Sirach 32–35: The Prayer of the Humble Pierces the Clouds": Feasts, Slaves, Dreams, and True Sacrifice
Scripture: World English Bible
Have they made you ruler of a feast?Don’t be lifted up.Be among them as one of them.Take care of them first, and then sit down.And when you have done all your duties, take your place,that you may be gladdened on their account,and receive a wreath for your good service.
Speak, you who are older, for it’s your right, but with sound knowledge;and don’t interrupt the music.Don’t pour out talk where there is a performance of music.Don’t display your wisdom at the wrong time.As a ruby signet in a setting of gold,so is a music concert at a wine banquet.As an emerald signet in a work of gold,so is musical melody with pleasant wine.
Speak, young man, if you are obliged to,but no more than twice, and only if asked.Sum up your speech, many things in few words.Be as one who knows and yet holds his tongue.When among great men, don’t behave as their equal.When another is speaking, don’t babble.
Lightning speeds before thunder.Approval goes before one who is modest.Rise up in good time, and don’t be last.Go home quickly and don’t loiter.Amuse yourself there and do what is in your heart.Don’t sin by proud speech.For these things bless your Maker,who gives you to drink freely of his good things.
He who fears the Lord will receive discipline.Those who seek him early will find favor.He who seeks the law shall be filled with it,but the hypocrite will stumble at it.Those who fear the Lord will find true judgment,and will kindle righteous acts like a light.A sinful man shuns reproof,and will find a judgment according to his will.
A sensible person won’t neglect a thought.An insolent and proud man won’t crouch in fear,even after he has done a thing by himself without counsel.Do nothing without counsel,but when you have acted, don’t regret it.Don’t go in a way of conflict.Don’t stumble in stony places.Don’t be overconfident on a smooth road.Beware of your own children.In every work guard your own soul,for this is the keeping of the commandments.
He who believes the law gives heed to the commandment.He who trusts in the Lord will suffer no loss.No evil will happen to him who fears the Lord,but in trials once and again he will deliver him.A wise man will not hate the law,but he who is a hypocrite about it is like a boat in a storm.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.
Prepare your speech, and so you will be heard.Bind up instruction, and make your answer.The heart of a fool is like a cartwheel.His thoughts are like a rolling axle.A stallion horse is like a mocking friend.He neighs under every one who sits upon him.
Why does one day excel another,when all the light of every day in the year is from the sun?They were distinguished by the Lord’s knowledge,and he varied seasons and feasts.Some of them he exalted and hallowed,and some of them he has made ordinary days.And all men are from the ground.Adam was created from dust.In the abundance of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them,and made their ways different.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.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.
Good is the opposite of evil,and life is the opposite of death;so the sinner is the opposite of the godly.Look upon all the works of the Most High like this,they come in pairs, one against another.
I was the last on watch,like one who gleans after the grape gatherers.By the Lord’s blessing I arrived before them,and filled my winepress like one who gathers grapes.Consider that I labored not for myself alone,but for all those who seek instruction.Hear me, you great men of the people,and listen with your ears, you rulers of the congregation.
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.While you still live and breath is in you,don’t give yourself over to anybody.For it is better that your children should ask from youthan that you should look to the hand of your children.Excel in all your works.Don’t bring a stain on your honor.In the day that you end the days of your life,in the time of death, distribute your inheritance.
Fodder, a stick, and burdens are for a donkey.Bread, discipline, and work are for a servant.Set your slave to work, and you will find rest.Leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty.Yoke and whip will bow the neck.For an evil slave there are racks and tortures.Send him to labor, that he not be idle,for idleness teaches much mischief.Set him to work, as is fit for him.If he doesn’t obey, make his fetters heavy.Don’t be excessive toward any.Do nothing unjust.
If you have a slave, treat him like yourself,because you have bought him with blood.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,which way will you go to seek him?
Vain and false hopes are for a man void of understanding.Dreams give wings to fools.As one who grasps at a shadow and follows after the wind,so is he who sets his mind on dreams.The vision of dreams is a reflection,the likeness of a face near a face.From an unclean thing what can be cleansed?From that which is false what can be true?Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain.The heart has fantasies like a woman in labor.If they are not sent in a visitation from the Most High,don’t give your heart to them.For dreams have led many astray.They have failed by putting their hope in them.Without lying the law will be fulfilled.Wisdom is complete in a faithful mouth.
A well-instructed man knows many things.He who has much experience will declare understanding.He who has no experience knows few things.But he who has traveled increases cleverness.I have seen many things in my travels.My understanding is more than my words.I was often in danger even to death.I was preserved because of these experiences.The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live,for their hope is in him who saves them.Whoever fears the Lord won’t be afraid, and won’t be a coward,for he is his hope.Blessed is the soul of him who fears the Lord.To whom does he give heed? Who is his support?The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him,a mighty protection and strong support,a cover from the hot blast, a shade from the noonday sun,a guard from stumbling, and a help from falling.He raises up the soul, and enlightens the eyes.He gives health, life, and blessing.
He who sacrifices a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is made in mockery.The mockeries of wicked men are not acceptable.The Most High has no pleasure in the offerings of the ungodly,Neither is he pacified for sins by the multitude of sacrifices.Like one who kills a son before his father’s eyesis he who brings a sacrifice from the goods of the poor.The bread of the needy is the life of the poor.He who deprives him of it is a man of blood.Like one who murders his neighbor is he who takes away his living.Like a shedder of blood is he who deprives a hireling of his hire.
When one builds, and another pulls down,what profit do they have but toil?When one prays, and another curses,whose voice will the Lord listen to?He who washes himself after touching a dead body, and touches it again,what does he gain by his washing?Even so a man fasting for his sins,and going again, and doing the same,who will listen to his prayer?What profit does he have in his humiliation?
He who keeps the law multiplies offerings.He who heeds the commandments sacrifices a peace offering.He who returns a kindness offers fine flour.He who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.To depart from wickedness pleases the Lord.To depart from unrighteousness is an atoning sacrifice.See that you don’t appear in the presence of the Lord empty.For all these things are done because of the commandment.The offering of the righteous enriches the altar.The sweet fragrance of it is before the Most High.The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable.It won’t be forgotten.Glorify the Lord with generosity.Don’t reduce the first fruits of your hands.In every gift show a cheerful countenance,And dedicate your tithe with gladness.Give to the Most High according as he has given.As your hand has found, give generously.For the Lord repays,and he will repay you sevenfold.
Don’t plan to bribe him with gifts, for he will not receive them.Don’t set your mind on an unrighteous sacrifice,For the Lord is the judge,and with him is no respect of persons.He won’t accept any person against a poor man.He will listen to the prayer of him who is wronged.He will in no way despise the supplication of the fatherlessor the widow, when she pours out her tale.Don’t the tears of the widow run down her cheek?Isn’t her cry against him who has caused them to fall?He who serves God according to his good pleasure will be accepted.His supplication will reach to the clouds.The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds.until it comes near, he will not be comforted.He won’t depart until the Most High visitsand he judges righteously and executes judgment.And the Lord will not be slack, neither will he be patient toward them,until he has crushed the loins of the unmerciful.He will repay vengeance to the heathenuntil he has taken away the multitude of the arrogantand broken in pieces the sceptres of the unrighteous,until he has rendered to every man according to his deeds,and repaid the works of men according to their plans,until he has judged the cause of his people,and he will make them rejoice in his mercy.Mercy is as welcome in the time of his affliction,as clouds of rain in the time of drought.