Sirach · World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
Sirach 16 World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
Notes on this text (1)
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
Sirach is not in RV1909.
1 Don’t desire a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons.
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2 If they multiply, don’t delight in them unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
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3 Don’t trust in their life. Don’t rely on their numbers; for one can be better than a thousand, and to die childless than to have ungodly children.
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4 For from one who has understanding, a city will be populated, but a race of wicked men will be made desolate.
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5 I have seen many such things with my eyes. My ear has heard mightier things than these.
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6 In a congregation of sinners, a fire will be kindled. In a disobedient nation, wrath is kindled.
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7 He was not pacified toward the giants of old time, who revolted in their strength.
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8 He didn’t spare Lot’s neighbors, whom he abhorred for their pride.
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9 He didn’t pity the people of perdition who were taken away in their sins,
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10 or in like manner, the six hundred thousand footmen who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts.
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11 Even if there is one stiff-necked person, it is a marvel if he will be unpunished; for mercy and wrath are both with him who is mighty to forgive, and he pours out wrath.
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12 As his mercy is great, so is his correction also. He judges a man according to his works.
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13 The sinner will not escape with plunder. The perseverance of the godly will not be frustrated.
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14 He will make room for every work of mercy. Each man will receive according to his works.
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15 Not in this translation
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17 Don’t say, “I will be hidden from the Lord,” and “Who will remember me from on high?” I will not be known among so many people, for what is my soul in a boundless creation?
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18 Behold, heaven, the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the earth, will be moved when he visits.
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19 The mountains and the foundations of the earth together are shaken with trembling when he looks at them.
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20 No heart will think about these things. Who could comprehend his ways?
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21 Like a tempest which no man can see, so, the majority of his works are hidden.
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22 Who will declare his works of righteousness? Who will wait for them? For his covenant is afar off.
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23 He who is lacking in understanding thinks about these things. An unwise and erring man thinks foolishly.
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24 My son, listen to me, learn knowledge, and heed my words with your heart.
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25 I will impart instruction with precision, and declare knowledge exactly.
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26 In the judgment of the Lord are his works from the beginning. From the making of them he determined their boundaries.
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27 He arranged his works for all time, and their beginnings to their generations. They aren’t hungry or weary, and they don’t cease from their works.
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28 No one pushes aside his neighbor. They will never disobey his word.
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29 After this also the Lord looked at the earth and filled it with his blessings.
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30 All manner of living things covered its surface, and they return into it.
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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)