Sirach 14:20-15:10
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Happiness of Seeking Wisdom
20 Blessed is the man who meditates on[a] wisdom
and who reasons intelligently.
21 He who reflects in his mind on her ways
will also ponder her secrets.
22 Pursue wisdom[b] like a hunter,
and lie in wait on her paths.
23 He who peers through her windows
will also listen at her doors;
24 he who encamps near her house
will also fasten his tent peg to her walls;
25 he will pitch his tent near her,
and will lodge in an excellent lodging place;
26 he will place his children under her shelter,
and will camp under her boughs;
27 he will be sheltered by her from the heat,
and will dwell in the midst of her glory.
15 The man who fears the Lord will do this,
and he who holds to the law will obtain wisdom.[c]
2 She will come to meet him like a mother,
and like the wife of his youth she will welcome him.
3 She will feed him with the bread of understanding,
and give him the water of wisdom to drink.
4 He will lean on her and will not fall,
and he will rely on her and will not be put to shame.
5 She will exalt him above his neighbors,
and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.
6 He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing,
and will acquire an everlasting name.
7 Foolish men will not obtain her,
and sinful men will not see her.
8 She is far from men of pride,
and liars will never think of her.
9 A hymn of praise is not fitting on the lips of a sinner,
for it has not been sent from the Lord.
10 For a hymn of praise should be uttered in wisdom,
and the Lord will prosper it.
Footnotes
- Sirach 14:20 Other authorities read dies in
- Sirach 14:22 Gk her
- Sirach 15:1 Gk her
Sirach 14:20-15:10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Happiness of Seeking Wisdom
20 Happy are those who meditate on[a] wisdom
and who reason intelligently,(A)
21 who reflect in their hearts on her ways
and ponder her secrets,(B)
22 pursuing her like a hunter
and lying in wait on her paths;
23 who peer through her windows
and listen at her doors;(C)
24 who camp near her house
and fasten their tent pegs to her walls;
25 who pitch their tents near her
and so occupy an excellent lodging place;
26 who place their children under her shelter
and lodge under her boughs;
27 who are sheltered by her from the heat
and dwell in the midst of her glory.(D)
15 Whoever fears the Lord will do this,
and whoever holds to the law will obtain wisdom.[b]
2 She will come to meet him like a mother,
and like a young bride she will welcome him.(E)
3 She will feed him with the bread of understanding
and give him the water of wisdom to drink.(F)
4 He will lean on her and not fall,
and he will rely on her and not be put to shame.
5 She will exalt him above his neighbors
and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.(G)
6 Gladness[c] and a crown of rejoicing
and an everlasting name he will inherit.(H)
7 The foolish will not obtain her,
and sinners will not see her.(I)
8 She is far from arrogance,
and liars will never think of her.
9 Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner,
for it has not been sent from the Lord.(J)
10 For in wisdom must praise be uttered,
and the Lord will make it prosper.
Sirach 14:20-15:10
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
20 Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and the worker thereof shall go with it.
21 And every excellent work shall be justified: and the worker thereof shall be honoured therein.
22 Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God.
23 He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, and stayeth in her ways:
24 He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her door:
25 He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls shall set up his tent nigh unto her, where good things shall rest in his lodging for ever.
26 He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches:
27 He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall rest in her glory.
15 He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her,
2 And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive him as a wife married of a virgin.
3 With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved:
4 And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours.
5 And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory.
6 She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.
7 But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit.
8 Lying men shall not be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight of God.
9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:
10 For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign Lord will give praise unto it.
Sirach 14:20-15:10
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Happiness of Seeking Wisdom
20 Happy is the person who meditates on[a] wisdom
and reasons intelligently,
21 who[b] reflects in his heart on her ways
and ponders her secrets,
22 pursuing her like a hunter,
and lying in wait on her paths;
23 who peers through her windows
and listens at her doors;
24 who camps near her house
and fastens his tent peg to her walls;
25 who pitches his tent near her,
and so occupies an excellent lodging place;
26 who places his children under her shelter,
and lodges under her boughs;
27 who 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.[c]
2 She will come to meet him like a mother,
and like a young bride she will welcome him.
3 She will feed him with the bread of learning,
and give him the water of wisdom to drink.
4 He will lean on her and not fall,
and he will rely on her and not be put to shame.
5 She will exalt him above his neighbors,
and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.
6 He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing,
and will inherit an everlasting name.
7 The foolish will not obtain her,
and sinners will not see her.
8 She is far from arrogance,
and liars will never think of her.
9 Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner,
for it has not been sent from the Lord.
10 For in wisdom must praise be uttered,
and the Lord will make it prosper.
Footnotes
- Sirach 14:20 Other ancient authorities read dies in
- Sirach 14:21 The structure adopted in verses 21–27 follows the Heb
- Sirach 15:1 Gk her
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.