King James Version · Under the Greeks
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 16
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1 not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons. 2Though they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the be with them. 3 not thou in their life, neither respect their multitude: for one that is is better than a thousand; and better it is to without children, than to have them that are ungodly. 4For by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished: but the kindred of shall speedily become desolate. 5Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine ear hath heard greater things than these. 6In of the ungodly shall a be kindled; and in a rebellious nation is set on . 7He was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in the strength of their foolishness. 8Neither spared he the place where sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride. 9He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their : 10Nor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their . 11And if there be one among the people, it is marvel if he escape unpunished: for mercy and are with him; he is mighty to forgive, and to pour out displeasure. 12As his mercy is great, so is his also: he judgeth a man according to his works 13The shall not escape with his spoils: and the of the godly shall not be frustrate. 14Make way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find according to his works. 15 hardened , that he should not know him, that his powerful works might be known to the world. 16His mercy is manifest to every creature; and he hath separated his from with an adamant. 17Say not thou, I will hide myself from : shall any remember me from above? I shall not be remembered among so many people: for what is among such an infinite number of creatures? 18Behold, the , and the , the deep, and the earth, and all that therein is, shall be moved when he shall visit. 19The mountains also and foundations of the earth be shaken with trembling, when looketh upon them. 20No can think upon these things worthily: and who is able to conceive his ways? 21It is a tempest which no man can see: for the most part of his works are hid. 22Who can declare the works of his justice? or who can them? for his is afar off, and the of all things is in the end. 23He that wanteth understanding will think upon things: and a foolish man erring imagineth follies. 24by son, unto me, and learn knowledge, and mark my words with thy . 25I will shew forth doctrine in weight, and declare his knowledge exactly. 26The works of are done in : and from the time he made them he disposed the parts thereof. 27He garnished his works for ever, and in his hand are the chief of them unto all generations: they neither labour, nor are weary, nor cease from their works. 28None of them hindereth another, and they shall never disobey his word. 29After this looked upon the earth, and filled it with his . 30With all manner of living things hath he covered the thereof; and they shall return into it again.
The 1611 translation, public domain. Its original printing included the Apocrypha, which is why the deuterocanonical books can be read here. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under the Greeks, 332 BC to 63 BC ›
Alexander's conquest and the kingdoms of his successors. Greek language and custom press in everywhere, and the crisis under Antiochus IV provokes the Maccabean revolt.
- The successors
- Alexander dies at thirty-two and his generals carve up the empire. Judea sits on the border between the Ptolemies in Egypt and the Seleucids in Syria, and is fought over by both for a century and a half, which is the ordinary condition of the corridor.
- Hellenism
- Not just conquest but a culture: the gymnasium, the theatre, Greek names, Greek dress, Greek as the language of anyone with ambitions. Some Jews embraced it, some resisted it, and the argument between them is the real subject of the Maccabean books. In Alexandria the Hebrew scriptures are translated into Greek, producing the Septuagint, which is the Bible most New Testament writers quote.
- The crisis
- Antiochus IV bans the practice of Judaism, plunders the temple, and sets up a pagan altar in it in 167 BC. The revolt under the Maccabees wins, the temple is rededicated in 164 BC, which is the origin of Hanukkah, and Judea has about eighty years of independence under the Hasmoneans before Rome arrives.
- Further afield
- Rome fights Carthage three times and ends up master of the Mediterranean. Euclid writes the Elements and Archimedes does his work at Syracuse. In China the Qin unify the country in 221 BC and the Han follow, opening what becomes the Silk Road.
All of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)