Sirach
Chapter 41
Death
Death! What a bitter thought for someone who lives happily among his possessions, a prosperous and successful man who still enjoys his food!
Your sentence, Death, is welcoming to a person in need—someone whose strength is fading, who is old, exhausted, and burdened with worries; to someone who is angry and hopeless!
Don’t fear Death’s sentence; consider those who came before you and those who will follow.
The Lord has ordained it for every living being; why resist the good will of the Most High? Whether you live for ten, a hundred, or a thousand years, no one in the netherworld cares.
Abominable people, such as the children of sinners who gather in the houses of the ungodly.
The inheritance of sinners will perish; their prosperity will become a permanent reproach.
An unworthy father will be insulted by his children, for they hold him responsible for their disgrace.
Woe to you, wicked people who have forsaken the Law of the Most High!
From birth, you are destined to be cursed, and you will carry that curse until death.
Everything that originates from the earth goes back to the earth, and the wicked move from being cursed to being ruined.
People grieve because their bodies will perish, but even the evil names of sinners will be erased.
Value your reputation, for it endures and is worth more than a thousand hordes of gold.
Few perhaps are the days of the just man’s life, but an honored name endures forever.
Shame
My children, hold on to my teachings and live peacefully. What good is hidden wisdom and unseen treasure?
It’s better for a man to hide his foolishness than to conceal his wisdom.
Therefore, feel shame based on what I say. It is not always appropriate to feel shame, but not everyone understands this.
Be ashamed of licentiousness before your father and mother, and of a lie before a ruler or an important person.
Be ashamed of criminal conduct before a judge, and of wrongdoing before a group of people.
Feel ashamed of dishonesty towards your partner or friend, and of theft in your home.
Be ashamed before the truth of God and his Covenant. Be ashamed of keeping the loaves for yourself,
of being unable to give and receive, of not returning a greeting,
of staring at a prostitute, of rejecting a compatriot,
of depriving someone of what is his, of gazing at another man’s wife,
of being too familiar with your maidservant—stay away from her bed!
of insulting words to a friend—do not follow up a gift with a reproach!
of repeating what you have heard and betraying secrets.
On these occasions, experience genuine shame and you will earn respect from everyone.
Commentaries
Death.
Two different effects of death: an adverse effect for the man who lives well (1) and a positive impact for the man who lives badly, for the defeated and hopeless (2). Ben Sirach advises against fearing death, as it is inevitable for everyone, regardless of their goodness or badness. Only for those who live according to God’s will does death not erase their fame or reputation; their name will live on in their descendants. Not so for the wicked, whose works are evil, as is their generation.
Shame.
Wisdom cannot be something hidden; it must be recognized, and this public nature must serve to distinguish what should be a source of shame for the wise (41:14-42:1) and what is not worth being ashamed of. Note that the reasons for shame are related to the ethical and moral behavior of the individual. The reasons that should not cause shame (42:2-8) are related to the fulfillment of the Lord’s Law and the practice of justice.