便西拉智训

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