Sirach 1:1-20:2
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Prologue
1 Many great teachings have been given to us through the Law and the Prophets 2 and the others[a] that followed them, 3 and for these we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom. 4 Now those who read them must not only themselves understand them 5 but must also as lovers of learning be able through 6 both speaking and writing to help the outsiders. 7 So my grandfather Jesus, who had devoted himself especially 8 to the reading of the Law 9 and the Prophets 10 and the other books of our ancestors 11 and had acquired considerable proficiency in them, 12 was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, 13 so that by becoming familiar also with his book[b] those who love learning 14 might make even greater progress in living according to the law.
15 You are invited, therefore, 17 to read it 16 with goodwill and attention 18 and to be indulgent 19 in cases where we may seem 20 to have rendered some phrases imperfectly, despite our diligent labor in translating. 21–22 For what was originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same effect when translated into another language. 23 Not only this book, 24 but even the Law itself, the Prophets,[c] 25 and the rest of the books 26 differ not a little when read in the original.
27 In the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Euergetes, 28 when I came to Egypt and stayed for some time, 29 I found a copy affording[d] no little instruction. 30 It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote some diligence and labor to the translation of this book. 31–32 During that time I have applied my skill day and night 33 to complete and publish the book 34 for those living abroad who wish to gain learning and are 35 preparing 36 to live according to the law.(A)
In Praise of Wisdom
1 All wisdom is from the Lord,
and with him it remains forever.(B)
2 The sand of the sea, the drops of rain,
and the days of eternity—who can count them?(C)
3 The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth,
the abyss, and wisdom[e]—who can search them out?(D)
4 Wisdom was created before all things
and prudent understanding from eternity.[f](E)
6 The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed?
Her subtleties—who knows them?[g](F)
8 There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared,
seated upon his throne: the Lord.
9 It is he who created her;
he saw her and took her measure;
he poured her out upon all his works,
10 upon all the living according to his gift;
he lavished her upon those who love him.[h](G)
Fear of the Lord Is True Wisdom
11 The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation
and gladness and a crown of rejoicing.(H)
12 The fear of the Lord delights the heart
and gives gladness and joy and long life.[i](I)
13 Those who fear the Lord will have a happy end;
on the day of their death they will be blessed.(J)
14 To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
she is created with the faithful in the womb.(K)
15 She made[j] among humans an eternal foundation,
and among their descendants she will abide faithfully.
16 To fear the Lord is fullness of wisdom;
she inebriates mortals with her fruits;(L)
17 she fills their[k] whole house with desirable goods
and their[l] storehouses with her produce.
18 The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom,
making peace and perfect health to flourish.[m](M)
19 She rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension,
and she heightened the glory of those who held her fast.(N)
20 To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom,
and her branches are long life.[n](O)
22 Unjust anger cannot be justified,
for anger tips the scale to one’s ruin.(P)
23 Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment,
and then cheerfulness comes back to them.(Q)
24 They hold back their words until the right moment,
and then the lips of many tell of their good sense.(R)
25 In the treasuries of wisdom is insightful analogy,
but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
26 If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments,
and the Lord will lavish her upon you.(S)
27 For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline;
fidelity and humility are his delight.(T)
28 Do not disobey the fear of the Lord;
do not approach him with a divided mind.(U)
29 Do not be a hypocrite before others,
and keep watch over your lips.(V)
30 Do not exalt yourself, or you may fall
and bring dishonor upon yourself.
The Lord will reveal your secrets
and overthrow you before the whole congregation,
because you did not come in the fear of the Lord,
and your heart was full of deceit.(W)
Duties toward God
2 My child, when you come to serve the Lord,
prepare yourself for testing.[o](X)
2 Set your heart right and be steadfast,
and do not be impetuous in time of calamity.
3 Cling to him and do not depart,
so that your last days may be prosperous.
4 Accept whatever befalls you,
and in times of humiliation be patient.
5 For gold is tested in the fire,
and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation.[p](Y)
6 Trust in him, and he will help you;
make your ways straight and hope in him.(Z)
7 You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;
do not stray, or else you may fall.(AA)
8 You who fear the Lord, trust in him,
and your reward will not be lost.(AB)
9 You who fear the Lord, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.[q]
10 Consider the generations of old and see:
Has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed?
Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord[r] and been forsaken?
Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected?(AC)
11 For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;
he forgives sins and saves in time of distress.(AD)
12 Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands
and to the sinner who walks a double path!(AE)
13 Woe to the fainthearted who have no trust!
Therefore they will have no shelter.
14 Woe to you who have lost patience!
What will you do when the Lord’s reckoning comes?(AF)
15 Those who fear the Lord will not disobey his words,
and those who love him will keep his ways.(AG)
16 Those who fear the Lord will seek his favor,
and those who love him will be filled with his law.(AH)
17 Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts
and will humble themselves before him.(AI)
18 Let us fall into the hands of the Lord
but not into the hands of mortals,
for equal to his majesty is his mercy.[s]
Duties toward Parents
3 Listen to me your father, O children;
act accordingly, that you may be safe.
2 For the Lord honors a father above his children,
and he confirms a mother’s judgment over her sons.(AJ)
3 Those who honor their father atone for sins,(AK)
4 and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.(AL)
5 Those who honor their father will have joy in their children,
and when they pray they will be heard.
6 Those who respect their father will have long life,
and those who honor[t] their mother obey the Lord;[u](AM)
7 they will serve their parents as their masters.[v](AN)
8 Honor your father by word and deed,
that his blessing may come upon you.(AO)
9 For a father’s blessing strengthens the houses of the children,
but a mother’s curse uproots their foundations.(AP)
10 Do not glorify yourself by your father’s dishonor,
for your father’s dishonor is no glory to you.
11 The honor of one’s father is one’s own glory,
and a mother dishonored is a disgrace to her children.(AQ)
12 My child, help your father in his old age,
and do not grieve him as long as he lives;(AR)
13 even if his mind fails, be patient with him;
do not despise him because you have all your faculties.
14 For kindness to a father will not be forgotten
and will be credited to you against your sins;(AS)
15 in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favor;
like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.
16 Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer,
and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord.(AT)
Humility
17 My child, perform your tasks with humility;
then you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.[w]
18 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;
so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord.[x](AU)
20 For great is the might of the Lord,
but by the humble he is glorified.
21 Neither seek what is too difficult for you
nor investigate what is beyond your power.(AV)
22 Reflect upon what you have been commanded,
for what is hidden is not your concern.(AW)
23 In matters greater than your own affairs, do not meddle,
for things beyond human understanding have been shown you.(AX)
24 For their conceit has led many astray,
and wrong opinion has impaired their judgment.(AY)
25 Without eyes there is no light;
without knowledge there is no wisdom.[y]
26 A stubborn mind will fare badly at the end,
and whoever loves danger will perish in it.
