Sirach Chapter 14 Summary - Key Points & Themes

Read Sirach Chapter 14 Summary

Two blessings open the chapter: on the man who has not slipped with his mouth, and on him whose conscience does not condemn him. The miser is then mocked: he gathers for others who will squander it, and his wicked eye begrudges even his own bread. 'According to thy ability do good to thyself', and to your friend before you die, for there are no dainties in the grave, and all flesh waxes old as a garment, falling and growing like leaves on a tree. The closing lines bless the man who pursues wisdom like a hunter and pitches his tent by her house.

Characters in This Chapter

Noah

Found perfect and righteous, kept as a remnant when the flood came, with an everlasting covenant

Abraham

Father of many nations, faithful when tested, to whom God swore to bless the nations in his seed

Moses

Beloved of God and men, brought into the cloud and given the law of life; the law he commanded is identified with Wisdom

Aaron

Given an everlasting priesthood; his vestments are described at length

David

Chosen out of Israel, slayer of Goliath, singer who set singers before the altar, given a covenant of kings

Solomon

Wise king of peace who built the temple, then stained his honour through his women

Elijah

Prophet 'as fire', taken up in a chariot of fire and appointed to turn the heart of the father to the son

Ben Sira

Author and sage of Jerusalem, who signs the book, praises the fathers and closes with his own prayer

Lot

Nephew of Abraham

Places in This Chapter

Jerusalem

City where Wisdom finds her rest, for which the author prays, and whose walls and temple the Praise of the Fathers recalls

The Temple

Rebuilt after the exile and repaired by the high priest Simon, whose liturgy there crowns the Praise of the Fathers

The Tabernacle

Holy tent where Wisdom ministered before God before settling in Sion

Position in Book

The Fear of the LordChapters 1-2

Parents, the Poor and Wisdom's DisciplineChapters 3-4

Speech, Friendship and PrudenceChapters 5-9

Pride, Wealth and GenerosityChapters 10-14

Rulers and the pride that topples them, the God who raises the lowly, discernment in giving, the danger of rich company, and the miser's folly.

Free Will and God's MercyChapters 15-18

The Tongue and the FoolChapters 19-23

Wisdom Praises HerselfChapters 24

Wives and the HouseholdChapters 25-26

Honest Dealing and ForgivenessChapters 27-32

God's Order, True Worship and a Prayer for IsraelChapters 33-36

Counsellors, Physicians and the ScribeChapters 37-39

Life, Death and the Glory of CreationChapters 40-43

The Praise of the FathersChapters 44-50

Thanksgiving and the Search for WisdomChapters 51