SIR

Sirach 5 - Summary

Summary

Read Sirach Chapter 5 Summary

A chapter against presumption. Do not trust in your goods or say 'I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me?' The Lord is longsuffering, but mercy and wrath both come from him, so 'make no tarrying to turn to the Lord', for his wrath can break out suddenly, and goods unjustly gotten will not help in the day of calamity. The rest concerns speech: do not winnow with every wind like the double-tongued sinner, be swift to hear and patient in answering, and lay your hand on your mouth when you lack understanding, for 'the tongue of man is his fall.'

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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

Warnings against presumption and the double tongue, the portrait of the faithful friend, and prudence toward the powerful, women and strangers.

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
Life, Death and the Glory of CreationChapters 40-43
The Praise of the FathersChapters 44-50
Thanksgiving and the Search for WisdomChapters 51