Sirach chapter 13
[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] Don’t associate with a proud person or a rich person or an influential person. Associate with your peers.
The Book of Sirach is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches
DON’T ASSOCIATE WITH A PROUD PERSON
VERSE 1. He that touches pitch will be defiled; And he that has fellowship with a proud man will become like to him.
he that has fellowship with a proud man. We become like the people we associate with.
Do you associate with wise people? Then you will become wise.
Do you associate with arrogant people? Then you will become arrogant.
VERSE 2. Take not up a burden above your strength; And have no fellowship with one that is mightier and richer than yourself. What fellowship shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? This will strike, and that will be dashed in pieces.
Take not up a burden above your strength. Since our capacity is limited, the author assumes that we should only attempt what can be achieved with our limited capacity.
On the one hand, that is wise and realistic. On the other hand, there are two big problems with the author’s assumption:
First many people underestimate their own capacity. For that reason, we are not achieving what we are capable of.
Second, when we walk with the Most High, we are given additional capacity:
The LORD God is filling us with his can-do power. Even if we don’t feel that limitless power right now, one day we will! Read more »
DON’T ASSOCIATE WITH A RICH PERSON
VERSE 3. The rich man does a wrong, and he threatens withal: The poor is wronged, and he will entreat withal.
The rich man … threatens. When they make a mistake, wealthy people lash out at other people and threaten them.
VERSE 4. If you be profitable, he will make merchandise of you; And if you be in lack, he will forsake you.
VERSE 5. If you have substance, he will live with you; And he will make you bare, and will not be sorry.
he will make you bare. A rich person will consume the resources of other people.
and will not be sorry. After consuming the resources of other people, a rich person will not be sorry about it.
They did a terrible thing to someone else, but they feel entitled.
VERSE 6. Does he need of you? then he will deceive you, And smile upon you, and give you hope: He will speak you fair, and say, What need you?
VERSE 7. And he will shame you by his meats, Until he have made you bare twice or thrice, And at the last he will laugh you to scorn: Afterward he will see you, and will forsake you, And shake his head at you.
VERSE 8. Beware that you be not deceived, and brought low in your mirth.
DON’T ASSOCIATE WITH AN INFLUENTIAL PERSON
VERSE 9. If a mighty man invites you, be retiring, And he will invite you so much the more.
a mighty man. That is, “a man of influence.”
VERSE 10. Press not upon him, lest you be thrust back; And stand not far off, lest you be forgotten.
VERSE 11. Do not try to speak with him as an equal, And believe not his many words: For he will test you with much talk, And will search you out in a smiling manner.
he will test you with much talk. An influential person is always vetting possible associates, probing to assess loyalties and gauging how malleable the personality is.
in a smiling manner. Some people pretend to be friendly, while discovering how to exploit you.
They are insincere. They cannot be trusted.
VERSE 12. He that doesn’t keep spoken words to himself is unmerciful; And he will not spare to hurt and to bind.
VERSE 13. Keep them to yourself, and take earnest heed, For you walk in peril of your falling.
[VERSE 14. Be on your guard and take care never to accompany men of violence.]
This verse is omitted in the best manuscripts. The above is from the NAB translation.
never to accompany men of violence. The way of the LORD God is the way of peace.
The people of the LORD God are called to peace.
ASSOCIATE WITH YOUR PEERS
VERSE 15. Every living creature loves his like, And every man loves his neighbor.
VERSE 16. All flesh consorts according to kind, And a man will cleave to his like.
VERSE 17. What fellowship shall the wolf have with the lamb? So is the sinner to the godly.
VERSE 18. What peace is there between the hyena and the dog? And what peace between the rich man and the poor?
VERSE 19. Wild asses are the prey of lions in the wilderness; So poor men are pasture for the rich.
VERSE 20. Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; So a poor man is an abomination to the rich.
VERSE 21. A rich man when he is shaken is held up of his friends; But one of low degree being down is thrust away also by his friends.
VERSE 22. When a rich man is fallen, there are many helpers; He speaks things not to be spoken, and men justify him: A man of low degree falls, and men rebuke him withal; He utters wisdom, and no place is allowed him.
NAB translation:
Many are the supporters for a rich man when he speaks; though what he says is odious, it wins approval. When a poor man speaks they make sport of him; he speaks wisely and no attention is paid him.
though what he says is odious. A rich man might be racist and misogynist.
it wins approval. And yet people will applaud for the rich man.
VERSE 23. A rich man speaks, and all keep silence; And what he says they extol to the clouds: A poor man speaks, and they say, Who is this? And if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.
NAB translation. A rich man speaks and all are silent, his wisdom they extol to the clouds. A poor man speaks and they say: “Who is that?” If he slips they cast him down.
VERSE 24. Riches are good that have no sin; And poverty is evil in the mouth of the ungodly.
VERSE 25. The heart of a man changes his countenance, Whether it be for good or for evil.
VERSE 26. A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity; And the finding out of parables is a weariness of thinking.
A cheerful countenance. Are you marked by joy?
Some Christians have a sad face and a somber demeanor. We wish they could know the joy of their Lord. Holiness is marked by joy. Joy equals strength! Read more »
SIRACH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.