27 A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles,
and the sinner adds sin to sins.(AZ)
28 When calamity befalls the proud, there is no healing,
for an evil plant has taken root in him.(BA)
29 The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs,
and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise.(BB)
Alms for the Poor
30 As water extinguishes a blazing fire,
so almsgiving atones for sin.(BC)
31 Those who repay favors give thought to the future;
when they fall they will find support.(BD)
Duties toward the Poor and the Oppressed
4 My child, do not cheat the poor of their living,
and do not keep needy eyes waiting.(BE)
2 Do not grieve the hungry
or anger one in need.
3 Do not add to the troubles of the angry
or delay giving to the needy.(BF)
4 Do not reject a suppliant in distress
or turn your face away from the poor.(BG)
5 Do not avert your eye from the needy,
and give no one reason to curse you,(BH)
6 for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you,
their Creator will hear their prayer.(BI)
7 Endear yourself to the congregation;
bow your head low to the great.
8 Give a hearing to the poor,
and return their greeting kindly.
9 Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor,
and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.(BJ)
10 Be a father to orphans,
and be like a husband to their mother;
you will then be like a son of the Most High,
and he will love you more than does your mother.(BK)
The Rewards of Wisdom
11 Wisdom teaches[z] her children
and takes hold of those who seek her.(BL)
12 Whoever loves her loves life,
and those who seek her from early morning will be filled with joy.(BM)
13 Whoever holds her fast inherits glory,
and the Lord blesses the place she[aa] enters.(BN)
14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One;
the Lord loves those who love her.
15 Whoever obeys her will judge the nations,
and whoever listens to her will live securely.
16 If they remain faithful, they will inherit her;
their descendants will also obtain her.
17 For at first she will walk with them in disguise;
she will bring fear and dread upon them
and will torment them by her discipline
until she trusts them,[ab]
and she will test them with her ordinances.(BO)
18 Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them
and will reveal her secrets to them.
19 If they go astray, she will forsake them
and hand them over to their ruin.
20 Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil,
and do not be ashamed to be yourself.(BP)
21 For there is a shame that leads to sin,
and there is a shame that is glory and favor.(BQ)
22 Do not show partiality to your own harm
or deference to your downfall.(BR)
23 Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment,[ac]
and do not hide your wisdom.[ad](BS)
24 For wisdom becomes known through speech
and education through the words of the tongue.
25 Never speak against the truth,
but be ashamed of your ignorance.
26 Do not be ashamed to confess your sins,
and do not try to stop the current of a river.(BT)
27 Do not subject yourself to a fool
or show partiality to a ruler.(BU)
28 Fight to the death for truth,
and the Lord God will fight for you.
29 Do not be reckless in your speech
or sluggish and remiss in your deeds.(BV)
30 Do not be like a lion in your home
or suspicious of your slaves.(BW)
31 Do not let your hand be stretched out to receive
and closed when it is time to give back.(BX)
Precepts for Everyday Living
5 Do not rely on your wealth
or say, “I have enough.”(BY)
2 Do not follow your inclination and strength
in pursuing the desires of your heart.(BZ)
3 Do not say, “Who can have power over me?”
for the Lord will surely punish you.(CA)
4 Do not say, “I sinned, yet what has happened to me?”
for the Lord is slow to anger.(CB)
5 Do not be so confident of forgiveness[ae]
that you add sin to sins.(CC)
6 Do not say, “His mercy is great;
he will forgive[af] the multitude of my sins,”
for both mercy and wrath are with him,
and his anger will rest on sinners.(CD)
7 Do not delay to turn back to the Lord,
and do not postpone it from day to day,
for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come forth,
and at the time of punishment you will perish.(CE)
8 Do not rely on dishonest wealth,
for it will not benefit you on the day of calamity.(CF)
9 Do not winnow in every wind
or follow every path.[ag]
10 Stand firm in what you know,
and let your speech be consistent.
11 Be quick to hear,
and utter a reply patiently.(CG)
12 If you understand, answer your neighbor,
but if not, put your hand over your mouth.(CH)
13 Honor and dishonor come from speaking,
and the tongue of mortals may be their downfall.(CI)
14 Do not be called double-tongued[ah]
and do not lay traps with your tongue,
for shame comes to the thief
and severe condemnation to the double-tongued.(CJ)
15 In great and small matters cause no harm,[ai]
6
for a bad name incurs shame and reproach;
so it is with the double-tongued sinner.(CK)
2 Do not fall into the grip of passion,[aj]
or you may be torn apart as by a bull.[ak]
3 Your leaves will be devoured and your fruit destroyed,
and you will be left like a withered tree.(CL)
4 Strong passion[al] destroys those who have it
and makes them the laughingstock of their enemies.(CM)
Friendship, False and True
5 Pleasant speech multiplies friends,
and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.(CN)
6 Let those who are at peace with you be many,
but let your advisers be one in a thousand.(CO)
7 When you gain friends, gain them through testing,
and do not trust them hastily.(CP)
8 For there are friends who are such when it suits them,
but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.(CQ)
9 And there are friends who turn to enmity
and tell of the quarrel to your disgrace.
10 And there are friends who are companions at the table,
but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.(CR)
11 When you are prosperous, they become your second self
and boldly command your slaves,
12 but if you are brought low, they turn against you
and hide themselves from you.
13 Keep away from your enemies,
and be on guard with your friends.
14 Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter;
whoever finds one has found a treasure.(CS)
15 Faithful friends are beyond price;
no amount can balance their worth.
16 Faithful friends are life-saving medicine,
and those who fear the Lord will find them.
17 Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright,
for as they are, so are their neighbors also.
Blessings of Wisdom
18 My child, from your youth choose discipline,
and when you have gray hair you will find wisdom.
19 Come to her like one who plows and sows,
and wait for her good harvest.
For when you cultivate her you will toil but little,
and soon you will eat of her produce.(CT)
20 She seems very harsh to the undisciplined;
fools will not remain with her.(CU)
21 She will be like a heavy stone to test them,
and they will not delay in casting her aside.(CV)
22 For wisdom is like her name;
she is not readily perceived by many.
23 Listen, my child, and accept my judgment;
do not reject my counsel.(CW)
24 Put your feet into her fetters
and your neck into her collar.(CX)
25 Bend your shoulder and carry her,
and do not become angry with her bonds.(CY)
26 Come to her with all your soul,
and keep her ways with all your might.
27 Search out and seek, and she will become known to you,
and when you get hold of her, do not let her go.(CZ)
28 For at last you will find her rest,
and she will be changed into joy for you.
29 Then her fetters will become for you a strong defense,
and her collar a glorious robe.(DA)
30 Her yoke[am] is a golden ornament
and her bonds a purple cord.(DB)
31 You will wear her like a glorious robe
and put her on like a splendid crown.[an](DC)
32 If you are willing, my child, you can be disciplined,
and if you apply yourself you will become clever.
