Sirach 40
40
Sirach 40
Human Wretchedness
1 #
Job 5.7; Eccl 1.3; Wis 7.1; 2 Esd 10.10 Hard work was created for everyone,
and a heavy yoke is laid on the children of Adam,
from the day they come forth from their mother’s womb
until the day they return to#40.1 Other Gk and Lat authorities read are buried in the mother of all the living.#40.1 Heb: Gk of all
2 #
Job 15.21; 18.11 Perplexities and fear of heart are theirs
and anxious thought of the day of their death.
3 #
Ex 11.5
From the one who sits on a splendid throne
to the one who grovels in dust and ashes,
4from the one who wears purple and a crown
to the one who is clothed in burlap,
5there is anger and envy and trouble and unrest
and fear of death and fury and strife.
And when one rests upon his bed,
his sleep at night confuses his mind.
6 #
Wis 18.17; Sir 34.2, 3 He gets little or no rest;
he struggles in his sleep as he did by day.#40.6 Arm: Meaning of Gk uncertain
He is troubled by the visions of his mind
like one who has escaped from the battlefield.
7 #
Isa 29.8
At the moment he reaches safety#40.7 Other ancient authorities read need 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 #
Gen 6.13; 7.11; Sir 39.25, 29, 30 All these were created for the lawless,
and on their account the flood came.
11 #
Gen 3.19; Eccl 1.7; Sir 41.10 All that is of earth returns to earth,
and what is from above returns above.#40.11 Heb Syr: Gk Lat from the waters returns to the sea
Injustice Will Not Prosper
12All bribery and injustice will be blotted out,
but good faith will last forever.
13 #
Job 6.15; Prov 10.25 The wealth of the unjust will dry up like a river
and crash like a loud clap of thunder in a storm.
14As a generous person has cause to rejoice,
so lawbreakers will utterly fail.
15 #
Job 18.16; Isa 5.24; Hos 9.16 The children of the ungodly put out few branches;
they are unhealthy roots on sheer rock.
16 #
Job 8.11, 12 The reeds by any water or river bank
are plucked up before any grass,
17 #
v 27
; Tob 12.9but kindness is like a garden of blessings,
and almsgiving endures forever.
The Joys of Life
18A life of abundance and wages make life sweet,#40.18 Heb: Gk Life is sweet for the self-reliant and hard-working
but better than either is finding a treasure.
19 #
Prov 19.14
Children and the building of a city establish one’s name,
but better than either is the one who finds wisdom.
Cattle and orchards make one prosperous,#40.19 Heb Syr: Gk lacks but better…prosperous
but a blameless wife is accounted better than either.
20 #
Sir 31.27, 28; 32.5 Wine and music gladden the heart,
but the love of friends#40.20 Heb: Gk wisdom is better than either.
21 #
Prov 16.24; Wis 19.18 The flute and the harp make sweet melody,
but a pleasant voice is better than either.
22The eye desires grace and beauty,
but the green shoots of grain more than either.
23 #
Prov 31.10, 11 A friend or companion is always welcome,
but a sensible wife#40.23 Heb Compare Syr: Gk wife with her husband 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.
ទើបបានជ្រើសរើសហើយ៖
Sirach 40: NRSVUE
គំនូសចំណាំ
ចែករំលែក
ចម្លង
ចង់ឱ្យគំនូសពណ៌ដែលបានរក្សាទុករបស់អ្នក មាននៅលើគ្រប់ឧបករណ៍ទាំងអស់មែនទេ? ចុះឈ្មោះប្រើ ឬចុះឈ្មោះចូល
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.