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Wisdom of Ben Sira 14:18-20
New Catholic Bible
Wisdom of Ben Sira 14:18-20
New Catholic Bible
18 [a]Like thick foliage on a spreading tree,
with some leaves falling and others sprouting,
so with the generations of flesh and blood:
one dies and another is born.
19 All work decays and ceases to exist,
and its author will pass away with it.[b]
Blessed Is the Man Who Meditates on Wisdom[c]
20 Blessed is the man who meditates on[d] Wisdom
and reasons with intelligence,
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 14:18 These verses touch upon the precarious character of human existence (see also Sir 30:17; 41:1-4; Pss 39:5, 7, 12; 62:10; Eccl 6:12).
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 14:19 The Book of Revelation (Rev 14:13) modifies the notion that all human works will perish, indicating that a person’s works will follow after him into the glory of a new life: “They will find rest from their labors, for their deeds go with them.”
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 14:20 Wisdom, which teaches the real reasons for living, is not easy to attain. People must seek assiduously, scrutinizing the law and the sayings of the sages. But to those who pursue their quest unceasingly, she offers herself like a young bride and brings them happiness and renown.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 14:20 Meditates on: some early MSS read: “dies in.”
