;

like a fair olive tree in the field,

  and like a plane tree beside water^c I grew tall.

¹⁵Like cassia and camel's thorn I gave forth perfume,

  and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance,

like galbanum, onycha, and stacte,

  and like the odor of incense in the tent.

¹⁶Like a terebinth I spread out my branches,

  and my branches are glorious and graceful.

¹⁷Like the vine I bud forth delights,

  and my blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit.^d

¹⁹“Come to me, you who desire me,

  and eat your fill of my fruits.

²⁰For the memory of me is sweeter than honey,

  and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.

²¹Those who eat of me will hunger for more,

  and those who drink of me will thirst for more.

²²Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,

  and those who work with me will not sin.”

²³All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God,

  the law that Moses commanded us

  as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.^a

²⁵It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom,

  and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits.

²⁶It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding,

  and like the Jordan at harvest time.

²⁷It pours forth instruction like the Nile,^b

  like the Gihon at the time of vintage.

²⁸The first man did not know wisdom^c fully,

  nor will the last one fathom her.

²⁹For her thoughts are more abundant than the sea,

  and her counsel deeper than the great abyss.

³⁰As for me, I was like a canal from a river,

  like a water channel into a garden.

³¹I said, “I will water my garden

  and drench my flower-beds.”

And lo, my canal became a river,

  and my river a sea.

³²I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn,

  and I will make it clear from far away.

³³I will again pour out teaching like prophecy,

  and leave it to all future generations.

³⁴Observe that I have not labored for myself alone,

  but for all who seek wisdom.^c

25

I take pleasure in three things,

  and they are beautiful in the sight of God and of mortals:^d

agreement among brothers and sisters, friendship among neighbors,

  and a wife and a husband who live in harmony.

²I hate three kinds of people,

  and I loathe their manner of life:

a pauper who boasts, a rich person who lies,

  and an old fool who commits adultery.

³If you gathered nothing in your youth,

  how can you find anything in your old age?

⁴How attractive is sound judgment in the gray-haired,

  and for the aged to possess good counsel!

⁵How attractive is wisdom in the aged,

  and understanding and counsel in the venerable!

⁶Rich experience is the crown of the aged,

  and their boast is the fear of the Lord.

⁷I can think of nine whom I would call blessed,

  and a tenth my tongue proclaims:

a man who can rejoice in his children;

  a man who lives to see the downfall of his foes.

⁸Happy the man who lives with a sensible wife,

  and the one who does not plow with ox and ass together.^e

Happy is the one who does not sin with the tongue,

  and the one who has not served an inferior.

⁹Happy is the one who finds a friend,^a

  and the one who speaks to attentive listeners.

¹⁰How great is the one who finds wisdom!

  But none is superior to the one who fears the Lord.

¹¹Fear of the Lord surpasses everything;

  to whom can we compare the one who has it?^b

¹³Any wound, but not a wound of the heart!

  Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a woman!

¹⁴Any suffering, but not suffering from those who hate!

  And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of enemies!

¹⁵There is no venom^c worse than a snake's venom,^c

  and no anger worse than a woman's^d wrath.

¹⁶I would rather live with a lion and a dragon

  than live with an evil woman.

¹⁷A woman's wickedness changes her appearance,

  and darkens her face like that of a bear.

¹⁸Her husband sits^e among the neighbors,

  and he cannot help sighing^f bitterly.

¹⁹Any iniquity is small compared to a woman's iniquity;

  may a sinner's lot befall her!

²⁰A sandy ascent for the feet of the aged—

  such is a garrulous wife to a quiet husband.

²¹Do not be ensnared by a woman's beauty,

  and do not desire a woman for her possessions.^g

²²There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace

  when a wife supports her husband.

²³Dejected mind, gloomy face,

  and wounded heart come from an evil wife.

Drooping hands and weak knees

  come from the wife who does not make her husband happy.

²⁴From a woman sin had its beginning,

  and because of her we all die.

²⁵Allow no outlet to water,

  and no boldness of speech to an evil wife.

²⁶If she does not go as you direct,

  separate her from yourself.

26

Happy is the husband of a good wife;

  the number of his days will be doubled.

²A loyal wife brings joy to her husband,

  and he will complete his years in peace.

³A good wife is a great blessing;

  she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord.

⁴Whether rich or poor, his heart is content,

  and at all times his face is cheerful.

⁵Of three things my heart is frightened,

  and of a fourth I am in great fear:^a

Slander in the city, the gathering of a mob,

  and false accusation—all these are worse than death.

⁶But it is heartache and sorrow when a wife is jealous of a rival,

  and a tongue-lashing makes it known to all.

⁷A bad wife is a chafing yoke;

  taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.

⁸A drunken wife arouses great anger;

  she cannot hide her shame.

⁹The haughty stare betrays an unchaste wife;

  her eyelids give her away.

¹⁰Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter,

  or else, when she finds liberty, she will make use of it.

¹¹Be on guard against her impudent eye,

  and do not be surprised if she sins against you.

¹²As a thirsty traveler opens his mouth

  and drinks from any water near him,

so she will sit in front of every tent peg

  and open her quiver to the arrow.

¹³A wife's charm delights her husband,

  and her skill puts flesh on his bones.

¹⁴A silent wife is a gift from the Lord,

  and nothing is so precious as her self-discipline.

¹⁵A modest wife adds charm to charm,

  and no scales can weigh the value of her chastity.

¹⁶Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord,

  so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.

¹⁷Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand,

  so is a beautiful face on a stately figure.

¹⁸Like golden pillars on silver bases,

  so are shapely legs and steadfast feet.

                                              

        Other ancient authorities add verses 19-27:

¹⁹My child, keep sound the bloom of your youth,

  and do not give your strength to strangers.

²⁰Seek a fertile field within the whole plain,

  and sow it with your own seed, trusting in your fine stock.

²¹So your offspring will prosper,

  and, having confidence in their good descent, will grow great.

²²A prostitute is regarded as spittle,

  and a married woman as a tower of death to her lovers.

²³A godless wife is given as a portion to a lawless man,

  but a pious wife is given to the man who fears the Lord.

²⁴A shameless woman constantly acts disgracefully,

  but a modest daughter will even be embarrassed before her husband.

²⁵A headstrong wife is regarded as a dog,

  but one who has a sense of shame will fear the Lord.

²⁶A wife honoring her husband will seem wise to all,

  but if she dishonors him in her pride she will be known to all as ungodly.

Happy is the husband of a good wife;

  for the number of his years will be doubled.

²⁷A loud-voiced and garrulous wife is like a trumpet sounding the charge,

  and every person like this lives in the anarchy of war.

                 

²⁸At two things my heart is grieved,

  and because of a third anger comes over me:

a warrior in want through poverty,

  intelligent men who are treated contemptuously,

and a man who turns back from righteousness to sin—

  the Lord will prepare him for the sword!

²⁹A merchant can hardly keep from wrongdoing,

  nor is a tradesman innocent of sin.

27

Many have committed sin for gain,^a

  and those who seek to get rich will avert their eyes.

²As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones,

  so sin is wedged in between selling and buying.

³If a person is not steadfast in the fear of the Lord,

  his house will be quickly overthrown.

⁴When a sieve is shaken, the refuse appears;

  so do a person's faults when he speaks.

⁵The kiln tests the potter's vessels;

  so the test of a person is in his conversation.

⁶Its fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree;

  so a person's speech discloses the cultivation of his mind.

⁷Do not praise anyone before he speaks,

  for this is the way people are tested.

⁸If you pursue justice, you will attain it

  and wear it like a glorious robe.

⁹Birds roost with their own kind,

  so honesty comes home to those who practice it.

¹⁰A lion lies in wait for prey;

  so does sin for evildoers.

¹¹The conversation of the godly is always wise,

  but the fool changes like the moon.

¹²Among stupid people limit your time,

  but among thoughtful people linger on.

¹³The talk of fools is offensive,

  and their laughter is wantonly sinful.

¹⁴Their cursing and swearing make one's hair stand on end,

  and their quarrels make others stop their ears.

¹⁵The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed,

  and their abuse is grievous to hear.

¹⁶Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence,

  and will never find a congenial friend.

¹⁷Love your friend and keep faith with him;

  but if you betray his secrets, do not follow after him.

¹⁸For as a person destroys his enemy,

  so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.

¹⁹And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand,

  so you have let your neighbor go, and will not catch him again.

²⁰Do not go after him, for he is too far off,

  and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.

²¹For a wound may be bandaged,

  and there is reconciliation after abuse,

but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope.

²²Whoever winks the eye plots mischief,

  and those who know him will keep their distance.

²³In your presence his mouth is all sweetness,

  and he admires your words;

but later he will twist his speech

  and with your own words he will trip you up.

²⁴I have hated many things, but him above all;

  even the Lord hates him.

²⁵Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head,

  and a treacherous blow opens up many wounds.

²⁶Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,

  and whoever sets a snare will be caught in it.

²⁷If a person does evil, it will roll back upon him,

  and he will not know where it came from.

²⁸Mockery and abuse issue from the proud,

  but vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.

²⁹Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare,

  and pain will consume them before their death.

³⁰Anger and wrath, these also are abominations,

  yet a sinner holds on to them.

28

The vengeful will face the Lord's vengeance,

  for he keeps a strict account of^a their sins.

²Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done,

  and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.

³Does anyone harbor anger against another,

  and expect healing from the Lord?

⁴If one has no mercy toward another like himself,

  can he then seek pardon for his own sins?

⁵If a mere mortal harbors wrath,

  who will make an atoning sacrifice for his sins?

⁶Remember the end of your life, and set enmity aside;

  remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.

⁷Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbor;

  remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook faults.

⁸Refrain from strife, and your sins will be fewer;

  for the hot-tempered kindle strife,

⁹and the sinner disrupts friendships

  and sows discord among those who are at peace.

¹⁰In proportion to the fuel, so will the fire burn,

  and in proportion to the obstinacy, so will strife increase;^b

in proportion to a person's strength will be his anger,

  and in proportion to his wealth he will increase his wrath.

¹¹A hasty quarrel kindles a fire,

  and a hasty dispute sheds blood.

¹²If you blow on a spark, it will glow;

  if you spit on it, it will be put out;

  yet both come out of your mouth.

¹³Curse the gossips and the double-tongued,

  for they destroy the peace of many.

¹⁴Slander^a has shaken many,

  and scattered them from nation to nation;

it has destroyed strong cities,

  and overturned the houses of the great.

¹⁵Slander^a has driven virtuous women from their homes,

  and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.

¹⁶Those who pay heed to slander^b will not find rest,

  nor will they settle down in peace.

¹⁷The blow of a whip raises a welt,

  but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.

¹⁸Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,

  but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.

¹⁹Happy is the one who is protected from it,

  who has not been exposed to its anger,

who has not borne its yoke,

  and has not been bound with its fetters.

²⁰For its yoke is a yoke of iron,

  and its fetters are fetters of bronze;

²¹its death is an evil death,

  and Hades is preferable to it.

²²It has no power over the godly;

  they will not be burned in its flame.

²³Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power;

  it will burn among them and will not be put out.

It will be sent out against them like a lion;

  like a leopard it will mangle them.

^24a As you fence in your property with thorns,

  ^25b so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.

^24b As you lock up your silver and gold,

  ^25a so make balances and scales for your words.

²⁶Take care not to err with your tongue,^c

  and fall victim to one lying in wait.

29

The merciful lend to their neighbors;

  by holding out a helping hand they keep the commandments.

²Lend to your neighbor in his time of need;

  repay your neighbor when a loan falls due.

³Keep your promise and be honest with him,

  and on every occasion you will find what you need.

⁴Many regard a loan as a windfall,

  and cause trouble to those who help them.

⁵One kisses another's hands until he gets a loan,

  and is deferential in speaking of his neighbor's money;

but at the time for repayment he delays,

  and pays back with empty promises,

  and finds fault with the time.

⁶If he can pay, his creditor^d will hardly get back half,

  and will regard that as a windfall.

If he cannot pay, the borrower^d has robbed the other of his money,

  and he has needlessly made him an enemy;

he will repay him with curses and reproaches,

  and instead of glory will repay him with dishonor.

⁷Many refuse to lend, not because of meanness,

  but from fear^a of being defrauded needlessly.

⁸Nevertheless, be patient with someone in humble circumstances,

  and do not keep him waiting for your alms.

⁹Help the poor for the commandment's sake,

  and in their need do not send them away empty-handed.

¹⁰Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend,

  and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost.

¹¹Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High,

  and it will profit you more than gold.

¹²Store up almsgiving in your treasury,

  and it will rescue you from every disaster;

¹³better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear,

  it will fight for you against the enemy.

¹⁴A good person will be surety for his neighbor,

  but the one who has lost all sense of shame will fail him.

¹⁵Do not forget the kindness of your guarantor,

  for he has given his life for you.

¹⁶A sinner wastes the property of his guarantor,

  ¹⁷and the ungrateful person abandons his rescuer.

¹⁸Being surety has ruined many who were prosperous,

  and has tossed them about like waves of the sea;

it has driven the influential into exile,

  and they have wandered among foreign nations.

¹⁹The sinner comes to grief through surety;

  his pursuit of gain involves him in lawsuits.

²⁰Assist your neighbor to the best of your ability,

  but be careful not to fall yourself.

²¹The necessities of life are water, bread, and clothing,

  and also a house to assure privacy.

²²Better is the life of the poor under their own crude roof

  than sumptuous food in the house of others.

²³Be content with little or much,

  and you will hear no reproach for being a guest.^b

²⁴It is a miserable life to go from house to house;

  as a guest you should not open your mouth;

²⁵you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked,

  and besides this you will hear rude words like these:

²⁶“Come here, stranger, prepare the table;

  let me eat what you have there.”

²⁷“Be off, stranger, for an honored guest is here;

  my brother has come for a visit, and I need the guest-room.”

²⁸It is hard for a sensible person to bear

  scolding about lodging^c and the insults of the moneylender.

30

CONCERNING CHILDREN^a

He who loves his son will whip him often,

  so that he may rejoice at the way he turns out.

²He who disciplines his son will profit by him,

  and will boast of him among acquaintances.

³He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious,

  and will glory in him among his friends.

⁴When the father dies he will not seem to be dead,

  for he has left behind him one like himself,

⁵whom in his life he looked upon with joy

  and at death, without grief.

⁶He has left behind him an avenger against his enemies,

  and one to repay the kindness of his friends.

⁷Whoever spoils his son will bind up his wounds,

  and will suffer heartache at every cry.

⁸An unbroken horse turns out stubborn,

  and an unchecked son turns out headstrong.

⁹Pamper a child, and he will terrorize you;

  play with him, and he will grieve you.

¹⁰Do not laugh with him, or you will have sorrow with him,

  and in the end you will gnash your teeth.

¹¹Give him no freedom in his youth,

  and do not ignore his errors.

¹²Bow down his neck in his youth,^b

  and beat his sides while he is young,

or else he will become stubborn and disobey you,

  and you will have sorrow of soul from him.^c

¹³Discipline your son and make his yoke heavy,^d

  so that you may not be offended by his shamelessness.

¹⁴Better off poor, healthy, and fit

  than rich and afflicted in body.

¹⁵Health and fitness are better than any gold,

  and a robust body than countless riches.

¹⁶There is no wealth better than health of body,

  and no gladness above joy of heart.

¹⁷Death is better than a life of misery,

  and eternal sleep^e than chronic sickness.

CONCERNING FOODS^f

¹⁸Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed

  are like offerings of food placed upon a grave.

¹⁹Of what use to an idol is a sacrifice?

  For it can neither eat nor smell.

So is the one punished by the Lord;

²⁰he sees with his eyes and groans

  as a eunuch groans when embracing a girl.^g

²¹Do not give yourself over to sorrow,

  and do not distress yourself deliberately.

²²A joyful heart is life itself,

  and rejoicing lengthens one's life span.

²³Indulge yourself^a and take comfort,

  and remove sorrow far from you,

for sorrow has destroyed many,

  and no advantage ever comes from it.

²⁴Jealousy and anger shorten life,

  and anxiety brings on premature old age.

²⁵Those who are cheerful and merry at table

  will benefit from their food.

31

Wakefulness over wealth wastes away one's flesh,

  and anxiety about it drives away sleep.

²Wakeful anxiety prevents slumber,

  and a severe illness carries off sleep.^b

³The rich person toils to amass a fortune,

  and when he rests he fills himself with his dainties.

⁴The poor person toils to make a meager living,

  and if ever he rests he becomes needy.

⁵One who loves gold will not be justified;

  one who pursues money will be led astray^c by it.

⁶Many have come to ruin because of gold,

  and their destruction has met them face to face.

⁷It is a stumbling block to those who are avid for it,

  and every fool will be taken captive by it.

⁸Blessed is the rich person who is found blameless,

  and who does not go after gold.

⁹Who is he, that we may praise him?

  For he has done wonders among his people.

¹⁰Who has been tested by it and been found perfect?

  Let it be for him a ground for boasting.

Who has had the power to transgress and did not transgress,

  and to do evil and did not do it?

¹¹His prosperity will be established,^d

  and the assembly will proclaim his acts of charity.

¹²Are you seated at the table of the great?^e

  Do not be greedy at it,

  and do not say, “How much food there is here!”

¹³Remember that a greedy eye is a bad thing.

  What has been created more greedy than the eye?

  Therefore it sheds tears for any reason.

¹⁴Do not reach out your hand for everything you see,

  and do not crowd your neighbor^f at the dish.

¹⁵Judge your neighbor's feelings by your own,

  and in every matter be thoughtful.

¹⁶Eat what is set before you like a well brought-up person,^g

  and do not chew greedily, or you will give offense.

¹⁷Be the first to stop, as befits good manners,

  and do not be insatiable, or you will give offense.

¹⁸If you are seated among many persons,

  do not help yourself^h before they do.

¹⁹How ample a little is for a well-disciplined person!

  He does not breathe heavily when in bed.

²⁰Healthy sleep depends on moderate eating;

  he rises early, and feels fit.

The distress of sleeplessness and of nausea

  and colic are with the glutton.

²¹If you are overstuffed with food,

  get up to vomit, and you will have relief.

²²Listen to me, my child, and do not disregard me,

  and in the end you will appreciate my words.

In everything you do be moderate,^a

  and no sickness will overtake you.

²³People bless the one who is liberal with food,

  and their testimony to his generosity is trustworthy.

²⁴The city complains of the one who is stingy with food,

  and their testimony to his stinginess is accurate.

