Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 48
Commentary from 3 fathers
He brought a sore famine upon them, and by his zeal he diminished their number.
ὃς ἐπήγαγεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς λιμὸν καὶ τῷ ζήλῳ αὐτοῦ ὠλιγοποίησεν αὐτούς·
и҆́же нанесѐ на нѧ̀ гла́дъ и҆ ре́вностїю свое́ю ᲂу҆ма́ли ѧ҆̀,
By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and also three times brought down fire.
ἐν λόγῳ Κυρίου ἀνέσχεν οὐρανόν, κατήγαγεν οὕτως τρὶς πῦρ.
сло́вомъ гдⷭ҇нимъ ᲂу҆держа̀ не́бо и҆ сведѐ та́кѡ три́жды ѻ҆́гнь съ небесѐ.
O Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may glory like unto thee!
ὡς ἐδοξάσθης, ᾿Ηλία, ἐν τοῖς θαυμασίοις σου· καὶ τίς ὅμοιός σοι καυχᾶσθαι;
Ко́ль просла́вилсѧ є҆сѝ, и҆лїѐ, чꙋдесы̀ твои́ми, и҆ кто̀ подо́бенъ тебѣ̀ похвали́тисѧ;
Who didst raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from the place of the dead, by the word of the most High:
ὁ ἐγείρας νεκρὸν ἐκ θανάτου καὶ ἐξ ᾅδου ἐν λόγῳ ῾Υψίστου·
Воздви́гнꙋвъ мертвеца̀ ѿ сме́рти и҆ и҆з̾ а҆́да сло́вомъ вы́шнѧгѡ,
Who broughtest kings to destruction, and honourable men from their bed:
ὁ καταγαγὼν βασιλεῖς εἰς ἀπώλειαν καὶ δεδοξασμένους ἀπὸ κλίνης αὐτῶν·
сведы́й цари̑ въ па́гꙋбꙋ и҆ просла́влєнныѧ ѿ ѻ҆дра̀ и҆́хъ,
Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb the judgment of vengeance:
ὁ ἀκούων ἐν Σινᾷ ἐλεγμὸν καὶ ἐν Χωρὴβ κρίματα ἐκδικήσεως·
слы́шавый въ сїна́и ѡ҆бличе́нїе и҆ въ хѡри́вѣ сꙋдьбы̑ ѿмще́нїѧ,
Who anointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to succeed after him:
ὁ χρίων βασιλεῖς εἰς ἀνταπόδομα καὶ προφήτας διαδόχους μετ᾿ αὐτόν·
помазꙋ́ѧй цари̑ на воздаѧ́нїе и҆ прⷪ҇ро́ки прее́мники по себѣ̀,
Who was taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of fiery horses:
ὁ ἀναληφθεὶς ἐν λαίλαπι πυρὸς ἐν ἅρματι ἵππων πυρίνων·
взѧ́выйсѧ ви́хромъ ѻ҆́гненнымъ на колесни́цѣ ко́ней ѻ҆́гненныхъ,
Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the wrath of the Lord’s judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
ὁ καταγραφεὶς ἐν ἐλεγμοῖς εἰς καιροὺς κοπάσαι ὀργὴν πρὸ θυμοῦ, ἐπιστρέψαι καρδίαν πατρὸς πρὸς υἱὸν καὶ καταστῆσαι φυλὰς ᾿Ιακώβ.
впи́санъ во ѡ҆бличє́нїѧ на времена̀, ᲂу҆толи́ти гнѣ́въ пре́жде ꙗ҆́рости и҆ ѡ҆брати́ти се́рдце ѻ҆́тчее къ сы́нꙋ и҆ ᲂу҆стро́ити кѡлѣ́на і҆а̑кѡвлѧ.
Blessed are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we shall surely live.
μακάριοι οἱ ἰδόντες σε καὶ οἱ ἐν ἀγαπήσει κεκοσμημένοι, καὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς ζωῇ ζησόμεθα.
Блаже́ни ви́дѣвшїи тѧ̀ и҆ любо́вїю ᲂу҆кра́шеннїи.
Elias it was, who was covered with a whirlwind: and Eliseus was filled with his spirit: whilst he lived, he was not moved with the presence of any prince, neither could any bring him into subjection.
᾿Ηλίας, ὃς ἐν λαίλαπι ἐσκεπάσθη, καὶ ᾿Ελισαιὲ ἐνεπλήσθη πνεύματος αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐσαλεύθη ὑπὸ ἄρχοντος, καὶ οὐ κατεδυνάστευσεν αὐτὸν οὐδείς.
