Ben Sira 24-27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 24
Praise of Wisdom
1 Wisdom sings her own praises,[a]
among her own people she proclaims her glory.
2 In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,
in the presence of his host she tells of her glory:
3 “From the mouth of the Most High I came forth,(A)
and covered the earth like a mist.
4 In the heights of heaven I dwelt,
and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.
5 The vault of heaven I compassed alone,
and walked through the deep abyss.
6 Over waves of the sea, over all the land,
over every people and nation I held sway.
7 Among all these I sought a resting place.
In whose inheritance should I abide?
8 “Then the Creator of all gave me his command,
and my Creator chose the spot for my tent.
He said, ‘In Jacob make your dwelling,
in Israel your inheritance.’
9 Before all ages, from the beginning, he created me,
and through all ages I shall not cease to be.
10 In the holy tent I ministered before him,
and so I was established in Zion.
11 In the city he loves as he loves me, he gave me rest;
in Jerusalem, my domain.
12 I struck root among the glorious people,
in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.
13 “Like a cedar in Lebanon I grew tall,
like a cypress on Mount Hermon;
14 I grew tall like a palm tree in Engedi,
like rosebushes in Jericho;
Like a fair olive tree in the field,
like a plane tree beside water I grew tall.
15 Like cinnamon and fragrant cane,
like precious myrrh I gave forth perfume;
Like galbanum and onycha and mastic,(B)
like the odor of incense in the holy tent.[b]
16 “I spread out my branches like a terebinth,
my branches so glorious and so graceful.
17 I bud forth delights like a vine;
my blossoms are glorious and rich fruit.[c]
19 Come to me, all who desire me,
and be filled with my fruits.[d]
20 You will remember me as sweeter than honey,
better to have than the honeycomb.
21 Those who eat of me will hunger still,[e]
those who drink of me will thirst for more.(C)
22 Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,
and those who serve me will never go astray.”
23 All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God,(D)
the Law which Moses commanded us[f]
as a heritage for the community of Jacob.[g]
25 It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom,(E)
and like the Tigris at the time of first fruits.
26 It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding,
and like the Jordan at harvest time.
27 It floods like the Nile with instruction,
like the Gihon[h] at vintage time.
28 The first human being never finished comprehending wisdom,
nor will the last succeed in fathoming her.
29 For deeper than the sea are her thoughts,
and her counsels, than the great abyss.
30 Now I, like a stream from a river,[i]
and like water channeling into a garden—
31 I said, “I will water my plants,
I will drench my flower beds.”
Then suddenly this stream of mine became a river,
and this river of mine became a sea.
32 Again I will make my teachings shine forth like the dawn;
I will spread their brightness afar off.
33 Again I will pour out instruction like prophecy
and bestow it on generations yet to come.
Chapter 25
Those Who Are Worthy of Praise
1 [j]With three things I am delighted,
for they are pleasing to the Lord and to human beings:
Harmony among relatives, friendship among neighbors,
and a wife and a husband living happily together.
2 Three kinds of people I hate,
and I loathe their manner of life:
A proud pauper, a rich liar,
and a lecherous old fool.
3 In your youth you did not gather.
How will you find anything in your old age?
4 How appropriate is sound judgment in the gray-haired,
and good counsel in the elderly!
5 How appropriate is wisdom in the aged,
understanding and counsel in the venerable!
6 The crown of the elderly, wide experience;
their glory, the fear of the Lord.
7 There are nine who come to mind as blessed,
a tenth whom my tongue proclaims:[k]
The man who finds joy in his children,
and the one who lives to see the downfall of his enemies.
8 Happy the man who lives with a sensible woman,
and the one who does not plow with an ox and a donkey combined.[l]
Happy the one who does not sin with the tongue,
who does not serve an inferior.
9 Happy the one who finds a friend,
who speaks to attentive ears.
10 How great is the one who finds wisdom,
but none is greater than the one who fears the Lord.
11 Fear of the Lord surpasses all else.
To whom can we compare the one who has it?[m]
Wicked and Virtuous Women[n]
13 Any wound, but not a wound of the heart!
Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a woman!
14 Any suffering, but not suffering from one’s foes!
Any vengeance, but not the vengeance of one’s enemies!
15 There is no poison worse than that of a serpent,
no venom greater than that of a woman.
16 I would rather live with a dragon or a lion
than live with a wicked woman.(F)
17 A woman’s wicked disposition changes her appearance,
and makes her face as dark as a bear.
18 When her husband sits among his neighbors,
a bitter sigh escapes him unawares.
19 There is hardly an evil like that in a woman;
may she fall to the lot of the sinner!
20 Like a sandy hill to aged feet
is a garrulous wife to a quiet husband.
21 Do not be enticed by a woman’s beauty,
or be greedy for her wealth.
22 Harsh is the slavery and great the shame
when a wife supports her husband.
23 Depressed mind, gloomy face,
and a wounded heart—a wicked woman.
Drooping hands and quaking knees,
any wife who does not make her husband happy.
