Sirach 16
Good News Translation
God's Punishment of Sinners
16 A large family is nothing to be desired if the children are worthless. Godless children are nothing to be proud of. 2 No matter how many children you have, don't look on them with pride unless they fear the Lord. 3 Don't put much hope in their future or expect them to live a long time. One child who does the Lord's will is better than a thousand who do not.[a] It is better to go to your grave with no children at all than to have children who are godless.
4 A city's population may grow because of the wisdom of one person, while a whole tribe of lawless people disappears. 5 I have seen such things many times and have heard of even more striking examples. 6 The Lord's flaming anger will break out against a small gathering of sinners or a disobedient nation. 7 (A)He did not forgive those ancient giants who rebelled against him, confident of their own strength. 8 He detested the arrogance of the people among whom Lot lived, and he did not spare them. 9 He showed no mercy on that nation which he doomed to destruction for its sins, 10 nor on those 600,000 people on the march through the wilderness who gathered together in stubborn rebellion. 11 Even if there had been only one stubborn person, it would have been a miracle if he had escaped punishment. The Lord is merciful, but he can also become angry. He can be overwhelming in his forgiveness or in his anger. 12 His punishment is as severe as his mercy is great. He judges people by what they have done. 13 No sinner can escape with what he has stolen. The Lord will reward the patience of devout people. 14 Every righteous person will be rewarded;[b] everyone will get what he deserves.[c]
17 Never say,
I will hide from the Lord. Nobody up there is going to give me a thought. How can I be noticed among so many people? The creation is so enormous, what am I worth? 18 When the Lord comes, everything will tremble: the earth and the great waters beneath it, the sky and the heavens above it. 19 The mountains will shake, and the foundations of the earth will shudder when he looks at them. 20 The Lord isn't going to give me a thought. Nobody cares what I do. 21 If I sin and am secretly disloyal, nobody will know it.[d] 22 If I do what is right, nobody will tell the Lord about it. Who wants to wait for him, anyway? He is too slow in doing what he has said he would.
23 Only someone with very little sense, and foolishly misguided, would think things like that.
God's Wisdom in Creation
24 My child, listen and pay attention to me; you will gain knowledge if you do. 25 I will give you diligent and accurate instruction.
26 In the beginning the Lord did his work of creation,[e]
and gave everything a place of its own.
27 He arranged everything in an eternal order
and decreed that it should be that way forever.
Not one part of creation ever grows hungry;
no part grows tired or stops its work.
28 The parts do not crowd one another,
and they never disobey his word.
29 When the Lord had made all this,
he looked at the earth and filled it with good things.
30 He covered it with all kinds of creatures
that must die and return to the dust.
Footnotes
- Sirach 16:3 Hebrew who does...do not; Greek is better than a thousand.
- Sirach 16:14 Hebrew Every...rewarded; Greek He makes room for every act of mercy.
- Sirach 16:14 Some manuscripts add verses 15-16: The Lord made the king of Egypt so stubborn that he would not acknowledge the Lord, in order that the world might know the Lord's works. 16 He shows his mercy to all creation; he has divided his light from darkness with a plumb line.
- Sirach 16:21 Hebrew 20-21 The Lord...know it; Greek 20 It is altogether too big for the human mind to handle. No one can understand his ways. 21 Most of his works are just as invisible as the storm wind.
- Sirach 16:26 Hebrew In...creation; Greek In the judgment of the Lord his works are from the beginning.
Sirach 16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
God’s Punishment of Sinners
16 Do not desire a multitude of worthless[a] children,
and do not rejoice in ungodly offspring.
2 If they multiply, do not rejoice in them,
unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
3 Do not trust in their survival
or rely on their numbers,[b]
for one can be better than a thousand,
and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.(A)
4 For through one intelligent person a city can be filled with people,
but through a clan of outlaws it becomes desolate.
5 Many such things my eye has seen,
and my ear has heard things more striking than these.
