Sirach
Chapter 11
Appearances and God’s Judgment
The poor wise man lifts his head high and sits among the great.
Do not praise a man because he is handsome, and do not look down on a man because of his appearance.
The bee is one of the smallest winged insects, but she excels in the exquisite sweetness of her honey.
Do not be proud because of the clothes you wear; do not be proud when people honor you. Do you know what the Lord is preparing in a mysterious way?
Many tyrants have been overthrown, and an unknown person has taken the crown.
Many powerful men have been thoroughly disgraced, and famous men handed over into the control of others.
Do not criticize anyone unless you have first been fully informed, consider the situation first, and then make your reproach.
Do not respond before you have listened; do not interrupt the person speaking.
Do not interfere with what is not your concern; do not meddle in the disputes of sinners.
My child, do not take on too many activities. If you keep adding to them, you will not be without blame; if you chase after them, you will not succeed, nor will you ever be free, even if you try to escape.
Some people exhaust themselves, tire themselves out, and become anxious, yet in the end, they are only poorer.
Some are weak, needing support, lacking resources, and in great poverty, yet the eyes of the Lord look on them with favor. The Lord will restore their dignity.
He will lift their heads, and many will marvel at this account.
Good and evil, life and death, poverty and wealth—all come from the Lord.
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The righteous can trust in the Lord’s generosity, and his goodness will guide them forever.
A person may become wealthy through carefulness and greed, and this is their reward.
The day they think, “I have earned my rest; now I can live on my possessions,” they don’t know how long they will live. They will have to die and leave their goods to others.
Stay faithful to your duty, dedicate your life to it, and grow old in your work.
Do not be discouraged by the success of sinners, but have confidence in God and persist in your efforts. It is easy for the Lord, in an instant, to make the poor rich.
The Lord’s blessing is the reward of the righteous, and swiftly, his blessing will come to fruition.
Do not say, “What do I need? What more could I have or desire?”
Do not say, “I have all I need; what misfortune can harm me now?”
On good days, we forget the bad; on bad days, we forget the good.
Even when death is near, it is easy for the Lord to reward a person based on how they have lived.
The Hard times make us forget pleasure; at the end of a person’s life, their actions will be revealed.
Do not consider anyone blessed before their death, for only then will they be truly known.
Be Wary of Strangers
Do not invite just anyone into your house, for many are clever deceivers.
Like a partridge in its cage acting as a decoy, so is the heart of the proud man; he watches out for your weaknesses like a spy.
He turns good things into evil, sets traps, and criticizes even the best things.
Just as a spark ignites coals, the wicked man prepares snares to draw blood.
Beware of the wicked man, for he is planning evil and may dishonor you forever.
If you bring a stranger into your home, he may cause trouble and estrange you from your family.
Commentaries
Appearances and God’s Judgment.
Building on the previous theme, verses 1-6 continue to explore the motivation for genuine honor, which should no longer come from wealth, power, or social status, but from respect for the Lord and His commands. Verses 8-28 cover several themes: 1. God is the source of true wealth, and he gives it to whoever he chooses, so it’s unwise to spend your life chasing it (10-13). 2. God is the creator of everything (14-17). While this was the ancient understanding of reality, not all comes from God; evil, injustice, and death originate from humans themselves. 3. We shouldn’t rely on wealth for security since everything ends with death (18ff). 4. We should focus on the present, concentrate on our own work, and avoid admiring wrongdoers, because the Lord cares for the righteous and the faithful (20-26).
Be Wary of Strangers.
Here is a teaching based on observation and life experience: do not admit strangers into your home. The wise man should not allow strangers to invade his home because they may be people who end up sowing discord and contradiction among family members. Contrast this teaching with the legendary hospitality of Eastern people. However, it must be remembered that Ben Sira’s era was marked by heavy human traffic, with many foreigners coming and going, bringing news, opinions, and new concepts—some perfect, but others very ambiguous—which could destabilize the way of life and thinking of the more traditional members of the Jewish community at any moment.