King James Version · Under the Greeks
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 40
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1Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy is upon the sons of , from the day that they go out of their mother’s , till the day that they return to the mother of all things. 2Their imagination of things to come, and the day of , trouble their , and cause fear of ; 3From him that sitteth on a of , unto him that is humbled in earth and ; 4From him that weareth purple and a , unto him that is clothed with a linen frock. 5, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of , and , and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge. 6A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the of , as if he were escaped out of a battle. 7When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was nothing. 8Such things happen unto , both man and beast, and that is sevenfold more upon . 9, and bloodshed, strife, and , calamities, , tribulation, and the scourge; 10These things are created for , and for their sakes came the flood. 11All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea. 12All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing shall for ever. 13The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in . 14While he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to nought. 15The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many : but are as roots upon a hard . 16The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all grass. 17Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endureth for ever. 18To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet life: but he that findeth a is above them both. 19Children and the building of a city continue a man’s name: but a blameless wife is counted above them both. 20 and musick rejoice : but the love of is above them both. 21The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant is above them both. 22Thine eye desireth and beauty: but more than both corn while it is green. 23A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife with her husband. 24Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall more than them both. 25Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but is esteemed above them both. 26Riches and strength lift up : but the is above them both: there is no want in the , and it needeth not to seek help. 27The is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all . 28My son, lead not a beggar’s life; for better it is to than to beg. 29The life of him that dependeth on another man’s table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men’s meat: but a man well nurtured will beware thereof. 30Begging is sweet in the of the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a .
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)