24 With a woman sin had a beginning,
and because of her we all die.[o]
25 Allow water no outlet,
and no boldness of speech to a wicked woman.
26 If she does not go along as you direct,
cut her away from you.
Chapter 26
1 Happy the husband of a good wife;[p]
the number of his days will be doubled.(G)
2 A loyal wife brings joy to her husband,
and he will finish his years in peace.
3 A good wife is a generous gift
bestowed upon him who fears the Lord.(H)
4 Whether rich or poor, his heart is content,
a smile ever on his face.
5 There are three things I dread,
and a fourth which terrifies me:
Public slander, the gathering of a mob,
and false accusation—all harder to bear than death.
6 A wife jealous of another wife is heartache and mourning;[q]
everyone feels the lash of her tongue.
7 A wicked wife is a chafing yoke;
taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.
8 A drunken wife arouses great anger,
for she does not hide her shame.
9 By her haughty stare and her eyelids
an unchaste wife can be recognized.
10 Keep a strict watch over an unruly wife,
lest, finding an opportunity, she use it;(I)
11 Watch out for her impudent eye,
and do not be surprised if she betrays you:
12 As a thirsty traveler opens his mouth
and drinks from any water nearby,
So she sits down before every tent peg
and opens her quiver for every arrow.
13 A gracious wife delights her husband;
her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones.
14 A silent wife is a gift from the Lord;
nothing is worth more than her self-discipline.
15 A modest wife is a supreme blessing;
no scales can weigh the worth of her chastity.
16 The sun rising in the Lord’s heavens—
the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.
17 The light which shines above the holy lampstand—[r]
a beautiful face on a stately figure.
18 Golden columns on silver bases—
so her shapely legs and steady feet.[s]
Dangers to Integrity and Friendship
28 [t]Two things bring grief to my heart,
and a third arouses my anger:
The wealthy reduced to want,
the intelligent held in contempt,
And those who pass from righteousness to sin—
the Lord prepares them for the sword.(J)
29 A merchant can hardly keep from wrongdoing,
nor can a shopkeeper stay free from sin;
Chapter 27
1 For the sake of profit many sin,
and the struggle for wealth blinds the eyes.(K)
2 A stake will be driven between fitted stones—
sin will be wedged in between buying and selling.
3 Unless one holds fast to the fear of the Lord,
with sudden swiftness will one’s house be thrown down.
4 When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear;
so do people’s faults when they speak.[u]
5 The furnace tests the potter’s vessels;
the test of a person is in conversation.(L)
6 The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had;
so speech discloses the bent of a person’s heart.(M)
7 Praise no one before he speaks,
for it is then that people are tested.
8 If you strive after justice, you will attain it,
and wear it like a splendid robe.
9 Birds nest with their own kind,
and honesty comes to those who work at it.
10 A lion lies in wait for prey,
so does sin for evildoers.
11 The conversation of the godly is always wisdom,
but the fool changes like the moon.
12 Limit the time you spend among the stupid,
but frequent the company of the thoughtful.
13 The conversation of fools is offensive,
and their laughter is wanton sin.
14 Their oath-filled talk makes the hair stand on end,
and their brawls make one stop the ears.
15 The wrangling of the proud ends in bloodshed,
and their cursing is painful to hear.(N)
16 Whoever betrays a secret destroys confidence,[v]
and will never find a congenial friend.(O)
17 Cherish your friend, keep faith with him;
but if you betray his secrets, do not go after him;
18 For as one might kill another,
you have killed your neighbor’s friendship.
19 Like a bird released from your hand,
you have let your friend go and cannot recapture him.
20 Do not go after him, for he is far away,
and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21 For a wound can be bandaged, and an insult forgiven,
but whoever betrays secrets does hopeless damage.(P)
Malice, Anger and Vengeance
22 Whoever has shifty eyes plots mischief
and those who know him will keep their distance;
23 In your presence he uses honeyed talk,
and admires your words,
But later he changes his tone
and twists the words to your ruin.(Q)
24 I have hated many things but not as much as him,
and the Lord hates him as well.(R)
25 A stone falls back on the head of the one who throws it high,(S)
and a treacherous blow causes many wounds.
26 Whoever digs a pit falls into it,
and whoever lays a snare is caught in it.[w]
27 The evil anyone does will recoil on him
without knowing how it came upon him.
28 Mockery and abuse will befall the arrogant,
and vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.
29 Those who rejoice in the downfall of the godly will be caught in a snare,
and pain will consume them before they die.
30 Wrath and anger, these also are abominations,
yet a sinner holds on to them.
Footnotes
- 24:1–29 Wisdom speaks in the first person, describing her origin, her dwelling place in Israel, and the reward she gives her followers. As in Proverbs 8, Wisdom is personified as coming from God, yet distinct from him. This description is reflected in the Johannine logos, or Word (Jn 1:1–14). It is used extensively in the Roman liturgy.
