SIR

Sirach 39 - Summary

Summary

Read Sirach Chapter 39 Summary

Unlike the craftsmen, the scribe who gives his mind to the law of the most High seeks out the wisdom of the ancients and their hidden parables, travels through strange countries and rises early to pray. If the Lord wills, he is filled with understanding and his name lives for generations. The teacher, 'filled as the moon at the full', then calls his hearers to sing: 'All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.' No one should ask 'What is this?': water, fire, salt, wheat, honey, milk, wine and oil serve the godly, while fire, hail, famine and the sword were created for vengeance.

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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

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The Temple
The Temple

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

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The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle

Holy tent where Wisdom ministered before God before settling in Sion

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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