Sirach · Catholic Public Domain Version
Sirach 18 Catholic Public Domain Version
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 The One who dwells in eternity created all things together. God alone will be justified, and he remains an invincible King for eternity.
1 He who lives forever created the whole universe.
2 Who is able to declare his works?
2 The Lord alone is just.
3 For who can examine his greatness?
3 Not in this translation
4 And who will announce the power of his magnitude? Or who would be able to describe his mercy?
4 He has given power to declare his works to no one. Who could trace out his mighty deeds?
5 There is no diminishing, and no increasing, and there is no discovering, the greatness of God.
5 Who could measure the strength of his majesty? Who could also proclaim his mercies?
6 When man has reached the end, then he will begin. And when he ceases, he will be in need.
6 As for the wondrous works of the Lord, it is not possible to take from them nor add to them, neither is it possible to explore them.
7 What is man, and what is his grace? And what is his good, or what is his evil?
7 When a man has finished, then he is just at the beginning. When he stops, then he will be perplexed.
8 The number of the days of men are as many as one hundred years. Like a drop of water in the ocean, so they are considered to be. And like a grain of sand on the shore, so do these few years compare to the days of all time.
8 What is mankind, and what purpose do they serve? What is their good, and what is their evil?
9 For this reason, God is patient with them, and he pours forth his mercy upon them.
9 The number of man’s days at the most are a hundred years.
10 He has seen that the presumption of their heart is evil, and he knows that their rebelliousness is wicked.
10 As a drop of water from the sea, and a pebble from the sand, so are a few years in the day of eternity.
11 Therefore, he has bestowed his forgiveness on them, and he has revealed to them the way of equity.
11 For this cause the Lord was patient over them, and poured out his mercy upon them.
12 The compassion of man is toward those closest to him. But the mercy of God is upon all flesh.
12 He saw and perceived their end, that it is evil. Therefore he multiplied his forgiveness.
13 He is merciful, and he teaches and corrects, like a shepherd with his flock.
13 The mercy of a man is on his neighbor; but the mercy of the Lord is on all flesh: reproving, chastening, teaching, and bringing back, as a shepherd does his flock.
14 He takes pity on those who accept the doctrine of compassion, and he applies his judgments promptly.
14 He has mercy on those who accept chastening, and that diligently seek after his judgments.
15 Son, in your good works, you should not complain, and in giving anything, you should not cause grief with evil words.
15 My son, don’t add reproach to your good deeds, and no harsh words in any of your giving.
16 Is heat not refreshed by the dew? So also is a good word better than a gift.
16 Doesn’t the dew relieve the scorching heat? So a word is better than a gift.
17 Behold, is a word not greater than a gift? But both are with a justified man.
17 Behold, isn’t a word better than a gift? Both are with a gracious person.
18 The foolish place blame sharply. And a gift from the undisciplined causes the eyes to fail.
18 A fool is ungracious and abusive. The gift of a grudging person consumes the eyes.
19 Before you judge, put justice in order within yourself, and before you speak, learn.
19 Learn before you speak. Take care of your health before you get sick.
20 Before you become sick, obtain medicine. And before you judge, examine yourself. And then you will find forgiveness in the sight of God.
20 Before judgment, examine yourself, and in the hour of scrutiny you will find forgiveness.
21 Before you become weak, humble yourself; and in a time of infirmity, show your way of life.
21 Humble yourself before you get sick. In the time of sins, repent.
22 Let nothing impede you from praying always. And then you will not dread to be justified, even unto death. For the reward of God dwells in eternity.
22 Let nothing hinder you to pay your vow in due time. Don’t wait until death to be released.
23 Before you pray, prepare your soul. And do not choose to be like a man who tempts God.
23 Before you make a vow, prepare yourself. Don’t be like a man who tests the Lord.
24 Remember the wrath that will be on the day of consummation, and remember the time of retribution, when he will turn away his face.
24 Think about the wrath coming in the days of the end, and the time of vengeance, when he turns away his face.
25 Remember poverty in a time of abundance, and remember the deficiency of poverty in a day of riches.
25 In the days of fullness remember the time of hunger. Remember poverty and lack in the days of wealth.
26 From morning until evening, the time will be changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God.
26 From morning until evening, the time changes. All things are speedy before the Lord.
27 A wise man will be cautious in all things, and during a time of many offenses, he will be attentive against inaction.
27 A wise man is cautious in everything. In days of sinning, he will beware of offense.
28 Anyone who is astute recognizes wisdom, and he will acknowledge anyone who finds it.
28 Every man of understanding knows wisdom. He will give thanks to him who found her.
29 Those who show understanding with words also have acted wisely themselves, and they have understood truth and justice, and they have fulfilled proverbs and judgments.
29 They who were of understanding in sayings also became wise themselves, and poured out apt proverbs.
30 You should not go after your desires; instead, turn away from your own will.
30 Don’t go after your lusts. Restrain your appetites.
31 If you offer your desires to your soul, this will cause you to become a joy to your enemies.
31 If you give fully to your soul the delight of her desire, she will make you the laughing stock of your enemies.
32 Take no delight in disorderly gatherings, whether large or small. For their commission of offenses is unceasing.
32 Don’t make merry in much luxury, and don’t be tied to its expense.
33 You should not be reduced by the contention of borrowing, even if there is nothing in your purse. For you would be contending against your own life.
33 Don’t be made a beggar by banqueting with borrowed money when you have nothing in your purse.
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).
I heard another voice of Thine, "Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites." And by Thy favour have I heard this saying likewise, which I have much delighted in, "Neither if we eat, are we the better; neither if we eat not, are we the worse;" which is to say, that neither shall the one make …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
"For a word," it is said, "is better than a gift." Dost thou not consider that thou art thrusting the sword into thyself, and art receiving a more grievous wound, when he, being reviled, silently withdraws, with groans and many tears?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
"For a word is a better thing than a gift," and "answer the poor man peaceably with meekness." And all the rest of thy time too adorn it with the rehearsing of the laws of God; "Yea, let all thy communication be in the law of the Most High." Having thus adorned ourselves, let us come to our King, and …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
"Go not," it is said, "after thy lusts, and refrain thyself from thine appetites." And, touching an harlot again, it is said in opposition to this proverb, "Give not heed to a bad woman: for honey droppeth from the lips of a woman that is an harlot, which, for a season, is luscious unto thy throat; but afterwards thou shalt …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)