Sirach
Chapter 13
Dealing With the Rich
He who touches tar will be soiled; he who associates with an arrogant man will become like him.
Do not carry too heavy a load; avoid making friends with someone stronger and wealthier than you. Why put an earthen pot next to an iron one? One will bang the other and break it.
The rich man commits wrongs without concern; the poor man is insulted and apologizes.
The rich man uses you as long as you are useful; when you have nothing left, he abandons you.
He will stay with you as long as you have something; he will drain you without hesitation.
If he truly needs you, he will deceive you, smile at you, and raise your hopes; he will speak smooth words and say, “What would you like?”
He will show his gratitude by entertaining you until he has taken everything you own, and he will mock you in the end. Later, when he sees you, he will avoid you, shaking his head as he passes.
Dealing With the Nobleman
Be careful not to be fooled or humiliated because of foolishness.
When an influential person invites you, delay, and they will call you even more.
Do not go so far ahead that you’re pushed aside, nor so far behind that you’re ignored.
Do not try to speak to him as an equal or believe his many words. With all this talk, he’s only trying to test you, and under the guise of kindness, he’s assessing you.
He will repeat what you say without mercy and won’t spare you from blows or chains.
Be cautious and very careful because you’re walking into your own trap.
…
Rich and Poor
All living beings love their own kind, and each person cares for their own neighbor.
Every animal connects with its own species, and man, with his own kind.
What does the wolf share with the lamb? The same applies to the sinner and the virtuous man.
What kind of peace can exist between a hyena and a dog? What peace can there be between a rich man and a poor man?
Wild donkeys are prey to desert lions; similarly, the poor are prey to the rich.
The proud man despises humility; likewise, the poor man is often detested by the rich.
When the rich man stumbles, his friends support him; but when the poor man falls, his friends abandon him.
When a wealthy man gets into trouble, many come to his rescue; if he says something foolish, they praise him. When a poor man makes a mistake, they criticize him; if he speaks sensibly, they ignore him.
When the wealthy speak, everyone is silent, and they praise their words to the sky. The poor speak, and people ask, “Who is this?” And if he stumbles, they push him down.
Wealth is good if it is free of sin, and poverty is evil when it results from godlessness
Conscience
A man’s heart is reflected in his face, for better or worse.
Does he show a happy face? It suggests all is going well for him. Has he found words of wisdom? He has reflected on suffering.
Commentaries
Dealing With the Rich.
According to Ben Sirach, there is a natural incompatibility between the rich and the poor. The two images he uses to illustrate this point are very suggestive: “he who touches pitch will have his hands stuck together” (1), and the iron pot should not be put together with the clay pot (2). The point is that one must avoid the company of the rich so as not to end up being exploited and, therefore, humiliated by them. In light of the Gospel, this warning applies not so much to the impoverished as to the rich; if they do not renounce their riches, they will have no place in the kingdom of heaven; and in light of the modern socio-anthropological conception of reality, it should be added that if they do not also commit themselves to the real and practical struggle against the structures that generate injustice, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Dealing With the Nobleman.
Another pair that is part of this duality, beloved by the ancient Greek world and a theme in the teachings of Ben Sirach, is the noble and the humble (of humble origin). The recommendation for the wise man is to keep his distance, not to get involved with the noble, but also not to seem unfriendly; in any case, it is best to maintain a cautious distance.
Rich and Poor.
It often seems like being poor is a curse; so, how should we understand the blessedness of the poor? When and how will they be blessed? When will their dignity be respected and their voices heard? This happens when two necessary conditions are met: 1. When the rich realize that their attitude is harmful to themselves because, deep down, they have become slaves to an idol: money. It is also dangerous to others because it turns them into objects that enrich the rich. 2. When the poor accept that their condition is not divine will, that their impoverishment is not dignifying, and that they must work to build a more supportive society that condemns and fights against unjust systems, but does so in solidarity, creating resistance against personal and structural injustice.
Conscience.
One concern of the wise is balancing their inner world and outward appearance; we might call this integrity. A person with integrity shows their deepest feelings through their actions, and this is not just a religious virtue but also an effort to maintain good mental health. Whether we like it or not, a person’s “psyche” tends to weaken when they live in this dichotomy, appearing externally to be something completely different from what they are internally; so, in this too, Ben Sirach is wise—it’s worth fighting for the authenticity and integrity of one’s personality.