Sirach Chapter 25 Summary - Key Points & Themes

Read Sirach Chapter 25 Summary

Three things are beautiful: unity of brethren, love of neighbours, and a husband and wife who agree; three men are hateful: a proud poor man, a lying rich man and an old adulterer. Experience is the crown of old men. The teacher counts things that make men happy, but none is above him who fears the Lord, for 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of his love.' The second half is a harsh portrait of the wicked woman: better to dwell with a lion and a dragon, her wickedness darkens her face, and 'of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die.'

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

Gad

Seventh Son of Jacob, a Troop Shall Overcome

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

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

What makes a household happy or miserable, with the good wife praised and the wicked wife bitterly described.

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