Chapter One

All wisdom is from the Lord. The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord; its branches are long life.

Sirach 1:1. All wisdom is from the Lord and remains with Him forever. 1. The boundless wisdom perceived in the ordering of the world and man has as its source the eternally living God, the Creator of the world and man.

Sirach 1:2. Who can count the sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity? Sirach 1:3. Who will measure the height of heaven and the breadth of the earth, and the abyss, and wisdom? 2–3. All the breadth of Divine Wisdom, which the Creator has placed in His creations, is not accessible to the knowledge of any of the created beings.

Sirach 1:4. Wisdom was created before all things, and understanding of wisdom from of old. Sirach 1:5. The source of wisdom is the word of God the Most High, and its path is the eternal commandments. 4–5. In contrast to creation, which received its being in time,— the Wisdom of the Lord, which created the world, is primordial and remains forever.

Sirach 1:6. To whom is the root of wisdom revealed? And who has known her skill? Sirach 1:7. One alone is wise, very terrible, sitting on His throne, the Lord. Sirach 1:8. He created her and saw and measured her Sirach 1:9. and poured her out upon all His works 6–9. See the note to verses 2–3.

Sirach 1:10. and upon all flesh according to His gift, and especially bestowed her upon those who love Him. 10. If all creation indeed testifies to the Wisdom of its Creator, then much more does the rational man testify to it,— a man who loves his Creator and strives in his life to become like Him.

Sirach 1:11. The fear of the Lord is glory and honor, and gladness and a crown of joy. Sirach 1:12. The fear of the Lord delights the heart and gives gladness and joy and lengthens days. Sirach 1:13. It will go well with him that fears the Lord in the end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed. The fear of the Lord is a gift from the Lord and sets one on the paths of love. 11–13. Rational fear of the Lord, which inspires a man to revere and keep the will of the Lord, earns man the favor of God, and becomes for him a source of true well-being throughout his life.

Sirach 1:14. Love of the Lord is glorious wisdom, and to those He favors He grants a share of it according to His will. Sirach 1:15. The beginning of wisdom is to fear God, and she is formed together with the faithful in the womb. She has established an eternal foundation among men and will be entrusted to their seed. 13–15. Reverence before the Creator and the striving to fulfill His will in acts of love toward God and neighbor— is an innate gift from above to man; and, like every other gift, it can either be suppressed within himself by man, or, with divine help, be developed and perfected.

Sirach 1:16. The fullness of wisdom is to fear the Lord; she satisfies them with her fruits: Sirach 1:17. she fills their whole house with all they desire, and her storehouses with her produce. Sirach 1:18. A crown of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, which produces peace and good health; both of these are the gifts of God, who spreads glory over those who love Him. Sirach 1:19. He saw her and measured her, poured out wisdom like rain and knowledge of understanding, and exalted the glory of those who possess her. Sirach 1:20. The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and her branches are long life. 16–20. See the note to verses 11–13.

Sirach 1:21. The fear of the Lord drives away sins; he who lacks fear cannot be justified. 21. Reverent fear of the Lord preserves man from violating God’s will. And if, due to human weakness, he has sinned, then, by the goodness of God, he may be pardoned, in consideration of his prevailing soul’s disposition. A man, however, without fear of God, is defenseless before sin and punishment for sin.

Sirach 1:22. Unjust anger cannot be justified, for the very motion of anger is a fall for man. 22. Unjust anger of man is condemned,— not only when expressed outwardly, but also when not expressed. Both are degrading to the one who is angry and offensive to him toward whom the unjust anger is directed.

Sirach 1:23. A patient man will endure until a time, and afterward joy will be his reward. Sirach 1:24. Until a time he will hide his words, and the lips of many will speak of his good sense. 23–24. There are circumstances when prudence requires a man to refrain for a time, even from justified indignation,— if that indignation is inopportune or unprofitable. Later the one who refrained will himself understand and appreciate his self-restraint, and others will also approve him for it.

Sirach 1:25. In the treasuries of wisdom are the parables of understanding, but a sinner hates the fear of the Lord. Sirach 1:26. If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will give it to you, Sirach 1:27. for wisdom and knowledge are the fear of the Lord, and faith and meekness are acceptable to Him. 25–27. True wisdom for man is the same as piety,— that is, knowledge of the good and perfect will of God, expressed in the commandments of the Lord, and the following of these commandments in one’s life. An impious man, rejecting the commands of God’s law, is at the same time an unwise man, who has separated himself not only from God, but also from his own well-being.

Sirach 1:28. Do not be unbelieving in the fear of the Lord and do not approach Him with a divided heart. 28. A man’s reverent fear of God is fully salvific only when it is not weakened by the waverings of unbelief or little faith. A man who wavers in his choice between God and mammon is not a dependable traveler on the paths of virtue.

Sirach 1:29. Do not be a hypocrite before the faces of others and be attentive to your own lips. Sirach 1:30. Do not exalt yourself, lest you fall and bring shame upon your soul, for the Lord will reveal your secrets and bring you low in the midst of the assembly, because you did not come in sincerity to the fear of the Lord, and your heart is full of deceit. 30. While not truly a man fearing God and pious, do not try to be known as such among men, for the Lord, who knows hearts, knows your soul’s weakness and will punish you for your pride by bringing you low.