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Sirach

Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus

About this book
Chapter 17

1 The Lord created mankind out of earth, and turned them back to it again. 2 He gave them days by number, and a set time, and gave them authority over the things that are on it. 3 He endowed them with strength proper to them, and made them according to his own image.⁠ 4 He put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and birds. 6 He gave them counsel, tongue, eyes, ears, and heart to have understanding. 7 He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom, and showed them good and evil. 8 He set his eye upon their hearts, to show them the majesty of his works. 10 And they will praise his holy name, that they may declare the majesty of his works. 11 He added to them knowledge, and gave them a law of life for a heritage. 12 He made an everlasting covenant with them, and showed them his decrees. 13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory. Their ears heard the glory of his voice. 14 He said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.” So he gave them commandment, each man concerning his neighbor. 15 Their ways are ever before him. They will not be hidden from his eyes. 17 For every nation he appointed a ruler, but Israel is the Lord’s portion.⁠ 19 All their works are as clear as the sun before him. His eyes are continually upon their ways. 20 Their iniquities are not hidden from him. All their sins are before the Lord. 22 With him the alms of a man is as a signet. He will keep a man’s kindness as the pupil of the eye. 23 Afterwards he will rise up and repay them, and give their repayment upon their head. 24 However to those who repent he grants a return. He comforts those who are losing hope. 25 Return to the Lord, and forsake sins. Make your prayer before his face offend less.⁠ 26 Turn again to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity. Greatly hate the abominable thing. 27 Who will give praise to the Most High in Hades, in place of the living who return thanks? 28 Thanksgiving perishes from the dead, as from one who doesn’t exist. He who is in life and health will praise the Lord. 29 How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to those who turn to him! 30 For humans are not capable of everything, because the son of man is not immortal. 31 What is brighter than the sun? Yet even this can be eclipsed. So flesh and blood devise evil. 32 He looks upon the power of the height of heaven, while all men are earth and ashes.

Texts in conversation

Compare Deuteronomy 32:9 and Sirach 17:17

Hebrew Bible · Deuterocanon

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Summary

Sirach 17 echoes Deuteronomy 32, describing the nations divided under the rule of patron deities with Israel as God's particular people. Sirach presents Israel’s election as part of the structure of the cosmos established from creation.

Passages

Deuteronomy 32:9

Hebrew Bible
7 Remember the ancient days; bear in mind the years of past generations. Ask your father and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you. 8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up humankind, he set the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the heavenly assembly. 9 For the Lord’s allotment is his people, Jacob is his special possession. 10 The Lord found him in a desolate land, in an empty wasteland where animals howl. He continually guarded him and taught him; he continually protected him like the pupil of his eye. 11 Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, so the Lord spread out his wings and took him, he lifted him up on his pinions.
750–400 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Deuteronomy

Sirach 17:17

Deuterocanon · Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
14 He said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.” So he gave them commandment, each man concerning his neighbor. 15 Their ways are ever before him. They will not be hidden from his eyes. 17 For every nation he appointed a ruler, but Israel is the Lord’s portion. 19 All their works are as clear as the sun before him. His eyes are continually upon their ways. 20 Their iniquities are not hidden from him. All their sins are before the Lord. 22 With him the alms of a man is as a signet. He will keep a man’s kindness as the pupil of the eye.
195–180 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Sirach

References

"... Sirach 17 closely connects the story of creation with the establishment of the Deuteronomic vision of the cosmos. Beginning with the creation of humankind ... Sirach continues his recounting of Yahweh's election of Israel in Sirach 17:17 through the lens of the Deuteronomic scriptural matrix ... echoing Deuteronomy 32:8-9 ..."
David A. Burnett, A Neglected Deuteronomic Scriptural Matrix for the Nature of the Resurrection Body in 1 Corinthians 15:39–42? (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2019), 187–212.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Deuteronomy 32:9 and Sirach 17:17

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