Sirach · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Sirach 33 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
1 There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him.
1 No evil will happen to him who fears the Lord, but in trials once and again he will deliver him.
2 A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.
2 A wise man will not hate the law, but he who is a hypocrite about it is like a boat in a storm.
3 A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle.
3 A man of understanding will put his trust in the law. And the law is faithful to him, as when one asks a divine oracle.
4 Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.
4 Prepare your speech, and so you will be heard. Bind up instruction, and make your answer.
5 The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.
5 The heart of a fool is like a cartwheel. His thoughts are like a rolling axle.
6 A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
6 A stallion horse is like a mocking friend. He neighs under every one who sits upon him.
7 Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?
7 Why does one day excel another, when all the light of every day in the year is from the sun?
8 By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.
8 They were distinguished by the Lord’s knowledge, and he varied seasons and feasts.
9 Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.
9 Some of them he exalted and hallowed, and some of them he has made ordinary days.
10 And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth:
10 And all men are from the ground. Adam was created from dust.
11 In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.
11 In the abundance of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them, and made their ways different.
12 Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.
12 Some of them he blessed and exalted, and some of them he made holy and brought near to himself. Some of them he cursed and brought low, and overthrew them from their place.
13 As the clay is in the potter’s hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.
13 As the clay of the potter in his hand, all his ways are according to his good pleasure, so men are in the hand of him who made them, to give to them according to his judgment.
14 Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.
14 Good is the opposite of evil, and life is the opposite of death; so the sinner is the opposite of the godly.
15 So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.
15 Look upon all the works of the Most High like this, they come in pairs, one against another.
16 I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and tred my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.
16 I was the last on watch, like one who gleans after the grape gatherers.
17 Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.
17 By the Lord’s blessing I arrived before them, and filled my winepress like one who gathers grapes.
18 Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.
18 Consider that I labored not for myself alone, but for all those who seek instruction.
19 Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.
19 Hear me, you great men of the people, and listen with your ears, you rulers of the congregation.
20 As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any.
20 To son and wife, to brother and friend, don’t give power over yourself while you live, and don’t give your goods to another, lest you regret it and must ask for them.
21 For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.
21 While you still live and breath is in you, don’t give yourself over to anybody.
22 In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour.
22 For it is better that your children should ask from you than that you should look to the hand of your children.
23 At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.
23 Excel in all your works. Don’t bring a stain on your honor.
24 Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.
24 In the day that you end the days of your life, in the time of death, distribute your inheritance.
25 If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.
25 Fodder, a stick, and burdens are for a donkey. Bread, discipline, and work are for a servant.
26 A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant.
26 Set your slave to work, and you will find rest. Leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty.
27 Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil.
27 Yoke and whip will bow the neck. For an evil slave there are racks and tortures.
28 Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters.
28 Send him to labor, that he not be idle, for idleness teaches much mischief.
29 But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing.
29 Set him to work, as is fit for him. If he doesn’t obey, make his fetters heavy.
30 If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a price.
30 Don’t be excessive toward any. Do nothing unjust.
31 If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?
31 If you have a slave, treat him like yourself, because you have bought him with blood.
32 Not in this translation
32 If you have a slave, treat him like yourself. For like your own soul, you will need him. If you treat him ill, and he departs and runs away,
33 Not in this translation
33 which way will you go to seek him?
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).
So look upon all the works of the Most High, and these are two and two, one against another."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)