33 If you love to listen you will accept discipline,
and if you pay attention you will become wise.
34 Stand in the company of the elders.
Who is wise? Attach yourself to such a one.
35 Be ready to listen to every godly discourse,
and let no wise proverbs escape you.(DD)
36 If you see an intelligent person, rise early to visit him;
let your foot wear out his doorstep.(DE)
37 Reflect on the statutes of the Lord,
and meditate at all times on his commandments.
It is he who will give insight to[ao] your mind,
and your desire for wisdom will be granted.(DF)
Miscellaneous Advice
7 Do no evil, and evil will never overtake you.(DG)
2 Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you.
3 Do[ap] not sow in the furrows of injustice,
and you will not reap a sevenfold crop.(DH)
4 Do not seek from the Lord high office
or the seat of honor from the king.
5 Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord
or display your wisdom before the king.(DI)
6 Do not seek to become a judge,
or you may be unable to root out injustice;
perhaps you will fear the powerful
and so mar your integrity.(DJ)
7 Commit no offense against the public,
and do not disgrace yourself among the people.
8 Do not commit a sin twice;
even for one you will not go unpunished.(DK)
9 Do not say, “He will consider the great number of my gifts,
and when I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.”
10 Do not grow weary when you pray;
do not neglect to give alms.(DL)
11 Do not ridicule a person who is embittered in spirit,
for there is one who humbles and exalts.(DM)
12 Do not devise[aq] a lie against your brother
or do the same to a friend.
13 Refuse to utter any lie,
for it is a habit that results in no good.
14 Do not babble in the company of the elders,
and do not repeat yourself when you pray.(DN)
15 Do not hate hard labor
or farm work, which was created by the Most High.(DO)
16 Do not enroll in the ranks of sinners;
remember that retribution will not delay.
17 Humble yourself to the utmost,
for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.[ar](DP)
Relations with Others
18 Do not exchange a friend for money
or a real brother for the gold of Ophir.(DQ)
19 Do not dismiss[as] a wise and good wife,
for her charm is worth more than gold.(DR)
20 Do not abuse slaves who work faithfully
or hired laborers who give of themselves.(DS)
21 Let your soul love intelligent slaves;[at]
do not withhold from them their freedom.(DT)
22 Do you have cattle? Look after them;
if they are profitable to you, keep them.
23 Do you have children? Discipline them,
and make them obedient[au] from their youth.(DU)
24 Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity,[av]
and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.[aw](DV)
25 Give a daughter in marriage, and you complete a great task,
but give her to a sensible man.
26 Do you have a wife who pleases you?[ax] Do not divorce her,
but do not trust yourself to one whom you detest.
27 With all your heart honor your father,
and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother.(DW)
28 Remember that it was of your parents[ay] you were born;
how will you repay what they have given to you?
29 With all your soul fear the Lord
and revere his priests.
30 With all your might love your Maker,
and do not neglect his ministers.(DX)
31 Fear the Lord and honor the priest,
and give him his portion, as you have been commanded:
the first fruits, the purification offering, the gift of the shoulders,
the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of the holy things.(DY)
32 Stretch out your hand to the poor,
so that your blessing may be complete.
33 Give graciously to all the living;
do not withhold kindness even from the dead.(DZ)
34 Do not lag behind those who weep,
but mourn with those who mourn.(EA)
35 Do not hesitate to visit the sick,
because for such deeds you will be loved.(EB)
36 In all you do, remember the end of your life,
and then you will never sin.(EC)
Prudence and Common Sense
8 Do not contend with the powerful,
or you may fall into their hands.
2 Do not quarrel with the rich,
in case their resources outweigh yours,
for gold has ruined many
and has perverted the minds of kings.(ED)
3 Do not argue with the loud of mouth,
and do not heap wood on their fire.(EE)
4 Do not make fun of one who is uneducated,
or your ancestors may be insulted.
5 Do not reproach one who is turning away from sin;
remember that we all deserve punishment.(EF)
6 Do not disdain one who is old,
for some of us are also growing old.(EG)
7 Do not rejoice over anyone’s death;
remember that we must all die.
8 Do not slight the discourse of the sages,
but turn to their maxims,
because from them you will learn discipline
and how to serve the great.(EH)
9 Do not ignore the discourse of the aged,
for they themselves learned from their parents;[az]
from them you learn how to understand
and to give an answer when the need arises.(EI)
10 Do not kindle the coals of sinners,
or you may be burned[ba] in their flaming fire.(EJ)
11 Do not let the insolent bring you to your feet,
or they may lie in ambush against your words.
12 Do not lend to one who is stronger than you,
but if you do lend anything, count it as a loss.(EK)
13 Do not give surety beyond your means,
but if you give surety be prepared to pay.(EL)
14 Do not go to law against a judge,
for the decision will favor him because of his standing.
15 Do not travel on the road with the reckless,
or your troubles may become burdensome,
for they will act as they please,
and through their folly you will perish with them.
16 Do not pick a fight with the quick-tempered,
and do not journey with them through a deserted region,
because bloodshed means nothing to them,
and where no help is at hand they will strike you down.(EM)
17 Do not consult with fools,
for they cannot keep a secret.(EN)
18 In the presence of strangers do nothing that is to be kept secret,
for you do not know what they will divulge.[bb]
19 Do not reveal your thoughts to anyone,
or you may drive away your happiness.[bc]
Advice concerning Women
9 Do not be jealous of the wife whom you embrace,
or you will teach her an evil lesson to your own hurt.(EO)
2 Do not give yourself to a woman
and let her trample down your strength.(EP)
3 Do not go near a loose woman,[bd]
or you may fall into her snares.(EQ)
4 Do not dally with a female singer,
or you may be caught in her activities.
5 Do not look intently at a virgin,
or you may stumble and incur penalties for her.(ER)
6 Do not give yourself to prostitutes,
or you may lose your inheritance.(ES)
7 Do not look around in the streets of a city
or wander about in its deserted sections.(ET)
8 Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman,
and do not gaze at beauty belonging to another;
many have been seduced by a woman’s beauty,
and by it passion is kindled like a fire.(EU)
9 Never dine[be] with another man’s wife
or revel with her at wine,
or your heart may turn aside to her,
and in blood[bf] you may plunge into destruction.(EV)
Choice of Friends
10 Do not abandon old friends,
for new ones cannot equal them.
A new friend is like new wine;
when it has aged, you will drink it with pleasure.(EW)
11 Do not envy the notoriety of sinners,
for you do not know what their end will be like.(EX)
12 Do not delight in what pleases the ungodly;[bg]
remember that they will not be held guiltless until Hades.(EY)
13 Keep far from those who have power to kill,
and you will not be haunted by the fear of death.
But if you approach them, make no misstep,
or they may rob you of your life.
