Sirach 6:18-31
Good News Translation
Learn from Wisdom
18 My child, learn to value Wisdom while you are young, and you will still be able to find her when you grow old. 19 (A)Work as hard to find Wisdom as a farmer works to plow and plant his fields; then you can expect a good harvest. You will have to work at it for a while, but you will soon be enjoying what you have earned. 20 Undisciplined people find Wisdom's demands too hard and don't have enough determination to meet them. 21 Her requirements are a burden heavier than they are willing to bear, and they quickly lay them aside.
22 Discipline means just that—discipline,[a] and not many people are able to discipline themselves.
23 My child, listen to me and take my advice. 24 Put Wisdom's chains around your feet and her yoke around your neck. 25 Carry her on your shoulder and don't be resentful of her bonds. 26 Follow Wisdom, and keep to her ways with all your heart. 27 Go looking for her, and she will reveal herself to you. Take hold of her and don't let go. 28 Then you will discover the peace of mind she offers, and she will become your joy. 29-30 The signs of slavery you wear will become signs of royal majesty. Her chains will be your protection, and you will wear her yoke like a magnificent robe. 31 You will wear Wisdom like a splendid crown.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Sirach 6:22 Hebrew Discipline...discipline; Greek Wisdom...wisdom.
Sirach 6:18-31
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Blessings of Wisdom
18 My child, from your youth choose discipline,
and when you have gray hair you will still find wisdom.
19 Come 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.
20 She seems very harsh to the undisciplined;
fools cannot remain with her.
21 She will be like a heavy stone to test them,
and they will not delay in casting her aside.
22 For wisdom is like her name;
she is not readily perceived by many.
23 Listen, my child, and accept my judgment;
do not reject my counsel.
24 Put your feet into her fetters,
and your neck into her collar.
25 Bend your shoulders and carry her,
and do not fret under her bonds.
26 Come to her with all your soul,
and keep her ways with all your might.
27 Search out and seek, and she will become known to you;
and when you get hold of her, do not let her go.
28 For at last you will find the rest she gives,
and she will be changed into joy for you.
29 Then her fetters will become for you a strong defense,
and her collar a glorious robe.
30 Her yoke[a] is a golden ornament,
and her bonds a purple cord.
31 You will wear her like a glorious robe,
and put her on like a splendid crown.[b]
Footnotes
- Sirach 6:30 Heb: Gk Upon her
- Sirach 6:31 Heb: Gk crown of gladness
Sirach 6:18-31
Common English Bible
Submission to Wisdom
18 My child, from your youth
welcome education, and you will continue to discover Wisdom
until you are gray-haired.
19 Approach her like one who plows
and one who sows,
and wait for her good fruits.
When cultivating her,
you will labor a little,
but you will eat her produce soon.
20 Wisdom is rugged terrain
to the uneducated,
and the fainthearted
won’t persevere with her.
21 She will be like a heavy stone
that tests them,
and they won’t hesitate
to throw her aside.
22 Wisdom is like her name,
and she won’t be visible to many.
23 Listen, my child,
and welcome my opinion.
Don’t reject my advice.
24 Put your feet into her shackles
and your neck into her collar.
25 Bend your shoulder down and carry her,
and don’t chafe at her bonds.
26 Come to her with your whole being,
and keep to her ways
with all your strength.
27 Track her down and seek her,
and she will become known to you.
When you get possession of her,
don’t let her go.
28 In the end, you will find rest in her,
and she will turn to you
and make you happy.
29 Her shackles will be
a strong shelter for you,
and her collar will be a glorious robe.
30 She bears[a]
a gold ornament,
and her bonds
will be like blue embroidery.[b]
31 You will wear her like a glorious robe,
and you will put her on
like a crown of joy.
Footnotes
- Sirach 6:30 Or her yoke is
- Sirach 6:30 LXX thread
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
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.
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