²⁵Do not try to prove your strength by wine-drinking,

  for wine has destroyed many.

²⁶As the furnace tests the work of the smith,^b

  so wine tests hearts when the insolent quarrel.

²⁷Wine is very life to human beings

  if taken in moderation.

What is life to one who is without wine?

  It has been created to make people happy.

²⁸Wine drunk at the proper time and in moderation

  is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul.

²⁹Wine drunk to excess leads to bitterness of spirit,

  to quarrels and stumbling.

³⁰Drunkenness increases the anger of a fool to his own hurt,

  reducing his strength and adding wounds.

³¹Do not reprove your neighbor at a banquet of wine,

  and do not despise him in his merrymaking;

speak no word of reproach to him,

  and do not distress him by making demands of him.

32

If they make you master of the feast, do not exalt yourself;

  be among them as one of their number.

Take care of them first and then sit down;

  ²when you have fulfilled all your duties, take your place,

so that you may be merry along with them

  and receive a wreath for your excellent leadership.

³Speak, you who are older, for it is your right,

  but with accurate knowledge, and do not interrupt the music.

⁴Where there is entertainment, do not pour out talk;

  do not display your cleverness at the wrong time.

⁵A ruby seal in a setting of gold

  is a concert of music at a banquet of wine.

⁶A seal of emerald in a rich setting of gold

  is the melody of music with good wine.

⁷Speak, you who are young, if you are obliged to,

  but no more than twice, and only if asked.

⁸Be brief; say much in few words;

  be as one who knows and can still hold his tongue.

⁹Among the great do not act as their equal;

  and when another is speaking, do not babble.

¹⁰Lightning travels ahead of the thunder,

  and approval goes before one who is modest.

¹¹Leave in good time and do not be the last;

  go home quickly and do not linger.

¹²Amuse yourself there to your heart's content,

  but do not sin through proud speech.

¹³But above all bless your Maker,

  who fills you with his good gifts.

¹⁴The one who seeks God^a will accept his discipline,

  and those who rise early to seek him^b will find favor.

¹⁵The one who seeks the law will be filled with it,

  but the hypocrite will stumble at it.

¹⁶Those who fear the Lord will form true judgments,

  and they will kindle righteous deeds like a light.

¹⁷The sinner will shun reproof,

  and will find a decision according to his liking.

¹⁸A sensible person will not overlook a thoughtful suggestion;

  an insolent^c and proud person will not be deterred by fear.^d

¹⁹Do nothing without deliberation,

  but when you have acted, do not regret it.

²⁰Do not go on a path full of hazards,

  and do not stumble at an obstacle twice.^e

²¹Do not be overconfident on a smooth^f road,

  ²²and give good heed to your paths.^g

²³Guard^h yourself in every act,

  for this is the keeping of the commandments.

²⁴The one who keeps the law preserves himself,ⁱ

  and the one who trusts the Lord will not suffer loss.

33

No evil will befall the one who fears the Lord,

  but in trials such a one will be rescued again and again.

²The wise will not hate the law,

  but the one who is hypocritical about it is like a boat in a storm.

³The sensible person will trust in the law;

  for such a one the law is as dependable as a divine oracle.

⁴Prepare what to say, and then you will be listened to;

  draw upon your training, and give your answer.

⁵The heart of a fool is like a cart wheel,

  and his thoughts like a turning axle.

⁶A mocking friend is like a stallion

  that neighs no matter who the rider is.

⁷Why is one day more important than another,

  when all the daylight in the year is from the sun?

⁸By the Lord's wisdom they were distinguished,

  and he appointed the different seasons and festivals.

⁹Some days he exalted and hallowed,

  and some he made ordinary days.

¹⁰All human beings come from the ground,

  and humankind^a was created out of the dust.

¹¹In the fullness of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them

  and appointed their different ways.

¹²Some he blessed and exalted,

  and some he made holy and brought near to himself;

but some he cursed and brought low,

  and turned them out of their place.

¹³Like clay in the hand of the potter,

  to be molded as he pleases,

so all are in the hand of their Maker,

  to be given whatever he decides.

¹⁴Good is the opposite of evil,

  and life the opposite of death;

  so the sinner is the opposite of the godly.

¹⁵Look at all the works of the Most High;

  they come in pairs, one the opposite of the other.

¹⁶Now I was the last to keep vigil;

  I was like a gleaner following the grape-pickers;

¹⁷by the blessing of the Lord I arrived first,

  and like a grape-picker I filled my wine press.

¹⁸Consider that I have not labored for myself alone,

  but for all who seek instruction.

¹⁹Hear me, you who are great among the people,

  and you leaders of the congregation, pay heed!

²⁰To son or wife, to brother or friend,

  do not give power over yourself, as long as you live;

and do not give your property to another,

  in case you change your mind and must ask for it.

²¹While you are still alive and have breath in you,

  do not let anyone take your place.

²²For it is better that your children should ask from you

  than that you should look to the hand of your children.

²³Excel in all that you do;

  bring no stain upon your honor.

²⁴At the time when you end the days of your life,

  in the hour of death, distribute your inheritance.

²⁵Fodder and a stick and burdens for a donkey;

  bread and discipline and work for a slave.

²⁶Set your slave to work, and you will find rest;

  leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty.

²⁷Yoke and thong will bow the neck,

  and for a wicked slave there are racks and tortures.

²⁸Put him to work, in order that he may not be idle,

  ²⁹for idleness teaches much evil.

³⁰Set him to work, as is fitting for him,

  and if he does not obey, make his fetters heavy.

Do not be overbearing toward anyone,

  and do nothing unjust.

³¹If you have but one slave, treat him like yourself,

  because you have bought him with blood.

If you have but one slave, treat him like a brother,

  for you will need him as you need your life.

³²If you ill-treat him, and he leaves you and runs away,

  ³³which way will you go to seek him?

34

The senseless have vain and false hopes,

  and dreams give wings to fools.

²As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind,

  so is anyone who believes in^a dreams.

³What is seen in dreams is but a reflection,

  the likeness of a face looking at itself.

⁴From an unclean thing what can be clean?

  And from something false what can be true?

⁵Divinations and omens and dreams are unreal,

  and like a woman in labor, the mind has fantasies.

⁶Unless they are sent by intervention from the Most High,

  pay no attention to them.

⁷For dreams have deceived many,

  and those who put their hope in them have perished.

⁸Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled,

  and wisdom is complete in the mouth of the faithful.

⁹An educated^b person knows many things,

  and one with much experience knows what he is talking about.

¹⁰An inexperienced person knows few things,

  ¹¹but he that has traveled acquires much cleverness.

¹²I have seen many things in my travels,

  and I understand more than I can express.

¹³I have often been in danger of death,

  but have escaped because of these experiences.

¹⁴The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live,

  ¹⁵for their hope is in him who saves them.

¹⁶Those who fear the Lord will not be timid,

  or play the coward, for he is their hope.

¹⁷Happy is the soul that fears the Lord!

  ¹⁸To whom does he look? And who is his support?

¹⁹The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him,

  a mighty shield and strong support,

a shelter from scorching wind and a shade from noonday sun,

  a guard against stumbling and a help against falling.

²⁰He lifts up the soul and makes the eyes sparkle;

  he gives health and life and blessing.

²¹If one sacrifices ill-gotten goods, the offering is blemished;^c

  ²²the gifts^a of the lawless are not acceptable.

²³The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly,

  nor for a multitude of sacrifices does he forgive sins.

²⁴Like one who kills a son before his father's eyes

  is the person who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor.

²⁵The bread of the needy is the life of the poor;

  whoever deprives them of it is a murderer.

²⁶To take away a neighbor's living is to commit murder;

  ²⁷to deprive an employee of wages is to shed blood.

²⁸When one builds and another tears down,

  what do they gain but hard work?

²⁹When one prays and another curses,

  to whose voice will the Lord listen?

³⁰If one washes after touching a corpse, and touches it again,

  what has been gained by washing?

³¹So if one fasts for his sins,

  and goes again and does the same things,

who will listen to his prayer?

  And what has he gained by humbling himself?

35

The one who keeps the law makes

  many offerings;

²one who heeds the commandments makes an offering of well-being.

  ³The one who returns a kindness offers choice flour,

  ⁴and one who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.

⁵To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord,

  and to forsake unrighteousness is an atonement.

⁶Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,

  ⁷for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the commandment.

⁸The offering of the righteous enriches the altar,

  and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High.

⁹The sacrifice of the righteous is acceptable,

  and it will never be forgotten.

¹⁰Be generous when you worship the Lord,

  and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.

¹¹With every gift show a cheerful face,

  and dedicate your tithe with gladness.

¹²Give to the Most High as he has given to you,

  and as generously as you can afford.

¹³For the Lord is the one who repays,

  and he will repay you sevenfold.

¹⁴Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it;

  ¹⁵and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice;

for the Lord is the judge,

  and with him there is no partiality.

¹⁶He will not show partiality to the poor;

  but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.

¹⁷He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,

  or the widow when she pours out her complaint.

¹⁸Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek

  ¹⁹as she cries out against the one who causes them to fall?

²⁰The one whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted,

  and his prayer will reach to the clouds.

²¹The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds,

  and it will not rest until it reaches its goal;

it will not desist until the Most High responds

  ²²and does justice for the righteous, and executes judgment.

Indeed, the Lord will not delay,

  and like a warrior^a will not be patient

until he crushes the loins of the unmerciful

  ²³and repays vengeance on the nations;

until he destroys the multitude of the insolent,

  and breaks the scepters of the unrighteous;

²⁴until he repays mortals according to their deeds,

  and the works of all according to their thoughts;

²⁵until he judges the case of his people

  and makes them rejoice in his mercy.

²⁶His mercy is as welcome in time of distress

  as clouds of rain in time of drought.

36

Have mercy upon us, O God^b of all,

  ²and put all the nations in fear of you.

³Lift up your hand against foreign nations

  and let them see your might.

⁴As you have used us to show your holiness to them,

  so use them to show your glory to us.

⁵Then they will know,^c as we have known,

  that there is no God but you, O Lord.

⁶Give new signs, and work other wonders;

  ⁷make your hand and right arm glorious.

⁸Rouse your anger and pour out your wrath;

  ⁹destroy the adversary and wipe out the enemy.

¹⁰Hasten the day, and remember the appointed time,^d

  and let people recount your mighty deeds.

¹¹Let survivors be consumed in the fiery wrath,

  and may those who harm your people meet destruction.

¹²Crush the heads of hostile rulers

  who say, “There is no one but ourselves.”

¹³Gather all the tribes of Jacob,^e

  ¹⁶and give them their inheritance, as at the beginning.

¹⁷Have mercy, O Lord, on the people called by your name,

  on Israel, whom you have named^f your firstborn,

¹⁸Have pity on the city of your sanctuary,^a

  Jerusalem, the place of your dwelling.^b

¹⁹Fill Zion with your majesty,^c

  and your temple^d with your glory.

²⁰Bear witness to those whom you created in the beginning,

  and fulfill the prophecies spoken in your name.

²¹Reward those who wait for you

  and let your prophets be found trustworthy.

²²Hear, O Lord, the prayer of your servants, according to your goodwill toward^e your people,

  and all who are on the earth will know

that you are the Lord, the God of the ages.

²³The stomach will take any food,

  yet one food is better than another.

²⁴As the palate tastes the kinds of game,

  so an intelligent mind detects false words.

²⁵A perverse mind will cause grief,

  but a person with experience will pay him back.

²⁶A woman will accept any man as a husband,

  but one girl is preferable to another.

²⁷A woman's beauty lights up a man's face,

  and there is nothing he desires more.

²⁸If kindness and humility mark her speech,

  her husband is more fortunate than other men.

²⁹He who acquires a wife gets his best possession,^f

  a helper fit for him and a pillar of support.^g

³⁰Where there is no fence, the property will be plundered;

  and where there is no wife, a man will become a fugitive and a wanderer.^h

³¹For who will trust a nimble robber

  that skips from city to city?

So who will trust a man that has no nest,

  but lodges wherever night overtakes him?

37

Every friend says, “I too am a friend”;

  but some friends are friends only in name.

²Is it not a sorrow like that for death itself

  when a dear friend turns into an enemy?

³O inclination to evil, why were you formed

  to cover the land with deceit?

⁴Some companions rejoice in the happiness of a friend,

  but in time of trouble they are against him.

⁵Some companions help a friend for their stomachs’ sake,

  yet in battle they will carry his shield.

⁶Do not forget a friend during the battle,ⁱ

  and do not be unmindful of him when you distribute your spoils.^j

⁷All counselors praise the counsel they give,

  but some give counsel in their own interest.

⁸Be wary of a counselor,

  and learn first what is his interest,

for he will take thought for himself.

  He may cast the lot against you

⁹and tell you, “Your way is good,”

  and then stand aside to see what happens to you.

¹⁰Do not consult the one who regards you with suspicion;

  hide your intentions from those who are jealous of you.

¹¹Do not consult with a woman about her rival

  or with a coward about war,

with a merchant about business

  or with a buyer about selling,

with a miser about generosity^a

  or with the merciless about kindness,

with an idler about any work

  or with a seasonal laborer about completing his work,

with a lazy servant about a big task—

  pay no attention to any advice they give.

¹²But associate with a godly person

  whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments,

who is like-minded with yourself,

  and who will grieve with you if you fail.

¹³And heed^b the counsel of your own heart,

  for no one is more faithful to you than it is.

¹⁴For our own mind sometimes keeps us better informed

  than seven sentinels sitting high on a watchtower.

¹⁵But above all pray to the Most High

  that he may direct your way in truth.

¹⁶Discussion is the beginning of every work,

  and counsel precedes every undertaking.

¹⁷The mind is the root of all conduct;

  ¹⁸it sprouts four branches,^c

good and evil, life and death;

  and it is the tongue that continually rules them.

¹⁹Some people may be clever enough to teach many,

  and yet be useless to themselves.

²⁰A skillful speaker may be hated;

  he will be destitute of all food,

²¹for the Lord has withheld the gift of charm,

  since he is lacking in all wisdom.

²²If a person is wise to his own advantage,

  the fruits of his good sense will be praiseworthy.^d

²³A wise person instructs his own people,

  and the fruits of his good sense will endure.

²⁴A wise person will have praise heaped upon him,

  and all who see him will call him happy.

²⁵The days of a person's life are numbered,

  but the days of Israel are without number.

²⁶One who is wise among his people will inherit honor,^e

  and his name will live forever.

²⁷My child, test yourself while you live;

  see what is bad for you and do not give in to it.

²⁸For not everything is good for everyone,

  and no one enjoys everything.

²⁹Do not be greedy for every delicacy,

  and do not eat without restraint;

³⁰for overeating brings sickness,

  and gluttony leads to nausea.

³¹Many have died of gluttony,

  but the one who guards against it prolongs his life.

38

Honor physicians for their services,

  for the Lord created them;

²for their gift of healing comes from the Most High,

  and they are rewarded by the king.

³The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,

  and in the presence of the great they are admired.

⁴The Lord created medicines out of the earth,

  and the sensible will not despise them.

⁵Was not water made sweet with a tree

  in order that its^a power might be known?

⁶And he gave skill to human beings

  that he^b might be glorified in his marvelous works.

⁷By them the physician^c heals and takes away pain;

  ⁸the pharmacist makes a mixture from them.

God's^d works will never be finished;

  and from him health^e spreads over all the earth.

⁹My child, when you are ill, do not delay,

  but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.

¹⁰Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly,

  and cleanse your heart from all sin.

¹¹Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial portion of choice flour,

  and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford.^f

¹²Then give the physician his place, for the Lord created him;

  do not let him leave you, for you need him.

¹³There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians,^g

  ¹⁴for they too pray to the Lord

that he grant them success in diagnosis^h

  and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.

¹⁵He who sins against his Maker,

  will be defiant toward the physician.ⁱ

¹⁶My child, let your tears fall for the dead,

  and as one in great pain begin the lament.

Lay out the body with due ceremony,

  and do not neglect the burial.

¹⁷Let your weeping be bitter and your wailing fervent;

  make your mourning worthy of the departed,

for one day, or two, to avoid criticism;

  then be comforted for your grief.

¹⁸For grief may result in death,

  and a sorrowful heart saps one's strength.

¹⁹When a person is taken away, sorrow is over;

  but the life of the poor weighs down the heart.

²⁰Do not give your heart to grief;

  drive it away, and remember your own end.

²¹Do not forget, there is no coming back;

  you do the dead^j no good, and you injure yourself.

²²Remember his^k fate, for yours is like it;

  yesterday it was his,^l and today it is yours.

²³When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest too,

  and be comforted for him when his spirit has departed.

²⁴The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure;

  only the one who has little business can become wise.

²⁵How can one become wise who handles the plow,

  and who glories in the shaft of a goad,

who drives oxen and is occupied with their work,

  and whose talk is about bulls?

²⁶He sets his heart on plowing furrows,

  and he is careful about fodder for the heifers.

²⁷So it is with every artisan and master artisan

  who labors by night as well as by day;

those who cut the signets of seals,

  each is diligent in making a great variety;

they set their heart on painting a lifelike image,

  and they are careful to finish their work.

²⁸So it is with the smith, sitting by the anvil,

  intent on his iron-work;

the breath of the fire melts his flesh,

  and he struggles with the heat of the furnace;

the sound of the hammer deafens his ears,^a

  and his eyes are on the pattern of the object.

He sets his heart on finishing his handiwork,

  and he is careful to complete its decoration.

²⁹So it is with the potter sitting at his work

  and turning the wheel with his feet;

he is always deeply concerned over his products,

  and he produces them in quantity.

³⁰He molds the clay with his arm

  and makes it pliable with his feet;

he sets his heart to finish the glazing,

  and he takes care in firing^b the kiln.

³¹All these rely on their hands,

  and all are skillful in their own work.

³²Without them no city can be inhabited,

  and wherever they live, they will not go hungry.^c

Yet they are not sought out for the council of the people,^d

  ³³nor do they attain eminence in the public assembly.

They do not sit in the judge's seat,

  nor do they understand the decisions of the courts;

they cannot expound discipline or judgment,

  and they are not found among the rulers.^e

³⁴But they maintain the fabric of the world,

  and their concern is for^f the exercise of their trade.

How different the one who devotes himself

  to the study of the law of the Most High!