- 24:15 These substances, associated with worship, are mentioned in Ex 30:23–28, 34–35 as the ingredients of the anointing oil and the sacred incense. Israel was a priestly nation (Ex 19:6; Is 61:6).
- 24:17
Other ancient texts read as v. 18:
I am the mother of fair love, of reverence,
of knowledge, and of holy hope;
To all my children I give
to be everlasting: to those named by Him.
- 24:19 Mt 11:28–30 contains a similar invitation.
- 24:21 The paradox of wisdom is that, far from being satiated, those who partake of her will always desire more.
- 24:23 Ben Sira now identifies Wisdom and the law of Moses; see also Bar 4:1.
- 24:23
Other ancient texts read as v. 24:
Do not grow weary of striving with the Lord’s help,
but cling to him that he may reinforce you.
The Lord Almighty alone is God,
and apart from him there is no savior.
- 24:27 Gihon: understood by some to have been a name for the Nile; cf. Gn 2:13.
- 24:30–33 Ben Sira again speaks about himself. He had at first drawn a small portion of the water of wisdom for his own private benefit, but finding it so useful, he soon began to let others share in this boon by teaching them the lessons of wisdom. Like the words of the prophets, Ben Sira’s instruction is valuable for all generations (v. 33). The comparison to prophecy is bold and unique.
- 25:1–2 A numerical saying in threes.
- 25:7–11 A numerical proverb (9 + 1), in which the tenth element, “the one who fears the Lord,” is the most important.
- 25:8 An ox and a donkey combined: the reference is to a man married to two incompatible women (cf. 37:11a); the imagery derives from Dt 22:10.
- 25:11
Other ancient texts read as v. 12:
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of loving him,
and fidelity is the beginning of clinging to him.
- 25:13–26 The harsh statements Ben Sira makes about women reflect the kind of instruction young Jewish males were exposed to in the early second century B.C. His patriarchal perspective is as unfair as it is one-sided.
- 25:24 Ben Sira refers to the story of the first sin in Gn 3:1–6. Cf. 2 Cor 11:3 and 1 Tm 2:14. St. Paul, however, singles out Adam; cf. Rom 5:12–19; 1 Cor 15:22.
- 26:1–4, 13–18 A good wife is as a gift from God, bringing joy and peace, happiness and contentment to her husband (vv. 1–4) through her thoughtfulness, reserve, modesty and chastity, beauty, grace, and virtue (vv. 13–18).
- 26:6–12 A repetition of the thought expressed in 25:13–26.
- 26:17–18 The lampstand and the columns were located in the holy place of the ancient tabernacle (Ex 25:31–40; 26:32).
- 26:18
Other ancient texts read as vv. 19–27:
19My child, keep intact the bloom of your youth,
and do not give your strength to strangers.
20Seek out a fertile field from all the land,
and sow it with your own seed, confident in your fine stock.
21So shall your offspring prosper,
and grow great, confident in their good descent.
22A woman for hire is regarded as spittle,
but a married woman is a deadly snare for her lovers.
23A godless wife will be given to the lawless man as his portion,
but a godly wife will be given to the man who fears the Lord.
24A shameless woman wears out reproach,
but a virtuous daughter will be modest even before her husband.
25A headstrong wife is regarded as a bitch,
but the one with a sense of shame fears the Lord.
26The wife who honors her husband will seem wise to everyone,
but if she dishonors him in her pride, she will be known to everyone as ungodly.
Happy is the husband of a good wife,
for the number of his years will be doubled.
27A loud-mouthed and garrulous wife will be regarded
as a trumpet sounding the charge,
And every person who lives like this
will spend his life in the anarchy of war.
- 26:28–27:15 From proper conduct in family life, Ben Sira proceeds to social morality, warning especially against injustice in business (26:29–27:3), and perversity of speech in daily life (27:4–7). The pursuit of justice in these matters is all the more meritorious as it is difficult (27:8–10). The discourses of the godly are marked with wisdom, but the conversations of the wicked with offense, swearing, cursing, quarrels, and even bloodshed (27:11–15).
- 27:4–7, 11–15 The importance of effective speech is a favorite wisdom topic; e.g., cf. 20:1–8, 18–20; 22:27–23:15.
- 27:16–28:11 Betrayal of confidence through indiscretion destroys friendship and does irreparable harm (27:16–21); cf. 22:22. False friendship based on hypocrisy and deceit is hateful to Ben Sira and, he adds, to God as well (27:22–24); it soon becomes a victim of its own treachery (27:25–27). The same fate awaits the malicious and vengeful (27:28–28:1). They can obtain mercy and forgiveness only by first forgiving their neighbor, being mindful of death and of the commandments of the Most High (28:2–7). And they must avoid quarrels and strife (28:8–11).
- 27:26 This expresses a popular idea of act and consequence; an evil (or good) deed is repaid by an evil (or good) result. The frequent metaphor is the digging of a hole for another to fall into; cf. Prv 26:27; Ps 7:14; 9:16; Eccl 10:8.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.