Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 16
16
God's Punishment of Sinners
1Do not desire a multitude of worthless#16.1 Heb: Gk unprofitable children,
and do not rejoice in ungodly offspring.
2If they multiply, do not rejoice in them,
unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
3Do not trust in their survival,
or rely on their numbers;#16.3 Other ancient authorities add For you will groan in untimely mourning, and will know of their sudden end.
for one can be better than a thousand,
and to die childless better than to have ungodly children.
4For through one intelligent person a city can be filled with people,
but through a clan of outlaws it becomes desolate.
5Many such things my eye has seen,
and my ear has heard things more striking than these.
6In an assembly of sinners a fire is kindled,
and in a disobedient nation wrath blazes up.
7He did not forgive the ancient giants
who revolted in their might.
8He did not spare the neighbors of Lot,
whom he loathed on account of their arrogance.
9He showed no pity on the doomed nation,
on those dispossessed because of their sins;#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.
10or on the six hundred thousand foot soldiers
who assembled in their stubbornness.#16.10 Other ancient authorities add Chastising, showing mercy, striking, healing, the Lord persisted in mercy and discipline.
11Even 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;#16.11 Gk him
he is mighty to forgive—but he also pours out wrath.
12Great as his mercy, so also is his chastisement;
he judges a person according to one's deeds.
13The sinner will not escape with plunder,
and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.
14He makes room for every act of mercy;
everyone receives in accordance with one's deeds.#16.14 Other ancient authorities add 15 The Lord hardened Pharaoh so that he did not recognize him, in order that his works might be known under heaven. 16 His mercy is manifest to the whole of creation, and he divided his light and darkness with a plumb line.
17Do 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?
18Lo, heaven and the highest heaven,
the abyss and the earth, tremble at his visitation!#16.18 Other ancient authorities add The whole world past and present is in his will.
19The very mountains and the foundations of the earth
quiver and quake when he looks upon them.
20But no human mind can grasp this,
and who can comprehend his ways?
21Like a tempest that no one can see,
so most of his works are concealed.#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?
22Who is to announce his acts of justice?
Or who can await them? For his decree#16.22 Heb the decree: Gk the covenant is far off.”#16.22 Other ancient authorities add and a scrutiny for all comes at the end
23Such are the thoughts of one devoid of understanding;
a senseless and misguided person thinks foolishly.
God's Wisdom Seen in Creation
24Listen to me, my child, and acquire knowledge,
and pay close attention to my words.
25I will impart discipline precisely#16.25 Gk by weight
and declare knowledge accurately.
26When the Lord created#16.26 Heb: Gk judged his works from the beginning,
and, in making them, determined their boundaries,
27he arranged his works in an eternal order,
and their dominion#16.27 Or elements for all generations.
They neither hunger nor grow weary,
and they do not abandon their tasks.
28They do not crowd one another,
and they never disobey his word.
29Then the Lord looked upon the earth,
and filled it with his good things.
30With all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,
and into it they must return.
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Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 16: NRSV-CI
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.