Sirach
Chapter 16
God Punishes
Do not long for a worthless brood of children or take joy in godless sons.
No matter how many you have, do not rejoice in them if they do not fear God.
Do not rely on their long life or trust in their numbers, because one good person is better than a thousand bad ones, and their death is preferable to their being godless.
A city can rise from one wise person. Yet even if the wicked gather into a large group, they will be destroyed.
I have seen such things with my own eyes and heard of even greater.
Fire has fallen on the gathering of sinners, and God’s wrath is kindled against rebellious people.
God did not forgive the leaders of old who rebelled in their pride and strength.
He did not spare the city where Lot lived; he hated their pride.
He showed no mercy to the people doomed to destruction; they were wiped out because of their sins.
Similarly, he dealt with the six hundred thousand men who had rebelled with hardened hearts.
If only one stubborn person existed, it would be amazing if he escaped punishment, since mercy and anger both belong to the Lord, who is powerful in both forgiveness and punishment.
His justice is as great as his mercy, and he judges people based on their actions.
Just as the sinner cannot escape with his plunder, the patience of the upright will not go unrewarded.
God will reward every act of kindness; each person will be judged according to his deeds.
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God Sees
Do not say, “I will hide from the Lord; who will remember me up there? I will not be recognized amid so many. What am I in the vastness of creation?”
Look: the sky and the heavens above, the sea, and the earth tremble when He arrives.
The mountains, along with the foundations of the earth, are filled with fear before his presence.
But no one considers such things: who cares about God’s ways?
Most of his works go unnoticed, and man does not see where the storm begins.
“Who tells us of God’s interventions? Who expects them? The covenant is distant.”
Such are the thoughts of the foolish, the reckless, those who love their illusions.
God the Creator
Listen to me, my sons; gain knowledge and listen with your heart to my words.
I will explain the teachings step by step and carefully share what I know.
God created his works from the beginning, and as he made them, he assigned each its place.
He arranged them for all time, from their start to their unfolding. They do not hunger or grow tired, and they never stop their duties.
Not one has collided with another; they will never disobey his commands.
Later, the Lord looked down on the earth and filled it with his riches.
He covered its surface with all kinds of living things that must return to it.
Commentaries
God Punishes.
In Old Testament times, everyone aimed to have many children. Being the father or mother of many children was seen as a sign of divine blessing; however, in verses 1-4, Ben Sirach warns that what truly matters is not the number of children but their quality. He states, “one is better than a thousand,” and “it is better to die childless than to have arrogant descendants” (3). The key is fulfilling one’s duty, which, in the author’s view, is the same as loving and respecting the Lord, demonstrated by following His precepts. Verses 5-16 serve as a reminder of what was stated at the beginning, including testimonies from his own time (“what my eyes have seen”) and historical examples (“what my ears have heard”). Ben Sirach illustrates how different groups in the past indulged in evil, rebelled against God, and were consequently judged, because God judges each person according to their actions.
God Sees.
This passage seems to discuss a typical situation where the Israelites might have been influenced by specific ideas about God, humans, and the world introduced by Greek thought. The message is that we should not only do good or evil because God sees or does not see us; instead, we are called to act reasonably and righteously because that is our human duty and the pursuit of good. Evil does not “harm” God; it harms me and my neighbor. When it comes to judgment, we should not expect it initially from God, but rather from our own conscience and the neighbor who has been affected—either benefited or harmed—by our actions.
God the Creator.
Reflection on creation: stars, animals, plants, the first man, the first couple, the people—God made everything in order and harmony so that each would perform its role. Verse 14 sums up the entire Law and the commandments asked by the Lord: abstain from idolatry and follow the commandments concerning one’s neighbor.