Sirach chapter 36
[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] Praying for God’s kingdom to expand to the Gentiles. Discerning the spirits. The treasure of a godly spouse.
The Book of Sirach is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches
PRAYING FOR GOD’S KINGDOM TO BE EXPANDED TO THE GENTILES
VERSE 1. Have mercy upon us, O Lord the God of all, and behold;
Have mercy upon us, O Lord. The Old Testament often brings up the great mercy of the One God.
VERSE 2. And send your fear upon all the nations:
VERSE 3. Lift up your hand against the strange nations; And let them see your mighty power.
let them see your mighty power. The Old Testament foresees Gentiles coming to faith in the One God of Israel and bringing gifts to Jerusalem. Here are the key Bible verses about this »
VERSE 4. As you were sanctified in us before them, So be you magnified in them before us.
sanctified in us. This is speaking in the past tense. In the past, the people of Israel embodied the holiness of the LORD God.
be you magnified in them. This is speaking in the future tense. In the future, the Gentiles will glorify the LORD God.
The Old Testament foresees Gentiles coming to faith in the One God of Israel and bringing gifts to Jerusalem. Here are the key Bible verses about this »
VERSE 5. And let them know you, as we also have known you, That there is no God but only you, O God.
there is no God but only you. Jewish people (and us Christians) are strict monotheists.
VERSE 6. Show new signs, and work various wonders; Glorify your hand and your right arm.
new signs. The author asks for fresh signs from the LORD God.
work various wonders. The author asks for new wonders from the LORD God.
VERSE 7. Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath; Take away the adversary, and destroy the enemy.
VERSE 8. Hasten the time, and remember the oath; And let them declare your mighty works.
VERSE 9. Let him that escapes be devoured by the rage of fire; And may those who harm your people find destruction.
VERSE 10. Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemies, That say, There is none but we.
VERSE 11. Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, And take them for your inheritance, as from the beginning.
VERSE 12. O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by your name, And upon Israel, whom you did liken to a firstborn.
VERSE 13. Have compassion upon the city of your sanctuary, Jerusalem, the place of your rest.
VERSE 14. Fill Sion; exalt your oracles, And fill your people with your glory.
VERSE 15. Give testimony to those that were your creatures in the beginning, And raise up the prophecies that have been in your name.
VERSE 16. Give reward to those who wait for you: And men shall put their trust in your prophets.
VERSE 17. Listen, O Lord, to the prayer of your suppliants, According to the blessing of Aaron concerning your people; And all those who are on the earth shall know That you are the Lord, the eternal God.
DISCERNING THE SPIRITS
VERSE 18. The belly will eat any meat; Yet is one meat better than another.
VERSE 19. The mouth tastes meats taken in hunting: So does an understanding heart false speeches.
VERSE 20. A contrary heart will cause heaviness: And a man of experience will recompense him.
THE TREASURE OF A GODLY SPOUSE
VERSE 21. A woman will receive any man; But one daughter is better than another.
VERSE 22. The beauty of a woman cheers the countenance; And a man desires nothing so much.
VERSE 23. If there is on her tongue mercy and meekness, Her husband is not like the sons of men.
VERSE 24. He that gets a wife enters upon a possession: A help meet for him, and a pillar of rest.
NAB translation:
A wife is her husband’s richest treasure, a helpmate, a steadying column.
her husband’s richest treasure. The biblical man sees his wife as his richest treasure on earth, the greatest prize of his life.
She is his equal partner in life and his strongest friendship of his whole life.
VERSE 25. Where no hedge is, the possession will be laid waste: And he that has no wife will mourn as he wanders up and down.
NAB translation. A vineyard with no hedge will be overrun; a man with no wife becomes a homeless wanderer.
a man with no wife becomes a homeless wanderer. This is a very dismal view of singleness.
It is 100% contrary to the New Testament vision of singleness as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ and by St. Paul:
Matthew 19:12. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.
2 Corinthians 7:8. But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.
VERSE 26. For who will trust a nimble robber, that skips from city to city? Even so who shall trust a man that has no nest, and lodges wherever he finds himself at nightfall?
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 Bibleand the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.