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Ben Sira 6:18-31
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Ben Sira 6:18-31
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Blessings of Wisdom[a]
18 My child, from your youth choose discipline;
and when you have gray hair you will find wisdom.
19 As though plowing and sowing, draw close to her;
then wait for her bountiful crops.
For in cultivating her you will work but little,
and soon you will eat her fruit.
20 She is rough ground to the fool!
The stupid cannot abide her.
21 She will be like a burdensome stone to them,
and they will not delay in casting her aside.
22 For discipline[b] is like her name,
she is not accessible to many.
23 Listen, my child, and take my advice;
do not refuse my counsel.
24 Put your feet into her fetters,
and your neck under her yoke.
25 Bend your shoulders and carry her
and do not be irked at her bonds.
26 With all your soul draw close to her;
and with all your strength keep her ways.
27 Inquire and search, seek and find;
when you get hold of her, do not let her go.
28 Thus at last you will find rest in her,
and she will become your joy.
29 Her fetters will be a place of strength;
her snare, a robe of spun gold.
30 Her yoke will be a gold ornament;(A)
her bonds, a purple cord.
31 You will wear her as a robe of glory,
and bear her as a splendid crown.
Footnotes
- 6:18–37 The various figures in each of the eight stanzas urge the search for wisdom through patience (vv. 18–19), persistence (vv. 20–22), docility and perseverance (vv. 23–28). Wisdom bestows rich rewards (vv. 29–31) on those who apply themselves and learn from the wise (vv. 32–36). Although one must strive for wisdom, it is God who grants it (v. 37). Cf. 4:11–19.
- 6:22 Discipline: musar (in the sense of wisdom) is a perfect homonym for musar, “removed, withdrawn”; thus the path of discipline is not accessible to many.
Sirach 6:18-31
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Sirach 6:18-31
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Blessings of Wisdom
18 My son, from your youth up choose instruction,
and until you are old you will keep finding wisdom.
19 Come to her like one who plows and sows,
and wait for her good harvest.
For in her service you will toil a little while,
and soon you will eat of her produce.
20 She seems very harsh to the uninstructed;
a weakling will not remain with her.
21 She will weigh him down like a heavy testing stone,
and he will not be slow to cast her off.
22 For wisdom is like her name,
and is not manifest to many.
23 Listen, my son, and accept my judgment;
do not reject my counsel.
24 Put your feet into her fetters,
and your neck into her collar.
25 Put your shoulder under her 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 protection,
and her collar a glorious robe.
30 Her yoke[a] is a golden ornament,
and her bonds are a cord of blue.
31 You will wear her like a glorious robe,
and put her on like a crown of gladness.
Footnotes
- Sirach 6:30 Heb: Gk Upon her
Sirach 6:18-31
Good News Translation
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.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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