Sirach 1 Clementine Vulgate
1 Prologus Multorum nobis et magnorum per legem, et prophetas, aliosque qui secuti sunt illos, sapientia demonstrata est, in quibus oportet laudare Israël doctrinæ et sapientiæ causa, quia non solum ipsos loquentes necesse est esse peritos, sed etiam extraneos posse et dicentes et scribentes doctissimos fieri. Avus meus Jesus, postquam se amplius dedit ad diligentiam lectionis legis, et prophetarum, et aliorum librorum qui nobis a parentibus nostris traditi sunt, voluit et ipse scribere aliquid horum quæ ad doctrinam et sapientiam pertinent, ut desiderantes discere, et illorum periti facti, magis magisque attendant animo, et confirmentur ad legitimam vitam. Hortor itaque venire vos cum benevolentia, et attentiori studio lectionem facere, et veniam habere in illis, in quibus videmur, sequentes imaginem sapientiæ, deficere in verborum compositione. Nam deficiunt verba hebraica, quando fuerint translata ad alteram linguam: non autem solum hæc, sed et ipsa lex, et prophetæ, ceteraque aliorum librorum non parvam habent differentiam quando inter se dicuntur. Nam in octavo et trigesimo anno temporibus Ptolemæi Evergetis regis, postquam perveni in Ægyptum, et cum multum temporis ibi fuissem, inveni ibi libros relictos, non parvæ neque contemnendæ doctrinæ. Itaque bonum et necessarium putavi et ipse aliquam addere diligentiam et laborem interpretandi librum istum: et multa vigilia attuli doctrinam in spatio temporis, ad illa quæ ad finem ducunt, librum istum dare, et illis qui volunt animum intendere, et discere quemadmodum oporteat instituere mores, qui secundum legem Domini proposuerint vitam agere. [Omnis sapientia a Domino Deo est: et cum illo fuit semper, et est ante ævum.
1 All wisdom comes from the Lord, and is with him forever.
2 Arenam maris, et pluviæ guttas, et dies sæculi, quis dinumeravit? altitudinem cæli, et latitudinem terræ, et profundum abyssi, quis dimensus est?
2 Who can count the sand of the seas, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity?
3 sapientiam Dei præcedentem omnia, quis investigavit?
3 Who will search out the height of the sky, the breadth of the earth, the deep, and wisdom?
4 Prior omnium creata est sapientia, et intellectus prudentiæ ab ævo.
4 Wisdom has been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting.
5 Fons sapientiæ verbum Dei in excelsis, et ingressus illius mandata æterna.
5 Not in this translation
6 Radix sapientiæ cui revelata est? et astutias illius quis agnovit?
6 To whom has the root of wisdom been revealed? Who has known her shrewd counsels?
7 disciplina sapientiæ cui revelata est et manifestata? et multiplicationem ingressus illius quis intellexit?
7 Not in this translation
8 Unus est altissimus, Creator omnipotens, et rex potens et metuendus nimis, sedens super thronum illius, et dominans Deus.
8 There is one wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne: the Lord.
9 Ipse creavit illam in Spiritu Sancto, et vidit, et dinumeravit, et mensus est:
9 He created her. He saw and measured her. He poured her out upon all his works.
10 et effudit illam super omnia opera sua, et super omnem carnem, secundum datum suum, et præbuit illam diligentibus se.]
10 She is with all flesh according to his gift. He gave her freely to those who love him.
11 [Timor Domini gloria, et gloriatio, et lætitia, et corona exsultationis.
11 The fear of the Lord is glory, exultation, gladness, and a crown of rejoicing.
12 Timor Domini delectabit cor, et dabit lætitiam, et gaudium, et longitudinem dierum.
12 The fear of the Lord will delight the heart, and will give gladness, joy, and length of days.
13 Timenti Dominum bene erit in extremis, et in die defunctionis suæ benedicetur.
13 Whoever fears the Lord, it will go well with him at the last. He will be blessed in the day of his death.
14 Dilectio Dei honorabilis sapientia:
14 To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It was created together with the faithful in the womb.
15 quibus autem apparuerit in visu diligunt eam in visione, et in agnitione magnalium suorum.
15 She laid an eternal foundation with men. She will be trusted among their offspring.
16 Initium sapientiæ timor Domini: et cum fidelibus in vulva concreatus est: cum electis feminis graditur, et cum justis et fidelibus agnoscitur.
