and she will be changed into joy for you.

  29Then her fetters will become for you a strong defense,

  and her collar a glorious robe.

  30Her yokec is a golden ornament,

  and her bonds a purple cord.

  31You will wear her like a glorious robe,

  and put her on like a splendid crown.d

  32If you are willing, my child, you can be disciplined,

  and if you apply yourself you will become clever.

  33If you love to listen you will gain knowledge,

  and if you pay attention you will become wise.

  34Stand in the company of the elders.

  Who is wise? Attach yourself to such a one.

  35Be ready to listen to every godly discourse,

  and let no wise proverbs escape you.

  36If you see an intelligent person, rise early to visit him;

  let your foot wear out his doorstep.

  37Reflect on the statutes of the Lord,

  and meditate at all times on his commandments.

  It is he who will give insight toe your mind,

  and your desire for wisdom will be granted.

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  a Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain

  b Meaning of Gk uncertain

  c Heb: Gk Upon her

  d Heb: Gk crown of gladness

  e Heb: Gk will confirm

  6.1 A bad name incurs shame connects reputation with social status.

  6.2 Passion, sexual passion.

  6.4 Laughingstock alludes to shame.

  6.5–17 A unit that contrasts true and false friends shifts the preceding reflections on integrity away from students and to associates. Friendship was an important concept in social relations during the Hellenistic period. See 9.10; 11.29–14.2; 22.19–26; 37.1–6; cf. Prov. 17.17; 18.24; 27. 6, 10. In Greek literature of the time, a friend was one who remained true in times of distress and could therefore be trusted with one’s official or private interests and affairs. This unit completes a section of instructions and admonitions concerned with situations that test one’s resolve, integrity, and capacity for making judgments in keeping with wisdom piety (4.11–6.17). Note the sets of three in vv. 8–10 and 14–16.

  6.18–37 A twenty-two-line poem on personified wisdom elaborating on the theme of discipline at first, honors at last. Cf. 4.17–19. The first stanza (vv. 18–22) emphasizes the harshness of wisdom’s discipline; the second (vv. 23–31) promises rewards for those who accept it; and the last (vv. 32–37) applies the metaphors to the teacher-student relationship.

  6.19 Toil…eat of her produce parallels the common Greek maxim: “The root of education is bitter, but the fruit is sweet”—the toil is unpleasant, but the honor and accomplishment are sweet. On toiling with wisdom, cf. Wis 8.7; 9.10. On toiling but little, see 51.27.

  6.22 Like her name, a wordplay on the Hebrew musar, meaning “instruction,” which can also mean “withdrawn,” a subtle reference to the hiddenness of personified wisdom. The twofold reference to wisdom and instruction (or discipline) in vv. 18, 22 forms a poetic unit, or period.

  6.23–31 The two stages of education are described. Faithful toil in wisdom’s yoke and fetters (vv. 23–27) turns those constraints into the garments of a royal priest (vv. 28–31).

  6.24 On wisdom’s collar, or yoke (vv. 24–25, 29–30), see 51.26; Mt 11.29–30.

  6.26 With all your soul…and might. Cf. Deut 6.5.

  6.30–31 For a purple cord, cf. Num 15.38–39. On the glorious robe and crown, see 50.11; Prov 4.8–9. Cf. the description of Aaron’s vestments, 45.7–12.

  6.32–37 This stanza applies the preceding metaphors to enrollment as a student in the company of the elders, wise teachers whose intelligence encompasses both proverbial wisdom and the law. On the elders as sages, cf. 8.8–9.

  6.34 Attach yourself to such a one is reminiscent of later rabbinic practice. This may be early evidence for such a practice in formative Judaism and may also reflect the Greek custom of becoming a student of a particular teacher. See note on 51.23.

  6.37 Cf. Ps 1.2.

  SIRACH 7

  Miscellaneous Advice

  1Do no evil, and evil will never overtake you.

  2Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you.

  3Doa not sow in the furrows of injustice,

  and you will not reap a sevenfold crop.

  4Do not seek from the Lord high office,

  or the seat of honor from the king.

  5Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord,

  or display your wisdom before the king.

  6Do not seek to become a judge,

  or you may be unable to root out injustice;

  you may be partial to the powerful,

  and so mar your integrity.

  7Commit no offense against the public,

  and do not disgrace yourself among the people.

  8Do not commit a sin twice;

  not even for one will you go unpunished.

  9Do not say, “He will consider the great number of my gifts,

  and when I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.”

  10Do not grow weary when you pray;

  do not neglect to give alms.

  11Do not ridicule a person who is embittered in spirit,

  for there is One who humbles and exalts.

  12Do not deviseb a lie against your brother,

  or do the same to a friend.

  13Refuse to utter any lie,

  for it is a habit that results in no good.

  14Do not babble in the assembly of the elders,

  and do not repeat yourself when you pray.

