Sirach 30:14-25
Good News Translation
Health
14 It is better to be poor, but strong and healthy, than to be rich, but in poor health. 15 A sound, healthy body and a cheerful attitude[a] are more valuable than gold and jewels. 16 Nothing can make you richer or give you greater happiness than those two things. 17 It would be better to be dead, asleep forever, than to live in the misery of chronic illness. 18 The finest food means nothing if you are too sick to eat it; it might as well be offered to an idol.[b] 19 But there is no point in offering food to an idol; it can't eat it or smell it. It is just the same with someone whom the Lord has afflicted. 20 He looks at his food and sighs, like a castrated man hugging a young woman.
Cheerfulness and Sadness
21 (A)Don't deliberately torture yourself by giving in to depression. 22 Happiness makes for a long life and makes it worth living. 23 Enjoy yourself and be happy; don't worry all the time. Worry never did anybody any good, and it has destroyed many people. 24 It will make you old before your time. Jealousy and anger will shorten your life. 25 A cheerful person with a good attitude will have a good appetite and enjoy his food.
Read full chapterNotas al pie
- Sirach 30:15 Hebrew a cheerful attitude; Greek a strong body.
- Sirach 30:18 Hebrew offered to an idol; Greek placed on a grave.
Sirach 30:14-25
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 Better off poor, healthy, and fit
than rich and afflicted in body.(A)
15 Health and fitness are better than any gold
and a robust body[a] than countless riches.
16 There is no wealth better than health of body
and no gladness above joy of heart.
17 Death is better than a life of misery
and eternal sleep[b] than chronic sickness.(B)
Concerning Foods[c]
18 Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed
are like offerings of food placed upon a grave.(C)
19 Of what use to an idol is a sacrifice?
For it can neither eat nor smell.
So is the one punished by the Lord;(D)
20 he sees with his eyes and groans
as a eunuch groans when embracing a young woman.[d](E)
21 Do not give yourself over to sorrow,
and do not distress yourself deliberately.(F)
22 A joyful heart is life itself,
and rejoicing lengthens one’s life span.(G)
23 Indulge yourself[e] and take comfort,
and remove sorrow far from you,
for sorrow has destroyed many,
and no advantage ever comes from it.(H)
24 Jealousy and anger shorten life,
and anxiety brings on premature old age.(I)
25 Those who are cheerful and merry at table
will benefit from their food.(J)
Notas al pie
- 30.15 Gk: Syr Heb read spirit
- 30.17 Other ancient authorities lack eternal sleep
- 30.18 This heading is included in the Gk text; other ancient authorities place the heading before 30.16
- 30.20 Other ancient authorities add So is the person who does right under compulsion
- 30.23 Other ancient authorities read Beguile yourself
Ben Sira 30:14-25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Health and Cheerfulness[a]
14 Better the poor in vigorous health
than the rich with bodily ills.
15 I would rather have bodily health than any gold,
and contentment of spirit than pearls.
16 No riches are greater than a healthy body;
and no happiness than a joyful heart.
17 Better is death than a wretched life,(A)
everlasting sleep than constant illness.
18 Good things set before one who cannot eat
are like food offerings placed before a tomb.[b](B)
19 What good is an offering to an idol
that can neither eat nor smell?
So it is with the one being punished by the Lord,
20 who groans at what his eyes behold.
21 Do not give in to sadness,
or torment yourself deliberately.(C)
22 Gladness of heart is the very life of a person,
and cheerfulness prolongs his days.
23 Distract yourself and renew your courage,
drive resentment far away from you;
For grief has killed many,(D)
and nothing is to be gained from resentment.
24 Envy and anger shorten one’s days,
and anxiety brings on premature old age.
25 Those who are cheerful and merry at table
benefit from their food.[c](E)
Notas al pie
- 30:14–25 Health of mind and body and joy of heart Ben Sira judges to be more precious than wealth (vv. 14–16), whereas bitterness, constant illness, and affliction are more difficult to bear than death (vv. 17–20). Sadness, resentment, anxiety, envy, and anger shorten days; they should be dispelled by cheerfulness and gladness of heart, which help to prolong one’s days (vv. 21–25).
- 30:18 The saying ridicules the practice of putting food and drink on the tombs of the dead.
- 30:25(27) Because of the dislocation of the Greek text, the numbering of this verse follows Ziegler’s edition. There are no verses 25–26.
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.
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.