Know that you are stepping among snares
and that you are walking on the city battlements.
14 As much as you can, aim to know your neighbors,
and consult with the wise.(EZ)
15 Let your conversation be with intelligent people,
and let all your discussion be about the law of the Most High.(FA)
16 Let the righteous be your dinner companions,
and let your boast be in the fear of the Lord.(FB)
Concerning Rulers
17 A work is praised for the skill of the artisan,
so a people’s leader is proved wise by his words.
18 The loud of mouth are feared in their city,
and the one who is reckless in speech is hated.(FC)
10 A wise magistrate educates his people,
and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered.
2 As the people’s judge is, so are his officials;
as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants.(FD)
3 An undisciplined king ruins his people,
but a city becomes fit to live in through the understanding of its rulers.(FE)
4 The government of the earth is in the hand of the Lord,
and over it he will raise up the right leader for the time.(FF)
5 Human success is in the hand of the Lord,
and it is he who confers honor upon the lawgiver.[bh](FG)
The Sin of Pride
6 Do not get angry with your neighbor for every injury,
and do not resort to acts of insolence.(FH)
7 Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals,
and injustice is outrageous to both.(FI)
8 Sovereignty passes from nation to nation
on account of injustice and insolence and wealth.[bi](FJ)
9 How can dust and ashes be proud?
Even in life the human body is infested with worms.[bj](FK)
10 A long illness mocks the physician;
the king of today will die tomorrow.(FL)
11 For when humans die
they inherit maggots and vermin[bk] and worms.(FM)
12 The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;
the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.(FN)
13 For the beginning of pride is sin,
and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.
Therefore the Lord brought upon them unheard-of calamities
and destroyed them completely.[bl]
14 The Lord overthrew the thrones of rulers
and enthroned the lowly in their place.(FO)
15 The Lord plucked up the roots of the nations[bm]
and planted the humble in their place.
16 The Lord laid waste the lands of the nations
and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.(FP)
17 He removed some of them and destroyed them
and erased the memory of them from the earth.(FQ)
18 Pride was not created for human beings
or violent anger for those born of women.
Persons Deserving Honor
19 Whose offspring are worthy of honor?
Human offspring.
Whose offspring are worthy of honor?
Those who fear the Lord.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?
Human offspring.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?
Those who break the commandments.(FR)
20 Among family members their leader is worthy of honor,
but those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes.[bn]
22 The guest and the stranger[bo] and the poor—
their boast is the fear of the Lord.(FS)
23 It is not right to despise one who is intelligent but poor,
and it is not proper to honor one who is sinful.(FT)
24 The prince and the judge and the ruler are honored,
but none of them is greater than the one who fears the Lord.(FU)
25 Free people will serve a wise slave,
and an intelligent person will not complain.(FV)
Concerning Humility
26 Do not make a display of your wisdom when you do your work,
and do not extol yourself when you are in difficulty.
27 Better those who work and have plenty
than those who boast and lack bread.(FW)
28 My child, honor yourself with humility,
and give yourself the esteem you deserve.(FX)
29 Who will acquit those who condemn[bp] themselves,
and who will honor those who dishonor themselves?[bq]
30 The poor are honored for their knowledge,
while the rich are honored for their wealth.
31 One who is honored in poverty, how much more in wealth!
And one dishonored in wealth, how much more in poverty!
The Deceptiveness of Appearances
11 The wisdom of the humble lifts their heads high
and seats them among the great.(FY)
2 Do not praise individuals for their good looks
or loathe anyone because of appearance alone.(FZ)
3 The bee is small among flying creatures,
but what it produces is the origin of sweet things.(GA)
4 Do not mock those wearing only a loincloth
or make fun of those whose day is bitter,[br]
for the works of the Lord are wonderful
and his works are concealed from humans.(GB)
5 Many oppressed have sat upon a throne,[bs]
and one whom no one expected has worn a crown.(GC)
6 Many rulers have been utterly disgraced,
and the honored have been handed over to others.(GD)
Deliberation and Caution
7 Do not find fault before you investigate;
examine first and then criticize.(GE)
8 Do not answer before you listen,
and do not interrupt when another is speaking.(GF)
9 Do not argue about a matter that does not concern you,
and do not sit with sinners when they judge a case.
10 My child, do not busy yourself with many matters;
if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless.
If you pursue, you will not overtake,
and by fleeing you will not escape.
11 There are those who work and struggle and hurry
but are so much the more in want.(GG)
12 There are others who are slow and need help,
who lack strength and abound in poverty,
but the eyes of the Lord look kindly upon them;
he lifts them out of their lowly condition(GH)
13 and raises up their heads
to the amazement of the many.
14 Good things and bad, life and death,
poverty and wealth, come from the Lord.[bt](GI)
17 The Lord’s gift remains with the devout,
and his favor brings lasting success.
18 A person becomes rich through diligence and self-denial,
and the reward allotted to him is this:(GJ)
19 when he says, “I have found rest,
and now I shall feast on my goods!”
he does not realize how time passes by;
he will leave them to others and will die.(GK)
20 Stand by your agreement and attend to it,
and grow old in your work.
21 Do not wonder at the works of a sinner,
but trust in the Lord and keep at your job,
for it is easy in the sight of the Lord
to make the poor person suddenly rich, in an instant.(GL)
22 The blessing of the Lord is[bu] the reward of the pious,
and quickly his blessing flourishes.
23 Do not say, “What do I need,
and what further benefit can be mine?”(GM)
24 Do not say, “I have enough,
and what harm can come to me now?”(GN)
25 In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten,
and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered.(GO)
26 For it is easy for the Lord on the day of death
to reward individuals according to their conduct.(GP)
27 An hour’s misery makes one forget delights,
and at the close of one’s life one’s deeds are revealed.(GQ)
28 Call no one happy before his death;
by how he ends, a person becomes known.[bv]
Care in Choosing Friends
29 Do not invite everyone into your home,
for many are the tricks of the crafty.
30 Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the mind of the proud,
and like spies they observe your weakness,[bw](GR)
31 for they lie in wait, turning good into evil,
and to worthy actions they attach blame.(GS)
32 From a spark many coals are kindled,
and a sinner lies in wait to shed blood.(GT)
33 Beware of scoundrels, for they devise evil,
and they may ruin your reputation forever.(GU)
34 Receive strangers into your home, and they will stir up trouble for you
and will make you a stranger to your own family.
12 If you do good, know to whom you do it,
and you will be thanked for your good deeds.(GV)
2 Do good to the devout, and you will be repaid—
if not by them, certainly by the Most High.(GW)
3 No good comes to one who persists in evil
or to one who does not give alms.(GX)
4 Give to the devout, but do not help the sinner.(GY)
5 Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly;
hold back their bread, and do not give it to them,
for by means of it they might subdue you;
then you will receive twice as much evil
for all the good you have done to them.
