HarperCollins Study Bible

by Harold W. Attridge

  24.33 Pour out teaching like prophecy, a novel notion that merges two concepts of effective speech, that of the sage, which leads to understanding, and that of the prophet, which predicts or effects change in a political or social situation. The combination is based on Ben Sira’s conception of personified wisdom as a source of enlightenment and thus identifiable with the spirit (of God) as the agent of prophetic inspiration. On pour out, see note on 24.27. On prophecy as wisdom, see notes on 39.1; 39.6.

  24.34 Repeated in 33.18.

  SIRACH 25

  Those Who Are Worthy of Praise

  1I take pleasure in three things,

  and they are beautiful in the sight of God and of mortals:a

  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.b

  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,c

  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?d

  Some Extreme Forms of Evil

  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 venome worse than a snake’s venom,f

  and no anger worse than a woman’sg wrath.

  The Evil of a Wicked Woman

  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 sitsh among the neighbors,

  and he cannot help sighingi 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.j

  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.

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  a Syr Lat: Gk In three things I was beautiful and I stood in beauty before the Lord and mortals.

  b Heb Syr: Gk lacks and the one who does not plow with ox and ass together

  c Lat Syr: Gk good sense

  d 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.

  e Syr: Gk head

  f Syr: Gk head

  g Other ancient authorities read an enemy’s

  h Heb Syr: Gk loses heart

  i Other ancient authorities read and listening he sighs

  j Heb Syr: Other Gk authorities read for her beauty

  25.1–2 Two contrasting numerical proverbs on acceptable and unacceptable relationships.

  25.3–6 A unit in praise of mature wisdom.

  25.7–11 A numerical proverb introducing a series of beatitudes.

  25.8 To plow with ox and ass together was a legal prohibition, used here as metaphor for an incompatible marriage or perhaps for two incompatible wives. See Deut 22.10; cf. Sir 26.6. Served an inferior, an act considered a disgrace.

  25.10 None is superior encapsulates Ben Sira’s idea that fear of the Lord enables one to transcend human social status.

  25.13–26.27 A large collection of proverbs about bad and good wives.

  25.13–15 Sayings about a woman’s wrath.

  25.14 The vengeance of enemies may refer to two wives in a single household; see 26.6.

  25.16–26 The bad wife was a topic traditional to proverbial wisdom. See Prov 21.19; 25.24; 27.15.

  25.24 From a woman sin had its beginning alludes to Eve (Gen 3.1–24). Cf. 2 Cor 11.3; 1 Tim 2.14. Alternate interpretations of the Genesis story were that sin originated from the devil, as in Wis 2.24, or from Adam, as in Rom 5.12–14. Ben Sira does not mention the sin of either Adam or Eve in his interpretation of the Genesis account in 17.7.

  25.26 Separate her from yourself, implying divorce; cf. Deut 24.1.

  SIRACH 26

  The Joy of a Good Wife

  1Happy 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.

  The Worst of Evils: A Wicked Wife

  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.

  The Blessing of a Good Wife

  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,

  an
d 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.

  Three Depressing Things

  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!

  The Temptations of Commerce

  29A merchant can hardly keep from wrongdoing,

  nor is a tradesman innocent of sin.

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  a Syr: Meaning of Gk uncertain

  26.1–4 The good wife was also a traditional wisdom topic; see Prov 31.10–31.

  26.5–12 Additional sayings about a bad wife.

  26.6 Jealous of a rival may assume polygamy; cf. Gen 30.1.

  26.10 The mention of a daughter interrupts the discourse on wives. Since the Syriac has “wife” and the Hebrew is missing, the saying was probably about a wife.

  26.12 Euphemisms for sexual intercourse.

  26.13–18 Six attributes of a good wife.

  26.16 In both Jewish and Greek society, the woman’s place was in the household for which she had the responsibility of maintaining order.

  26.17 The holy lampstand, the menorah, a candelabrum located in the temple.

  26.19–27 A miscellany on women, added later.

  26.19–21 Mixed marriage was taboo in Second Temple times and violated the laws of ritual purity. Cf. Ezra 10.1–17; Neh 10.30; 13.23–27.

  26.28–27.21 A collection of proverbs on violations of integrity.

  26.29 An exceptionally harsh judgment about commerce, owing perhaps to the social and political situation of the time. The traditional warning was against dishonesty in dealing, not against trade itself. Cf. Prov 11.1; 20.10.

  SIRACH 27

  1Many 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.

  Tests in Life

  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.

  Reward and Retribution

  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.

  Varieties of Speech

  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.

  Betraying Secrets

  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.

  Hypocrisy and Retribution

  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.

  Anger and Vengeance

  30Anger and wrath, these also are abominations,

  yet a sinner holds on to them.

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  a Other ancient authorities read a trifle

  27.6 The cultivation of his mind combines concepts of the Hebrew yetser with the standard Greek metaphor for education, paideia; cf. 6.18–37; see notes on 4.17; 15.14. Integrity was measured by the correspondence of one’s speech with one’s actions.

  27.16–21 A unit on betraying confidence. Cf. Prov 20.19; 25.8–10; see Sir 8.17–19. To keep a confidence was a standard measure of true friendship.

  27.22–29 A description of the schemer with warning.

  27.22 On winking as a sign of duplicity, cf. Prov 6.13; 10.10.

  27.29 S
ince Ben Sira does not believe in postmortem rewards and punishments, he maintains that sin is recompensed in this life; see note on 11.26.

  27.30–28.11 On anger and forgiveness.

  SIRACH 28

  1The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance,

  for he keeps a strict account ofa 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.

  The Evil Tongue

  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.

  14Slanderc has shaken many,

  and scattered them from nation to nation;

  it has destroyed strong cities,