Sirach
Chapter 22
The idler is like a dirty stone; his disgrace is ridiculed.
The idler is like a pile of dung; everyone who touches it brushes it off.
Education of Children
Poorly raised children are their father’s shame, and daughters, a disgrace.
A sensible daughter is a treasure to her husband, but the disgraceful one is a burden to her father.
A shameless daughter brings shame to her father and her husband; both despise her.
The untimely word is like music at a funeral, but speaking with purpose and wisdom is always appropriate.
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The Fool
Teaching a fool is like gluing a broken jar; it is easier to wake a man from a deep sleep.
Reasoning with a fool is like reasoning with a drowsy person; in the end, he will ask you, “What is it all about?”
Weep for the dead man since the light has abandoned him; weep for the fool because understanding has left him. Cry less for the dead man—they have found their rest, but the fool’s life is worse than death.
Mourning the dead lasts seven days, but it lasts a lifetime for the fool and godless man.
Do not waste words on the fool or associate with the stupid; beware of him lest he cause you trouble, and his influence leave you contaminated. Stay away from him if you want to rest and avoid being worn out by his requests.
What is heavier than lead? What’s its name but “Fool”?
Sand, salt, and a load of iron are easier to carry than a fool.
Thoughtfulness
An earthquake does not dislodge the wooden joint in a building; a steadfast heart, after careful reflection, will not be moved when crises come.
A decision rooted in serious thought endures like plaster on a sturdy wall.
Stakes set high up do not withstand the wind; a fool’s heart, frightened by his own imaginings, cannot endure fear.
Friendship
Striking the eye causes tears; if you strike the heart, clarity will emerge.
Whoever throws stones at birds frightens them off; reproaching a friend will kill the friendship.
If you have drawn your sword against a friend, do not give up hope, as it can be sheathed again;
if you have spoken harshly to a friend, do not worry, reconciliation is possible; but in cases of insult, contempt, betrayal of a confidence, or treacherous blows, any friend would turn away.
Win your neighbor’s trust when he is poor so that you can enjoy his goods with him when he becomes rich; be loyal during his trouble, and you will ultimately share in his inheritance.
Smoke and fumes come before the fire; likewise, insults often lead to blows.
I will not be ashamed to protect or stand by a friend;
if harm comes from him, everyone who hears of it will be cautious of him.
Prayer for Self-control
Who will guard my mouth and effectively lock my lips to prevent me from sinning and my tongue from causing my downfall?
Commentaries
Foolish and Wise.
Through a series of clear comparisons, Ben Sirach contrasts what it means to be foolish with what it means to be wise. These contrasts mainly relate to their way of being and their outlook on life (12-17). The fool is grouped with the wicked (27), the gossip (28), and the sluggard (22:1ff). Such people should be avoided like a contaminated stone.
Education of Children.
Many problems can be avoided by addressing children’s issues early. Notice how, in the case of spoiled sons, misfortune is mentioned, but when it comes to daughters, the misfortune is much worse. This is a patriarchal society that sets standards of behavior and morality for women, not because of who they are naturally, but to avoid discrediting their father if they are unmarried, or their husband if they are already married.
The Fool.
According to Ben Sira’s view, those who are foolish and senseless are beyond help; there is no chance they can change their lives. This reflected the Greek mindset; for them, the world was divided between free men and slaves, rich and poor, fools and wise men, and, in short, this view of reality left no room for change, as it was seen as an unchangeable truth.
Thoughtfulness.
Doing things well, speaking words well, and most importantly, doing so at the right time, are what hold meaning and value. This is another ideal that the wise man must strive to achieve.
Friendship.
One of the most essential values for human beings is the ability to form and maintain friendships. However, not everyone can uphold this value to the high standard that friendship itself demands. There are many ways to end a friendship, and also the possibility of rebuilding it; however, some friendships are broken beyond repair. According to Ben Sira’s perspective, these friendships have ended due to betrayal, the discovery of secrets, and arrogance (22). The most healthy approach is to know how to make good friends and stay loyal to them. Ben Sirach suggests befriending the poor because if they succeed, they will be a great support to us, and also showing solidarity with the sad and troubled, being with a friend in their misfortune. It is difficult to doubt such a friend.
Prayer for Self-control.
Prayers are relatively uncommon in wisdom literature (see, however, 36:1-22 and 51:1-12). This prayer isn’t entirely separate from the previous theme of building friendship, as friendship can be lost through a slip of the tongue, such as revealing a secret. It also connects to the following sections, which also focus on the theme of the tongue. The prayer has two parts, each introduced by the invocation “Lord, Father, Master of my life” (1) and “Lord, Father, God of my life” (4). The first part expresses a desire to control the tongue, since it can do much harm; the second part reflects a desire to master unrestrained appetites and passions, as losing control of these can result in losing one’s humanity.