Sirach Chapter 37 Summary - Key Points & Themes

Read Sirach Chapter 37 Summary

Every friend says 'I am his friend also', but some are friends in name only and turn against you in trouble. Counsellors may counsel for themselves: do not consult a woman about her rival, a coward about war or a merchant about exchange. Stay with a godly man, trust your own heart, which sees more than seven watchmen on a tower, and above all pray to the most High. Some are wise for others but useless to themselves; the truly wise man instructs his people, for 'the days of Israel are innumerable.' The chapter ends with advice on moderation in eating.

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

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

Choosing counsel, honouring the physician, mourning the dead, the value of the trades, and the scribe's vocation, ending in a hymn to God's works.

Life, Death and the Glory of CreationChapters 40-43

The Praise of the FathersChapters 44-50

Thanksgiving and the Search for WisdomChapters 51