  15Do not hate hard labor

  or farm work, which was created by the Most High.

  16Do not enroll in the ranks of sinners;

  remember that retribution does not delay.

  17Humble yourself to the utmost,

  for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.c

  Relations with Others

  18Do not exchange a friend for money,

  or a real brother for the gold of Ophir.

  19Do not dismissd a wise and good wife,

  for her charm is worth more than gold.

  20Do not abuse slaves who work faithfully,

  or hired laborers who devote themselves to their task.

  21Let your soul love intelligent slaves;e

  do not withhold from them their freedom.

  22Do you have cattle? Look after them;

  if they are profitable to you, keep them.

  23Do you have children? Discipline them,

  and make them obedientf from their youth.

  24Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity,g

  and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.

  25Give a daughter in marriage, and you complete a great task;

  but give her to a sensible man.

  26Do you have a wife who pleases you?h Do not divorce her;

  but do not trust yourself to one whom you detest.

  27With all your heart honor your father,

  and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother.

  28Remember that it was of your parentsi you were born;

  how can you repay what they have given to you?

  29With all your soul fear the Lord,

  and revere his priests.

  30With all your might love your Maker,

  and do not neglect his ministers.

  31Fear the Lord and honor the priest,

  and give him his portion, as you have been commanded:

  the first fruits, the guilt offering, the gift of the shoulders,

  the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of the holy things.

  32Stretch out your hand to the poor,

  so that your blessing may be complete.

  33Give graciously to all the living;

  do not withhold kindness even from the dead.

  34Do not avoid those who weep,

  but mourn with those who mourn.

  35Do not hesitate to visit the sick,

  because for such deeds you will be loved.

  36In all you do, remember the end of your life,

  and then you will never sin.

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  a Gk My child, do

  b Heb: Gk plow

  c Heb for the expectation of mortals is worms

  d Heb: Gk deprive yourself of

  e Heb Love a wise slave as yourself

  f Gk bend their necks

  g Gk body

  h Heb Syr lack who pleases you

  i Gk them

  7.1–9.16 A long section of warnings and advice characterized by negative injunctions (Do not…), frequently interspersed with motive clauses (For… in the sense of “because”). The structure is loose, but generally consists of small units organized around relationships to particular classes of people.

  7.4–7 This admonition against seeking high office in the court of a king or as a judge is most curious, since both offices were traditional goals of scribal education. It cautions against presumption, as in Prov 25.6–7, but may also reflect the political circumstances of Ben Sira’s day; cf. 11.9.

  7.8–14 Admonitions concerning careless performance of basic ritual and ethical prescriptions. On offerings, prayers, and alms, see note on 35.1–13.

  7.15–17 A set of three bicola on the virtue of labor. The translation follows the Greek text, which has partially obscured the logic of the Hebrew, especially in v. 16, where to enroll in the ranks of sinners is unclear. The original point was not to esteem oneself better than those who do manual labor (v. 16), but to practice humility in one’s own (scribal, bureaucratic, or managerial) vocation (v. 17).

  7.15 Work was considered good in the wisdom tradition and by Ben Sira. See 38.24–34. Labor is mentioned neutrally in the Decalogue (Deut 5.13), but cf. Gen 2.15, where labor is a result of sin. Created translates the Greek; the Hebrew reads “assigned” or “allotted.” Both terms indicate human occupations that have their place in the world as God intended it to be. See 31.27; 38.1; 39.25; 40.1; 44.2.

  7.17 The Hebrew does not contain any allusion to postmortem punishment or fire; the references to the punishment of the ungodly and fire reveal the influence of Hellenistic eschatologies on the translator.

  7.18–28 Advice on managing one’s household, a frequent theme in Sirach.

  7.18 Ophir, a region on the lower western shore of the Red Sea famous for its gold. See 1 Kings 9.28; Job 28.16.

  7.21 On giving slaves their freedom, see Ex 21.2; Deut 15.12.

  7.29–31 Wisdom piety includes honoring the priests who serve at the altar. Ben Sira was a fervent supporter of the Jerusalem priestly authorities for whom he worked. With all your soul…might. Cf. Deut 6.5.

  7.31 On the priest’s portion, see Ex 29.27; Lev 7.31–34; Deut 18.3; Num 18.8–20.

  7.32–36 The wisdom ethic focuses on helping the socially marginalized.

  7.33 The meaning of kindness toward the dead is unclear. It may refer to burial of the poor, a pious act. See Tob 1.17.

  SIRACH 8

  Prudence and Common Sense

  1Do not contend with the powerful,

  or you may fall into their hands.

  2Do not quarrel with the rich,

  in case their resources outweigh yours;

  for gold has ruined many,

  and has perverted the minds of kings.

  3Do not argue with the loud of mouth,

  and do not heap wood on their fire.

