Chapter Forty-Two

Do not be ashamed of what is good and understanding. Be attentive in the upbringing of children. Be cautious in the society of women. Glorify the Lord God for the greatness of His in creation.

Sirach 42:1. Do not be ashamed of the following, and do not sin from respect of persons: Sirach 42:2. Do not be ashamed of the exact fulfillment of the law of the Most High and the covenant, and of justice, so as to show justice to the ungodly, Sirach 42:3. Of disputes between a companion and strangers and the distribution of inheritance to friends, Sirach 42:4. Of exactness in weights and measures, whether you gain much or little, Sirach 42:5. Of impartiality in buying and selling and strict upbringing of children, and of making red the rib of a bad servant. Sirach 42:6. With a bad wife it is good to have a seal, and where there are many hands, lock things up. Sirach 42:7. If you give out anything, do so by count and weight and make every issue and receipt by writing. Sirach 42:8. Do not be ashamed to discipline the foolish and stupid, and the aged who strives with the young: and you will be truly well-educated and will deserve approval from every person. 1–8. These conclude the thought set forth in verses 17–29 of chapter 41.

Sirach 42:9. A daughter is a secret constant concern to her father, and the worry over her drives away sleep: in her youth for fear she may wither, and in marriage for fear she may be despised; Sirach 42:10. In virginity for fear she may be defiled and become pregnant in her father’s house, in marriage so that she does not break conjugal fidelity and in living with her husband does not remain barren. Sirach 42:11. Over a shameless daughter strengthen the watchfulness, so that she does not make you a mockery for enemies, a byword in the city and a reproach among the people and does not shame you before the community. Sirach 42:12. Do not look upon the beauty of a person and do not sit in the midst of women: Sirach 42:13. For as a moth comes from clothing, so malice of woman comes from a woman. Sirach 42:14. Better is an evil man than a kind woman, a woman who brings shame to dishonor. Sirach 42:15. Now I will remember the deeds of the Lord and will recount what I have seen. By the word of the Lord His deeds came into being: Sirach 42:16. The shining sun looks upon all, and all his work is full of the glory of the Lord. Sirach 42:17. And the Holy One did not give to the saints to proclaim all His wonders, which the Almighty Lord established, so that the universe might stand firm in His glory. 17. The incomprehensibleness of the creative greatness of the Lord is such that even the saints were not given to proclaim all His wonders in the universe.

Sirach 42:18. He penetrates the abyss and the heart and sees all their turnings; for the Lord knows all knowledge and looks into the signs of the age, Sirach 42:19. Proclaiming the past and the future and revealing the traces of hidden things; Sirach 42:20. No thought escapes Him and not a single word is hidden from Him. 18–20. The verse speaks of the omnipresence and omniscience of the Lord.

Sirach 42:21. He established great deeds by His wisdom and exists before eternity and forever; 21. The verse speaks of the wisdom and eternity of the Lord.

Sirach 42:22. He was not increased and not diminished and required no counselor. 22. The verse speaks of the immutability and wisdom of the Lord.

Sirach 42:23. How desirable are all His deeds, though we can only see them as sparks! 23. The limited human mind is not able to comprehend the fullness of divine greatness; only glimpses of this greatness, insofar as they illuminate the knowable reality of the physical and spiritual world, are accessible to his observation and understanding. See verse 17.

Sirach 42:24. All of them live and remain forever for every need, and all obey Him. 24. All of them, that is, the Lord’s creations (see verse 23), live and remain forever for every need, that is, to satisfy various needs, to the glory of the Creator, for the benefit and consolation of creatures. And all of them obey Him, their Creator.

Sirach 42:25. All of them are twofold, one opposite the other, and He created nothing imperfect: Sirach 42:26. One thing supports the good of another, and who will be satisfied with beholding His glory? 25–26. Despite all its diversity, the world of God’s creations represents something harmonically whole and indivisible, in which some things and phenomena are complemented by others, one supports the good of another.