6 For the Most High also hates sinners
and will inflict punishment on the ungodly.[bx](GZ)
7 Give to the one who is good, but do not help the sinner.
8 A friend is not known[by] in prosperity,
nor is an enemy hidden in adversity.(HA)
9 One’s enemies are friendly[bz] when one prospers,
but in adversity even one’s friend disappears.(HB)
10 Never trust your enemy,
for like corrosion in copper, so is his wickedness.
11 Even if he humbles himself and walks bowed down,
take care to be on your guard against him.
Be to him like one who polishes a mirror,
to be sure it does not become completely tarnished.(HC)
12 Do not put him next to you,
or he may overthrow you and take your place.
Do not let him sit at your right hand,
or else he may try to take your own seat,
and at last you will acknowledge my words
and be stung by what I have said.
13 Who pities a snake charmer when he is bitten
or all those who go near wild animals?(HD)
14 So no one pities people who associate with sinners
and become involved in their sins.(HE)
15 They stand by you for a while,
but if you falter, they will not be there.
16 Enemies speak sweetly with their lips,
but in their hearts they plan to throw you into a pit;
enemies may have tears in their eyes,
but if they find an opportunity they will never have enough of your blood.(HF)
17 If evil comes upon you, you will find them there ahead of you;
pretending to help, they will trip you up.(HG)
18 Then they will shake their heads and clap their hands
and whisper much and show their true faces.(HH)
Caution Regarding Associates
13 Whoever touches pitch gets dirty,
and whoever associates with the proud will become like them.(HI)
2 Do not lift a weight too heavy for you
or associate with one mightier and richer than you.
How can the clay pot associate with the iron kettle?
The pot will strike against it and be smashed.
3 A rich person does wrong and even adds insults;
a poor person suffers wrong and must add apologies.(HJ)
4 Rich people[ca] will exploit you[cb] if you can be of use to them,
but if you are in need they will abandon you.
5 If you own something, they will live with you;
they will drain your resources without a qualm.
6 When they need you, they will deceive you
and will smile at you and encourage you;
they will speak to you kindly and say, “What do you need?”
7 They will embarrass you with their delicacies,
until they have drained you two or three times,
and finally they will laugh at you.
Should they see you afterwards, they will pass you by
and shake their heads at you.(HK)
8 Take care not to be led astray
and humiliated when you are enjoying yourself.[cc]
9 When the influential invite you, be reserved,
and they will invite you more insistently.
10 Do not be forward, or you may be rebuffed;
do not stand aloof, or you will be forgotten.(HL)
11 Do not try to treat them as equals
or trust their lengthy conversations,
for they will test you by prolonged talk,
and while they smile they will be examining you.(HM)
12 Cruel are those who do not keep your secrets;
they will not spare you harm or imprisonment.
13 Be on your guard and very careful,
for you are walking about with your own downfall.[cd]
15 Every creature loves its like
and every person a neighbor.(HN)
16 All living beings associate with their own kind,
and people stick close to those like themselves.(HO)
17 What does a wolf have in common with a lamb?
No more has a sinner with the devout.(HP)
18 What peace is there between a hyena and a dog,
and what peace between the rich and the poor?
19 Wild asses in the wilderness are the prey of lions;
likewise the poor are feeding grounds for the rich.(HQ)
20 Humility is an abomination to the proud;
likewise the poor are an abomination to the rich.
21 When the rich person totters, he is supported by friends,
but when the humble[ce] falls, he is pushed away by friends.(HR)
22 If the rich person slips, many come to the rescue;
he speaks unseemly words, but they justify him.
If the humble person slips, they even criticize him;
he talks sense but is not given a hearing.(HS)
23 The rich person speaks, and all are silent;
they extol to the clouds what he says.
The poor person speaks, and they say, “Who is this fellow?”
And should he stumble, they push him down.
24 Riches are good if they are free from sin;
poverty is evil only in the opinion of the ungodly.(HT)
25 The heart changes the countenance
either for good or for evil.[cf](HU)
26 The sign of a happy heart is a cheerful face,
but to devise proverbs requires strenuous thinking.(HV)
14 Happy are those who do not blunder with their lips
and are not stricken with grief for sin.(HW)
2 Happy are those whose hearts do not condemn them
and who have not given up their hope.(HX)
Responsible Use of Wealth
3 Riches are inappropriate for the small-minded,
and of what use is wealth to misers?(HY)
4 What they deny themselves they collect for others,
and others will live in luxury on their goods.(HZ)
5 If they are mean to themselves, to whom will they be generous?
They will not enjoy their own riches.
6 No one is worse than those who are grudging to themselves;
this is the repayment for their meanness.
7 If ever they do good, it is by mistake,[cg]
and in the end they reveal their meanness.
8 Misers are evil people;
they turn away and disregard people.(IA)
9 The eyes of the greedy are not satisfied with their share;
greedy injustice withers the soul.(IB)
10 Misers begrudge bread,
and it is lacking at their tables.(IC)
11 My child, treat yourself well, according to your means,
and present worthy offerings to the Lord.(ID)
12 Remember that death does not tarry,
and the decree[ch] of Hades has not been shown to you.
13 Do good to friends before you die,
and reach out and give to them as much as you can.
14 Do not deprive yourself of a day’s enjoyment;
do not let your share of desired good pass by you.(IE)
15 Will you not leave the fruit of your labors to another,
and what you acquired by toil to be divided by lot?(IF)
16 Give and take and indulge yourself,
because in Hades one cannot look for luxury.
17 All living beings become old like a garment,
for the decree[ci] from of old is, “You must die!”(IG)
18 Like abundant leaves on a spreading tree
that sheds some and puts forth others,
so are the generations of flesh and blood:
one dies, and another is born.(IH)
19 Every work decays and ceases to exist,
and the one who made it will pass away with it.
The Happiness of Seeking Wisdom
20 Happy are those who meditate on[cj] wisdom
and who reason intelligently,(II)
21 who reflect in their hearts on her ways
and ponder her secrets,(IJ)
22 pursuing her like a hunter
and lying in wait on her paths;
23 who peer through her windows
and listen at her doors;(IK)
24 who camp near her house
and fasten their tent pegs to her walls;
25 who pitch their tents near her
and so occupy an excellent lodging place;
26 who place their children under her shelter
and lodge under her boughs;
27 who are sheltered by her from the heat
and dwell in the midst of her glory.(IL)
15 Whoever fears the Lord will do this,
and whoever holds to the law will obtain wisdom.[ck]
2 She will come to meet him like a mother,
and like a young bride she will welcome him.(IM)
3 She will feed him with the bread of understanding
and give him the water of wisdom to drink.(IN)
4 He will lean on her and not fall,
and he will rely on her and not be put to shame.