39

He seeks out the wisdom of all the ancients,

  and is concerned with prophecies;

²he preserves the sayings of the famous

  and penetrates the subtleties of parables;

³he seeks out the hidden meanings of proverbs

  and is at home with the obscurities of parables.

⁴He serves among the great

  and appears before rulers;

he travels in foreign lands

  and learns what is good and evil in the human lot.

⁵He sets his heart to rise early

  to seek the Lord who made him,

  and to petition the Most High;

he opens his mouth in prayer

  and asks pardon for his sins.

⁶If the great Lord is willing,

  he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;

he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own

  and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.

⁷The Lord^a will direct his counsel and knowledge,

  as he meditates on his mysteries.

⁸He will show the wisdom of what he has learned,

  and will glory in the law of the Lord's covenant.

⁹Many will praise his understanding;

  it will never be blotted out.

His memory will not disappear,

  and his name will live through all generations.

¹⁰Nations will speak of his wisdom,

  and the congregation will proclaim his praise.

¹¹If he lives long, he will leave a name greater than a thousand,

  and if he goes to rest, it is enough^b for him.

¹²I have more on my mind to express;

  I am full like the full moon.

¹³Listen to me, my faithful children, and blossom

  like a rose growing by a stream of water.

¹⁴Send out fragrance like incense,

  and put forth blossoms like a lily.

Scatter the fragrance, and sing a hymn of praise;

  bless the Lord for all his works.

¹⁵Ascribe majesty to his name

  and give thanks to him with praise,

with songs on your lips, and with harps;

  this is what you shall say in thanksgiving:

¹⁶“All the works of the Lord are very good,

  and whatever he commands will be done at the appointed time.

¹⁷No one can say, ‘What is this?’ or ‘Why is that?’—

  for at the appointed time all such questions will be answered.

At his word the waters stood in a heap,

  and the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth.

¹⁸When he commands, his every purpose is fulfilled,

  and none can limit his saving power.

¹⁹The works of all are before him,

  and nothing can be hidden from his eyes.

²⁰From the beginning to the end of time he can see everything,

  and nothing is too marvelous for him.

²¹No one can say, ‘What is this?’ or ‘Why is that?’—

  for everything has been created for its own purpose.

²²“His blessing covers the dry land like a river,

  and drenches it like a flood.

²³But his wrath drives out the nations,

  as when he turned a watered land into salt.

²⁴To the faithful his ways are straight,

  but full of pitfalls for the wicked.

²⁵From the beginning good things were created for the good,

  but for sinners good things and bad.^a

²⁶The basic necessities of human life

  are water and fire and iron and salt

and wheat flour and milk and honey,

  the blood of the grape and oil and clothing.

²⁷All these are good for the godly,

  but for sinners they turn into evils.

²⁸“There are winds created for vengeance,

  and in their anger they can dislodge mountains;^b

on the day of reckoning they will pour out their strength

  and calm the anger of their Maker.

²⁹Fire and hail and famine and pestilence,

  all these have been created for vengeance;

³⁰the fangs of wild animals and scorpions and vipers,

  and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction.

³¹They take delight in doing his bidding,

  always ready for his service on earth;

  and when their time comes they never disobey his command.”

³²So from the beginning I have been convinced of all this

  and have thought it out and left it in writing:

³³All the works of the Lord are good,

  and he will supply every need in its time.

³⁴No one can say, “This is not as good as that,”

  for everything proves good in its appointed time.

³⁵So now sing praise with all your heart and voice,

  and bless the name of the Lord.

40

Hard work was created for everyone,

  and a heavy yoke is laid on the children of Adam,

from the day they come forth from their mother's womb

  until the day they return to^c the mother of all the living.^d

²Perplexities and fear of heart are theirs,

  and anxious thought of the day of their death.

³From the one who sits on a splendid throne

  to the one who grovels in dust and ashes,

⁴from the one who wears purple and a crown

  to the one who is clothed in burlap,

⁵there is anger and envy and trouble and unrest,

  and fear of death, and fury and strife.

And when one rests upon his bed,

  his sleep at night confuses his mind.

⁶He gets little or no rest;

  he struggles in his sleep as he did by day.^e

He is troubled by the visions of his mind

  like one who has escaped from the battlefield.

⁷At the moment he reaches safety he wakes up,

  astonished that his fears were groundless.

⁸To all creatures, human and animal,

  but to sinners seven times more,

⁹come death and bloodshed and strife and sword,

  calamities and famine and ruin and plague.

¹⁰All these were created for the wicked,

  and on their account the flood came.

¹¹All that is of earth returns to earth,

  and what is from above returns above.^a

¹²All bribery and injustice will be blotted out,

  but good faith will last forever.

¹³The wealth of the unjust will dry up like a river,

  and crash like a loud clap of thunder in a storm.

¹⁴As a generous person has cause to rejoice,

  so lawbreakers will utterly fail.

¹⁵The children of the ungodly put out few branches;

  they are unhealthy roots on sheer rock.

¹⁶The reeds by any water or river bank

  are plucked up before any grass;

¹⁷but kindness is like a garden of blessings,

  and almsgiving endures forever.

¹⁸Wealth and wages make life sweet,^b

  but better than either is finding a treasure.

¹⁹Children and the building of a city establish one's name,

  but better than either is the one who finds wisdom.

Cattle and orchards make one prosperous;^c

  but a blameless wife is accounted better than either.

²⁰Wine and music gladden the heart,

  but the love of friends^d is better than either.

²¹The flute and the harp make sweet melody,

  but a pleasant voice is better than either.

²²The eye desires grace and beauty,

  but the green shoots of grain more than either.

²³A friend or companion is always welcome,

  but a sensible wife^e is better than either.

²⁴Kindred and helpers are for a time of trouble,

  but almsgiving rescues better than either.

²⁵Gold and silver make one stand firm,

  but good counsel is esteemed more than either.

²⁶Riches and strength build up confidence,

  but the fear of the Lord is better than either.

There is no want in the fear of the Lord,

  and with it there is no need to seek for help.

²⁷The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing,

  and covers a person better than any glory.

²⁸My child, do not lead the life of a beggar;

  it is better to die than to beg.

²⁹When one looks to the table of another,

  one's way of life cannot be considered a life.

One loses self-respect with another person's food,

  but one who is intelligent and well instructed guards against that.

³⁰In the mouth of the shameless begging is sweet,

  but it kindles a fire inside him.

41

O death, how bitter is the thought of you

  to the one at peace among possessions,

who has nothing to worry about and is prosperous in everything,

  and still is vigorous enough to enjoy food!

²O death, how welcome is your sentence

  to one who is needy and failing in strength,

worn down by age and anxious about everything;

  to one who is contrary, and has lost all patience!

³Do not fear death's decree for you;

  remember those who went before you and those who will come after.

⁴This is the Lord's decree for all flesh;

  why then should you reject the will of the Most High?

Whether life lasts for ten years or a hundred or a thousand,

  there are no questions asked in Hades.

⁵The children of sinners are abominable children,

  and they frequent the haunts of the ungodly.

⁶The inheritance of the children of sinners will perish,

  and on their offspring will be a perpetual disgrace.

⁷Children will blame an ungodly father,

  for they suffer disgrace because of him.

⁸Woe to you, the ungodly,

  who have forsaken the law of the Most High God!

⁹If you have children, calamity will be theirs;

  you will beget them only for groaning.

When you stumble, there is lasting joy;^a

  and when you die, a curse is your lot.

¹⁰Whatever comes from earth returns to earth;

  so the ungodly go from curse to destruction.

¹¹The human body is a fleeting thing,

  but a virtuous name will never be blotted out.^b

¹²Have regard for your name, since it will outlive you

  longer than a thousand hoards of gold.

¹³The days of a good life are numbered,

  but a good name lasts forever.

¹⁴My children, be true to your training and be at peace;

  hidden wisdom and unseen treasure—of what value is either?

¹⁵Better are those who hide their folly

  than those who hide their wisdom.

¹⁶Therefore show respect for my words;

  for it is not good to feel shame in every circumstance,

nor is every kind of abashment to be approved.^c

¹⁷Be ashamed of sexual immorality, before your father or mother;

  and of a lie, before a prince or a ruler;

¹⁸of a crime, before a judge or magistrate;

  and of a breach of the law, before the congregation and the people;

of unjust dealing, before your partner or your friend;

  ¹⁹and of theft, in the place where you live.

Be ashamed of breaking an oath or agreement,^d

  and of leaning on your elbow at meals;

of surliness in receiving or giving,

  ²⁰and of silence, before those who greet you;

of looking at a prostitute,

  ²¹and of rejecting the appeal of a relative;

of taking away someone's portion or gift,

  and of gazing at another man's wife;

²²of meddling with his servant-girl—

  and do not approach her bed;

of abusive words, before friends—

  and do not be insulting after making a gift.

42

Be ashamed of repeating what you hear,

  and of betraying secrets.

Then you will show proper shame,

  and will find favor with everyone.

Of the following things do not be ashamed,

  and do not sin to save face:

²Do not be ashamed of the law of the Most High and his covenant,

  and of rendering judgment to acquit the ungodly;

³of keeping accounts with a partner or with traveling companions,

  and of dividing the inheritance of friends;

⁴of accuracy with scales and weights,

  and of acquiring much or little;

⁵of profit from dealing with merchants,

  and of frequent disciplining of children,

  and of drawing blood from the back of a wicked slave.

⁶Where there is an untrustworthy wife, a seal is a good thing;

  and where there are many hands, lock things up.

⁷When you make a deposit, be sure it is counted and weighed,

  and when you give or receive, put it all in writing.

⁸Do not be ashamed to correct the stupid or foolish

  or the aged who are guilty of sexual immorality.

Then you will show your sound training,

  and will be approved by all.

⁹A daughter is a secret anxiety to her father,

  and worry over her robs him of sleep;

when she is young, for fear she may not marry,

  or if married, for fear she may be disliked;

¹⁰while a virgin, for fear she may be seduced

  and become pregnant in her father's house;

or having a husband, for fear she may go astray,

  or, though married, for fear she may be barren.

¹¹Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter,

  or she may make you a laughingstock to your enemies,

a byword in the city and the assembly of^a the people,

  and put you to shame in public gatherings.^b

See that there is no lattice in her room,

  no spot that overlooks the approaches to the house.^c

¹²Do not let her parade her beauty before any man,

  or spend her time among married women;^a

¹³for from garments comes the moth,

  and from a woman comes woman's wickedness.

¹⁴Better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good;

  it is woman who brings shame and disgrace.

¹⁵I will now call to mind the works of the Lord,

  and will declare what I have seen.

By the word of the Lord his works are made;

  and all his creatures do his will.^a

¹⁶The sun looks down on everything with its light,

  and the work of the Lord is full of his glory.

¹⁷The Lord has not empowered even his holy ones

  to recount all his marvelous works,

which the Lord the Almighty has established

  so that the universe may stand firm in his glory.

¹⁸He searches out the abyss and the human heart;

  he understands their innermost secrets.

For the Most High knows all that may be known;

  he sees from of old the things that are to come.^b

¹⁹He discloses what has been and what is to be,

  and he reveals the traces of hidden things.

²⁰No thought escapes him,

  and nothing is hidden from him.

²¹He has set in order the splendors of his wisdom;

  he is from all eternity one and the same.

Nothing can be added or taken away,

  and he needs no one to be his counselor.

²²How desirable are all his works,

  and how sparkling they are to see!^c

²³All these things live and remain forever;

  each creature is preserved to meet a particular need.^d

²⁴All things come in pairs, one opposite the other,

  and he has made nothing incomplete.

²⁵Each supplements the virtues of the other.

  Who could ever tire of seeing his glory?

43

The pride of the higher realms is the clear vault of the sky,

  as glorious to behold as the sight of the heavens.

²The sun, when it appears, proclaims as it rises

  what a marvelous instrument it is, the work of the Most High.

³At noon it parches the land,

  and who can withstand its burning heat?

⁴A man tending^e a furnace works in burning heat,

  but three times as hot is the sun scorching the mountains;

it breathes out fiery vapors,

  and its bright rays blind the eyes.

⁵Great is the Lord who made it;

  at his orders it hurries on its course.

⁶It is the moon that marks the changing seasons,^f

  governing the times, their everlasting sign.

⁷From the moon comes the sign for festal days,

  a light that wanes when it completes its course.

⁸The new moon, as its name suggests, renews itself;^a

  how marvelous it is in this change,

a beacon to the hosts on high,

  shining in the vault of the heavens!

⁹The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven,

  a glittering array in the heights of the Lord.

¹⁰On the orders of the Holy One they stand in their appointed places;

  they never relax in their watches.

¹¹Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it;

  it is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness.

¹²It encircles the sky with its glorious arc;

  the hands of the Most High have stretched it out.

¹³By his command he sends the driving snow

  and speeds the lightnings of his judgment.

¹⁴Therefore the storehouses are opened,

  and the clouds fly out like birds.

¹⁵In his majesty he gives the clouds their strength,

  and the hailstones are broken in pieces.

^17a The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth;

  ¹⁶when he appears, the mountains shake.

At his will the south wind blows;

^17bso do the storm from the north and the whirlwind.

  He scatters the snow like birds flying down,

  and its descent is like locusts alighting.

¹⁸The eye is dazzled by the beauty of its whiteness,

  and the mind is amazed as it falls.

¹⁹He pours frost over the earth like salt,

  and icicles form like pointed thorns.

²⁰The cold north wind blows,

  and ice freezes on the water;

it settles on every pool of water,

  and the water puts it on like a breastplate.

²¹He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness,

  and withers the tender grass like fire.

²²A mist quickly heals all things;

  the falling dew gives refreshment from the heat.

²³By his plan he stilled the deep

  and planted islands in it.

²⁴Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers,

  and we marvel at what we hear.

²⁵In it are strange and marvelous creatures,

  all kinds of living things, and huge sea-monsters.

²⁶Because of him each of his messengers succeeds,

  and by his word all things hold together.

²⁷We could say more but could never say enough;

  let the final word be: “He is the all.”

²⁸Where can we find the strength to praise him?

  For he is greater than all his works.

²⁹Awesome is the Lord and very great, and marvelous is his power.

³⁰Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can,

  for he surpasses even that.

When you exalt him, summon all your strength,

  and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.

³¹Who has seen him and can describe him?

  Or who can extol him as he is?

³²Many things greater than these lie hidden,

  for I^a have seen but few of his works.

³³For the Lord has made all things,

  and to the godly he has given wisdom.

HYMN IN HONOR OF OUR ANCESTORS^b

44

Let us now sing the praises of famous men,

  our ancestors in their generations.

²The Lord apportioned to them^c great glory,

  his majesty from the beginning.

³There were those who ruled in their kingdoms,

  and made a name for themselves by their valor;

those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;

  those who spoke in prophetic oracles;

⁴those who led the people by their counsels

  and by their knowledge of the people's lore;

they were wise in their words of instruction;

⁵those who composed musical tunes,

  or put verses in writing;

⁶rich men endowed with resources,

  living peacefully in their homes—

⁷all these were honored in their generations,

  and were the pride of their times.

⁸Some of them have left behind a name,

  so that others declare their praise.

⁹But of others there is no memory;

  they have perished as though they had never existed;

they have become as though they had never been born,

  they and their children after them.

¹⁰But these also were godly men,

  whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;

¹¹their wealth will remain with their descendants,

  and their inheritance with their children's children.^d

¹²Their descendants stand by the covenants;

  their children also, for their sake.

¹³Their offspring will continue forever,

  and their glory will never be blotted out.

¹⁴Their bodies are buried in peace,

  but their name lives on generation after generation.

¹⁵The assembly declares^e their wisdom,

  and the congregation proclaims their praise.

¹⁶Enoch pleased the Lord and was taken up,

  an example of repentance to all generations.

¹⁷Noah was found perfect and righteous;

  in the time of wrath he kept the race alive;^f

therefore a remnant was left on the earth when the flood came.

¹⁸Everlasting covenants were made with him

  that all flesh should never again be blotted out by a flood.

¹⁹Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations,

  and no one has been found like him in glory.

²⁰He kept the law of the Most High,

  and entered into a covenant with him;

he certified the covenant in his flesh,

  and when he was tested he proved faithful.

²¹Therefore the Lord^a assured him with an oath

  that the nations would be blessed through his offspring;

that he would make him as numerous as the dust of the earth,

  and exalt his offspring like the stars,

and give them an inheritance from sea to sea

  and from the Euphrates^b to the ends of the earth.

²²To Isaac also he gave the same assurance

  for the sake of his father Abraham.

The blessing of all people and the covenant

²³he made to rest on the head of Jacob;

  he acknowledged him with his blessings,

and gave him his inheritance;

  he divided his portions,

and distributed them among twelve tribes.

From his descendants the Lord^a brought forth a godly man,

  who found favor in the sight of all

45

¹and was beloved by God and people,

  Moses, whose memory is blessed.

²He made him equal in glory to the holy ones,

  and made him great, to the terror of his enemies.

³By his words he performed swift miracles;^c

  the Lord^a glorified him in the presence of kings.

He gave him commandments for his people,

  and revealed to him his glory.

⁴For his faithfulness and meekness he consecrated him,

  choosing him out of all humankind.

⁵He allowed him to hear his voice,

  and led him into the dark cloud,

and gave him the commandments face to face,

  the law of life and knowledge,

so that he might teach Jacob the covenant,

  and Israel his decrees.

⁶He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses^d

  who was his brother, of the tribe of Levi.

⁷He made an everlasting covenant with him,

  and gave him the priesthood of the people.

He blessed him with stateliness,

  and put a glorious robe on him.

⁸He clothed him in perfect splendor,

  and strengthened him with the symbols of authority,

  the linen undergarments, the long robe, and the ephod.

⁹And he encircled him with pomegranates,

  with many golden bells all around,

to send forth a sound as he walked,

  to make their ringing heard in the temple

  as a reminder to his people;

¹⁰with the sacred vestment, of gold and violet

  and purple, the work of an embroiderer;

with the oracle of judgment, Urim and Thummim;

  ¹¹with twisted crimson, the work of an artisan;

with precious stones engraved like seals,

  in a setting of gold, the work of a jeweler,

to commemorate in engraved letters

  each of the tribes of Israel;

¹²with a gold crown upon his turban,

  inscribed like a seal with “Holiness,”

a distinction to be prized, the work of an expert,

  a delight to the eyes, richly adorned.

¹³Before him such beautiful things did not exist.

  No outsider ever put them on,

but only his sons

  and his descendants in perpetuity.

