Sirach · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Sirach 16 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
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 stiffnecked 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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15 The Lord hardened Pharaoh, that he should not know him, that his powerful works might be known to the world.
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16 His mercy is manifest to every creature; and he hath separated his light from the darkness with an adamant.
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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 be shaken with trembling, when the Lord 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 hid.
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22 Who can declare the works of his justice? or who can endure them? for his covenant is afar off, and the trial of all things is in the end.
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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 shew 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 for ever, and in his hand are the chief of them unto all generations: they neither labour, 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)