16 To fear the Lord is the fullness of wisdom. She inebriates men with her fruits.
17 Timor Domini scientiæ religiositas:
17 She will fill all her house with desirable things, and her storehouses with her produce.
18 religiositas custodiet et justificabit cor; jucunditatem atque gaudium dabit.
18 The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish.
19 Timenti Dominum bene erit, et in diebus consummationis illius benedicetur.
19 He both saw and measured her. He rained down skill and knowledge of understanding, and exalted the honor of those who hold her fast.
20 Plenitudo sapientiæ est timere Deum, et plenitudo a fructibus illius.
20 To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom. Her branches are length of days.
21 Omnem domum illius implebit a generationibus, et receptacula a thesauris illius.
21 Not in this translation
22 Corona sapientiæ timor Domini, replens pacem et salutis fructum:
22 Unjust wrath can never be justified, for his wrath tips the scale to his downfall.
23 et vidit, et dinumeravit eam: utraque autem sunt dona Dei.
23 A man that is patient will resist for a season, and afterward gladness will spring up to him.
24 Scientiam et intellectum prudentiæ sapientia compartietur, et gloriam tenentium se exaltat.
24 He will hide his words until the right moment, and the lips of many will tell of his understanding.
25 Radix sapientiæ est timere Dominum, et rami illius longævi.
25 A wise saying is in the treasures of wisdom; but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
26 In thesauris sapientiæ intellectus et scientiæ religiositas: execratio autem peccatoribus sapientia.
26 If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments and the Lord will give her to you freely;
27 Timor Domini expellit peccatum:
27 for the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction. Faith and humility are his good pleasure.
28 nam qui sine timore est non poterit justificari: iracundia enim animositatis illius subversio illius est.
28 Don’t disobey the fear of the Lord. Don’t come to him with a double heart.
29 Usque in tempus sustinebit patiens, et postea redditio jucunditatis.
29 Don’t be a hypocrite in men’s sight. Keep watch over your lips.
30 Bonus sensus usque in tempus abscondet verba illius, et labia multorum enarrabunt sensum illius.
30 Don’t exalt yourself, lest you fall and bring dishonor upon your soul. The Lord will reveal your secrets and will cast you down in the midst of the congregation, because you didn’t come to the fear of the Lord and your heart was full of deceit.
31 In thesauris sapientiæ significatio disciplinæ:
31 Not in this translation
32 execratio autem peccatori cultura Dei.
32 Not in this translation
33 Fili, concupiscens sapientiam, conserva justitiam, et Deus præbebit illam tibi.
33 Not in this translation
34 Sapientia enim et disciplina timor Domini: et quod beneplacitum est illi,
34 Not in this translation
35 fides et mansuetudo, et adimplebit thesauros illius.
35 Not in this translation
36 Ne sis incredibilis timori Domini, et ne accesseris ad illum duplici corde.
36 Not in this translation
37 Ne fueris hypocrita in conspectu hominum, et non scandalizeris in labiis tuis.
37 Not in this translation
38 Attende in illis, ne forte cadas, et adducas animæ tuæ inhonorationem:
38 Not in this translation
39 et revelet Deus absconsa tua, et in medio synagogæ elidat te:
39 Not in this translation
40 quoniam accessisti maligne ad Dominum, et cor tuum plenum est dolo et fallacia.]
40 Not in this translation
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 although we find no time before it, for wisdom was created before all things, --not certainly that Wisdom manifestly co-eternal and equal unto Thee, our God, His Father, and by Whom all things were created, and in Whom, as the Beginning, Thou createdst heaven and earth; but truly that wisdom which has been created, namely, the intellectual nature, which, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
Wherefore also one said, "The sway of his fury shall be his fall;" by this most of all showing its tyranny, that in a short time it works great ills, and needs not to continue long with us, so that if in addition to its strength it were apt to last, it would indeed be hard to strive against.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… things, --not certainly that Wisdom manifestly co-eternal and equal unto Thee, our God, His Father, and by Whom all things were created, and in Whom, as the Beginning, Thou createdst heaven and earth; but truly that wisdom which has been created, namely, the intellectual nature, which, in the contemplation of light, is light.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
Now "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." As then the things above belong to the perfect, so what he is now going to say belongs to beginners.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)