Sirach 16
16
Sirach 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.
3 #
Wis 4.1
Do 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 is 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.
6 #
Num 11.1; Ps 78.21; Sir 21.9 In an assembly of sinners a fire is kindled,
and in a disobedient nation wrath has blazed up.
7 #
Wis 14.6
He did not forgive the ancient giants#16.7 Gk: Heb princes
who revolted in their might.
8 #
Gn 19.24, 25; Ezek 16.49, 50 He 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
10 #
Ex 12.37; Num 14.35; 26.51 or 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
11 #
Sir 5.4
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;#16.11 Gk him
he acquits and forgives,#16.11 Heb: Gk a master of propitiations but he also pours out wrath.
12 #
Job 34.11
Great as is his mercy, so also is his chastisement;
he judges people according to their deeds.
13The sinner will not escape with plunder,
and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.
14 #
Job 34.11; Sir 51.30 He makes room for every act of almsgiving;
everyone receives in accordance with his or her deeds.#16.14 Other ancient authorities add 16.15–16: 15 The Lord hardened Pharaoh so that he did not recognize him, in order that his works might be known under heaven. 16His mercy is manifest to the whole of creation, and he apportioned his light and darkness to Adam.
17 #
Ps 138.7
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?
18 #
1 Kings 8.27; Mic 1.3, 4; 2 Pet 3.7, 10 Look, 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.
19 #
Ps 18.7; 104.32; Isa 24.18 Together the mountains and the foundations of the earth
shake and tremble when he looks upon them.
20 #
Rom 11.33
But no human mind can grasp this,
and who can comprehend his ways?
21 #
Ps 97.2; Prov 25.2; Sir 43.32 Like 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: 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
24 #
Prov 4.20
Listen to me, my child, and acquire knowledge,
and pay close attention to my words.
25 #
Wis 11.20
I 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,
27 #
Sir 42.21
he arranged their 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.
29 #
Gn 1.29–31
Then the Lord looked upon the earth
and filled it with his good things.
30 #
Gn 1.25; Eccl 3.20 With all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,
and into it they must return.
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Sirach 16: NRSVUE
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.