Chapter 33

A wise person is faithful to the law, and the law is faithful to him. Be prepared in speech and thoughtful in friendship. Remember the power and justice of God. In all your actions be foremost and bring no shame to your honor. Teach your slave to diligence, but do not forget that he is a human being close to you.

Sirach 33:1. No evil will befall the one who fears the Lord, but even in trial He will deliver him. 2. A wise person does not hate the law, but one who pretends to keep it is like a ship in a storm. 2. What a ship without a rudder is in a storm, that is a person not guided by firm and wise law.

Sirach 33:3. A wise person trusts the law, and the law is trustworthy for him, like the answer of Urim. 4. Prepare your word, and you will be heard; gather wisdom, and answer. 4. Answer those who ask you.

Sirach 33:5. A wheel in a chariot is the heart of a foolish person, and his thought is like a turning axle. 5. The thought and feeling of an unwise person are as unstable as a wheel while a chariot is moving.

Sirach 33:6. A mocking friend is the same as a hot-headed horse, which neighs under every rider. 7. Why is one day better than another, when all the daylight in the year comes from the sun? 8. They are distinguished by the wisdom of the Lord; He set apart the seasons and festivals: 9. Some of them He exalted and sanctified, while others He placed among ordinary days. 10. And all people are from dust, and Adam was created from the earth; 11. but by His all-knowledge the Lord made a distinction among them and appointed them different paths: 12. some of them He blessed and exalted, others He sanctified and brought near to Himself, still others He cursed and brought low and moved from their place. 13. As clay is in the hand of a potter, and all its forms are in his will, so people are in the hand of their Maker, and He repays them according to His judgment. 14. As good is opposite to evil, and life is opposite to death, so the sinner is opposite to the godly. Thus look at all the works of the Most High: they are in pairs, one opposite to the other. 7–14. All days, by their origin, are equal, but some of them, by the will of God, are elevated to the rank of notable days for the perpetuation in the memory of peoples of the glorious and saving deeds of the Lord. All people, by their origin, are also equal to one another, but the all-knowledge of the Lord (v. 11) foresees how and who from them will use in earthly life the freedom of will given to them (Sir 15:11-20), and therefore in His justice the Lord appoints to some bliss as their lot, to others suffering as their lot.

Sirach 33:15. And I, the last, have labored watchfully, like one who gleans after the grape-pickers, 16. and by the blessing of the Lord I succeeded and filled the wine-press, like one who gathers grapes. 17. Understand that I have labored not for myself alone, but for all who seek instruction. 15–17. Cf. Sir 24:37. The author of the book speaks of his zeal in gathering wise teachings, for the instruction of all who seek wisdom, and he calls himself the last among the Old Testament teachers who labored in the vineyard of Wisdom.

Sirach 33:18. Hear me, princes of the people, and listen, leaders of the assembly: 19. to no son, wife, brother, or friend give power over you during your lifetime; 20. and do not give your property to another, lest you regret it and have to ask for it back. 21. As long as you live and breath is in you, do not replace yourself with anyone; 22. for it is better that your children ask you than that you look to the hands of your sons. 23. In all your actions be foremost, and bring no shame to your honor. 24. At the end of the days of your life and at your death transfer your inheritance. 25. Feed, rod, and burden are for the donkey; bread, correction, and work are for a slave. 26. Keep a slave at work, and you will have rest; loosen his hands, and he will seek freedom. 27. Yoke and strap bend the neck of an ox, and for an evil slave—shackles and wounds; 28. put him to work, so that he is not idle, for idleness has taught much evil; 29. set him to work, as is proper for him, and if he does not obey, put heavy shackles on him. 30. But lay no excessive burden on anyone and do nothing without deliberation. 31. If you have a slave, treat him as yourself, for you acquired him with your blood; 31. You acquired him with your blood, meaning you acquired him with part of your blood estate and bound him to you with the blood of his labors and sufferings.

Sirach 33:32. if you have a slave, treat him as a brother, for you will need him as you need your own soul; 33. if you mistreat him and he rises up and runs away from you, on what path will you search for him?