Chapter Thirty-Three

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. Sirach 33:2. 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. Sirach 33:4. 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. Sirach 33:7. Why is one day better than another, when all the daylight in the year comes from the sun? Sirach 33:8. They are distinguished by the wisdom of the Lord; He set apart the seasons and festivals: Sirach 33:9. Some of them He exalted and sanctified, while others He placed among ordinary days. Sirach 33:10. And all people are from dust, and Adam was created from the earth; Sirach 33:11. but by His all-knowledge the Lord made a distinction among them and appointed them different paths: Sirach 33:12. 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. Sirach 33:13. 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. Sirach 33:14. 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, Sirach 33:16. and by the blessing of the Lord I succeeded and filled the wine-press, like one who gathers grapes. Sirach 33:17. 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: Sirach 33:19. to no son, wife, brother, or friend give power over you during your lifetime; Sirach 33:20. and do not give your property to another, lest you regret it and have to ask for it back. Sirach 33:21. As long as you live and breath is in you, do not replace yourself with anyone; Sirach 33:22. for it is better that your children ask you than that you look to the hands of your sons. Sirach 33:23. In all your actions be foremost, and bring no shame to your honor. Sirach 33:24. At the end of the days of your life and at your death transfer your inheritance. Sirach 33:25. Feed, rod, and burden are for the donkey; bread, correction, and work are for a slave. Sirach 33:26. Keep a slave at work, and you will have rest; loosen his hands, and he will seek freedom. Sirach 33:27. Yoke and strap bend the neck of an ox, and for an evil slave—shackles and wounds; Sirach 33:28. put him to work, so that he is not idle, for idleness has taught much evil; Sirach 33:29. set him to work, as is proper for him, and if he does not obey, put heavy shackles on him. Sirach 33:30. But lay no excessive burden on anyone and do nothing without deliberation. Sirach 33:31. 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; Sirach 33:33. if you mistreat him and he rises up and runs away from you, on what path will you search for him?