5 She will exalt him above his neighbors
and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.(IO)
6 Gladness[cl] and a crown of rejoicing
and an everlasting name he will inherit.(IP)
7 The foolish will not obtain her,
and sinners will not see her.(IQ)
8 She is far from arrogance,
and liars will never think of her.
9 Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner,
for it has not been sent from the Lord.(IR)
10 For in wisdom must praise be uttered,
and the Lord will make it prosper.
Freedom of Choice
11 Do not say, “It was the Lord’s doing that I fell away,”
for he does not do[cm] what he hates.(IS)
12 Do not say, “It was he who led me astray,”
for he has no need of the sinful.(IT)
13 The Lord hates all abominations;
such things are not loved by those who fear him.
14 It was he who created humans in the beginning,
and he left them in the power of their own inclinations.[cn](IU)
15 If you choose, you can keep the commandments,
and to act faithfully is a matter of your choice.
16 He has placed before you fire and water;
stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.
17 Before each person are life and death,
and whichever one chooses will be given.(IV)
18 For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power and sees everything;(IW)
19 his eyes are on those who fear him,
and he knows every human action.(IX)
20 He has not commanded anyone to be ungodly,
and he has not given anyone permission to sin.(IY)
God’s Punishment of Sinners
16 Do not desire a multitude of worthless[co] children,
and do not rejoice in ungodly offspring.
2 If they multiply, do not rejoice in them,
unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
3 Do not trust in their survival
or rely on their numbers,[cp]
for one can be better than a thousand,
and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.(IZ)
4 For through one intelligent person a city can be filled with people,
but through a clan of outlaws it becomes desolate.
5 Many such things my eye has seen,
and my ear has heard things more striking than these.
6 In an assembly of sinners a fire is kindled,
and in a disobedient nation wrath has blazed up.(JA)
7 He did not forgive the ancient giants[cq]
who revolted in their might.(JB)
8 He did not spare the neighbors of Lot,
whom he loathed on account of their arrogance.(JC)
9 He showed no pity on the doomed nation,
on those dispossessed because of their sins,[cr]
10 or on the six hundred thousand foot soldiers
who assembled in their stubbornness.[cs](JD)
11 Even if there were only one stiff-necked person,
it would be a wonder if he remained unpunished.
For mercy and wrath are with the Lord;[ct]
he acquits and forgives,[cu] but he also pours out wrath.(JE)
12 Great as is his mercy, so also is his chastisement;
he judges people according to their deeds.(JF)
13 The sinner will not escape with plunder,
and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.
14 He makes room for every act of almsgiving;
everyone receives in accordance with his or her deeds.[cv](JG)
17 Do not say, “I am hidden from the Lord,
and who from on high has me in mind?
Among so many people I am unknown,
for what am I in a boundless creation?(JH)
18 Look, heaven and the highest heaven,
the abyss and the earth tremble at his visitation
19 Together the mountains and the foundations of the earth
shake and tremble when he looks upon them.(JJ)
20 But no human mind can grasp this,
and who can comprehend his ways?(JK)
21 Like a tempest that no one can see,
so most of his works are concealed.[cx](JL)
22 Who is to announce his acts of justice?
Or who can await them? For his decree[cy] is far off.”[cz]
23 Such are the thoughts of one devoid of understanding;
a senseless and misguided person thinks foolishly.
God’s Wisdom Seen in Creation
24 Listen to me, my child, and acquire knowledge,
and pay close attention to my words.(JM)
25 I will impart discipline precisely[da]
and declare knowledge accurately.(JN)
26 When the Lord created[db] his works from the beginning
and, in making them, determined their boundaries,
27 he arranged their works in an eternal order
and their dominion[dc] for all generations.
They neither hunger nor grow weary,
and they do not abandon their tasks.(JO)
28 They do not crowd one another,
and they never disobey his word.
29 Then the Lord looked upon the earth
and filled it with his good things.(JP)
30 With all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,
and into it they must return.(JQ)
17 The Lord created humans out of earth
and makes them return to it again.(JR)
2 He gave them a fixed number of days
but granted them authority over everything on the earth.[dd](JS)
3 He endowed them with strength like his own[de]
and made them in his own image.(JT)
4 He put the fear of them[df] in all living beings
and gave them dominion over beasts and birds.[dg](JU)
6 Discretion and tongue and eyes,
ears and a mind for thinking he gave them.
7 He filled them with knowledge and understanding
and showed them good and evil.(JV)
8 He put the fear of him into[dh] their hearts
to show them the majesty of his works.[di]
10 And they will praise his holy name,(JW)
9 to proclaim the grandeur of his works.
11 He bestowed knowledge upon them
and allotted to them the law of life.[dj](JX)
12 He established with them an eternal covenant
and revealed to them his decrees.(JY)
13 Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,
and their ears heard the glory of his voice.(JZ)
14 He said to them, “Beware of all iniquity.”
And he gave commandment to each of them concerning the neighbor.(KA)
15 Their ways are always before him;
they will not be hidden from his eyes.[dk](KB)
17 He appointed a ruler for every nation,
but Israel is the Lord’s own portion.[dl](KC)
19 All their works are as the sun before him,
and his eyes are ever upon their ways.(KD)
20 Their iniquities are not hidden from him,
and all their sins are before the Lord.[dm]
22 One’s almsgiving is like a signet ring with the Lord,[dn]
and he will keep a person’s kindness like the apple of his eye.[do](KE)
23 Afterward he will rise up and repay them,
and he will bring their recompense on their heads.(KF)
24 Yet to those who repent he grants a return,
and he encourages those who are losing hope.(KG)
A Call to Repentance
25 Turn back to the Lord and forsake your sins;
pray in his presence and lessen your offense.(KH)
26 Return to the Most High and turn away from iniquity[dp]
and hate intensely what is abhorrent.
27 Who will sing praises to the Most High in Hades
in place of the living who give thanks?(KI)
28 From the dead, as from one who does not exist, thanksgiving has ceased;
those who are alive and well sing the Lord’s praises.(KJ)
29 How great is the mercy of the Lord
and his forgiveness for those who return to him!(KK)
30 For not everything is within human capability,
since human beings are not immortal.
31 What is brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed.
So flesh and blood devise evil.
32 He marshals the host of the height of heaven,
but all humans are dust and ashes.(KL)
The Majesty of God
18 He who lives forever created the whole universe;(KM)
2 the Lord alone will be justified.[dq](KN)
4 To none has he given power to proclaim his works,
and who can search out his mighty deeds?(KO)
5 Who can measure his majestic power,
and who can fully recount his mercies?(KP)
6 It is not possible to diminish or increase them,
nor is it possible to fathom the wonders of the Lord.(KQ)
7 When humans have finished, they are just beginning,
and when they stop, they are still perplexed.
