King James Version · Under the Greeks
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 18
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1He that liveth for ever Hath created all things in general. 2 only is , and there is none other but he, 3Who governeth the world with the palm of his hand, and all things his will: for he is the King of all, by his dividing things among them from profane. 4To whom hath he given to declare his works? and who shall find out his noble acts? 5Who shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell out his ? 6As for the wondrous works of , there may nothing be taken from them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out. 7When a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth off, then he shall be doubtful. 8What is man, and whereto serveth he? what is his good, and what is his evil? 9The number of a man’s days at the most are an hundred years. 10As a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravelstone in comparison of the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of eternity. 11Therefore is with them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them. 12He saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he multiplied his . 13The mercy of man is toward his neighbour; but the mercy of is upon : he reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth and bringeth again, as a his flock. 14He hath mercy on them that receive , and that diligently seek after his judgments. 15My son, not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest any thing. 16Shall not the asswage the heat? so is a word better than a gift. 17Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a man. 18A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious consumeth the eyes. 19Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick. 20Before examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy. 21Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of shew . 22Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy in due time, and defer not until to be . 23Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth . 24Think upon the that shall be at the end, and the time of , when he shall turn away . 25When thou hast enough, remember the time of : and when thou art rich, think upon and need. 26From the morning the time is changed, and all things are soon done before . 27A man will fear in every thing, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offence: but a fool will not observe time. 28Every man of understanding knoweth , and will give unto him that found her. 29They that were of understanding in sayings became also themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables. 30Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites. 31If thou givest thy the that please her, she will make thee a laughingstock to thine that malign thee. 32Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expence thereof. 33Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt lie in wait for thine own life, and be talked on.
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)