¹⁴His sacrifices shall be wholly burned

  twice every day continually.

¹⁵Moses ordained him,

  and anointed him with holy oil;

it was an everlasting covenant for him

  and for his descendants as long as the heavens endure,

to minister to the Lord^a and serve as priest

  and bless his people in his name.

¹⁶He chose him out of all the living

  to offer sacrifice to the Lord,

incense and a pleasing odor as a memorial portion,

  to make atonement for the^b people.

¹⁷In his commandments he gave him

  authority and statutes and^c judgments,

to teach Jacob the testimonies,

  and to enlighten Israel with his law.

¹⁸Outsiders conspired against him,

  and envied him in the wilderness,

Dathan and Abiram and their followers

  and the company of Korah, in wrath and anger.

¹⁹The Lord saw it and was not pleased,

  and in the heat of his anger they were destroyed;

he performed wonders against them

  to consume them in flaming fire.

²⁰He added glory to Aaron

  and gave him a heritage;

he allotted to him the best of the first fruits,

  and prepared bread of first fruits in abundance;

²¹for they eat the sacrifices of the Lord,

  which he gave to him and his descendants.

²²But in the land of the people he has no inheritance,

  and he has no portion among the people;

  for the Lord^d himself is his^e portion and inheritance.

²³Phinehas son of Eleazar ranks third in glory

  for being zealous in the fear of the Lord,

and standing firm, when the people turned away,

  in the noble courage of his soul;

  and he made atonement for Israel.

²⁴Therefore a covenant of friendship was established with him,

  that he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people,

that he and his descendants should have

  the dignity of the priesthood forever.

²⁵Just as a covenant was established with David

  son of Jesse of the tribe of Judah,

that the king's heritage passes only from son to son,

  so the heritage of Aaron is for his descendants alone.

²⁶And now bless the Lord

  who has crowned you with glory.^a

May the Lord^b grant you wisdom of mind

  to judge his people with justice,

so that their prosperity may not vanish,

  and that their glory may endure through all their generations.

46

Joshua son of Nun was mighty in war,

  and was the successor of Moses in the prophetic office.

He became, as his name implies,

  a great savior of God's^c elect,

to take vengeance on the enemies that rose against them,

  so that he might give Israel its inheritance.

²How glorious he was when he lifted his hands

  and brandished his sword against the cities!

³Who before him ever stood so firm?

  For he waged the wars of the Lord.

⁴Was it not through him that the sun stood still

  and one day became as long as two?

⁵He called upon the Most High, the Mighty One,

  when enemies pressed him on every side,

and the great Lord answered him

  with hailstones of mighty power.

⁶He overwhelmed that nation in battle,

  and on the slope he destroyed his opponents,

so that the nations might know his armament,

  that he was fighting in the sight of the Lord;

for he was a devoted follower of the Mighty One.

⁷And in the days of Moses he proved his loyalty,

  he and Caleb son of Jephunneh:

they opposed the congregation,^d

  restrained the people from sin,

and stilled their wicked grumbling.

⁸And these two alone were spared

  out of six hundred thousand infantry,

to lead the people^e into their inheritance,

  the land flowing with milk and honey.

⁹The Lord gave Caleb strength,

  which remained with him in his old age,

so that he went up to the hill country,

  and his children obtained it for an inheritance,

¹⁰so that all the Israelites might see

  how good it is to follow the Lord.

¹¹The judges also, with their respective names,

  whose hearts did not fall into idolatry

and who did not turn away from the Lord—

  may their memory be blessed!

¹²May their bones send forth new life from where they lie,

  and may the names of those who have been honored

live again in their children!

  ¹³Samuel was beloved by his Lord;

a prophet of the Lord, he established the kingdom

  and anointed rulers over his people.

¹⁴By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation,

  and the Lord watched over Jacob.

¹⁵By his faithfulness he was proved to be a prophet,

  and by his words he became known as a trustworthy seer.

¹⁶He called upon the Lord, the Mighty One,

  when his enemies pressed him on every side,

  and he offered in sacrifice a suckling lamb.

¹⁷Then the Lord thundered from heaven,

  and made his voice heard with a mighty sound;

¹⁸he subdued the leaders of the enemy^a

  and all the rulers of the Philistines.

¹⁹Before the time of his eternal sleep,

  Samuel^b bore witness before the Lord and his anointed:

“No property, not so much as a pair of shoes,

  have I taken from anyone!”

  And no one accused him.

²⁰Even after he had fallen asleep, he prophesied

  and made known to the king his death,

and lifted up his voice from the ground

  in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.

47

After him Nathan rose up

  to prophesy in the days of David.

²As the fat is set apart from the offering of well-being,

  so David was set apart from the Israelites.

³He played with lions as though they were young goats,

  and with bears as though they were lambs of the flock.

⁴In his youth did he not kill a giant,

  and take away the people's disgrace,

when he whirled the stone in the sling

  and struck down the boasting Goliath?

⁵For he called on the Lord, the Most High,

  and he gave strength to his right arm

to strike down a mighty warrior,

  and to exalt the power^c of his people.

⁶So they glorified him for the tens of thousands he conquered,

  and praised him for the blessings bestowed by the Lord,

  when the glorious diadem was given to him.

⁷For he wiped out his enemies on every side,

  and annihilated his adversaries the Philistines;

  he crushed their power^c to our own day.

⁸In all that he did he gave thanks

  to the Holy One, the Most High, proclaiming his glory;

he sang praise with all his heart,

  and he loved his Maker.

⁹He placed singers before the altar,

  to make sweet melody with their voices.^d

¹⁰He gave beauty to the festivals,

  and arranged their times throughout the year,^e

while they praised God's^f holy name,

  and the sanctuary resounded from early morning.

¹¹The Lord took away his sins,

  and exalted his power^c forever;

he gave him a covenant of kingship

  and a glorious throne in Israel.

¹²After him a wise son rose up

  who because of him lived in security:^a

¹³Solomon reigned in an age of peace,

  because God made all his borders tranquil,

so that he might build a house in his name

  and provide a sanctuary to stand forever.

¹⁴How wise you were when you were young!

  You overflowed like the Nile^b with understanding.

¹⁵Your influence spread throughout the earth,

  and you filled it with proverbs having deep meaning.

¹⁶Your fame reached to far-off islands,

  and you were loved for your peaceful reign.

¹⁷Your songs, proverbs, and parables,

  and the answers you gave astounded the nations.

¹⁸In the name of the Lord God,

  who is called the God of Israel,

you gathered gold like tin

  and amassed silver like lead.

¹⁹But you brought in women to lie at your side,

  and through your body you were brought into subjection.

²⁰You stained your honor,

  and defiled your family line,

so that you brought wrath upon your children,

  and they were grieved^c at your folly,

²¹because the sovereignty was divided

  and a rebel kingdom arose out of Ephraim.

²²But the Lord will never give up his mercy,

  or cause any of his works to perish;

he will never blot out the descendants of his chosen one,

  or destroy the family line of him who loved him.

So he gave a remnant to Jacob,

  and to David a root from his own family.

²³Solomon rested with his ancestors,

  and left behind him one of his sons,

broad in^d folly and lacking in sense,

  Rehoboam, whose policy drove the people to revolt.

Then Jeroboam son of Nebat led Israel into sin

  and started Ephraim on its sinful ways.

²⁴Their sins increased more and more,

  until they were exiled from their land.

²⁵For they sought out every kind of wickedness,

  until vengeance came upon them.

48

Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire,

  and his word burned like a torch.

²He brought a famine upon them,

  and by his zeal he made them few in number.

³By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens,

  and also three times brought down fire.

⁴How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!

  Whose glory is equal to yours?

⁵You raised a corpse from death

  and from Hades, by the word of the Most High.

⁶You sent kings down to destruction,

  and famous men, from their sickbeds.

⁷You heard rebuke at Sinai

  and judgments of vengeance at Horeb.

⁸You anointed kings to inflict retribution,

  and prophets to succeed you.^a

⁹You were taken up by a whirlwind of fire,

  in a chariot with horses of fire.

¹⁰At the appointed time, it is written, you are destined^b

  to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury,

to turn the hearts of parents to their children,

  and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

¹¹Happy are those who saw you

  and were adorned^c with your love!

For we also shall surely live.^d

¹²When Elijah was enveloped in the whirlwind,

  Elisha was filled with his spirit.

He performed twice as many signs,

  and marvels with every utterance of his mouth.^e

Never in his lifetime did he tremble before any ruler,

  nor could anyone intimidate him at all.

¹³Nothing was too hard for him,

  and when he was dead, his body prophesied.

¹⁴In his life he did wonders,

  and in death his deeds were marvelous.

¹⁵Despite all this the people did not repent,

  nor did they forsake their sins,

until they were carried off as plunder from their land,

  and were scattered over all the earth.

The people were left very few in number,

  but with a ruler from the house of David.

¹⁶Some of them did what was right,

  but others sinned more and more.

¹⁷Hezekiah fortified his city,

  and brought water into its midst;

he tunneled the rock with iron tools,

  and built cisterns for the water.

¹⁸In his days Sennacherib invaded the country;

  he sent his commander^f and departed;

he shook his fist against Zion,

  and made great boasts in his arrogance.

¹⁹Then their hearts were shaken and their hands trembled,

  and they were in anguish, like women in labor.

²⁰But they called upon the Lord who is merciful,

  spreading out their hands toward him.

The Holy One quickly heard them from heaven,

  and delivered them through Isaiah.

²¹The Lord^g struck down the camp of the Assyrians,

  and his angel wiped them out.

²²For Hezekiah did what was pleasing to the Lord,

  and he kept firmly to the ways of his ancestor David,

as he was commanded by the prophet Isaiah,

  who was great and trustworthy in his visions.

²³In Isaiah's^h days the sun went backward,

  and he prolonged the life of the king.

²⁴By his dauntless spirit he saw the future,

  and comforted the mourners in Zion.

²⁵He revealed what was to occur to the end of time,

  and the hidden things before they happened.

49

The name^a of Josiah is like blended incense

  prepared by the skill of the perfumer;

his memory^b is as sweet as honey to every mouth,

  and like music at a banquet of wine.

²He did what was right by reforming the people,

  and removing the wicked abominations.

³He kept his heart fixed on the Lord;

  in lawless times he made godliness prevail.

⁴Except for David and Hezekiah and Josiah,

  all of them were great sinners,

for they abandoned the law of the Most High;

  the kings of Judah came to an end.

⁵They^c gave their power to others,

  and their glory to a foreign nation,

⁶who set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary,

  and made its streets desolate,

  as Jeremiah had foretold.^d

⁷For they had mistreated him,

  who even in the womb had been consecrated a prophet,

to pluck up and ruin and destroy,

  and likewise to build and to plant.

⁸It was Ezekiel who saw the vision of glory,

  which God^e showed him above the chariot of the cherubim.

⁹For God^f also mentioned Job

  who held fast to all the ways of justice.^g

¹⁰May the bones of the Twelve Prophets

  send forth new life from where they lie,

for they comforted the people of Jacob

  and delivered them with confident hope.

¹¹How shall we magnify Zerubbabel?

  He was like a signet ring on the right hand,

¹²and so was Jeshua son of Jozadak;

  in their days they built the house

and raised a temple^h holy to the Lord,

  destined for everlasting glory.

¹³The memory of Nehemiah also is lasting;

  he raised our fallen walls,

and set up gates and bars,

  and rebuilt our ruined houses.

¹⁴Few haveⁱ ever been created on earth like Enoch,

  for he was taken up from the earth.

¹⁵Nor was anyone ever born like Joseph;^j

  even his bones were cared for.

¹⁶Shem and Seth and Enosh were honored,^k

  but above every other created living being was Adam.

50

The leader of his brothers and the pride of his people^l

  was the high priest, Simon son of Onias,

who in his life repaired the house,

  and in his time fortified the temple.

²He laid the foundations for the high double walls,

  the high retaining walls for the temple enclosure.

³In his days a water cistern was dug,^a

  a reservoir like the sea in circumference.

⁴He considered how to save his people from ruin,

  and fortified the city against siege.

⁵How glorious he was, surrounded by the people,

  as he came out of the house of the curtain.

⁶Like the morning star among the clouds,

  like the full moon at the festal season;^a

⁷like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High,

  like the rainbow gleaming in splendid clouds;

⁸like roses in the days of first fruits,

  like lilies by a spring of water,

like a green shoot on Lebanon on a summer day;

⁹like fire and incense in the censer,

  like a vessel of hammered gold

studded with all kinds of precious stones;

¹⁰like an olive tree laden with fruit,

  and like a cypress towering in the clouds.

¹¹When he put on his glorious robe

  and clothed himself in perfect splendor,

when he went up to the holy altar,

  he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.

¹²When he received the portions from the hands of the priests,

  as he stood by the hearth of the altar

with a garland of brothers around him,

  he was like a young cedar on Lebanon

  surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.

¹³All the sons of Aaron in their splendor

  held the Lord's offering in their hands

  before the whole congregation of Israel.

¹⁴Finishing the service at the altars,^b

  and arranging the offering to the Most High, the Almighty,

¹⁵he held out his hand for the cup

  and poured a drink offering of the blood of the grape;

he poured it out at the foot of the altar,

  a pleasing odor to the Most High, the king of all.

¹⁶Then the sons of Aaron shouted;

  they blew their trumpets of hammered metal;

they sounded a mighty fanfare

  as a reminder before the Most High.

¹⁷Then all the people together quickly

  fell to the ground on their faces

to worship their Lord,

  the Almighty, God Most High.

¹⁸Then the singers praised him with their voices

  in sweet and full-toned melody.^c

¹⁹And the people of the Lord Most High offered

  their prayers before the Merciful One,

until the order of worship of the Lord was ended,

  and they completed his ritual.

²⁰Then Simon^d came down and raised his hands

  over the whole congregation of Israelites,

to pronounce the blessing of the Lord with his lips,

  and to glory in his name;

²¹and they bowed down in worship a second time,

  to receive the blessing from the Most High.

²²And now bless the God of all,

  who everywhere works great wonders,

who fosters our growth from birth,

  and deals with us according to his mercy.

²³May he give us^a gladness of heart,

  and may there be peace in our^b days

in Israel, as in the days of old.

²⁴May he entrust to us his mercy,

  and may he deliver us in our^c days!

²⁵Two nations my soul detests,

  and the third is not even a people:

²⁶Those who live in Seir,^d and the Philistines,

  and the foolish people that live in Shechem.

²⁷Instruction in understanding and knowledge

I have written in this book,

Jesus son of Eleazar son of Sirach^e of Jerusalem,

whose mind poured forth wisdom.

²⁸Happy are those who concern themselves with these things,

and those who lay them to heart will become wise.

²⁹For if they put them into practice, they will be equal to anything,

for the fear^f of the Lord is their path.

51

PRAYER OF JESUS SON OF SIRACH^g

I give you thanks, O Lord and King,

  and praise you, O God my Savior.

I give thanks to your name,

  ²for you have been my protector and helper

and have delivered me from destruction

  and from the trap laid by a slanderous tongue,

from lips that fabricate lies.

  In the face of my adversaries

you have been my helper ³and delivered me,

  in the greatness of your mercy and of your name,

from grinding teeth about to devour me,

  from the hand of those seeking my life,

  from the many troubles I endured,

⁴from choking fire on every side,

  and from the midst of fire that I had not kindled,

⁵from the deep belly of Hades,

  from an unclean tongue and lying words—

  ⁶the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king.

My soul drew near to death,

  and my life was on the brink of Hades below.

⁷They surrounded me on every side,

  and there was no one to help me;

I looked for human assistance,

  and there was none.

⁸Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord,

  and your kindness^h from of old,

for you rescue those who wait for you

  and save them from the hand of their enemies.

⁹And I sent up my prayer from the earth,

  and begged for rescue from death.

¹⁰I cried out, “Lord, you are my Father;ⁱ

  do not forsake me in the days of trouble,

  when there is no help against the proud.

¹¹I will praise your name continually,

  and will sing hymns of thanksgiving.”

My prayer was heard,

  ¹²for you saved me from destruction

  and rescued me in time of trouble.

For this reason I thank you and praise you,

  and I bless the name of the Lord.

                 

Heb Adds:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to the God of praises,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to the guardian of Israel,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to him who formed all things,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to the redeemer of Israel,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to him who gathers the dispersed of Israel,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to him who rebuilt his city and his sanctuary,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to him who makes a horn to sprout for the house of David,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to him who has chosen the sons of Zadok to be priests,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to the shield of Abraham,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to the rock of Isaac,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to the mighty one of Jacob,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to him who has chosen Zion,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

Give thanks to the King of the kings of kings,

  for his steadfast love endures forever;

He has raised up a horn for his people,

  praise for all his loyal ones.

For the children of Israel, the people close to him.

  Praise the Lord!

                 

¹³While I was still young, before I went on my travels,

  I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

¹⁴Before the temple I asked for her,

  and I will search for her until the end.

¹⁵From the first blossom to the ripening grape

  my heart delighted in her;

my foot walked on the straight path;

  from my youth I followed her steps.

¹⁶I inclined my ear a little and received her,

  and I found for myself much instruction.

¹⁷I made progress in her;

  to him who gives wisdom I will give glory.

¹⁸For I resolved to live according to wisdom,^a

  and I was zealous for the good,

  and I shall never be disappointed.

¹⁹My soul grappled with wisdom,^a

  and in my conduct I was strict;^b

I spread out my hands to the heavens,

  and lamented my ignorance of her.

²⁰I directed my soul to her,

  and in purity I found her.

With her I gained understanding from the first;

  therefore I will never be forsaken.

²¹My heart was stirred to seek her;

  therefore I have gained a prize possession.

²²The Lord gave me my tongue as a reward,

  and I will praise him with it.

²³Draw near to me, you who are uneducated,

  and lodge in the house of instruction.

²⁴Why do you say you are lacking in these things,^a

  and why do you endure such great thirst?

²⁵I opened my mouth and said,

  Acquire wisdom^b for yourselves without money.

²⁶Put your neck under her^c yoke,

  and let your souls receive instruction;

  it is to be found close by.

²⁷See with your own eyes that I have labored but little

  and found for myself much serenity.

²⁸Hear but a little of my instruction,

  and through me you will acquire silver and gold.^d

²⁹May your soul rejoice in God's^e mercy,

  and may you never be ashamed to praise him.

³⁰Do your work in good time,

  and in his own time God^f will give you your reward.