И҆лїа̀, и҆́же ви́хромъ покрове́нъ бы́сть, и҆ є҆лїссе́й и҆спо́лнисѧ дꙋ́ха є҆гѡ̀ и҆ во дни̑ своѧ̑ не поколеба́сѧ ѿ кнѧзе́й, и҆ не премо́же є҆гѡ̀ никто́же:
How is it possible that Elisha, when Elijah his master gave him the opportunity, asked for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah? The Lord says in the Gospel, “The disciple is not greater than the master. But everyone who is well prepared will be like his master.” But if we examine the mystery of this request, we will find that it is not an inopportune one but necessary. In fact, “Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I must do for you before I am taken from you. Elisha responded, I beg you that a double portion of your spirit be in me. And he responded, You have asked a difficult thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken away from you, it will be granted to you. If not, it will not be granted you.” What does Elijah symbolize here but our head, that is, the Lord our Redeemer, and Elisha his body, which is the church? Elijah, then, gives the occasion to ask, because in the Gospel it says, “Ask, and it will be given you.” And also, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” Having received this assurance from the Lord, Elisha, that is, the Christian people, asks that the spirit of Christ be doubled in him, which is to say, a double grace of the Holy Spirit, for the remission of sins and for the conferral of virtue. Our Redeemer, who had no sin, and neither did he commit sin, nor was deception found in his mouth, had no need for the remission of sins, not having any sin, but carried out the works of the Holy Spirit. He says this to the Jews in the Gospel: “If I cast out demons by the finger of God, it is because the kingdom of God has come on you.”
On Ecclesiasticus 10:18
No word could overcome him; and after his death his body prophesied.
πᾶς λόγος οὐχ ὑπερῇρεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐν κοιμήσει ἐπροφήτευσε τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ·
всѧ́ко сло́во не превзы́де є҆гѡ̀, и҆ во ᲂу҆спе́нїи прⷪ҇ро́чествова тѣ́ло є҆гѡ̀:
He did wonders in his life, and at his death were his works marvellous.
καὶ ἐν ζωῇ αὐτοῦ ἐποίησε τέρατα, καὶ ἐν τελευτῇ θαυμάσια τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ. -
и҆ въ житїѝ свое́мъ сотворѝ чꙋдеса̀, и҆ во ᲂу҆ме́ртвїи ди̑вна дѣла̀ є҆гѡ̀.
For all this the people repented not, neither departed they from their sins, till they were spoiled and carried out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth: yet there remained a small people, and a ruler in the house of David:
᾿Εν πᾶσι τούτοις οὐ μετενόησεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ οὐκ ἀπέστησαν ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν, ἕως ἐπρονομεύθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐσκορπίσθησαν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ. καὶ κατελείφθη ὁ λαὸς ὀλιγοστός, καὶ ἄρχων τῷ οἴκῳ Δαυίδ·
Во всѣ́хъ си́хъ не пока́ѧшасѧ лю́дїе и҆ не ѿстꙋпи́ша ѿ грѣ̑хъ свои́хъ, до́ндеже плѣне́ни бы́ша ѿ землѝ своеѧ̀ и҆ расточе́ни бы́ша по все́й землѝ.
When it says, “There remained only a people very few in number, with a prince of the house of David. Some of them did what was pleasing to God, but others multiplied sins,” it indicates that the descendents of the house of David and the tribes of Judah and of Benjamin did not completely reject the worship of God and his temple, as did the ten tribes that were in Samaria. But some of them were idolaters, such as Joram, Ahaziah, Manasseh, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. Others adhered to their God, as did Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah. Similarly, their subjects also acted in different ways: some followed the right way, others stumbled into error. For this reason it later happened that when many had already deviated from the truth, they were punished with imprisonment, so that those who had worshiped idols in their own land would also worship them in a foreign land.
On Ecclesiasticus 10:18
Of whom some did that which was pleasing to God, and some multiplied sins.
τινὲς μὲν αὐτῶν ἐποίησαν τὸ ἀρεστόν, τινὲς δὲ ἐπλήθυναν ἁμαρτίας. -
И҆ ѡ҆ста́сѧ люді́й ма́лѡ, и҆ кнѧ́зь въ домꙋ̀ даві́довѣ.
Ezekias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof: he digged the hard rock with iron, and made wells for waters.
᾿Εζεκίας ὠχύρωσε τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσήγαγεν εἰς τὸ μέσον αὐτῆς ὕδωρ, ὤρυξε σιδήρῳ ἀκρότομον καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε κρήνας εἰς ὕδατα.
Є҆зекі́а ᲂу҆твердѝ гра́дъ сво́й и҆ введѐ посредѣ̀ є҆гѡ̀ во́дꙋ: и҆скопа̀ желѣ́зомъ ка́мень и҆ созда̀ и҆сто́чники вода́мъ.
