Wisdom of Ben Sira 30:25-33:16
New Catholic Bible
25 [a]The man who is lighthearted and merry while dining
benefits from what he eats.
Chapter 31
The Right Attitude toward Riches[b]
1 Sleeplessness over wealth causes a man to lose weight,
and the resultant anxiety drives away sleep.
2 Apprehension prevents slumber
just as a serious illness banishes sleep.
3 The rich man toils to amass a fortune,
and when he relaxes he enjoys every kind of luxury.
4 The poor man toils to eke out a meager living,
and if he ever rests he finds himself in want.
5 The man who loves gold will not be free from sin;
the man who pursues wealth will be led astray by it.
6 Many have come to their downfall as the result of gold,
finding themselves face to face with ruin.
7 It is a stumbling block to those who are avid for it,
and every fool is trapped by it.
8 Blessed is the rich man who is found to be blameless
and who does not chase after gold.
9 Who is he, that we may praise him?
For he has done wonders among his people.
10 Who has been tested by it and escaped unscathed?
This should be a cause of pride for him.
He could have sinned, but he refrained from doing so;
he could have done evil and did not do it.
11 His prosperity will be established,
and the assembly will proclaim his charitable acts.
Social Conventions and Correctness[c]
Table Etiquette
12 When you are seated at a lavish table,[d]
do not display your greed
or exclaim: “Look at all this!”
13 Remember that a greedy eye is a bad thing.
Is any creature more greedy than the eye?
Therefore, it sheds tears at the slightest provocation.
14 Do not reach out for anything your host is eyeing,
or dip in the dish together with him.
15 Judge your neighbor’s feelings by your own,
and be thoughtful in every respect.
16 Eat what is set before you like a well-bred person;
do not gulp down your food and make yourself objectionable.
17 Be the first to stop eating, as befits good manners,
and do not be a glutton, lest you give offense.
18 If you are dining with a large group,
do not reach out your hand before the others.
19 A small portion is sufficient for someone of good upbringing;
when he lies down, he experiences no discomfort.
20 Moderate eating ensures sound sleep;
such a man rises early and feels refreshed.
However, sleeplessness, nausea, and colic
are the lot of the glutton.
21 If perchance you have eaten too much,
get up and empty your stomach, and you will find relief.
22 Listen to me, my child, and do not disregard me;
eventually you will find that my advice is on the mark.
Be moderate[e] in everything you do,
and no illness will befall you.
Praise for Munificent Hosts
23 Much praise is given to the man who is liberal in serving food,
and the testimony to his generosity is fulsome.
24 The man who is miserly with food is denounced universally,
and the testimony to his stingy nature is substantial.
The Right Attitude toward Wine[f]
25 Do not try to prove your strength with wine,
for wine has been the ruin of many.
26 As the furnace tests the tempering of steel,
so wine tests the hearts in the disputes of the insolent.
27 Wine is a source of life
if taken in moderation.
What is life to someone who has been deprived of wine?
It was created to make men happy.
28 Wine is the cause of a joyful heart and cheerful spirits
when consumed at the right time and in the proper amount.
29 However, wine drunk to excess causes bitter feelings
and leads to quarrels and retaliation.
30 Drunkenness increases the anger of a fool to his own harm,
sapping his strength and exposing him to injury.
31 Do not rebuke your neighbor when wine is served,
or ridicule him when he is enjoying himself.
Speak no words of reproach to him,
or distress him by making demands of him.
Chapter 32
The Proper Behavior at Banquets[g]
1 If you are chosen to preside at a banquet, do not become puffed up with your own importance;
mingle with the guests as one of them.
Do not sit down yourself until you have first taken care of them;
2 then, when you have discharged all of your duties, you may take your place,
so that you may share in their joy
and win praise for your service as an excellent host.
3 As you grow older, you may speak, for you are entitled to do so,
but do not flaunt your knowledge and do not interrupt the music.
4 When there is entertainment, do not pour out a stream of talk;
such is the wrong time to display your wisdom.
5 Like a jewel in a setting of gold
is a concert of music at which wine is served.
6 Like an emerald in a setting of gold
are the strains of music with superb wine.
7 You who are young, speak only if you are obliged to do so,
and no more than twice, and then only if asked.
8 Be brief, but say much in a few words;
convey the impression of knowledge but preferring to hold your tongue.
9 Among eminent people do not act as if you were their equal,
and do not continue to babble on when someone else is speaking.
10 As lightning flashes before thunder strikes,
so does esteem go ahead of a modest man.
11 Leave at an appropriate time, and do not be the last to depart;
go home quickly, without lingering.
12 There amuse yourself as you wish,
but do not sin by arrogant talk.
13 Above all, give praise to the one who made you
and has bestowed his favors on you so abundantly.
Trust in the Lord[h]
A Safe Way[i]
14 Whoever fears the Lord[j] will accept his discipline,
and whoever searches for him will gain his favor.
