Sirach 32
Good News Translation
32 If you are chosen to preside at a banquet, don't put on airs. Just be like everyone else. Look after the guests before you sit down. 2 After you have performed your duties, you can sit down and enjoy yourself with the others. They will respect you for doing a good job.
3 If you are older than most of the guests, you may talk; that is your right. But you should know what you are talking about and not interrupt the music. 4 If entertainment is being provided, don't keep up a steady conversation; it's the wrong time to show off your wit. 5 Music at a banquet where wine is served is like a ruby set in gold. 6 Good music and good wine—an emerald set in gold.
7 If you are young, don't speak unless you have to, but never more than twice, and only if someone speaks to you first. 8 Come to the point and say it all in a few words. Show that you are well-informed, but stay quiet. 9 Don't treat important people as if you were their equal and don't make a nuisance of yourself by asking them a lot of questions.[a] 10 The reputation of a modest person goes before him, as lightning before thunder.
11 Leave the party at the right time and never be the last to go. Don't linger at the door; just go straight home. 12 There you can enjoy yourself as you wish, but don't commit the sin of bragging. 13 And don't forget to thank your Creator for letting you enjoy so many good things.
Interpreting the Law
14 If you fear the Lord, you will accept his correction. He will bless those who get up early in the morning to pray. 15 Study his Law, and you will master it, unless you are insincere about it, in which case you will fail. 16 If you fear the Lord, you will know what is right, and you will be famous for your fairness. 17 Sinners have no use for correction, and will interpret the Law to suit themselves.
18 Sensible people will consider every opinion, but arrogant[b] people will let nothing stand in their way. 19 Never do anything without thinking it through, and once you have done something, don't look back and wish you had done something else. 20 Don't take a course of action that is dangerous, and don't make the same mistake twice.[c] 21 Don't be too sure of yourself, even when the way looks easy. 22 Always watch where you are going.[d] 23 Whatever you do be careful;[e] this is keeping the Lord's commands.
24 Believing in the Law means keeping the Lord's commands.
If you trust the Lord, you cannot lose.
Footnotes
- Sirach 32:9 Hebrew make...questions; Greek keep talking when someone else is speaking.
- Sirach 32:18 Hebrew arrogant; Greek foreign and arrogant.
- Sirach 32:20 Hebrew make...twice; Greek stumble on stones.
- Sirach 32:22 Hebrew watch...going; Greek look out for your children.
- Sirach 32:23 Hebrew be careful; Greek have confidence in yourself.
Sirach 32
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Etiquette at a Banquet
32 If they make you master of the feast, do not exalt yourself;
be among them as one of their number.
Take care of them first and then sit down;(A)
2 when you have fulfilled all your duties, take your place,
so that you may be merry along with them
and receive a wreath for your excellent leadership.
3 Speak, you who are older, for it is your right,
but with accurate knowledge, and do not interrupt the music.(B)
4 Where there is entertainment, do not pour out talk;
do not display your cleverness at the wrong time.(C)
5 A ruby seal in a setting of gold
is a concert of music at a banquet of wine.(D)
6 A seal of emerald in a rich setting of gold
is the melody of music with good wine.
7 Speak, you who are young, if you are obliged to,
but no more than twice and only if asked.(E)
8 Be brief; say much in few words;
be as one who knows and can still hold his tongue.(F)
9 Among the great do not act as their equal;
and when another is speaking, do not babble.(G)
10 Lightning travels ahead of the thunder,
and approval goes before one who is modest.
11 Leave in good time and do not be the last;
go home quickly and do not linger.
12 Amuse yourself there to your heart’s content,
but do not sin through proud speech.
13 But above all bless your Maker,
who intoxicates you with his good gifts.(H)
The Providence of God
14 The one who seeks God[a] will accept his discipline,
and those who rise early to seek him[b] will find favor.(I)
15 The one who seeks the law will be filled with it,
but the hypocrite will stumble at it.(J)
16 Those who fear the Lord will form true judgments,
and they will kindle righteous deeds like a light.(K)
17 Sinners will shun reproof
and will find a decision according to their liking.(L)
18 A sensible person will not overlook a thoughtful suggestion;
an insolent[c] and proud person will not be deterred by fear.[d](M)
19 Do nothing without deliberation,
but when you have acted do not regret it.(N)
20 Do not go on a path full of hazards,
and do not stumble at an obstacle twice.[e]
21 Do not be overconfident on a smooth[f] road,(O)
22 and give good heed to your paths.[g]
23 Guard[h] yourself in every act,
for this is the keeping of the commandments.(P)
24 The one who keeps the law preserves himself,[i]
and the one who trusts the Lord will not suffer loss.(Q)
Footnotes
- 32.14 Heb: Gk who fears the Lord
- 32.14 Other ancient authorities lack to seek him
- 32.18 Heb: Gk alien
- 32.18 Or cower in fear; other ancient authorities add and after acting, with him, without deliberation
- 32.20 Heb: Gk stumble on stony ground
- 32.21 Or an unexplored
- 32.22 Heb Syr: Gk and beware of your children
- 32.23 Heb Syr: Gk Trust
- 32.24 Heb: Gk who believes the law heeds the commandments
Ben Sira 32
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 32
1 If you are chosen to preside at a dinner, do not be puffed up,
but with the guests be as one of them;
Take care of them first and then sit down;
2 see to their needs, and then take your place,
To share in their joy
and receive a wreath for a job well done.
3 You who are older, it is your right to speak,
but temper your knowledge and do not interrupt the singing.
4 Where there is entertainment, do not pour out discourse,
and do not display your wisdom at the wrong time.
5 Like a seal of carnelian in a setting of gold:
a concert of music at a banquet of wine.
6 A seal of emerald in a work of gold:
the melody of music with delicious wine.
7 Speak, young man, only when necessary,(A)
when they have asked you more than once.
8 Be brief, say much in few words;
be knowledgeable and yet quiet.
9 When among elders do not be forward,
and with officials do not be too insistent.
10 The lightning that flashes before a hailstorm:
the esteem that shines on modesty.
11 Leave in good time and do not be the last;
go home quickly without delay.
12 There enjoy doing as you wish,
but do not sin through words of pride.
13 Above all, bless your Maker,
who showers his favors upon you.
The Providence of God
14 Whoever seeks God must accept discipline;[a]
and whoever resorts to him obtains an answer.(B)
15 Whoever seeks the law will master it,
but the hypocrite will be ensnared by it.(C)
16 Whoever fears the Lord will understand what is right,
and out of obscurity he will draw forth a course of action.(D)
17 The lawless turn aside warnings
and distort the law to suit their purpose.(E)
18 The sensible will not neglect direction;
the proud and insolent are deterred by no fear.
19 Do nothing without deliberation;
then once you have acted, have no regrets.(F)
20 Do not go on a way set with snares,
and do not stumble on the same thing twice.
21 Do not trust the road, because of bandits;
22 be careful on your paths.
23 Whatever you do, be on your guard,
for whoever does so keeps the commandments.
24 Whoever keeps the law preserves himself;
and whoever trusts in the Lord shall not be put to shame.
Footnotes
- 32:14–33:4 God is shown to reveal himself through the discipline of his law, a clear and safe plan of life for the pious. Direction and deliberation are aids in following it (32:14–16, 18–24; 33:1, 3–4). Sinners and hypocrites, hating the law or distorting it, fail in wisdom and are devoid of security (32:15b, 17, 18b; 33:2).
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, 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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