  4Do not make fun of one who is ill-bred,

  or your ancestors may be insulted.

  5Do not reproach one who is turning away from sin;

  remember that we all deserve punishment.

  6Do not disdain one who is old,

  for some of us are also growing old.

  7Do not rejoice over anyone’s death;

  remember that we must all die.

  8Do not slight the discourse of the sages,

  but busy yourself with their maxims;

  because from them you will learn discipline

  and how to serve princes.

  9Do not ignore the discourse of the aged,

  for they themselves learned from their parents;a

  from them you learn how to understand

  and to give an answer when the need arises.

  10Do not kindle the coals of sinners,

  or you may be burned in their flaming fire.

  11Do not let the insolent bring you to your feet,

  or they may lie in ambush against your words.

  12Do not lend to one who is stronger than you;

  but if you do lend anything, count it as a loss.

  13Do not give surety beyond your means;

  but if you give surety, be prepared to pay.

  14Do not go to law against a judge,

  for the decision will favor him because of his standing.

  15Do not go traveling with the reckless,

  or they will be burdensome to you; for they will act as they please, and through their folly you will perish with them.

  16Do not pick a fight with the quick-tempered,

  and do not journey with them through lonely country,

  because bloodshed means nothing to them,

  and where no help is at hand, they will strike you down.

  17Do not consult with fools,

  for they cannot keep a secret.

  18In the presence of strangers do nothing that is to be kept secret,

  for you do not know what they will divulge.b

  19Do not reveal your thoughts to anyone,

  or you may drive away your happiness.c

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  a Or ancestors

  b Or it will bring forth

  c Heb: Gk and let him not return a favor to you

  8.1–19 Cautionary advice on dangerous relationships with a long list of character types and social roles. Here is evidence of Ben Sira’s and his students’ social status. Although they must contend with the wealthy classes who presumably employ them, they are not reckoned among the poor and marginalized. Caution is a constant theme underlying much of the advice in Sirach, and many cautionary sayings have parallels in Egyptian wisdom literature.

  8.3 Heap wood on their fire, a common metaphor for “fueling the flame” of a hothead, or person given to anger, a character type just the opposite of the “cool” person of wisdom. See 8.10; 28.10; cf. the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope.

  8.11 Lie in ambush, a common metaphor for entrapment.

  8.18 To keep a secret refers to keeping a confidence, the mark of a true friend. The problem of betrayal by strangers and fools was of great concern to Ben Sira. See 1.30; 13.12; 19.7–12; 22.22; 27.16–21; 37.10; 42.1.

  SIRACH 9

  Advice concerning Women

  1Do not be jealous of the wife of your bosom,

  or you will teach her an evil lesson to your own hurt.

  2Do not give yourself to a woman

  and let her trample down your strength.

  3Do not go near a loose woman,

  or you will fall into her snares.

  4Do not dally with a singing girl,

  or you will be caught by her tricks.

  5Do not look intently at a virgin,

  or you may stumble and incur penalties for her.

  6Do not give yourself to prostitutes,

  or you may lose your inheritance.

  7Do not look around in the streets of a city,

  or wander about in its deserted sections.

  8Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman,

  and do not gaze at beauty belonging to another;

  many have been seduced by a woman’s beauty,

  and by it passion is kindled like a fire.

  9Never dine with another man’s wife,

  or revel with her at wine;

  or your heart may turn aside to her,

  and in blooda you may be plunged into destruction.

  Choice of Friends

  10Do not abandon old friends,

  for new ones cannot equal them.

  A new friend is like new wine;

  when it has aged, you can drink it with pleasure.

  11Do not envy the success of sinners,

  for you do not know what their end will be like.

  12Do not delight in what pleases the ungodly;

  remember that they will not be held guiltless all their lives.

  13Keep far from those who have power to kill,

  and you will not be haunted by the fear of death.

  But if you approach them, make no misstep,

  or they may rob you of your life.

  Know that you are stepping among snares,

  and that you are walking on the city battlements.

  14As much as you can, aim to know your neighbors,

  and consult with the wise.

  15Let your conversation be with intelligent people,

  and let all your discussion be about the law of the Most High.

  16Let the righteous be your dinner companions,

  and let your glory be in the fear of the Lord.

  Concerning Rulers

  17A work is praised for the skill of the artisan;

  so a people’s leader is proved wise by his words.

  18The loud of mouth are feared in their city,

  and the one who is reckless in speech is hated.

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  * * *

  a Heb: Gk by your spirit

  9.1–9 Warnings about seduction and sexual promiscuity. The male point of view prevails. The topic was both ancient and timely, given the Jews’ heightened concern during this period for stable families and ethnic purity as ways to guarantee their distinctive social identity.

  9.3 A loose woman, mentioned in Prov 2.16–19; 5.3–6; 7.5–27; 9.13–18.

 

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