Prologue: Ben Sira's grandson composed a Prologue to the Greek translation that accompanies modern translations, since they are, for the most part, based on the Greek. In three elegant sentences (coinciding with the paragraphs in this translation), he tells about Ben Sira and his reason for writing, his own motivation for translating, and the difficulties of translating from Hebrew into Greek. He divides the literary heritage of Israel into three categories, two specific and one vague: the Law and the Prophets and the other books. Jesus is the Gk form of Heb “Yeshua,” which appears in 50.27 in a Hebrew manuscript (MS B). Instruction and wisdom could refer to the combination of Torah and proverbial wisdom characteristic of Ben Sira's book. The thirty-eighth year of the reign of Euergetes, 132 bce. Most scholars think that Ben Sira's grandson finished his translation somewhere shortly after Euergetes's death in 117 bce. The translation was for the Jewish community living abroad in Egypt so that they could benefit from his grandfather's wisdom. Note how he parallels language about his grandfather's intent with his own: love learning/gain learning; live according to the law.

1.1–10: Praise of Wisdom. God created Wisdom (Gk “sophia,” a feminine noun), which is probably meant to be a feminine figure, and gave her as a gift to all creation. 2–6: The rhetorical questions assume a negative answer, i.e., no human can know creation's secrets (cf. Job 38–39). 4: Created before all things, cf. 24.1–7; Prov 8.22–26; Wis 7.24–26. 9–10: Wisdom is a double gift, given to all his works, as well as specifically to those who love him (cf. Job 28.23–28).

1.11–30: Fear of the Lord is wisdom. Ben Sira establishes his three main theological themes in this poem: wisdom, fear of the Lord, and keeping the commandments, which are found in the Torah (24.23). 11: Fear of the Lord, the proper response to God's gift is awe and proper conduct (cf. Prov 1.7). 12: God rewards those who fear the Lord with long life, desirable goods (v. 17), and perfect health (v. 18); cf. v. 20; Prov 3.16; 22.4. 13: Happy end, immortality for Ben Sira consists primarily in leaving behind righteous children, along with a good name and reputation (40.19; 41.11–13). 14: Beginning of wisdom, Prov 1.7; 9.10; Ps 111.10. In the womb, a prophetic motif (49.7; Jer 1.5; Isa 44.2,24; 49.1,5; cf. Ps 139.13; Gal 1.15). 16: Wisdom is apportioned to all humans (cf. v. 19). 19: Heightened the glory of those who held her fast, see 24.19. 20: Wisdom is often pictured with imagery of plants, especially as a tree of life; see 24.13–17 (cf. Gen 3.22). 30: Before the whole congregation emphasizes Ben Sira's concern for honor and shame.

2.1–18: Trusting in God. How to remain faithful to God. 1: My child, lit., “my son,” a common way to refer to students in instructional literature (e.g., 3.17; 4.1; Prov 1.8; 2.1). 4–6: One must persevere in time of testing (v. 1), which is akin to refining gold (Prov 17.3; 27.21; Wis 3.6). 7–9: The threefold repetition of fear of the Lord (see 1.11n.) emphasizes wait, trust, and hope; see also vv. 15–17. 10: An appeal to the past to prove that trusting God brings reward (cf. Job 4.7; 8.8–10). 11: The Lord is compassionate and merciful, Ex 34.6–7; Ps 103.8; Jon 4.2. 12–14: The woe is a prophetic form, here used as a warning. The Lord's reckoning refers to recompense in this life. 15–16: His words and his ways are synonyms for his law. 18: Fall into the hands of the Lord, 2 Sam 24.14. Name, a reference to God as “Merciful One” (50.19).

3.1–16: Duties to parents. 1–2: God made the family hierarchical with parents above children. For the father as family head, see 7.23–26. On respect for both parents, see, e.g., Prov 1.8–9; 6.20; 20.20; 23.22; Ex 20.12; 21.15,17. 3–7: Honoring parents atones for sins (vv. 3,14; as do almsgiving and sacrifice; see 3.30; cf. 28.1–5) and brings long life (Ex 20.12; Deut 5.16). It thus equals fear of the Lord (1.12). 8–11: For the significance of a father's blessing, see Gen 27.1–29; 48.15–20; 49.1–28. Dishonoring parents brings disgrace, that is, shame. 16: The invoking of a blasphemer emphasizes that true piety is keeping God's commandments.

3.17–29: Humility. 17–20: Humility is a marker of piety (1.27) and so wins God's favor. 21: What is too difficult may refer to Jewish apocalyptic or Greek philosophical ideas about the secrets of creation; cf. Prov 30.18. 22: Wisdom and knowledge come from what is commanded (the Torah) and the proverbs (v. 29) of the sages, two foundational sources of wisdom for Ben Sira.

3.30–4.10: Almsgiving. 30–31: Atones for sin, cf. 3.3–4,14. 4.1–5: Ben Sira belongs to a class that has resources to help the needy, which the law commands (Deut 15.7–11). 6: Curse, cf. Ex 22.22–24; Deut 15.9. 10: On care for the widow and the orphan, see, e.g., Ex 22.22.

4.11–19: Submission to Wisdom. Wisdom's benefits are acquired through discipline. As in Prov 1.8–33; 8; Sir 24, Wisdom is personified as a woman. 14: Minister alludes to priestly service (cf. 24.10 regarding Wisdom). Holy One, a frequent title for God in Sirach (23.9; 43.10; 47.8; 48.20). 16: Faithful to Wisdom's teaching. 17–19: Wisdom's trials test the student's steadfastness. The term ordinances brings Torah and Wisdom together, anticipating Sir 24. 18: Reveal, acquiring wisdom has a revelatory aspect; cf. 39.7. 19: Cf. v. 16.

4.20–31: Shame and speech. An extended sequence of negative admonitions (do not) is a common stylistic feature in wisdom literature (see also 1.28–30; 4.1–6; 5; 7.1–26; cf. Prov 3.27–32). 20–21: For specifics on improper and proper shame, see 41.17–42.8. 23–26: Appropriate speech is a frequent topic in Sirach as well as in Jewish wisdom literature; cf. 19.6–17; 20.16–20; 22.27–23.15; 28.12–26; Prov 10.19; 12.6; 17.4. 26: Stop the current of a river, a metaphor for the impossibility of hiding sins from God. 28: Showing partiality to a ruler might require compromising one's integrity; see 7.6. 30: Lion, a frequent image in Sirach for ferocity (21.2; 25.16; 27.10,28; 28.23).

5.1–8: Avoid presumption. Do not presume that God will overlook sins. 1: Ben Sira is preoccupied with wealth, its acquisition, and use (5.8; 10.30; 14.3; 28.10; 31.1; 40.13). 4–6: See the liturgical formula in Ex 34.6–7 (and its later adaptations, e.g., Num 14.18; Pss 86.15; 103.8; 145.8) where God is slow to anger and shows mercy. Here, though, rather than as part of a promise, Ben Sira warns that God also brings wrath on the guilty. Cf. Sir 16.11–14. 7–8: For the sudden onset of calamity as punishment, see Prov 6.15; 24.22.

5.9–6.4: Speech, shame, and passion. 10: See 4.23–26n. 12: Hand over your mouth, a gesture of silence, humility, and submission (Job 29.9; 40.4; Prov 30.32). 14: Double-tongued, duplicitous or slandering (6.1; 28.13). 6.1: A bad name incurs shame shows the importance of reputation for Ben Sira (15.1–10; 37.26; 39.9,11; 40.19; 41.11–13; 44.1–15). 6.2–4: The transparent sexual image, withered tree, is the consequence of the grip of passion.

6.5–17: Friendship. One must exercise caution when choosing friends, since not all are of equal value (cf. 9.10; 12.8–9; 19.13–17; 22.19–26; 27.16–21; 37.1–6). Both wisdom literature (see, e.g., Prov 17.17; 18.24; 27.6,10) and Hellenistic writers (e.g., the gnomic poet Theognis, 575; 643–44; 697–98) deal with the topic. 15: Balance their worth, a reference to scales used to determine value.

6.18–37: Discipline and Wisdom. Acquisition of Wisdom means submitting to her harsh discipline, but the rewards are transformative. 18: My child, each section (see vv. 23,32) begins with this address. See 2.1n. When you have gray hair, the search for wisdom is a lifelong process. 19: Eat of her produce, cf. 24.19–22. 21: Like a heavy stone contrasts with toil but little (v. 19). 22: Wisdom is like her name, a play on Heb “musar” (“discipline”) and possibly “sur” (“turn away”). 23–31: Wisdom's discipline, conveyed with images of fetters and bonds, is transformed for the one who submits to it. 26: All your soul and all your might, see Deut 6.5. 30: Purple cord, a reminder of God's commandments (Num 15.38–40). 31: Collar … yoke, for the heavy labor of farm animals; cf. Mt 11.28–30. Glorious robe and splendid crown evoke priestly garments; see 45.7,12; 50.11. 32–37: The student should seek out and listen to the company of elders and meditate (see Ps 1.2) on God's commandments, two primary sources of wisdom for Ben Sira.

7.1–17: Miscellaneous advice. Negative admonitions (“Do not …”), see 4.20–31n. 4–7: Although a wise person might sit in the seat of honor or serve as a judge, ambition is tempered by the potential for disgrace. 9: See 5.6–7. Offering refers to a sacrifice. 15: Farm work, perhaps an allusion to Gen 2.15. For a different view of work and the sage, see 39.24–34. 17: Fire and worms, the Hebrew has only worms. Cf. Isa 66.24.

7.18–36: Social relations. Ben Sira's students are or will be heads of households who must manage a range of social relationships and responsibilities. 18: Ophir, southern Arabia, was famous for gold (1 Kings 9.28; 10.11; Job 22.24; 28.16; Ps 45.9; Isa 13.12). 19: Dismiss a … wife (see v. 26), Deut 24.1–4. 23: Discipline, or “instruct”; see 6.22n. 21: Freedom, see Ex 21.2; Lev 25.39–46; Deut 15.12. 24–25: Daughters, cf. 22.3–6n.; 42.9–13. 27–28: Father … mother, see 3.1–16n. 29–31: Wisdom literature rarely mentions priests and ritual obligations, but they are an important concern in Sirach (35.1–13; 45.6–25; 50.1–21). 29–30: With all your soul … with all your might, Deut 6.5. 31: Portion, Ex 29.27; Lev 7.31–34; Num 18.8–20; Deut 18.3–4. 32: Poor, Deut 15.7–11. 33: Dead, cf. 38.16–23. 36: The end of your life, see 1.13n.

8.1–19: Circumstances to avoid. A series of negative admonitions, as in 4.20–31; 7.1–21; 9.1–9, that highlight Ben Sira's ethics of caution. 1–2: Advice about the powerful and the rich reflects Ben Sira's precarious socioeconomic position. As a scribe, he serves the wealthy classes who thus have power over him. Gold … has perverted the minds of kings, cf. 10.8; Deut 17.14–20. 4: Your ancestors may be insulted for having a senseless descendant. 8–9: The sage serves in the employ of princes and other nobles. Thus the necessity of learning from the sages and the aged, who know the tradition and have experience. 11: Bring you to your feet, an image for an emotional reaction, where one might not guard speech and fall prey to the ambush of the insolent. 12–13: Surety, to offer property as collateral to secure the loan of another. See Prov 6.1–5; 11.15; 17.18; 22.26–27; 4QInstruction. Ben Sira does not forbid giving surety, but he advises extra caution (29.1–7,14–20). 18: The Hebrew plays on the words stranger (“zar”) and secret (“raz”).

9.1–9: Relations with women. More cautionary advice, here about women who might bring shame on the sage. 3: Loose, lit., “strange” or “foreign” (Heb “zarah”); see Prov 5.1–6; 7.4–27. 4: Singing girl, perhaps a prostitute; cf. Isa 23.15–16. 5: Penalties, on seducing a virgin, see Ex 22.16–17. 9: The penalty for adultery with another man's wife was death (Lev 20.10; Deut 22.22).

9.10–16: Making associations. 11–12: In Ben Sira's worldview, sinners might appear to have success, but God will hold them accountable. 13: Probably kings and rulers are meant. Battlements, high on the city walls where one is vulnerable to attack. 15–16: Proper associations should focus on the law of the Most High and fear of the Lord.

9.17–10.5: Wise rulers. A common topic in wisdom literature (Prov 25.4–5; 28.3,16; 29.4,12,14). 10.4–5: Cf. Dan 2.21.

10.6–18: Avoid arrogance and pride. 6–11: Arrogance is foolish in the face of human mortality. 9–11: Ben Sira's emphasis on rulers and nations may reflect the political conditions of his time, particularly the competition between the Ptolemaic and the Seleucid kings (see also vv. 14–17). 9: Dust and ashes, Gen 18.27; Job 30.19; 42.6. 12–18: Pride and sin go hand in hand. 14–15: The verbs overthrows, plucks up, destroys, and plants are reminiscent of Jer 1.10; see also Lk 1.52. 17: Removes … destroys; cf. Job 12.23; erases the memory of them, cf. Eccl 1.11.

10.19–11.6: Honor and humility. True honor accrues to those who fear the Lord (cf. Prov 1.7n) and keep the commandments. 19: Human offspring, the riddle gives the same answer to opposite questions. 24: Fear of the Lord trumps social status. 26–31: Although Ben Sira does not condemn wealth, the correlation of humility and honor reduces the social disparity between wealth and poverty. 11.3: For other comparisons between animal and human behaviors, see Prov 6.6–8; 30.15–19,24–31.

11.7–28: Deliberation and true wealth. Material security does not necessarily signal God's favor. 7–9: See 5.11–12. 14: Cf. Isa 45.6–7; Job 2.10. 17: His favor brings lasting success introduces a moral tension, since sinners often prosper; see v. 21. 21: The devout must trust that God will set things right. 28: One's deeds are reflected in the manner of one's death.

11.29–12.18: Caution in associations. These admonitions exemplify an ethic of caution. 33: Ruin your reputation reflects Ben Sira's concern for a good name (6.1; 15.6; 37.26; 39.10–11; 40.19; 41.11–13; 44.3,8,14). 12.1–7: Give alms to the devout only, because the ungodly will use them against the giver and God hates sinners. 11: One who polishes, that is, in order to be able to see the enemy clearly. Ancient mirrors were highly polished metal. 18: Shake … clap, gestures of derision.

13.1–24: Association with the rich. The sage must associate with the rich, and Ben Sira uses their treatment of the poor as a warning to his students about potential dangers. 2: Clay pot … iron kettle illustrate the difference in social status and the vulnerability of the sage; see vv. 15–20. 7: See 12.18. 8–9: See 31.12–18; Prov 23.1–3; Instruction of Amenemope 23. 13: Caution is the watchword, since any misstep can result in one's downfall. 15–20: Both the sinner and the rich are like predators, the devout and poor like prey, but see v. 24. 21–23: The rich often receive preferential treatment. Cf. Prov 14.20; 19.4.

13.25–14.2: Happiness. 26: A cheerful face reflects the inner condition of the heart, the seat of emotion and thought in ancient understanding.

14.3–19: Use of wealth. 3–10: The miser has the wrong approach to wealth. He is mean to himself and thus cannot see to help others (cf. Prov 11.24–26). 11–19: A contrast with the miser. The proper attitude is to enjoy your share of desired goods but also to present worthy offerings and do good to friends. 12: Hades, in Hebrew Sheol, the abode of the dead. 14: Eccl 8.15; 9.7. 17: Like a garment, Isa 50.9; Ps 102.26. You must die, Gen 2.17; 3.3. 18: Cf. Eccl 1.4; Iliad 6.146–49.

14.20–15.10. The benefits of wisdom. Whoever pursues Wisdom will receive benefits from her. 20: Happy is, a beatitude or macarism (cf., e.g., Ps 1.1; Prov 3.13; Mt 5.3–11; Lk 6.20–23; 4QBeatitudes). 22–25: Cf. Prov 8.32–35. The metaphors of hunter, lover (cf. Song 2.9), and neighbor emphasize single-minded pursuit. 26: On Wisdom as a tree, see 1.20n.; 24.13–17; Prov 3.18. 15.1: On wisdom, law, fears the Lord see 1.11–30n.; 6.32–37; 24.23. 2–3: Wisdom nurtures as a mother and loves as a young bride (cf. Prov 7.4; Wis 7.12; 8.2). Bread and water, cf. 1.16; 24.19–21; Prov 9.1–5. 6: Gladness and a crown of rejoicing, 1.11; 6.31. Everlasting name, immortality through a good reputation.

15.11–16.23: Free will and God's justice. God created humans with the capacity to choose, and so they are responsible for their sins, both individually and corporately. 11–13: Even though God created all things (see 11.14), God cannot do what he hates. 14–17: Humans have had free choice since the beginning, a likely interpretation of Gen 3. 14: Free choice (Heb “yetser”) can have both positive (Isa 26.3; 1 Chr 29.18) and negative (Gen 6.5; 8.1) connotations in the Hebrew Bible. In later Jewish texts, the idea develops that every person possesses a good and an evil “yetser.” 17: Life and death, Deut 30.15. 16.1–4: Having many children was seen as a good (Ps 127.3–5), and one's progeny could protect one's name and reputation (30.1–6). Children also can bring shame (cf. 22.3; 30.12–13). Thus, to die childless is preferable to having a thousand who are ungodly. 7–11: Since God punished the ancient giants (Gen 6.1–4; 1 En. 7; 10), the neighbors of Lot (Gen 18.16–19.29), the doomed nation of the Canaanites (Lev 18.3,25), and the six hundred thousand foot soldiers in the desert (Ex 12.37; Num 14.38), why would God overlook any single stiff-necked person? 12: According to his or her deeds, Ezek 18; Ps 62.12. 17–23: The fictitious speaker, a senseless and misguided person, argues that individuals are hidden from God in the vastness of the cosmos (cf. Job 22.13; Ezek 8.12). The unspoken answer is that God sees everything (23.19–20; 39.20) and judges.

