Chapter Eighteen

The entire fullness of the Lord’s greatness is incomprehensible to any of the created beings. Notwithstanding their comparative dignity among earthly creatures, humans are insignificant before the divine greatness and always need the mercy of the Lord toward them. Mercy of humans is toward their neighbor, but the mercy of the Lord is toward all flesh. Do good to your neighbor in deed and word. In doing good do not reproach. A wise person will be cautious in all things.

Sirach 18:1. The Living One who exists forever created all things; the Lord alone is righteous. Sirach 18:2. To no one has He given the ability to explain His works. 2. No one is able to comprehend the entire fullness of divine greatness.

Sirach 18:3. And who can investigate His great deeds? Sirach 18:4. Who can measure the power of His greatness? and who likewise can declare His mercies? Sirach 18:5. It is impossible either to diminish or to increase, and impossible to investigate the wonders of the Lord. Sirach 18:6. When a person finishes, then they only begin, and when they cease, they will come into wonder. 6. However much a person may study the greatness of the Lord’s works, they will still be only beginning this study without any hope of its final completion. Ceasing from their occupation, the one seeking knowledge will come into involuntary wonder at the little they have learned, and the immeasurable vastness that still remains covered by the sacred veil of incomprehensibility.

Sirach 18:7. What is a person and what is their usefulness? what is their good and what is their evil? Verse 7 refers to verse 6, noting a certain series of questions that are insoluble to humans in all their fullness.

Sirach 18:8. The number of a person’s days is many if it reaches a hundred years: as a drop of water from the sea or a grain of sand, so small are their years in the day of eternity. Sirach 18:9. Therefore the Lord is longsuffering toward people and pours out His mercy upon them. 9. This is explained by verses 10-11.

Sirach 18:10. He sees and knows that their end is very wretched, Sirach 18:11. and therefore multiplies His mercies. Sirach 18:12. The mercy of a person is toward their neighbor, but the mercy of the Lord is toward all flesh. Sirach 18:13. He rebukes and instructs, and teaches and turns around, like a shepherd his flock. Sirach 18:14. He shows mercy to those who receive instruction and who eagerly turn to His law. Sirach 18:15. My son! when doing acts of mercy, do not make reproaches, and with every gift do not offend with words. Sirach 18:16. Does not dew cool the heat? thus a word is better than a gift. 16. A timely wise word spoken can have an effect as calming as the effect of dew on the heat of a summer day.

Sirach 18:17. Therefore is not a good word superior to a gift? and does not the benevolent person have both? Sirach 18:18. A fool reproaches mercilessly, and the gift of a malevolent person dries up the eyes. 18. A kindness accompanied by reproaches dries up the tears of gratitude.

Sirach 18:19. Before you begin to speak, consider; and before sickness take care of yourself. Sirach 18:20. Test yourself before judgment, and at the time of visitation you will find mercy. Sirach 18:21. Before you feel weakness, humble yourself, and at the time of sins show repentance. Sirach 18:22. Let nothing prevent you from paying your vow in due time, and do not delay to justify yourself until death. Sirach 18:23. Before you pray, prepare yourself, and do not be like a person tempting the Lord. Sirach 18:24. Remember the wrath at the time of death and the time of vengeance, when the Lord will turn away His face. Sirach 18:25. During times of plenty remember times of hunger, and during days of wealth remember poverty and need. Sirach 18:26. From morning to evening the time changes, and all things go quickly before the Lord. Sirach 18:27. A wise person will be cautious in all things and will refrain from carelessness in days of sins. Sirach 18:28. Every discerning person will recognize wisdom and will give praise to those who find it. Sirach 18:29. Those who are thoughtful in their speech also become wise themselves, and they pour out wise sayings. Sirach 18:30. Do not follow your lusts and restrain yourself from your desires. Sirach 18:31. If you give your soul pleasure for its lusts, it will make you a laughingstock to your enemies. Sirach 18:32. Do not seek amusement in great luxury and do not attach yourself to feasts. Sirach 18:33. Do not become poor by feasting on borrowed money, when you have nothing in your purse. 19-33. These verses present a series of rules showing that a wise person must be cautious in all things.