8 What are humans, and of what use are they?
What is good in them, and what is evil?(KR)
9 The number of days in their life is great if they reach one hundred years.[dr](KS)
10 Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand,
so are a few years among the days of eternity.(KT)
11 That is why the Lord is patient with them
and pours out his mercy upon them.
12 He sees and recognizes that their end is miserable;
therefore he grants his forgiveness all the more.(KU)
13 The compassion of humans is for their neighbors,
but the compassion of the Lord is for every living thing.
He rebukes and trains and teaches them
and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock.(KV)
14 He has compassion on those who accept his discipline
and who are eager for his decrees.(KW)
The Right Spirit in Giving Alms
15 My child, do not mix reproach with your good deeds
or harsh words with any gift.(KX)
16 Does not the dew give relief from the scorching heat?
So a word is better than a gift.(KY)
17 Indeed, does not a word surpass a good gift?
Both are to be found in a gracious person.
18 A fool will rebuke ungraciously,
and the gift of a grudging giver makes the eyes weary.(KZ)
The Need of Reflection and Self-control
19 Before you speak, learn,
and before you fall ill, take care of yourself.(LA)
20 Before judgment comes, examine yourself,
and at the time of scrutiny you will find forgiveness.(LB)
21 Before falling ill, humble yourself,
and when you have sinned, repent.(LC)
22 Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow promptly,
and do not wait until death to be released from it.(LD)
23 Before making a vow, prepare yourself;
do not be like one who puts the Lord to the test.(LE)
24 Think of his wrath on the day of death
and of the moment of vengeance when he turns away his face.(LF)
25 In the time of plenty think of the time of hunger;
in days of wealth think of poverty and need.(LG)
26 From morning to evening conditions change;
all things move swiftly before the Lord.(LH)
27 One who is wise is cautious in everything;
when sin is all around, one guards against wrongdoing.
28 Every intelligent person knows wisdom
and praises the one who finds her.
29 Those who are skilled in words become wise themselves
and pour forth apt proverbs.[ds](LI)
Self-Control[dt]
30 Do not follow your base desires
but restrain your appetites.(LJ)
31 If you allow your soul to take pleasure in base desire,
it will make you the laughingstock of your enemies.(LK)
32 Do not revel in great luxury,
or you may become impoverished by contact with it.(LL)
33 Do not become a beggar by feasting with borrowed money,
when you have nothing in your purse.[du]
19 The one who does this[dv] will not become rich;
one who despises small things will fail little by little.(LM)
2 Wine and women lead intelligent men astray,
and the man who consorts with prostitutes is reckless.(LN)
3 Decay and worms will take possession of him,
and the reckless person will be snatched away.(LO)
Against Loose Talk
4 One who trusts quickly has a shallow mind,
and one who sins does wrong to himself.
5 One who rejoices in wickedness[dw] will be condemned,[dx]
6 but one who hates discussion lacks understanding.(LP)
7 Never repeat a conversation,
and you will lose nothing at all.
8 With friend or foe do not report it,
and unless it would be a sin for you do not reveal it,
9 for someone may have heard you and watched you
and in time will hate you.
10 Have you heard something? Let it die with you.
Be brave; it will not make you burst!(LQ)
11 Having heard something, the fool suffers birth pangs
like a woman in labor with a child.
12 Like an arrow stuck in a person’s thigh,
so is gossip in the belly of a fool.(LR)
13 Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it;
or if he did, so that he may not do it again.(LS)
14 Question a neighbor; perhaps he did not say it;
or if he said it, so that he may not repeat it.
15 Question a friend, for often it is slander;
so do not believe every word.
16 A person may make a slip without intending it.
Who has not sinned with his tongue?(LT)
17 Question your neighbor before you threaten him,
and make room for the law of the Most High.[dy](LU)
True and False Wisdom
20 The whole of wisdom is fear of the Lord,
and in all wisdom there is the fulfillment of the law.[dz](LV)
22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom,
nor is there prudence in the counsel of sinners.(LW)
23 There is a cleverness that is detestable,
and there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.
24 Better are the God-fearing who lack understanding
than the highly intelligent who transgress the law.(LX)
25 There is a cleverness that is exact but unjust,
and there are people who abuse favors to gain a verdict.[ea]
26 There are villains bowed down in mourning,
but inwardly they are full of deceit.(LY)
27 They hide their faces and pretend not to hear,
but when no one notices, they will take advantage of you.
28 Even if lack of strength keeps them from sinning,
they will nevertheless do evil when they find the opportunity.
29 People will be known by their appearances,
and sensible people will be known when first met face to face.(LZ)
30 People’s attire and hearty laughter
and the way they walk proclaim things about them.(MA)
Silence and Speech
20 There is a rebuke that is untimely,
and there is the person who is wise enough to keep silent.(MB)
2 How much better it is to rebuke than to fume!(MC)
Footnotes
- P.2 Or other books
- P.13 Gk with these things
- P.24 Gk prophecies
- P.29 Other ancient authorities read found opportunity for
- 1.3 Other ancient authorities read the depth of the abyss
- 1.4 Other ancient authorities add as 1.5: The source of wisdom is God’s word in the highest heaven, and her ways are the eternal commandments.
- 1.6 Other ancient authorities add as 1.7: The knowledge of wisdom—to whom was it manifested? And her abundant experience—who has understood it?
- 1.10 Other ancient authorities add Love of the Lord is glorious wisdom; to those to whom he appears he apportions her, that they may see him.
- 1.12 Other ancient authorities add The fear of the Lord is a gift from the Lord; also for love he makes firm paths.
- 1.15 Gk made as a nest
- 1.17 Other ancient authorities read her
- 1.17 Other ancient authorities read her
- 1.18 Other ancient authorities add Both are gifts of God for peace; exultation opens out for those who love him. He saw her and took her measure.
- 1.20 Other ancient authorities add as 1.21: The fear of the Lord drives away sins, and where it abides, it will turn away all anger.
- 2.1 Or trials
- 2.5 Other ancient authorities add in sickness and poverty put your trust in him
- 2.9 Other ancient authorities add for his reward is an everlasting gift with joy
- 2.10 Gk of him
- 2.18 Syr adds and equal to his name are his works
- 3.6 Heb: Other ancient authorities read comfort
- 3.6 Heb: Gk and those who obey the Lord honor their mother
- 3.7 In other ancient authorities this line is preceded by Those who fear the Lord honor their father,
- 3.17 Heb Syr: Gk more than an acceptable person
- 3.18 Other ancient authorities add as 3.19, Many are lofty and renowned, but to the humble he reveals his secrets.