6 In an assembly of sinners a fire is kindled,
and in a disobedient nation wrath has blazed up.(B)
7 He did not forgive the ancient giants[c]
who revolted in their might.(C)
8 He did not spare the neighbors of Lot,
whom he loathed on account of their arrogance.(D)
9 He showed no pity on the doomed nation,
on those dispossessed because of their sins,[d]
10 or on the six hundred thousand foot soldiers
who assembled in their stubbornness.[e](E)
11 Even 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;[f]
he acquits and forgives,[g] but he also pours out wrath.(F)
12 Great as is his mercy, so also is his chastisement;
he judges people according to their deeds.(G)
13 The sinner will not escape with plunder,
and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.
14 He makes room for every act of almsgiving;
everyone receives in accordance with his or her deeds.[h](H)
17 Do 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?(I)
18 Look, heaven and the highest heaven,
the abyss and the earth tremble at his visitation
19 Together the mountains and the foundations of the earth
shake and tremble when he looks upon them.(K)
20 But no human mind can grasp this,
and who can comprehend his ways?(L)
21 Like a tempest that no one can see,
so most of his works are concealed.[j](M)
22 Who is to announce his acts of justice?
Or who can await them? For his decree[k] is far off.”[l]
23 Such are the thoughts of one devoid of understanding;
a senseless and misguided person thinks foolishly.
God’s Wisdom Seen in Creation
24 Listen to me, my child, and acquire knowledge,
and pay close attention to my words.(N)
25 I will impart discipline precisely[m]
and declare knowledge accurately.(O)
26 When the Lord created[n] his works from the beginning
and, in making them, determined their boundaries,
27 he arranged their works in an eternal order
and their dominion[o] for all generations.
They neither hunger nor grow weary,
and they do not abandon their tasks.(P)
28 They do not crowd one another,
and they never disobey his word.
29 Then the Lord looked upon the earth
and filled it with his good things.(Q)
30 With all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,
and into it they must return.(R)
Footnotes
- 16.1 Heb: Gk unprofitable
- 16.3 Other ancient authorities add for you will groan in untimely mourning, and will know of their sudden end
- 16.7 Gk: Heb princes
- 16.9 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
- 16.10 Other ancient authorities add chastising, showing mercy, striking, healing, the Lord persisted in mercy and discipline
- 16.11 Gk him
- 16.11 Heb: Gk a master of propitiations
- 16.14 Other ancient authorities add 16.15–16:
The Lord hardened Pharaoh so that he did not recognize him, in order that his works might be known under heaven. His mercy is manifest to the whole of creation, and he apportioned his light and darkness to Adam. - 16.18 Other ancient authorities add The whole world past and present is in his will.
- 16.21 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?
- 16.22 Heb: Gk the covenant
- 16.22 Other ancient authorities add and a scrutiny for all comes at the end
- 16.25 Gk by weight
- 16.26 Heb: Gk judged
- 16.27 Or elements
Sirach 16
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
16 Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them.
2 Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours.
3 For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly children.
4 And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly children.
5 By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of the ungodly shall become desolate.
6 Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these my ear hath heard.
7 In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall dame out.
8 The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:
9 And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for the pride of their word.
10 He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that extolled themselves in their sins.
11 So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:
12 For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and to pour out indignation:
13 According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man according to his works.
14 The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.
15 All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.
16 Say not: I shall be hidden from God. and who shall remember me from on high?
17 In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in such an immense creation?
18 Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight,
19 The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with trembling.
20 And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart is understood by him:
21 And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye of man see?
22 For many of his works are hidden: hut the works of his justice who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from some, and the examination of all is in the end.
23 He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things: and the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.
24 Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.
25 And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.
26 The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their generations.
27 He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.
28 Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time.
29 Be not thou incredulous to his word.
30 After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his goods.
31 The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face thereof, and into it they return again.
Ben Sira 16
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 16
God’s Punishment of Sinners[a]
1 Do not yearn for worthless children,
or rejoice in wicked offspring.
2 Even if they be many, do not rejoice in them
if they do not have fear of the Lord.
3 Do not count on long life for them,(A)
or have any hope for their future.
For one can be better than a thousand;
rather die childless than have impious children!
4 Through one wise person a city can be peopled;
but through a clan of rebels it becomes desolate.
5 Many such things my eye has seen,
and even more than these my ear has heard.
6 Against a sinful band fire is kindled,(B)
upon a godless people wrath blazes.[b]
7 He did not forgive the princes of old[c]
who rebelled long ago in their might.(C)
8 He did not spare the neighbors of Lot,[d](D)
abominable in their pride.