16.24–17.24: Creation and repentance. A meditation on creation that moves from creation to the giving of the law to Israel, and individuals and repentance. 16.26–17.7: An interpretation of Gen 1–3. 26: From the beginning, Gen 1.1; Prov 8.22–23. Boundaries, Job 38.8–11; Pss 104.5–9; 148.5–6. 27–28: Creation is orderly and obeys God (see 33.14–15; 42.15–43.33), but contrast 1 En. 21. 29: Good things, Gen 1.4,10,12, etc. 30: Return, Gen 3.19; Ps 104.29. 17.1: Out of earth, Gen 2.7; 3.19. 2: Authority, v. 4; Gen 1.28; 9.2. 3. His own image, Gen 1.26. 6–7: Knowledge … good and evil, in Genesis these things come to humans as a result of disobedience (Gen 2.4–3.24). Ben Sira ignores that part of the story. 11–14: A shift to Israel and the giving of the Torah. 11: Law of life, the Torah; see 45.5; Deut 30.15–20. 12–13: Glorious majesty … voice, a reference to the Sinai theophany and covenant (Ex 19). 14: Neighbor, Lev 19.18 (cf. Ex 20.13–17; Deut 5.17–21). 15–24: God sees human sin (cf. 15.19) and judges, but almsgiving and repentance allow a return. 17. The Lord's own portion, Deut 32.8–9. 22: Signet ring (Jer 22.24; Hag 2.23) and apple of his eye (Deut 32.10) suggest a special relationship with God.

17.25–32: Mercy and repentance. God's mercy allows repentance. 27–28: The dead in Hades (see 14.12n) cannot praise God (cf., e.g., Pss 6.5; 30.9; 88.10–12; Bar 2.17), which should be humanity's response to God (39.12–35; 43.11,27–33). 30–31: If the sun's light can fail, how much more can flesh and blood. 32: Dust and ashes, see 10.9n.

18.1–14: God's majesty and compassion. Human frailty and mortality prompt God's compassion. 4–7: Cf. 43.27–33. 4: To none, cf. 42.17. 7: Have finished, trying “to fathom the wonders of the Lord” (v. 6). 8: What are human beings, Ps 8.4. 9: Number of days, Ps 90.10. 11: Cf. Ps 103.14. 13: Shepherd, cf. Ps 23.1–4; Isa 40.11; Ezek 34.11–16.

18.15–29: Speech and action. A gracious person speaks kind words and the wise person is cautious in everything. 18: The fool is a frequent foil to the wise person in wisdom literature. 21: Falling ill is related to sin (cf. 38.9–15). 23: Test, cf. Ex 17.2; Deut 6.16. 24: Consideration of the day of death should affect how one acts in life.

18.30–19.17: Self-control and gossip. 31: Laughingstock, that is, exposed to public shame (cf. 6.4; 13.7; 42.11). 19.2: Cf. Prov 31.2–5. 3: Snatched away, will die an untimely death. 10: Let it die with you, self-control means not repeating gossip. 13–17: Do not believe everything you hear (v. 15) but first ask neighbor or friend directly. 17: Law of the Most High, cf. Lev 19.17–18.

19.20–30: Wisdom contrasted with cleverness. 20: Wisdom … fear of the Lord … fulfillment of the law, the basic triad in Sirach; see 1.11–30n. 23: Cleverness (Gk “panourgia”) has a negative connotation, since it is deceitful. 29–30: A person's outward appearance reflects his or her inner nature; cf. 13.25–26.

20.1–31: Topics related to speech. The advice in this section appeals to avoidance of shame. A significant difference between proper and improper speech concerns speaking at the proper time. 4: Sinners cannot be compelled to act properly any more than a eunuch can engage in sexual intercourse. 5–6: Cf. Prov 17.27–28. 9–12: Although the sages argued for moral laws of cause-and-effect, they recognized both ironies and paradoxes; cf. Prov 14.12; 16.25; Eccl 9.1–12. 20: Cf. Prov 26.7. 24–26: On lying, see 7.13; 25.2; Prov 6.17; 12.22; Ps 5.6.

21.1–10: Sin and repentance. Sin can inflict grievous, even mortal, wounds, but forgiveness is possible. 3: Lawlessness, equated with sin, emphasizes the importance of fulfilling the law. 5: Prayer of the poor, cf. 35.17–22a; Deut 15.9. 9: Bundle of tow, highly combustible flax. Fire, punishment in this lifetime rather than after death. 10: Hades, see 14.12n.

21.11–22.18: The wise and the foolish. 12: Clever, here in a positive sense (cf. 19.23). 13–14: Increase like a flood … broken jar, the knowledge of the wise overflows, while the fool's mind can hold nothing (cf. 22.9). 19: Compare the same imagery used positively of Wisdom in 6.24–25,29–30. 22–24: Being educated means having good manners. 22.1: Filthy stone, a rock used for wiping after a bowel movement. 3–6: Son … daughter, sons were valued more highly than daughters in Ben Sira's social world (cf. 7.24–25; 42.9–14), but both can bring shame on their father. 6: Thrashing, corporal punishment was the norm in parenting and education (30.12–13; Prov 13.24; 23.13–14). 9: See 21.13–14. 11: For the dead nothing more exists; for the fool the rest of life is at stake. 12: Seven days, the traditional mourning period, but cf. 38.17. 13: Spattered, the image is of an animal shaking off that affects anyone standing close by. 16–18: Fool's resolve contrasts with the resolve of the wise.

22.19–26: Preserving friendship. See also 6.5–17. Even true and loyal friends might make mistakes that require reconciliation. True friends stand by friends in good and bad times. 25–26: Shelter a friend runs counter to Ben Sira's usual ethic of caution; cf. 11.29.

22.27–23.6. Prayer for self-control. 23.2–3: Whips … discipline, an appeal to the idea that corporal punishment will prevent mistakes, in this case sins. 23.1,4: O Lord, Father, cf. 51.10.

23.7–15: Self-control in speech. This poem connects with the theme of the previous section. 9: On misuse of God's name, see Ex 20.7; Deut 5.11. On oaths, Lev 5.4; Num 3.1–16. 12: Death, perhaps a reference to blasphemy (Lev 24.16). Inheritance of Jacob, the Israelites. 14: Curse the day of your birth, see Job 3.3–5; Jer 20.14–18.

23.16–27. Sexual sins. A poem on sexual license of both men and women. 16: Two kinds … third, a numerical proverb, often used in wisdom literature (cf. 25.1–2,7; 26.5–6,28; 50.25–26; Prov 30.18–19,21–23). 21: Death was the stipulated punishment for adultery (Lev 20.10; Deut 22.22–24). Here the punishment is public but not specified (see also v. 24). 19: Eyes of the Lord, God knows all human actions (cf. 16.17–22). 23: Disobeyed the law, Ex 20.14; Lev 20.10; Deut 5.18; 22.22. 25–26: The adulteress's children will not flourish (cf. Wis 3.16–19; 4.3–6; also Deut 5.9–10). 27: The reference to fear of the Lord and the commandments leads directly to Wisdom's self-praise in ch 24.

24.1–22. Wisdom's self-praise. An aretalogy (first-person praise of oneself, often connected with the Egyptian goddess Isis) in which Wisdom is personified as a woman (Prov 8.22–36; cf. Bar 3.9–4.4; Wis 7.22–8.1) and dwells in the Jerusalem Temple. 1–2: Her people, Israel; the assembly of the Most High, the heavenly host or divine council (cf. Ps 82.1,6–7). 3: From the mouth of the Most High evokes Gen 1. Covered like a mist, cf. Gen 1.2; Wis 7.25. 4: Pillar of cloud, see Ex 13.21–22; 33.9–10; Wis 10.17–18. 6: Wisdom has a universal reach (cf. 1.15). 7: Resting place, Job 28.23; 1 En. 42. 8–12: Wisdom, who was created in the beginning (cf. Gen 1.1), dwells with Israel (cf. Bar 3.36–37) in the Jerusalem Temple. 9: Prov 8.22–23. 10: Holy tent, an allusion to the tabernacle (Ex 25.8–9), which represents the Temple. Ministered, Wisdom functions liturgically as a priest. 12: Portion of the Lord, cf. 17.17. 13–17: A comparison of Wisdom with plants, perfume, and fragrant substances, emphasizing her beauty and expanse and her connection with the Temple. See 50.8–12 where roses, cedar, palm, cypress, and olive describe the high priest Simon II. 13: Lebanon, a mountain range in modern Lebanon and Syria famous for its forests. Hermon, a mountain on the border of modern Israel and Syria. 14: En-gedi and Jericho, oases in the region near the Dead Sea. 15: These ingredients were used in the service of the Temple (Ex 30.22–38), which is infused with Wisdom's presence, just as with incense. 19–22: Wisdom is better than fine food and drink, and those who eat and drink will desire more (cf. 6.19; Prov 9.1–6). 23: Ben Sira is the first to relate Torah and wisdom in this way; see also Bar 4.1.

24.24–34: Ben Sira's interpretation. 23: The book of the covenant of the Most High God (cf. Ex 24.7; Deut 33.4) embodies the eternal, timeless Wisdom of vv. 3–22 (cf. Deut 4.5–8), an important statement about the confluence of the Torah and the wisdom traditions. 25–27: The Pishon, Tigris, Euphrates, and Gihon flow from the Garden of Eden (Gen 2.10–14). 28–29: Wisdom will never be fully grasped, not from the first man to the last one; cf. 1.4–8. 30–34: Ben Sira connects his own teaching to both Torah and Wisdom through the metaphor of a canal, water channel, river, and sea. 33: Pour out teaching like prophecy, Ben Sira's teaching has a revelatory quality to it.

25.1–11: Praiseworthy things. 1–2,7: For other numerical proverbs in Sirach, see 23.16; 26.5–6,28; 50.25–26. 3–6: The value of wisdom in older people. 6: Cf. 1.11,18 where crown is associated with fear of the Lord and wisdom. 8: The Torah prohibits plowing with ox and ass together (Deut 22.10). Here it refers to an unequal marriage of some sort—perhaps a wise man with a foolish wife or in a polygamous marriage with incompatible wives (cf. 26.6; 37.11). To serve an inferior would bring shame.

25.13–26.27: Evil and good wives. A meditation on the qualities of good and bad wives. Ben Sira's overall negativity about women derives primarily from the ways that they can bring shame upon a husband or father. Even so, his negative language about women exceeds that found in other contemporary texts. 16: Cf. Prov 21.19; 25.24; 27.15. 19: A strong condemnation given Ben Sira's statements about sinners elsewhere (cf. 5.6; 12.6). 22: Disgrace, the implication is that the man cannot control the critical facets of his life, leading to shame. A wife's economic achievements are praised in Prov 31.10–31. 24: Placing blame on the woman became the traditional interpretation of Gen 3 (cf. 2 Cor 11.3; 1 Tim 2.14), even though Ben Sira goes beyond Genesis in his blaming Eve. Because of her we all die, cf., however, 17.1–2 where human beings have a fixed life span from the start. 26: Separate, see Deut 24.1–4 for the reasons a man can divorce his wife. 26.1–4: Ben Sira emphasizes the benefits to the husband of having a good wife. 5–12: The warning about a bad wife leads to the problems of a headstrong daughter. 5: On numerical proverbs, see 23.16n. 6: Jealous of a rival, likely enmity among polygamous wives (cf. 37.11). 12: Tent peg … quiver … arrow, transparent metaphors for indiscriminate sexuality. 13–18: While the good wife has virtues, her face, legs, and feet are compared with the holy lampstand (the menorah in the Temple) and golden pillars (probably columns in the Temple), unlike the bad wife and daughter whose bodies are emphasized (vv. 25.17,21; 26.9,11,12). 19–27: Although not in the Hebrew, the Greek and Syriac translations contain these verses, and they were likely part of Ben Sira's book. 20–21: The concern is for legitimacy of one's offspring, who then prosper (cf. 23.22–26). 20: Seek a fertile field, an agricultural metaphor that focuses on the woman's childbearing capacity (cf. Prov 5.15–18). 25: Headstrong, see 26.10.

26.28–27.15: Integrity and speech. 28: For numerical proverbs, see 23.16n. Warrior, perhaps a mistake of the Greek translator. No Hebrew survives for this verse but the Syriac has “noble man.” 26.29–27.2: These verses do not condemn business, although business can involve corruption (cf. Prov 11.1; 20.10). 8: Glorious robe, see 6.31n.; cf. Job 29.14. 12: The topic of proper associations and their impact on a person is common in wisdom literature, cf. 13.1; 37.12; Prov 20.19; 22.24–25; 23.20–21; Letter of Aristeas 130.

27.16–29: Relationships with companions. 16–21: Keeping a secret is a mark of true friendship (cf. 8.17–19; 22.22; Prov 25.9–10). 22: Winks, a sign of duplicity (cf. Prov 6.12–14; 10.10; 16.30). 24: The Lord hates him, cf. 12.6. 26–27: That the wicked are caught in the traps they set is a common idea in wisdom literature and the psalms (e.g., Prov 26.27; Eccl 10.8–9; Pss 7.15; 9.15–16; 35.7-8; 141.10). 29: Pain at death is a sign of God's judgment.

27.30–28.7: Forgiveness. 28.1: By keeping a strict account of their sins, God's judgment is just. 2: Forgive … your sins will be pardoned, in Sirach pious acts, such as honoring parents (3.3,14) almsgiving (3.30), and forgiveness, count against one's sins. 6–7: Recalling death, the commandments, and the covenant should temper hard feelings. Ben Sira often appeals to death as motivation for proper behavior (7.36; 14.12; 18.24; 38.20).

28.8–26: Destructive speech. 8–12: Strife or social disharmony is a concern in small communities and is a common topic in wisdom literature; see Prov 6.14,19; 10.12; 16.18; etc. 10: Here wealth connects with wrath; cf. 13.24 where riches are positively valued if free from sin. 13: Double-tongued, see 5.14n. 14–15: Slander, lit., “third tongue,” since slander is not directed to the person being slandered. Thus the slanderer is the third tongue 19–20: Yoke … fetters, see 6.24–30 where Wisdom employs these devices. 21: Hades, see 14.12n. 24: Fence in, with a hedge of thorn bushes.

29.1–20: Loans, alms, and surety. 1–7: Biblical law regulates lending and taking of interest, which could not be exacted from Israelites (Ex 22.25; Lev 25.36–37; Deut 15.7–11; 23.19–20; 24.10–13). Ben Sira's warnings about possible default on loans reflect his ethic of caution (cf. 8.12–13). 8–13: In addition to storing up treasure (cf. Mt 6.19–20), giving alms atones for sins (3.30), brings God's favor (17.22), works like sacrifice (35.4), and rescues from trouble (40.24). 9: The commandment, Deut 15.7–8. 14–20: Surety, see 8.12–13n.

29.21–28: Depending on others. Exceeding one's resources results in dependence that brings shame. 21: See 39.26. 22: The poor have something but often live on the verge of destitution. See 40.28n. 25–26: As a guest one might be treated more like a servant.

30.1–13: Raising sons. A son properly raised reflects positively on his father and enhances his honor and reputation. 1–6: Severe discipline for parenting children was usual in antiquity (cf. Prov 13.24; 22.15; 23.13–14; 29.15). 4: On a son as the image of his father, see Gen 5.3; Tob 9.6. 6: Avenger, the son will complete his father's business and settle scores. 7–13: Spoiling and pampering are the opposite of discipline. 12: Stubborn, cf. Deut 21.18–21.

30.14–25: Health and food. 17: Death is better, cf. 16.3; Job 3.11–17; Tob 3.6. 18–20: Offerings of food to the dead, making a sacrifice to an idol, and a eunuch trying to engage in sex are metaphors for uselessness. 23: Indulge yourself, Eccl 5.18–20; 8.15; 9.7–10.

31.1–11: Wealth. 1: Wakefulness, cf. 42.9 concerning daughters. 7: Cf. Eccl 5.10. 8–11: In light of v. 5, the rhetorical questions suggest that those not corrupted by money are few. 10: Tested, see 2.4–6n.

31.12–32.13. Table manners. Ben Sira's students needed to learn proper manners in order to navigate social occasions. The table of the great, or banquet, was an event where one could garner acclaim and honor or experience embarrassment and shame. Advice about manners is frequent in Egyptian wisdom texts, such as Ptahhotep and Amenemope. 12–18: Proper table manners (cf. Prov 23.1–3). 19–24: Moderation leads to good health. 25–31: On wine drinking and its deleterious effects, see Prov 20.1; 23.29–35; 31.4–5. The background may be the symposium, which featured much eating, drinking, and entertainment. See Philo, On the Contemplative Life 48–63; Letter of Aristeas 187–300. 32.1: The master of the feast was responsible for the needs of those attending (2 Macc 2.27; Letter of Aristeas 182). 7–9: The young were expected to keep silence before elders; cf. Job 29.8; 32.4,6.

32.14–33.6: Deliberate judgments. 14: Rise early, for prayer (see 39.5). 16–17: True judgments, perhaps a reference to the sage in an official capacity (cf. 38.31–33). According to his liking, the sinner contrasts with those who fear the Lord. 33.1: No evil will befall reflects Ben Sira's view that God will protect and rescue the faithful. 3: Divine oracle, likely the Urim and Thummin (45.10; Ex 28.30; Lev 8.8; Num 27.21; 1 Sam 14.41–42).

33.7–15: The pairs. God created the cosmos in pairs (v. 15), an order that can be observed and extends to humans, as the wise and foolish or the godly and the sinner (v. 14). 7–9: Sabbath and liturgical festivals (cf. Gen 1.14; 2.3). 10: Gen 2.7; 3.19. 12: Blessed and exalted, figures such as Abraham and Moses. Brought near to himself, a likely reference to the priesthood. Some he cursed, perhaps referring to the Canaanites (cf. 16.9). 13: Clay, cf. Isa 29.16; 45.9; 64.8; Jer 18.6.

33.16–19: Ben Sira the sage. For other authorial self-references, see 24.30–34; 34.9–13; 39.12–13; 50.27. 16: Keep vigil, a prophetic image; see Ezek 33.7; Hab 2.1 (cf. Jer 1.12; 31.28; 44.27 for the same verb). A gleaner collects what remains after the harvest; see Deut 24.19–22. 19: Cf. 24.34.

33.20–33: The household. 20–24: Loss of control over property and family brought a stain upon your honor. 25–33: Slavery (cf. 7.20–21) was a sanctioned institution, which was regulated in Israelite law (Ex 21.2–11,20–21,26–27; Lev 25.39–46; Deut 15.12–18). 31: Bought him with blood, the high cost of purchasing a slave justified good treatment. 32: Runs away, cf. Deut 23.15–16.

34.1–8: Dreams. Dreams, divinations, and omens do not provide reliable knowledge. Ben Sira sets these against the law and wisdom (v. 8). He may be opposing the apocalyptic movement, which emphasized knowledge through dreams and visions. 2: Pursues the wind, cf. Eccl 1.14. 3: Dreams are a projection of the dreamer, a view that seems very modern. 4: Clean … unclean, cf. Job 14.4. 6: From the Most High, only divinely inspired dreams are acceptable (cf. Gen 28.10–16; 37.5–10; Judg 7.13–15).

