SIR

Sirach 18 - Summary

Summary

Read Sirach Chapter 18 Summary

He that lives for ever created all things, and when a man has finished searching out his works, he is only beginning. A man's days are at most a hundred years, a drop beside the sea, so God is patient and brings men back 'as a shepherd his flock.' Practical counsel follows: do not spoil a gift with harsh words, for a kind word is better than a gift; learn before you speak, examine yourself before judgment, pay your vows in time, and remember hunger in days of plenty. The chapter ends with a warning against lusts and banquets paid for by borrowing.

Original

Characters in This Chapter

Noah
Noah

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

Abraham
Abraham

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

Moses
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
Aaron

Given an everlasting priesthood; his vestments are described at length

David
David

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

Solomon
Solomon

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

Elijah
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
Ben Sira

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

Places in This Chapter

Jerusalem
Jerusalem

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

View on Map
The Temple
The Temple

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

View on Map
The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle

Holy tent where Wisdom ministered before God before settling in Sion

View on Map

Need words for what you are living?

Describe it and receive a prayer written for you, with verses to hold on to.

Write a prayer

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
Free Will and God's MercyChapters 15-18

Man is free to choose life or death; God judges the wicked, created man in his image, chose Israel, and is patient with all flesh.

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