シラ書

Wisdom · Deuterocanon · Jesus, son of Sirach (Ben Sira) · Early 2nd century BCE (c. 196-175 BCE)

Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is a comprehensive collection of ethical teachings, practical advice, and theological reflections on daily life, creation, and covenant history. Written in the style of biblical wisdom literature, it uniquely identifies personified wisdom with the Mosaic Law. The book concludes with a celebrated historical review praising the ancestors of Israel, culminating in the high priest Simon.

51章

• 1シラ書 1This chapter describes the divine origin of wisdom and explains that the fear of the Lord is its beginning and crown.
• 2シラ書 2Readers are exhorted to endure trials with patience, trust in God's mercy, and remain faithful to His commandments during testing.
• 3シラ書 3This chapter highlights the duties of honoring parents, practicing deep humility, and performing acts of charity to atone for sins.
• 4シラ書 4This chapter admonishes readers to help the poor, describes Wisdom's discipline of her seekers, and urges speaking the truth.
• 5シラ書 5Warnings are given against relying on ill-gotten wealth, presuming upon God's mercy, delaying repentance, and speaking with a double tongue.
• 6シラ書 6This chapter contrasts true and false friendship and describes the discipline needed to pursue and obtain wisdom.
• 7シラ書 7The author advises against wrongdoing, offering guidance on prayer, family relationships, honoring priests, and helping the poor.
• 8シラ書 8This chapter counsels prudence and caution when interacting with powerful, wealthy, foolish, or untrustworthy individuals.
• 9シラ書 9Warnings against dangerous relationships with women are paired with advice on maintaining old friendships and navigating powerful rulers.
• 10シラ書 10This chapter discusses the qualities of good rulers, denounces pride and covetousness, and defines true honor as fearing God.
• 11シラ書 11Ben Sira advises humility, cautions against judging by appearances, warns of sudden reversals of fortune, and urges carefulness regarding strangers.
• 12シラ書 12Ben Sira advises selective charity to the righteous and warns against trusting enemies, who reveal their true malice during adversity.
• 13シラ書 13Ben Sira warns against associating with the rich and powerful, detailing how wealth inequality skews social relations and justice.
• 14シラ書 14This chapter condemns greed and envy, encourages enjoying one's resources and doing good before death, and praises the pursuit of Wisdom.
• 15シラ書 15Wisdom welcomes those who fear God, who has given humans free will to choose between life and death, good and evil.
• 16シラ書 16Ben Sira warns that wicked children are worthless, highlights God's historical judgments on sinners, and praises the order of creation.
• 17シラ書 17This chapter discusses God's creation of humanity, His covenant and law given to Israel, and a call to repentance.
• 18シラ書 18Ben Sira contrasts God's eternal mercy with human frailty, urging self-examination, thoughtful giving, and self-control.
• 19シラ書 19The text warns against dissipation and gossip, advises careful speech and constructive reproof, and contrasts true wisdom with clever wickedness.
• 20シラ書 20This chapter addresses the timing of speech and silence, the paradoxes of gifts, the shame of lying, and hidden wisdom.
• 21シラ書 21Ben Sira warns against sin and contrasts the speech, behavior, and character of wise individuals with those of fools.
• 22シラ書 22This chapter discusses laziness, foolish children, the difficulty of teaching fools, and the essential qualities of maintaining enduring friendships.
• 23シラ書 23Following a prayer for self-control, the author warns against oath-swearing, vulgar speech, fornication, and the severe consequences of adultery.
• 24シラ書 24Personified Wisdom praises her divine origin, her dwelling place in Israel, and her identification with the book of the covenant.
• 25シラ書 25The author lists various sources of joy and hatred, praises the fear of God, and warns against a wicked wife.
• 26シラ書 26This chapter contrasts the blessings of a virtuous wife with the dangers of a wicked woman, while warning against unchaste daughters.
• 27シラ書 27Ben Sira warns against dishonesty in commerce, stresses speech as a test of character, and warns against betraying friends' secrets.
• 28シラ書 28The author advises forgiving neighbors to receive divine mercy and extensively details the devastating, destructive power of a malicious tongue.
• 29シラ書 29This chapter provides guidelines on lending, the duties of borrowers, the risks of suretyship, and the wisdom of being self-sufficient.
• 30シラ書 30Ben Sira urges strict discipline in raising sons and emphasizes that physical health and a cheerful heart surpass great wealth.
• 31シラ書 31This chapter warns against the love of wealth and offers practical advice on table manners, moderation, and temperate drinking.
• 32シラ書 32The author counsels banquet hosts, encourages humility and listening among the young, and stresses obedience to God's law.
• 33シラ書 33Discussing divine sovereignty and human differences, this chapter also counsels maintaining personal independence and managing household servants.
• 34シラ書 34The text dismisses false dreams, praises those who fear God, and condemns offering sacrifices funded by exploiting the poor.
• 35シラ書 35True worship is defined as obeying the law, and God is described as a just judge who hears the oppressed.
• 36シラ書 36Ben Sira prays for Israel's restoration and the defeat of enemies, then praises the value of a good wife.
• 37シラ書 37Ben Sira counsels on distinguishing true friends from false ones, selecting wise advisors, and maintaining self-control in eating.
• 38シラ書 38This chapter advocates honoring physicians, outlines proper mourning practices, and contrasts the leisure of scribes with the labor of craftsmen.
• 39シラ書 39Ben Sira describes the ideal scribe who studies the law, followed by a hymn praising God's creation and sovereign purposes.
• 40シラ書 40Ben Sira describes the hardships of human life, evaluates various blessings, and warns against the misery of begging.
• 41シラ書 41Ben Sira discusses the reality of death, the legacy of the wicked, and the importance of healthy self-respect and proper shame.
• 42シラ書 42This chapter outlines proper boundaries for shame, counsels fathers on guarding daughters, and extols God's omniscience in the created order.
• 43シラ書 43Ben Sira praises God's majesty and power manifested through heavenly bodies, weather phenomena, and the mysteries of the natural world.
• 44シラ書 44The author begins a historical retrospective praising Israel's faithful ancestors, including Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• 45シラ書 45This chapter praises the legendary leadership of Moses, the detailed priestly glory of Aaron, and the zealous covenant of Phinehas.
• 46シラ書 46Praise of Joshua, Caleb, the Judges, and Samuel highlights their faithfulness, military victories, and righteous leadership in Israel's history.
• 47シラ書 47This chapter praises David's military success, Solomon's temple-building and wisdom, his subsequent moral decline, and the division of Israel.
• 48シラ書 48The text honors Elijah and Elisha for their miracles, and praises Hezekiah and Isaiah for defending Jerusalem against the Assyrian siege.
• 49シラ書 49Praise is offered to Josiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the Twelve Prophets, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, and several ancient righteous patriarchs.
• 50シラ書 50The author extols the high priest Simon, son of Onias, detailing his temple renovations, majestic liturgical service, and concluding blessings.
• 51シラ書 51Jesus son of Sirach praises God for deliverance, recounts his lifelong pursuit of Wisdom, and invites others to acquire instruction.