'Honour a physician with the honour due unto him... for the Lord hath created him.' The Lord brings medicines out of the earth, as wood once made bitter water sweet. In sickness, pray, leave off sin and make an offering, then give place to the physician, who also prays for success. Mourn the dead bitterly for a day or two, bury them with care, then take comfort: 'yesterday for me, and to day for thee.' The chapter ends with the trades: the ploughman, the engraver, the smith and the potter maintain the world, though they have no leisure to sit in council or become wise.
Sirach 38 - Summary
Summary
Read Sirach Chapter 38 Summary
Original
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
Places in This Chapter
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