Sirach · Updated Brenton English Septuagint
Sirach 16 Updated Brenton English Septuagint
Notes on this text (1)
- Same Septuagint text as Brenton, with modernised spelling.
Sirach is not in RV1909.
1 Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, Neither delight in ungodly sons.
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2 Though they multiply, rejoice not in them, Except the fear of the Lord be with them.
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3 Trust not thou in their life, Neither respect their multitude: For one that is just is better than a thousand; And better it is to die without children, than to have them that are ungodly.
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4 For by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished: But the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate.
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5 Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, And mine ear hath heard greater things than these.
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6 In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; And in a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire.
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7 He was not pacified toward the old giants, Who fell away in the strength of their foolishness.
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8 Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, But abhorred them for their pride.
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9 He pitied not the people of perdition, Who were taken away in their sins:
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10 Nor the six hundred thousand footmen, Who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.
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11 And if there be one stiff-necked among the people, It is marvel if he escape unpunished: For mercy and wrath are with him; He is mighty to forgive and to pour out displeasure.
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12 As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: He judgeth a man according to his works.
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13 The sinner shall not escape with his spoils: And the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate.
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14 Make way for every work of mercy: For every man shall find according to his works.
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17 Say not thou, I will hide myself from the Lord: Shall any remember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many people: For what is my soul among such an infinite number of creatures?
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18 Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, The deep, and the earth, and all that therein is, Shall be moved when he shall visit.
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19 The mountains also and foundations of the earth Shall be shaken with trembling, when he looketh upon them.
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20 No heart can think upon these things worthily: And who is able to conceive his ways?
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21 It is a tempest which no man can see: For the most part of his works are hidden.
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22 Who can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them? For his covenant is afar off.
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23 He that wanteth understanding will think upon vain things: And a foolish man erring imagineth follies.
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24 My son, hearken unto me, and learn knowledge, And mark my words with thy heart.
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25 I will show forth doctrine in weight, And declare his knowledge exactly.
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26 The works of the Lord are done in judgment from the beginning: And from the time he made them he disposed the parts thereof.
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27 He garnished his works forever, And the chief of them unto all generations: They neither labor, nor are weary, nor cease from their works.
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28 None of them hindereth another, And they shall never disobey his word.
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29 After this the Lord looked upon the earth, And filled it with his blessings.
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30 With all manner of living things hath he covered the face thereof; And they shall return into it again.
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What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
"For," as it is written, "God filled the earth with His good things." What is "His"?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)