34.9–13: Experience through travel. See 39.4; 51.13.

34.14–20: Fear of the Lord. See 1.11–30; 2.1–18. 14: Spirit … will live, in the sense of being energized, encouraged, not in a postmortem existence. 19: Common images in Israel's hymnic tradition (e.g., Pss 3.3; 7.10; 18.2,17,35; 61.3–4; 91.1–4; 121.3–6).

34.21–35.26. Sacrifice and true worship. Ben Sira supported the Temple and its priesthood (cf. 50.1–24) and advocated sacrificing according to the law. Social justice and ethical behavior must motivate and accompany sacrifice, however. 21: Blemished, cf. Lev 22.18–25. 24–27: Ben Sira connects material resources with the ability to live (cf. 29.15; 31.4). Thus, taking what little the poor have constitutes murder. 30: Touching a corpse makes one ritually impure, which is alleviated through washing (Num 19.10–20). 31: Fasts, perhaps a reference to the Day of Atonement (Lev 23.27–32).

35.1–13: Keeping the law, heeding the commandments, giving alms all atone for sin like sacrifice; cf. 3.3,14,30. God looks favorably on sacrifices made willingly and generously. 2: Offering of well-being, cf. Leviticus 3. 3: Choice flour, cf. Leviticus 2. 4: Thank offering, cf. Lev 7.12–21. 6: Empty-handed, see Ex 23.15; Deut 16.16. 10: First fruits, see Ex 23.16,19; 34.22,26; Lev 2.14; 23.10,17. 11: Tithe, one-tenth of one's produce and harvest, dedicated to God (cf. Deut 14.22–29).

35.14–26: Ben Sira's claim that God is just leads to an indictment of unrighteous individuals generally and the nations specifically, which forms the transition to the prayer of 36.1–22. Ben Sira may be alluding to the political situation of his time. 17: On divine concern for the vulnerable orphan and widow, see, e.g., Deut 10.17–18; Ps 68.5.

36.1–22: Prayer for the deliverance of Israel. A prayer of lament for deliverance from foreign nations, perhaps a reference to Seleucid rulers. 4–7: A series of allusions to the Exodus. 4: The events of the Exodus convinced the Egyptians that God is the Lord; see Ex 7.17; 8.22; 14.4. 6: Signs … wonders … hand … right arm, see Ex 7.3; 11.9–10; 15.6; Deut 4.34; 7.19. 10: The Hebrew words day (Heb “qets”) and appointed time (Heb “moʿed”) occur frequently in Jewish eschatological literature. 13: A widespread prophetic hope that God would gather the dispersed of Israel (cf. Isa 49.5; 56.8; Jer 23.7–8; 32.36–37; Mic 2.12). 17: Called by your name, see Deut 28.10; Jer 14.9. Firstborn, Ex 4.22. 18: Your dwelling, God's presence was thought to reside in the Temple; see 1 Kings 8.12; Ps 132.14. 20–21: Fulfill the prophecies reflects a developing view of prophecy in this period as prediction of future events (cf. 1QpHab 7.1–5).

36.23–37.15: Choosing wives, friends, and counselors. 26: One girl is preferable, that is, as the man's choice of a wife. 29: A helper fit for him, see Gen 2.18. 30: A fugitive and a wanderer, like Cain (Gen 4.12,14). 37.1–6: On friends, see 6.15–17; 9.10–16; 19.13–17; 22.19–26; 27.16–21. 3: Inclination to evil, Heb “yetser”; see 15.14n. 11: Her rival, perhaps another wife (26.6).

37.16–31: Deliberative speech and moderation. 17–18: Cf. 5.13. 26: The themes of achieving honor and having immortality through one's name run through Sirach (e.g., 10.28–31; 15.6; 33.23; 39.9–11; 40.19; 41.11–13). 27–31: Cf. 31.12–31.

38.1–15: Illness and physicians. While Ben Sira recommends treatment by a physician, he reaffirms the traditional idea that illness results from sin. 5: Water made sweet, see Ex 15.23–25. 9–15: On sin as a cause of illness, see 18.19–21; Deut 28.21–22,27,35; Jn 9.2; and Job 10; 33–34 on the relationship between sin and suffering. 11: On generosity in sacrifice, see 35.10–11.

38.16–23: Mourning. 16: Do not neglect the burial, proper burial was a religious obligation (cf. Tob 1.17–18; 4.3–4; 6.15; 12.12; 14.12–13). 17: One day, or two, a much shorter period than stipulated in 22.12.

38.24–39.11: The trades and the scribe. Ancient scribes/sages like Ben Sira were intellectuals and public figures, not only producers of documents. The contrast between the sage and artisans, farmers, and tradespersons was popular in Egyptian wisdom, such as the Satire of the Trades (the Instruction of Kheti), but Ben Sira has a more positive attitude toward these occupations than the Egyptian text. 24: Leisure, artisans and tradespersons are too busy to take the time for study. 27: Signets of seals were used to make impressions that authorized identity, much as a personal signature functions today. 32–34: Artisans, farmers, and tradespersons maintain the fabric of the world, but the scribe enables society to function. 39.4: Cf. 34.12–13. 6: Filled with the spirit of understanding, the scribe's wisdom comes through study (38.34c–39.3) and revelatory inspiration. 9–11: The wise scribe will live on through his memory and name; cf. 37.26; 44.10–15.

39.12–35: Praise of God's creation. A hymn of praise (vv. 16–31) with an introduction (vv. 12–15) and a personal conclusion (32–35). 12: Like the full moon, Ben Sira's teaching illuminates (cf. 24.32). 13–14: Reminiscent of Wisdom in 24.13–17. 16: Very good, cf. Gen 1.4,10,12,18,21,25,31. Appointed time, see 36.10; 39.34; 48.10; Eccl 3.11. 17: The waters stood in a heap (cf. Ex 15.8; Josh 3.16). At the word of his mouth, cf. Gen 1.9–10; Ps 33.6. 23: Watered land into salt, Sodom and Gomorrah (cf. Gen 19.24–26). 25–27: Though the good share the good things of creation, sinners have both good things and bad. Yet the good things in creation turn to evils for sinners. 28–31: Elements created to punish the wicked. 29: Created for vengeance, cf. Job 38.23.

40.1–27: Life's miseries and joys. An explication of Ben Sira's views expressed in 39.22–31 about the righteous and unrighteous. 1: Yoke, a positive and negative image in Sirach; cf. 6.23–31; 26.7; 28.19–20; 30.13; 33.27; 51.26. Adam, see Gen 3.17–19. Mother of all the living, see Job 1.21; Gen 3.20 (where the phrase refers to Eve). 8–11: In order for Ben Sira to maintain the idea that God punishes sinners especially, sinners must suffer seven times more (cf. 39.28–31). 10: Flood, see Gen 6–8. 11: See Gen 2.7; 3.19; 6.3; also Eccl 12.7. Ben Sira apparently distinguishes between the material dust from which humans were created and the divine breath by which they were animated. 15: See 23.25; Wis 3.16–19; 4.3–6. 17: On the benefits of almsgiving, see 3.30; 12.3; 17.22; 29.12; 35.4; 40.24. 18–27: A series of “better than” proverbs of the form “x and y are good, but z is better.” 26–27: Fear of the Lord exceeds everything; cf., for example, 1.11–20. 27: Garden of blessing, see Gen 2.10,15.

40.28–41.13: Death and reputation. 28: Better to die than to beg, destitution differs from being poor and represents a form of social death (cf. Lk 16.3). 41.3–4: Death's decree … for all, see 14.12,17; Gen 3.19. Hades, see 14.12n. 5–10: The main thought concerns disgrace or shame. The sins of the parents devolve to their children; see Deut 5.9; Wis 3.16–19; 4.3–6. See 3.1–16 on parents and children. 8: Woe, a prophetic form. 10: See 40.11n. 11: Virtuous name, see 37.26; 39.9,11; Prov 22.1; Eccl 7.1.

41.14–42.8: Appropriate and inappropriate shame. The most extensive teaching on shame in Sirach (cf. 4.20–28), here differentiating between things that bring inappropriate shame and things of which to be appropriately ashamed. 14–16: An introduction summarizing the theme. 17–18: Be ashamed … before, shows the public nature of honor and shame. 42.1: Find favor, the end result of proper shame is honor. 2: The law and the covenant head the list of things not to be ashamed of. Even the ungodly deserve justice. 4–5: On merchants, see 26.29–27.2; on corporal punishment for children and slaves, see 7.23; 30.1–2; 33.25–30. 8: Approved by all echoes 42.1.

42.9–14: Daughters. As in other passages on women (cf. 22.3–6; 23.22–27; 25.13–26.27), Ben Sira worries about how their behavior affects a man's status. 9–10: Virginity and fidelity guaranteed legitimate children and proper inheritance (cf. 23.22–23; cf. Deut 22.13–29.) 11: A man's inability to control important culturally significant aspects of his life, here daughters, brings shame. 13: From a woman, perhaps a reference to Eve (cf. 25.24). 14: The most pernicious articulation of Ben Sira's misogyny (cf. 25.13–26; 36.26–31).

42.15–43.33: The works of God in nature. A hymn of praise beginning with a poem on God's omniscience (42.15–21), followed by an explanation of the wonders of the natural order (42.22–43.26), and ending with praise of God (43.27–33). 15: By the word, cf. Gen 1.1–31; Ps 33.6. 16: Full of his glory, God's creation reveals God's glory; cf. Isa 6.3 17: Holy ones, God's heavenly court or angels (cf. Job 15.15). 18–20: God's knowledge is inscrutable to humans, although they can apprehend some things through divine revelation (cf. 48.25).19: What has been and what is to be, cf. Isa 41.22–23; 44.7; reveals … hidden things, cf. Dan 2.22. 21: Counselor, cf. Isa 40.13. 24: All things come in pairs, cf. 33.14–15. 43.1–12: For other lists of natural phenomena, cf. Job 28.23–28; Ps 104. 7: Festal days, the moon sets the liturgical calendar rather than the sun and moon together as in Gen 1.14, perhaps indicating Ben Sira's rejection of a solar calendar used by some Jews. 8: A word play on new moon (Heb “ḥodesh”) and renews itself (Heb “mitḥadesh”). 14: Storehouses, where weather phenomena are kept; cf. Deut 28.12; Ps 135.7; Jer 10.13; 51.16 (wind); Job 38.22 (snow and hail). 16–17: The images evoke divine theophanies; cf. Ps. 18.7–15. 17: At his will, cf. Ps 148.8. 19: Like salt, cf. Ps 147.16. 23–25: Cf. Job 26.12; Pss 104.24–26; 107.23–24. 27: He is the all, in the sense that creation everywhere displays God's glory. 32: I have seen forms an inclusio with 42.15 to bookend the poem's beginning and end. 33: Connects praise of God in creation to praise of human beings in 44.1–50.24.

44.1–50.24: Praise of Israel's ancestors. A long section in which Ben Sira celebrates significant figures from Israel's past, who were rewarded with a lasting name. He emphasizes covenant along with the offices of prophet, priest, and king, concluding with praise of a contemporary, the high priest Simon II.

44.1–15: Introduction to the praise. 1: Famous men, the Hebrew and Syriac have men of piety. Ben Sira includes no women in his list. 3–7: The varieties of leadership celebrated focus on royal and administrative roles, prophetic and poetic spokespersons, and landed gentry. 8–11: Left behind … no memory, Ben Sira recognizes that some righteous people have perished as though they never existed, which runs counter to the rest of Sirach, but he says that their righteous deeds will be recalled. 12–15: Ben Sira's own praise enacts his promise that their wisdom will be remembered.

44.16–23: The patriarchs. 16: See 49.14. Enoch … was taken up, see Gen 5.24. The phrase example of repentance may show knowledge of nonbiblical traditions about Enoch. 17–18: Noah … perfect and righteous, see Gen 6.9; 7.1. Everlasting covenants, see Gen 9.11–12. 19–21: Abraham … father of a multitude, see Gen 17.4–8. 20: Abraham kept the law, even before Moses gave it (cf. Jubilees 13). Covenant in his flesh, circumcision; see Gen 17.9–14. Tested, the binding of Isaac (Gen 22). 21: Oath, see Gen 12.3; 13.16; 15.5,18; 22.15–18. 22–23: Abraham's covenant passed to Isaac and Jacob (Gen 17.19–21; 28.4,13–15). With his blessings, see Gen 27. Distributed them among the twelve tribes, the sons of Jacob; cf. Gen 49.

44.23–45.26: Later covenantal figures. 45.1–2: Equal in glory, perhaps referring to Moses being like God to Pharaoh (Ex 7.1) or to Moses's shining face (Ex 34.29–35). 3: Miracles, the “plagues” against Egypt; Ex 7.1–11.10; 12.29–32. Commandments, Ex 20.1–17; Deut 5.1–22. Glory, Ex 33.18–23. 4: Meekness, Num 12.3. 5: Dark cloud, Ex 20.21; 24.18. Face to face, Num 12.8. Teach, Deut 4.1,5; 6.1. 6–22: Ben Sira spends more time on Aaron than any other figure, reflecting his interest in priesthood. 6–7: Tribe of Levi, Ex 4.14. Everlasting covenant, Ex 29.9; 40.15. 8–12: On priestly vestments, see Ex 28–29. 10: Urim and Thummim, Ex 28.30. 12: A gold crown is not among the biblical vestments but acknowledges priestly leadership of Israel in Ben Sira's time. 14: The daily cereal offering (Lev 6.19–23). 15: Ordained … anointed, Ex 28.41; Lev 8.1–30. Bless his people, 50.20; Num 6.23–27. 17: Teach, Lev 10.11; Deut 33.10. 18–19: See Num 16. 20–22: First fruits … eat the sacrfices, see Num 18. No portion … inheritance, see Num 18.20; Deut 12.12. 23: Zealous, see Num 25.10–13; 1 Macc 2.26,54. 24: Covenant of friendship, see Num 25.10–12. 26: A benediction likely directed at the contemporary high priest Simon II and his successors.

46.1–20: Joshua, Caleb, the judges, and Samuel. 1: Mighty in war, see Josh 6–11. Successor of Moses, Deut 34.9; Josh 1.5; 3.7. As his name implies, a play on words, since Joshua's name means “The Lord is salvation.” 4: Josh 10.12–14. 5: Hailstones, Josh 10.11. 7: Proved … stilled, Num 14. 8: Two alone, Num 26.65. Six hundred thousand, Ex 12.37; Num 11.21. Land flowing with milk and honey, the phrase describing the bounteous nature of Canaan; see, for example, Num 14.8. 9: Inheritance, Num 14.6–14. 11–12: Only the judges who did not commit idolatry (as Gideon did in Judg 8.22–50) deserve praise. Their bones send forth new life, see 49.10; 2 Kings 13.21. 13–20: Samuel anointed rulers (1 Sam 10.1; 16.3) and acted as judge (1 Sam 7.15), prophet (1 Sam 3.19–20), and priest (1 Sam 7.9). 16–18: 1 Sam 7.7–11. 19: See 1 Sam 12.1–5. 20: Lifted up his voice from the ground, 1 Sam 28.8–19.

47.1–22: Nathan, David, and Solomon. 1: Nathan, 2 Sam 7.2–4; 12.1–15; 1 Chr 17.1–4. 2: Fat, see Lev 4.8,19. 3: Cf. 1 Sam 17.34–37. 4: 1 Sam 17.49–51 (cf. 2 Sam 21.18–19). 6: Tens of thousands, 1 Sam 18.7. 8–10: David is remembered as a composer of psalms, and he organized the Temple service (1 Chr 23–26). 11: Took away his sins, in the Bathsheba affair (2 Sam 11–12). Covenant of kingship, 2 Sam 7.12–16; 23.5; Ps 89.3–4. 13: Build a house, the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 5–8). 16–17: See 1 Kings 4.29–34; 10.1–10. 18–21: Solomon violated the laws of the king (Deut 17.14–20) by amassing great wealth and marrying many women. As a result his kingdom was divided (1 Kings 11.31–39). 22: Root, see Isa 11.10. 23–25: Rehoboam … Jeroboam, 1 Kings 11.43–14.31. 24: Exiled, 2 Kings 17.6–8,18.

48.1–16: Elijah and Elisha. 1–3: 1 Kings 17.1; 18.1–40. 5: Raised a corpse, 1 Kings 17.21–22. 7: Heard rebuke, 1 Kings 19.8–9. 8: Anointed kings … prophets to succeed, 1 Kings 19.15–16,19–21. 9: 2 Kings 2.1–12. 10: It is written, Mal 4.5–6. 12: 2 Kings 2.1–12. 13–14: 2 Kings 13.20–21. 15–16: An interpretation of the cause of the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel in the eighth century bce; see 2 Kings 18.11–12.

48.17–25: Hezekiah and Isaiah. 17: 2 Kings 20.20; 2 Chr 32.5–6,30. 18–20: The Assyrian siege of Jerusalem (2 Kings 18–19; Isa 36; 2 Chr 32). 18: Sennacherib, the Assyrian king (705–681 bce). 21: 2 Kings 19.35–37; 2 Chr 32.20–21. 22: 2 Kings 18.3. 23: 2 Kings 20.8–11; Isa 38.7–8. 24: Comforted the mourners, Isa 40.1–2.

49.1–13: Josiah and succeeding ancestors. 2: 2 Kings 23.4–25. 4–7: A summary of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 bce. As in the Deuteronomistic History, only these three kings were fully righteous. 6: Jeremiah had foretold, Jer 7.12–15. 7: See Jer 1.5,9–10. 8: Ezek 1.4–14; 10. 9: See textual note g and cf. Ezek 14.14,20. 10: Ben Sira knows the Twelve Minor Prophets (Hosea–Malachi) as one book; cf. 46.12. 11–13: Postexilic leaders: Zerubbabel (Ezra 3.2; Hag 2.23), Jeshua (Ezra 3.2; Hag 1.12; Zech 3; 6.9–13), Nehemiah (Nehemiah, esp. 2.17–3.32).

49.14–16: Concluding ancestors. A conclusion that extends back to the first human. 14: Enoch, see 44.16n. 15: Joseph, see Gen 39–50, esp. 50.25–26; Ex 13.19. 16: Shem (Gen 9.18), Seth (Gen 5.3), Enosh (Gen 5.6–11), and Adam (Gen 1.26–31).

