The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Son of Sirach 41
1 O death, how bitter is the memory of
you to a man who is at peace in his
possessions, to the man who has nothing to distract
him and has prosperity in all things, and who
still has strength to enjoy food!
2 O death, your sentence is acceptable to a
man who is needy and who fails in strength,
who is in extreme old age, is distracted
about all things, is perverse, and has lost patience!
3 Don’t be afraid of the sentence of death.
Remember those who have been before you and who come after.
This is the sentence from the Lord over all flesh.
4 And why do you refuse when it is the
good pleasure of the Most High? Whether
life lasts ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years,
there is no inquiry about life in Hades.†
5 The children of sinners are abominable
children and they frequent the dwellings of the
ungodly.
6 The inheritance of sinners’ children will
perish and with their posterity will be a
perpetual disgrace.
7 Children will complain of an ungodly father,
because they suffer disgrace because of him.
8 Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken
the law ofthe Most High God!‡
9 If you are born, you will be born to a
curse. If you die, a curse will be your portion.
10 All things that are of the earth will go
back to the earth; so the ungodly will go
from a curse to perdition.
11 The mourning of men is about their bodies;
but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out.
12 Have regard for your name,
for it continues with you longer than a
thousand great treasures of gold.
13 A good life has its number of days,
but a good name continues forever.
14 My children, follow instruction in peace.
But wisdom that is hidden and a treasure that is
not seen, what benefit is in them both?
15 Better is a man who hides his foolishness
than a man who hides his wisdom.
16 Therefore show respect for my words;
for itis not good to retain every kind of
shame. Not everything is approved by all in
good faith.
17 Be ashamed of sexual immorality before
father and mother, of a lie before a prince
and a mighty man,
18 of an offense before a judge and
ruler, of iniquity before the congregation
and the people, of unjust dealing before
a partner and friend,
19 and of theft in the place where you
sojourn. Be ashamed in regard of the truth of God
and his covenant, of leaning on your elbow at dinner,
of contemptuous behavior in the matter of giving and taking,
20 of silence before those who greet
you, of looking at a woman who is a prostitute,
21 of turning away your face from a
kinsman, of taking away a portion or a gift,
of gazing at a woman who has a husband,
22 of meddling with his maid—and
don’t come near her bed,
of abusive speechto friends—andafter
you have given, don’t insult,
23 of repeating and speaking what you
have heard, and of revealing of secrets.
24 So you will be ashamed of the right
things and find favor in the sight of every
man.