Sirach 40

Human Misery and Evil

¹God plans for us humans[#Gn 2.7; 3.19.]

to work hard

from the day of our birth

until we are buried in the soil

from which we were made.

²We don't understand life,

so we worry and dread the day

that it will end.

*

³And each of us is bothered

by troubling feelings—

from the king,

seated on his glorious throne

and wearing his crown

and royal robes,

*

⁴to the homeless in the street,

sitting in dirt and grime

and wearing worn-out clothes.

⁵We are angry, jealous,

or hateful;

or maybe we feel guilty

or are afraid of death.

Sometimes we are confused

by a dream,

⁶or lie awake

worrying about our work,

and so we get little rest.

We see ourselves

running for our lives,

⁷and almost reaching safety,

then we wake up, amazed—

it was all a dream.

⁸The troubles that sinners have

will be seven times worse

than those of other people.

Any living creature

⁹can suffer a violent death

when there is war or fighting,

or they can die from disaster,

horrible disease, or famine.

¹⁰But God created these troubles[#Gn 6.5—7.23.]

to punish those who do wrong,

as when he sent the flood.

¹¹Animals and humans[#Gn 1.24; 2.7; 3.19.]

were created from the soil,

and will return to it,

just as water

returns to the sea.

¹²What you gain by being honest

will last forever,

but wealth you get

by bribery and cheating

will disappear.

¹³It will dry up like a stream

in the summer heat,

or quickly fade, like thunder

from a passing storm.

¹⁴And while generous people

can celebrate success,

those who disobey God

will be failures.

¹⁵Their children will be like trees

growing out of a rocky cliff

and having rotten roots

and few branches.

¹⁶They are like the tall grass

that grows beside a stream—

when the stream runs dry,

the grass quickly withers.

¹⁷But those who show kindness,

especially to the poor,

are gardens that always bloom

with blessing after blessing.

What Is Good for People

¹⁸It is good to have a job

and earn your own money,

but it is even better

to discover hidden treasure.

¹⁹Having wisdom is better

than giving your name

to your children or to a city

that you have built.

Cattle and fruit trees

can bring you wealth,

but a happy marriage

is better than riches.

²⁰Wine and music bring happiness,

but if you love wisdom,

you will be even happier.

²¹A pleasant voice is sweeter

than the music

of flutes and harps.

²²Our eyes like beauty

and graceful movement,

but most of all, we want to see

our fields becoming green

with sprouting wheat.

²³Having friends and neighbors

is important,

but being married

is even better.

²⁴Relatives and friends can help

when you are in trouble,

but the best help comes

from giving to the poor.

²⁵Gold and silver

may give security,

but they don't compare

with good advice.

²⁶Many trust wealth and power,

but if you obey the Lord,

he will give you

whatever you need

if you will just ask.

²⁷If you obey the Lord,

he will protect you

and make your life a garden

where blessings grow.

Don't Be a Beggar

²⁸You would be better off dead

than to be a beggar.

²⁹If you have to beg for food,

your life isn't your own,

and you won't have

any respect for yourself.

If you are smart

and have learned anything,

you won't beg.

³⁰No matter what beggars say,

they really are ashamed

of what they do.