- 3.25 Heb: Other ancient authorities lack 3.25
- 4.11 Heb Syr: Gk exalts
- 4.13 Or he
- 4.17 Or until they remain faithful in their heart
- 4.23 Heb: Gk at a time of salvation
- 4.23 Other ancient authorities lack and do not hide your wisdom
- 5.5 Heb: Gk atonement
- 5.6 Heb: Gk he (or it) will atone for
- 5.9 Gk adds so it is with the double-tongued sinner
- 5.14 Heb: Gk a slanderer
- 5.15 Heb Syr: Gk be ignorant
- 6.2 Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
- 6.2 Meaning of Gk uncertain
- 6.4 Heb: Gk An evil soul
- 6.30 Heb: Gk Upon her
- 6.31 Heb: Gk crown of gladness
- 6.37 Heb: Gk will confirm
- 7.3 Gk My child, do
- 7.12 Heb: Gk plow
- 7.17 Heb for the expectation of mortals is worms
- 7.19 Heb: Gk deprive yourself of
- 7.21 Heb Love a wise slave as yourself
- 7.23 Gk bend their necks
- 7.24 Gk body
- 7.24 Gk do not brighten your face toward them
- 7.26 Heb Syr lack who pleases you
- 7.28 Gk them
- 8.9 Or ancestors
- 8.10 Heb: Gk do not get burned
- 8.18 Or it will bring forth
- 8.19 Heb: Gk and let him not return a favor to you
- 9.3 Heb strange woman
- 9.9 Heb: Gk sit down
- 9.9 Heb: Gk by your spirit
- 9.12 Gk: Heb the success of the arrogant
- 10.5 Heb: Gk scribe
- 10.8 Other ancient authorities add here or after 10.9a: Nothing is more wicked than one who loves money, for such a person puts his own soul up for sale.
- 10.9 Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
- 10.11 Heb: Gk wild animals
- 10.13 Gk: Heb brings upon them . . . destroys them
- 10.15 Other ancient authorities read proud nations
- 10.20 Other ancient authorities add as 10.21: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance; obduracy and pride are the beginning of rejection.
- 10.22 Heb: Gk The rich and the eminent
- 10.29 Heb: Gk sin against
- 10.29 Heb Lat: Gk their own life
- 11.4 Heb: Gk Do not boast about wearing fine clothes, and do not exalt yourself when you are honored
- 11.5 Heb: Gk Many sovereigns have sat on the ground
- 11.14 Other ancient authorities add as 11.15–16:
Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of the law come from the Lord; affection and the ways of good works come from him. Error and darkness were created with sinners; evil grows old with those who take pride in malice. - 11.22 Heb: Gk is in
- 11.28 Heb: Gk and through his children a person becomes known
- 11.30 Heb: Gk downfall
- 12.6 Other ancient authorities add and he is keeping them for the day of their punishment
- 12.8 Other ancient authorities read punished
- 12.9 Heb: Gk grieved
- 13.4 Gk He
- 13.4 Heb: Gk work with you
- 13.8 Other ancient authorities read in your folly
- 13.13 Other ancient authorities add as 13.14: When you hear these things in your sleep, wake up! During all your life love the Lord, and call on him for your salvation.
- 13.21 Other ancient authorities read poor
- 13.25 Other ancient authorities add and a glad heart makes a cheerful countenance
- 14.7 Syr: Gk through forgetfulness
- 14.12 Heb Syr: Gk covenant
- 14.17 Heb: Gk covenant
- 14.20 Other ancient authorities read die in
- 15.1 Gk her
- 15.6 Other ancient authorities read He will find gladness
- 15.11 Heb: Gk you ought not to do
- 15.14 Heb: Gk deliberation
- 16.1 Heb: Gk unprofitable
- 16.3 Other ancient authorities add for you will groan in untimely mourning, and will know of their sudden end
- 16.7 Gk: Heb princes
- 16.9 Other ancient authorities add all these things he did to the hard-hearted nations, and by the multitude of his holy ones he was not appeased
- 16.10 Other ancient authorities add chastising, showing mercy, striking, healing, the Lord persisted in mercy and discipline
- 16.11 Gk him
- 16.11 Heb: Gk a master of propitiations
- 16.14 Other ancient authorities add 16.15–16:
The Lord hardened Pharaoh so that he did not recognize him, in order that his works might be known under heaven. His mercy is manifest to the whole of creation, and he apportioned his light and darkness to Adam. - 16.18 Other ancient authorities add The whole world past and present is in his will.
- 16.21 Meaning of Gk uncertain: Heb Syr If I sin, no eye can see me, and if I am disloyal all in secret, who is to know?
- 16.22 Heb: Gk the covenant
- 16.22 Other ancient authorities add and a scrutiny for all comes at the end
- 16.25 Gk by weight
- 16.26 Heb: Gk judged
- 16.27 Or elements
- 17.2 Lat: Gk it
- 17.3 Lat: Gk proper to them
- 17.4 Syr: Gk him
- 17.4 Other ancient authorities add as 17.5: They obtained the use of the five faculties of the Lord; as sixth he distributed to them the gift of mind, and as seventh, reason, the interpreter of one’s faculties.
- 17.8 Other ancient authorities read He set his eye upon
- 17.8 Other ancient authorities add and he gave them to boast of his marvels forever
- 17.11 Other ancient authorities add so that they may know that they who are alive now are mortal
- 17.15 Other ancient authorities add
Their ways from youth tend toward evil, and they are unable to make for themselves hearts of flesh in place of their stony hearts. For in the division of the nations of the whole earth, - 17.17 Other ancient authorities add as 17.18: whom, being his firstborn, he brings up with discipline, and allotting to him the light of his love, he does not neglect him.
- 17.20 Other ancient authorities add as 17.21: But the Lord, who is gracious and knows how they are formed, has neither left them nor abandoned them but has spared them.
- 17.22 Gk him
- 17.22 Other ancient authorities add apportioning repentance to his sons and daughters
- 17.26 Other ancient authorities add for he will lead you out of darkness to the light of health.
- 18.2 Other ancient authorities add and there is no other beside him;
he steers the world with the span of his hand, and all things obey his will, for he is king of all things by his power, separating among them the holy things from the profane. - 18.9 Other ancient authorities add but the death of each one is beyond the calculation of all
- 18.29 Other ancient authorities add Better is confidence in a single master than clinging with a dead heart to a dead one.
- 18.30 This heading is included in the Gk text.
- 18.33 Other ancient authorities add for you will be plotting against your own life
- 19.1 Heb: Gk A worker who is a drunkard
- 19.5 Other ancient authorities read heart
- 19.5 Other ancient authorities add but one who withstands pleasures crowns his life.
One who controls the tongue will live without strife, - 19.17 Other ancient authorities add and do not be angry.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance, and wisdom obtains his love. The knowledge of the Lord’s commandments is life-giving discipline, and those who do what is pleasing to him enjoy the fruit of the tree of immortality. - 19.20 Other ancient authorities add and the knowledge of his omnipotence.
When a slave says to his master, “I will not act as you wish,” even if later he does it, he angers the one who supports him. - 19.25 Other ancient authorities add and the one who justifies is wise in judgment.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.