Sirach 40 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021(NRSVUE)

Sirach 40Human Wretchedness

1 the mother of all the living.

2

He is troubled by the visions of his mind

like one who has escaped from the battlefield.

7 he wakes up,

astonished that his fears were groundless.

8To all creatures, human and animal,

but to sinners seven times more,

9come death and bloodshed and strife and sword,

calamities and famine and ruin and plague.

10 Injustice Will Not Prosper

12All bribery and injustice will be blotted out,

but good faith will last forever.

13

but better than either is finding a treasure.

19

but a blameless wife is accounted better than either.

20 is better than either.

21 is better than either.

24 Prov 17.17; Sir 29.12 Kindred and helpers are for a time of trouble,

but almsgiving rescues better than either.

25Gold and silver make one stand firm,

but good counsel is esteemed more than either.

26 Prov 10.15; Sir 23.27; 25.11 Riches and strength build up confidence,

but the fear of the Lord is better than either.

There is no want in the fear of the Lord,

and with it there is no need to seek for help.

27 v 17 The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing

and covers a person better than any glory.

The Disgrace of Begging

28 Job 15.23 My child, do not lead the life of a beggar;

it is better to die than to beg.

29 Sir 29.22, 24 When one looks to the table of another,

one’s way of life cannot be considered a life.

One loses self-respect with another person’s food,

but one who is intelligent and well instructed guards against that.

30In the mouth of the shameless begging is sweet,

but it kindles a fire inside them.