50.1–24: The priest Simon II. The son of Onias was high priest from 219 bce to 196 bce. Ben Sira emphasizes his dual roles as ruler and priest through a theme of glory. 1–4: Simon's public works projects; cf. those of Hezekiah (48.17) and Nehemiah (49.13). 5–11: The language recalls that of Wisdom in ch 24 and the heavenly bodies in ch 43. 5: House of the curtain, the Temple. 12–21: A detailed description of the Temple ritual and sacrifices, either for the Day of Atonement (Lev 16) or the daily offering (45.14; Num 28.1–8). 16: Trumpets, see Num 10.10. 20: Blessing of the Lord, see Lev 9.22–23; Num 6.22–27. 22–24: A concluding benediction.

50.25–29: Epilogue. 25–26: Seir (Edom), the Philistines, and Shechem (the Samaritans) were traditional enemies of Israel. 27: The author gives his name, probably Yeshua ben Eleazar ben Sira. Poured forth wisdom, cf. 24.23–34.

51.1–12: A hymn of thanksgiving. This hymn has many linguistic reminiscences of the Psalms. 5,6: Hades, see 14.12n. 10: Father, see 23.1,4. 12: After v. 12, the medieval Hebrew manuscripts insert a hymn based on Ps 136.

51.13–30. Ben Sira's search for Wisdom. An acrostic poem in the first person on the sage's search for Wisdom, who is represented as a woman. A different and more erotic version can be found in 11QPsa^a. 13: Travels, cf. 34.11; 39.4. 14: Wisdom is connected with the Temple as in 24.10. 23: House of instruction, a wisdom “school,” probably in Ben Sira's own house. 26: Bearing a yoke can be positive or negative in Sirach; see 6.23–31; 26.7; 28.19–20; 30.13; 33.27; 40.1. 28: Getting Wisdom through Ben Sira's teaching is connected with acquisition of wealth.

^a Or other books

^b Gk with these things

^c Other ancient authorities read I found a copy affording no little instruction

^a Other ancient authorities read the depth of the abyss

^b Other ancient authorities add as verse 5, The source of wisdom is God’s word in the highest heaven, and her ways are the eternal commandments.

^c Other ancient authorities add as verse 7, The knowledge of wisdom—to whom was it manifested? And her abundant experience—who has understood it?

^d Other ancient authorities add Love of the Lord is glorious wisdom; to those to whom he appears he apportions her, that they may see him.

^e Other ancient authorities add The fear of the Lord is a gift from the Lord; also for love he makes firm paths.

^f Gk made as a nest

^g Other ancient authorities read her

^h Other ancient authorities add Both are gifts of God for peace; glory opens out for those who love him. He saw her and took her measure.

ⁱ Other ancient authorities add as verse 21, The fear of the Lord drives away sins; and where it abides, it will turn away all anger.

^a Or trials

^b Other ancient authorities add in sickness and poverty put your trust in him

^c Other ancient authorities add For his reward is an everlasting gift with joy.

^d Gk of him

^a Syr: Gk lacks this line

^b Heb: Other ancient authorities read comfort

^c In other ancient authorities this line is preceded by Those who fear the Lord honor their father,

^a Heb: Gk meekness

^b Other ancient authorities add as verse 19, Many are lofty and renowned, but to the humble he reveals his secrets.

^c Heb: Other ancient authorities lack verse 25

^a Heb Syr: Gk exalts

^b Or he

^c Or until they remain faithful in their heart

^d Heb: Gk at a time of salvation

^e So some Gk Mss and Heb Syr Lat: Other Gk Mss lack and do not hide your wisdom

^a Heb: Gk atonement

^b Heb: Gk he (or it) will atone for

^c Gk adds so it is with the double-tongued sinner (see 6.1)

^d Heb: Gk a slanderer

^e Heb Syr: Gk be ignorant

^f Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^g Meaning of Gk uncertain

^a Heb: Gk Upon her

^b Heb: Gk crown of gladness

^a Heb: Gk will confirm

^b Gk My child, do

^c Heb: Gk plow

^d Heb for the expectation of mortals is worms

^a Heb: Gk deprive yourself of

^b Heb Love a wise slave as yourself

^c Gk bend their necks

^d Gk body

^e Heb Syr lack who pleases you

^f Gk them

^a Or ancestors

^b Or it will bring forth

^c Heb: Gk and let him not return a favor to you

^a Heb: Gk by your spirit

^b Heb: Gk scribe

^c Other ancient authorities add here or after verse 9a, Nothing is more wicked than one who loves money, for such a person puts his own soul up for sale.

^a Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^b Heb Lat: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^c Heb: Gk wild animals

^d Other ancient authorities read proud nations

^e Other ancient authorities add as verse 21, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance; obduracy and pride are the beginning of rejection.

^f Heb: Gk sin against

^g Heb Lat: Gk their own life

^a Other ancient authorities add as verses 15 and 16, ¹⁵Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of the law come from the Lord; affection and the ways of good works come from him. ¹⁶Error and darkness were created with sinners; evil grows old with those who take pride in malice.

^a Heb: Gk is in

^b Heb: Gk and through his children a person becomes known

^c Heb: Gk downfall

^d Other ancient authorities add and he is keeping them for the day of their punishment

^e Other ancient authorities read punished

^f Heb: Gk grieved

^a Gk He

^b Other ancient authorities read in your folly

^a Other ancient authorities add as verse 14, When you hear these things in your sleep, wake up! During all your life love the Lord, and call on him for your salvation.

^b Other ancient authorities read poor

^c Other ancient authorities add and a glad heart makes a cheerful countenance

^a Heb Syr: Gk covenant

^b Heb: Gk covenant

^c Other ancient authorities read dies in

^d The structure adopted in verses 21-27 follows the Heb

^e Gk her

^a Heb: Gk you ought not to do

^b Heb: Gk unprofitable

^c Other ancient authorities add For you will groan in untimely mourning, and will know of their sudden end.

^a Other ancient authorities add All these things he did to the hard-hearted nations, and by the multitude of his holy ones he was not appeased.

^b Other ancient authorities add Chastising, showing mercy, striking, healing, the Lord persisted in mercy and discipline.

^c Gk him

^d Other ancient authorities add ¹⁵The Lord hardened Pharaoh so that he did not recognize him, in order that his works might be known under heaven. ¹⁶His mercy is manifest to the whole of creation, and he divided his light and darkness with a plumb line.

^e Other ancient authorities add The whole world past and present is in his will.

^f Meaning of Gk uncertain: Heb Syr If I sin, no eye can see me, and if I am disloyal all in secret, who is to know?

^g Heb the decree: Gk the covenant

^h Other ancient authorities add and a scrutiny for all comes at the end

ⁱ Gk by weight

^j Heb: Gk judged

^k Or elements

^a Lat: Gk it

^b Lat: Gk proper to them

^c Syr: Gk him

^d Other ancient authorities add as verse 5, They obtained the use of the five faculties of the Lord; as sixth he distributed to them the gift of mind, and as seventh, reason, the interpreter of one’s faculties.

^e Other ancient authorities read He set his eye upon

^f Other ancient authorities add and he gave them to boast of his marvels forever

^g Other ancient authorities add so that they may know that they who are alive now are mortal

^h Other ancient authorities add ¹⁶Their ways from youth tend toward evil, and they are unable to make for themselves hearts of flesh in place of their stony hearts. ¹⁷For in the division of the nations of the whole earth, he appointed

ⁱ Other ancient authorities add as verse 18, whom, being his firstborn, he brings up with discipline, and allotting to him the light of his love, he does not neglect him.

^j Other ancient authorities add as verse 21, But the Lord, who is gracious and knows how they are formed, has neither left them nor abandoned them, but has spared them.

^k Gk him

^l Other ancient authorities add apportioning repentance to his sons and daughters

^a Other ancient authorities add for he will lead you out of darkness to the light of health.

^b Other ancient authorities add and there is no other beside him; ³he steers the world with the span of his hand, and all things obey his will; for he is king of all things by his power, separating among them the holy things from the profane.

^c Other ancient authorities add but the death of each one is beyond the calculation of all

^a Other ancient authorities add Better is confidence in the one Lord than clinging with a dead heart to a dead one.

^b This heading is included in the Gk text.

^c Other ancient authorities add for you will be plotting against your own life

^d Heb: Gk A worker who is a drunkard

^a Other ancient authorities read heart

^b Other ancient authorities add but one who withstands pleasures crowns his life. ⁶One who controls the tongue will live without strife,

^c Other ancient authorities add and do not be angry. ¹⁸The fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance, and wisdom obtains his love. ¹⁹The knowledge of the Lord’s commandments is life-giving discipline; and those who do what is pleasing to him enjoy the fruit of the tree of immortality.

^d Other ancient authorities add and the knowledge of his omnipotence. ²¹When a slave says to his master, “I will not act as you wish,” even if later he does it, he angers the one who supports him.

^a Other ancient authorities add How good it is to show repentance when you are reproved, for so you will escape deliberate sin!

^b Heb: Gk by words

^c Other ancient authorities add so it is with the envious who give under compulsion

^d Syr: Gk he has many eyes instead of one

^e Other ancient authorities lack to God and humans

^f Other ancient authorities add for he has not honestly received what he has, and what he does not have is unimportant to him

^a Other ancient authorities read his foolish look

^b This heading is included in the Gk text.

^c Other ancient authorities add ³²Unwearied endurance in seeking the Lord is better than a masterless charioteer of one’s own life.

^d Other ancient authorities read uprooted

^e Gk his ears

^f Other ancient authorities read for the winter

^a Syr Lat: Gk entrails

^b Syr: Gk reveler

^c Syr: Gk dislikes

^d Syr Lat: Gk clever

^e Other ancient authorities read of strangers speak of these things

^f Other ancient authorities omit in

^g Or curses Satan

^a Other ancient authorities add ⁷Children who are brought up in a good life, conceal the lowly birth of their parents. ⁸Children who are disdainfully and boorishly haughty stain the nobility of their kindred.

^b Other ancient authorities add For being without sense he will despise everything about you

^c Other ancient authorities read Pebbles

^d Other ancient authorities add For one should not always despise restricted circumstances, or admire a rich person who is stupid.

^a Gk their

^b Other ancient authorities add From them the hope of your mercy is remote

^c This heading is included in the Gk text.

^d Syr be free

^e Other ancient authorities read clothed about with death

^a Other ancient authorities add as verse 28, It is a great honor to follow God, and to be received by him is long life.

^b This heading is included in the Gk text.

^a Other ancient authorities read I have acquired a possession

^b Other ancient authorities read on the beaches

^c Other ancient authorities omit beside water

^d Other ancient authorities add as verse 18, I am the mother of beautiful love, of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope; being eternal, I am given to all my children, to those who are named by him.

^a Other ancient authorities add as verse 24, “Do not cease to be strong in the Lord, cling to him so that he may strengthen you; the Lord Almighty alone is God, and besides him there is no savior.”

^b Syr: Gk It makes instruction shine forth like light

^c Gk her

^d Syr Lat: Gk In three things I was beautiful and I stood in beauty before the Lord and mortals.

^e Heb Syr: Gk lacks and the one who does not plow with ox and ass together

^a Lat Syr: Gk good sense

^b Other ancient authorities add as verse 12, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of love for him, and faith is the beginning of clinging to him.

^c Syr: Gk head

^d Other ancient authorities read an enemy’s

^e Heb Syr: Gk loses heart

^f Other ancient authorities read and listening he sighs

^g Heb Syr: Other Gk authorities read for her beauty

^a Syr: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^a Other ancient authorities read a trifle

^a Other ancient authorities read for he firmly establishes

^b Other ancient authorities read burn

^a Gk A third tongue

^b Gk it

^c Gk with it

^d Gk he

^a Other ancient authorities read many refuse to lend, therefore, because of such meanness; they are afraid

^b Lat: Gk reproach from your family; other ancient authorities lack this line

^c Or scolding from the household

^a This heading is included in the Gk text.

^b Other ancient authorities lack this line and the preceding line

^c Other ancient authorities lack this line

^d Heb: Gk take pains with him

^e Other ancient authorities lack eternal sleep

^f This heading is included in the Gk text; other ancient authorities place the heading before verse 16

^g Other ancient authorities add So is the person who does right under compulsion

^a Other ancient authorities read Beguile yourself

^b Other ancient authorities read sleep carries off a severe illness

^c Heb Syr: Gk pursues destruction will be filled

^d Other ancient authorities add because of this

^e Heb Syr: Gk at a great table

^f Gk him

^g Heb: Gk like a human being

^h Gk reach out your hand

^a Heb Syr: Gk industrious

^b Heb: Gk tests the hardening of steel by dipping

^a Heb: Gk who fears the Lord

^b Other ancient authorities lack to seek him

^c Heb: Gk alien

^d Meaning of Gk uncertain. Other ancient authorities add and after acting, with him, without deliberation

^e Heb: Gk stumble on stony ground

^f Or an unexplored

^g Heb Syr: Gk and beware of your children

^h Heb Syr: Gk Trust

ⁱ Heb: Gk who believes the law heeds the commandments

^a Heb: Gk Adam

^a Syr: Gk pays heed to

^b Other ancient authorities read A traveled

^c Other ancient authorities read is made in mockery

^a Other ancient authorities read mockeries

^a Heb: Gk and with them

^b Heb: Gk O Master, the God

^c Heb: Gk And let them know you

^d Other ancient authorities read remember your oath

^e Owing to a dislocation in the Greek Mss of Sirach, the verse numbers 14 and 15 are not used in chapter 36, though no text is missing.

^f Other ancient authorities read you have likened to

^a Or on your holy city

^b Heb: Gk your rest

^c Heb Syr: Gk the celebration of your wondrous deeds

^d Heb Syr: Gk Lat people

^e Heb and two Gk witnesses: Lat and most Gk witnesses read according to the blessing of Aaron for

^f Heb: Gk enters upon a possession

^g Heb: Gk rest

^h Heb: Gk wander about and sigh

ⁱ Heb: Gk in your heart

^j Heb: Gk him in your wealth

^a Heb: Gk gratitude

^b Heb: Gk establish

^c Heb: Gk As a clue to changes of heart four kinds of destiny appear

^d Other ancient witnesses read trustworthy

^e Other ancient authorities read confidence

^a Or his

^b Or they

^c Heb: Gk he

^d Gk His

^e Or peace

^f Heb: Lat lacks as much as you can afford; Meaning of Gk uncertain

^g Gk in their hands

^h Heb: Gk rest

ⁱ Heb: Gk may he fall into the hands of the physician

^j Gk him

^k Heb: Gk my

^l Heb: Gk mine

^a Cn: Gk renews his ear

^b Cn: Gk cleaning

^c Syr: Gk and people can neither live nor walk there

^d Most ancient authorities lack this line

^e Cn: Gk among parables

^f Syr: Gk prayer is in

^a Gk He himself

^b Cn: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^a Heb Lat: Gk sinners bad things

^b Heb Syr: Gk can scourge mightily

^c Other Gk and Lat authorities read are buried in

^d Heb: Gk of all

^e Arm: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^a Heb Syr: Gk Lat from the waters returns to the sea

^b Heb: Gk Life is sweet for the self-reliant worker

^c Heb Syr: Gk lacks but better … prosperous

^d Heb: Gk wisdom

^e Heb Compare Syr: Gk wife with her husband

^a Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^b Heb: Gk People grieve over the death of the body, but the bad name of sinners will be blotted out

^c Heb: Gk and not everything is confidently esteemed by everyone

^d Heb: Gk before the truth of God and the covenant

^a Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^b Heb: Gk to shame before the great multitude

^c Heb: Gk lacks See … house

^a Syr Compare Heb: most Gk witnesses lack and all … will

^b Heb: Gk he sees the sign(s) of the age

^c Meaning of Gk uncertain

^d Heb: Gk forever for every need, and all are obedient

^e Other ancient authorities read blowing upon

^f Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^a Heb: Gk The month is named after the moon

^a Heb: Gk we

^b This title is included in the Gk text.

^c Heb: Gk created

^d Heb Compare Lat Syr: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^e Heb: Gk Peoples declare

^f Heb: Gk was taken in exchange

^a Gk he

^b Syr: Heb Gk River

^c Heb: Gk caused signs to cease

^d Gk him

^a Gk him

^b Other ancient authorities read his or your

^c Heb: Gk authority in covenants of

^d Gk he

^e Other ancient authorities read your

^a Heb: Gk lacks And … glory

^b Gk he

^c Gk his

^d Other ancient authorities read the enemy

^e Gk them

^a Heb: Gk leaders of the people of Tyre

^b Gk he

^c Gk horn

^d Other ancient authorities add and daily they sing his praises

^e Gk to completion

^f Gk his

^a Heb: Gk in a broad place

^b Heb: Gk a river

^c Other ancient authorities read I was grieved

^d Heb (with a play on the name Rehoboam) Syr: Gk the people’s

^a Heb: Gk him

^b Heb: Gk are for reproofs

^c Other ancient authorities read and have died

^d Text and meaning of Gk uncertain

^e Heb: Gk lacks He performed … mouth

^f Other ancient authorities add from Lachish

^g Gk He

^h Gk his

^a Heb: Gk memory

^b Heb: Gk it

^c Heb He

^d Gk by the hand of Jeremiah

^e Gk He

^f Gk he

^g Heb Compare Syr: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^h Other ancient authorities read people

ⁱ Heb Syr: Gk No one has

^j Heb Syr: Gk adds the leader of his brothers, the support of the people

^k Heb: Gk Shem and Seth were honored by people

^l Heb Syr: Gk lacks this line. Compare 49.15

^a Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^b Other ancient authorities read altar

^c Other ancient authorities read in sweet melody throughout the house

^d Gk he

^a Other ancient authorities read you

^b Other ancient authorities read your

^c Other ancient authorities read his

^d Heb Compare Lat: Gk on the mountain of Samaria

^e Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^f Heb: Other ancient authorities read light

^g This title is included in the Gk text.

^h Other ancient authorities read work

ⁱ Heb: Gk the Father of my lord

^a Gk her

^b Meaning of Gk uncertain

^a Cn Compare Heb Syr: Meaning of Gk uncertain

^b Heb: Gk lacks wisdom

^c Heb: other ancient authorities read the

^d Syr Compare Heb: Gk Get instruction with a large sum of silver, and you will gain by it much gold.

^e Gk his

^f Gk he