15 The man who seeks the law will be nourished by it,
but the hypocrite will regard it as a stumbling block.
16 The man who fears the Lord will win his approval,
and his righteous deeds will shine like a beacon.
17 However, the sinner pays no attention to reproof,
and he will devise specious arguments to justify his desires.
18 A man who is sensible will never ignore reasonable counsel,
whereas an arrogant and godless man will not be deterred by anything.
19 Never do anything without careful deliberation,
but once you have acted, do not regret your decision.
20 Do not choose to travel on a way beset with hazards,
and do not stumble on stony ground.[k]
21 Be cautious even when traversing a smooth way,
22 and beware also of your children.[l]
23 Trust yourself[m] in everything you do,
for in this way you will keep the commandments.
24 The man who keeps the law preserves himself,
and the man who trusts the Lord will never suffer loss.
Chapter 33
1 No evil will befall the one who fears the Lord;
during times of trial such a one will always be rescued.
2 The man who is wise does not hate the law,
but the one who is a hypocrite about it ends up being tossed around like a boat in a storm.
3 A sensible man will trust in the law,
regarding it as dependable as an oracle.
4 Carefully prepare what you have to say, and you will be listened to;
draw upon your learning, and then give your answer.
5 The mind of a fool is like the wheel of a cart,
and his thoughts spin like an axle.
6 A sarcastic friend is like a stallion
that neighs no matter who is on its back.
Concerning Inequalities in Conditions[n]
7 Why is one day more important than another,
although every day in the year receives its light from the sun?
8 It is because of the knowledge of the Lord that they differ;
he was the one who designated the various seasons and feasts.
9 Some days he exalted and sanctified,
and others he made ordinary days.
10 All men originate from the ground,
for humankind itself[o] was created out of the earth.
11 Yet in the fullness of his knowledge the Lord has distinguished men
and caused them to walk along different ways.
12 Some he has blessed and exalted,
sanctifying them and drawing them near to himself;
others he has cursed and humbled,
and removed from their position.
13 Like clay in the hands of a potter,
to be molded just as he pleases,
so are men in the hands of their Maker,
to be dealt with according to his justice.
14 Just as good is the opposite of evil, and life is the opposite of death,
so the sinner is the opposite of the godly.
15 Contemplate all the works of the Most High—
they come in pairs, one the opposite of the other.
16 Now I was the last to keep vigil;
I was like a gleaner following the grape pickers,
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 30:25 All the Greek MSS place 33:16—36:13 before 30:25—33:16, but the Syriac and Latin versions, as well as the Hebrew fragments, maintain the original order.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 31:1 If gold seduces by its prestige, it undermines the health of its devotees and exposes them to sin, as Jesus will also indicate later: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Lk 18:25).
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 31:12 The author is a practical educator; he has left us an agreeable code of table etiquette. He does not denigrate either good meals or gaiety; as a well-educated person, he finds pleasure in social conventions and correctness.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 31:12 At a lavish table: Greek reads: “at the table of the great.”
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 31:22 Be moderate: Greek reads: “Be industrious.”
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 31:25 Wine is one of God’s good creations (see Ps 104:15). It is a joy when taken in moderation (see Sir 40:20), but if drunk to excess, it can lead to ruin (see Prov 20:1; 23:29-35; Am 6:6). Misuse of wine violates the divine order and brings its own recompense (vv. 29-30). The author is reminded of an allied concept on the proper use of words and applies it to wine: one should use words carefully to those who are “merry,” that is, lighthearted but not drunk (v. 31).
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 32:1 Under the influence of the Greeks or the Romans, the custom took hold in Palestine of holding elaborate banquets with an organizing chairman or steward chosen by lot or by vote, who was responsible for preparing the menu, choosing the wine, seating the guests, and the like (see 2 Mac 2:27; Jn 2:8). Later, the rabbis warned against these customs. Here, the author is laying down the rules of good manners at such events.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 32:14 As a good moralist, the author reassures the faithful, too easily at times: but he inculcates a deep trust in God. This will maintain the faithful in the difficult times that the author fails to mention.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 32:14 People of the Old Testament find their essential directives in the practice and understanding of the law. It is a charter of life that guards them from preferring the changeable passions to true values. Those who regulate their life by it fear God (see Mt 5:19).
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 32:14 Whoever fears the Lord: Greek reads: “Whoever seeks God.”
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 32:20 On stony ground: Hebrew reads: “over its obstacles twice.”
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 32:22 And beware also of your children: Hebrew reads: “and watch carefully where you step.”
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 32:23 Trust yourself: Hebrew reads: “guard yourself.”
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 33:7 Why are there holy days and secular days? Why also is the condition of humans so diverse and the world full of contrasts? There is no response at the reach of human beings except to entrust themselves to God; the wise maintain a sentiment of modesty in fulfilling their vocation. The conclusion of verses 16-18 is like a signature of the author.
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 33:10 Humankind itself: Hebrew; Greek reads: “Adam himself.”