9 He did not spare the doomed people,[e]
dispossessed because of their sin;
10 Nor the six hundred thousand foot soldiers,[f](E)
sent to their graves for the arrogance of their hearts.
11 Had there been but one stiff-necked[g] person,
it would be a wonder had he gone unpunished.
For mercy and anger alike are with him;
he remits and forgives, but also pours out wrath.
12 Great as his mercy is his punishment;
he judges people, each according to their deeds.
13 Criminals do not escape with their plunder;
the hope of the righteous, God never leaves unfulfilled.
14 Whoever does good has a reward;
each receives according to their deeds.[h]
17 Do not say: “I am hidden from God;
and on high who remembers me?
Among so many people I am unknown;
what am I in the world of spirits?
18 Look, the heavens and the highest heavens,
the abyss and the earth tremble at his visitation.
19 The roots of the mountains and the earth’s foundations—
at his mere glance they quiver and quake.
20 Of me, therefore, he will take no notice;
with my ways who will be concerned?
21 If I sin, no eye will see me;
if all in secret I act deceitfully, who is to know?(F)
22 Who tells him about just deeds?
What can I expect for doing my duty?”
23 Such the thoughts of the senseless;
only the foolish entertain them.
Divine Wisdom Seen in Creation[i]
24 Listen to me, my son, and take my advice,
and apply your mind to my words,
25 While I pour out my spirit by measure
and impart knowledge with care.
26 When at the first God created his works
and, as he made them, assigned their tasks,(G)
27 He arranged for all time what they were to do,
their domains from generation to generation.
They were not to go hungry or grow weary,
or ever cease from their tasks.
28 Never does a single one crowd its neighbor,
or do any ever disobey his word.
29 Then the Lord looked upon the earth,
and filled it with his blessings.(H)
30 Its surface he covered with every kind of living creature
which must return into it again.
Footnotes
- 16:1–23 One child who does God’s will is a greater blessing than many sinful offspring (vv. 1–4), for history and experience show that God punishes sin (vv. 5–10). God judges everyone according to their deeds (vv. 11–14); no one can hide from God or escape retribution at his hand (vv. 17–23).
- 16:6 For Korah and his band (v. 6a), see 45:18–19; Nm 16:1–35; Ps 106:18; for the disgruntled Israelites (v. 6b), Ps 78:21–22.
- 16:7 The princes of old: e.g., the mighty destroyed in the flood (Gn 6:1–4; Wis 14:6; Bar 3:26–28), as well as the king of Babylon (Is 14:4–21) and Nebuchadnezzar (Dn 4:7–30).
- 16:8 Neighbors of Lot: the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, condemned elsewhere for their sexual violence (Gn 19:24–25) and failure at hospitality (Ez 16:49–50).
- 16:9 Doomed people: the Canaanite tribes whose aberrant religious practices, at least in Israelite opinion, caused their downfall: Ex 23:23–24, 27–33; 33:2; 34:11–16; Dt 7:1–2; Wis 12:3–7.
- 16:10 Six hundred thousand foot soldiers: the number given for those rescued by Moses, who murmured against the Lord in the wilderness and died there: 46:1, 7–8; Nm 11:20; 14:1–12, 22–24, 29, 36–38; 26:65; Dt 1:35–38.
- 16:11 Stiff-necked: sinful Israelites; cf. Ex 32:9; 33:3, 5. Not even one Israelite would have gone unpunished for insolence or pride.
- 16:14
Other ancient texts read as vv. 15–16:
15The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh so that he did not recognize him
whose acts were manifest under the heavens;
16His mercy was seen by all his creatures,
and his light and his darkness he apportioned to humankind.
- 16:24–17:23 In harmony with Gn 1–2, the author describes God’s wisdom in creating the universe and everything in it (vv. 24–30), endowing human beings with a moral nature, with wisdom, knowledge, and freedom of will (cf. 15:14) according to his own image (17:1–3, 7). Now they can govern the earth (vv. 3–4), praise God’s name (vv. 9–10), obey his law (vv. 11–14), and render to him an account of their deeds (v. 23). Cf. Ps 19; 104.
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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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