What it says in this passage, “He dug a canal in the rock with iron and built cisterns for water,” mysteriously indicates the holy city, of which it is written, “The Savior is our fortified city,” which cannot remain hidden since it is built on a hill. Elsewhere it is also written, “The rush of the river gladdens the city of God,” and, “Marvelous things are said of you, city of God.” He founded it and fortified it. And the Father says, “He built my city” and restores all the walls—which were in part knocked down by the malice of the pagans or of the heretics—with correct faith and true religion, raising the towers of the virtues and putting another wall without, a bulwark. In the building of forts these are called parapets, and they teach us to hold on to the efficacy of good works. It is not enough in fact to have the wall of faith, if this faith is not reinforced by good works. This wall and this bulwark are in fact made of living stones, which, according to the prophet, turn on the earth. The king made every kind of armor and shield, establishing the various testimonies of Scripture and commanding the evangelical doctrine in defense of his church. He established doctors who would lead the spiritual warriors and guide all the armies in a just and reasonable way, adequately defending the church’s camps against every enemy.
On Ecclesiasticus 10:19
In his time Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against Sion, and boasted proudly.
ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἀνέβη Σενναχηρὶμ καὶ ἀπέστειλε Ῥαψάκην, καὶ ἀπῇρε· καὶ ἐπῇρεν ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ Σιὼν καὶ ἐμεγαλαύχησεν ἐν ὑπερηφανίᾳ αὐτοῦ.
Во дне́хъ є҆гѡ̀ взы́де сеннахирі́мъ и҆ посла̀ раѱа́ка, и҆ воздви́же рꙋ́кꙋ свою̀ на сїѡ́на и҆ возвели́чисѧ горды́нею свое́ю.
Then trembled their hearts and hands, and they were in pain, as women in travail.
τότε ἐσαλεύθησαν καρδίαι καὶ χεῖρες αὐτῶν, καὶ ὠδίνησαν ὡς αἱ τίκτουσαι·
Тогда̀ подвиго́шасѧ сердца̀ и҆ рꙋ́цѣ и҆́хъ, и҆ поболѣ́ша ꙗ҆́кѡ ражда́ющыѧ.
But they called upon the Lord which is merciful, and stretched out their hands toward him: and immediately the Holy One heard them out of heaven, and delivered them by the ministry of Esay.
καὶ ἐπεκαλέσαντο τὸν Κύριον τὸν ἐλεήμονα ἐκπετάσαντες τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν πρὸς αὐτόν. καὶ ὁ ἅγιος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ταχὺ ἐπήκουσεν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐλυτρώσατο αὐτοὺς ἐν χειρὶ ῾Ησαΐου.
И҆ помоли́шасѧ гдⷭ҇ꙋ млⷭ҇тивомꙋ, воздѣ́вше рꙋ́ки своѧ̑ къ немꙋ̀:
He smote the host of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed them.
ἐπάταξε τὴν παρεμβολὴν τῶν ᾿Ασσυρίων. καὶ ἐξέτριψεν αὐτοὺς ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτοῦ.
поразѝ полкѝ а҆ссѷрі̑йскїѧ, и҆ сокрꙋшѝ ѧ҆̀ а҆́гг҃лъ є҆гѡ̀.
For Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and was strong in the ways of David his father, as Esay the prophet, who was great and faithful in his vision, had commanded him.
ἐποίησε γὰρ ᾿Εζεκίας τὸ ἀρεστὸν Κυρίῳ καὶ ἐνίσχυσεν ἐν ὁδοῖς Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἃς ἐνετείλατο ῾Ησαΐας ὁ προφήτης, ὁ μέγας καὶ πιστὸς ἐν ὁράσει αὐτοῦ.
Сотвори́ бо є҆зекі́а ᲂу҆го́дное гдⷭеви и҆ ᲂу҆крѣпи́сѧ на пꙋте́хъ даві́да ѻ҆тца̀ своегѡ̀, ꙗ҆̀же заповѣ́да и҆са́їа, прⷪ҇ро́къ ве́лїй и҆ вѣ́ренъ въ видѣ́нїи свое́мъ.
In his time the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king’s life.
ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἀνεπόδισεν ὁ ἥλιος καὶ προσέθηκε ζωὴν βασιλεῖ.
Во дне́хъ є҆гѡ̀ воспѧти́сѧ со́лнце, и҆ приложѝ житїѧ̀ царе́ви:
For Hezekiah, by now without hope, according to the words of the prophet who told him the judgment, his life was extended fifteen years. The sun, continuing on its way, he made to retreat. This was a sign. The sun went backwards for Hezekiah but was eclipsed for Christ. In both phenomena, the retreat and the eclipse, a sign was given, although with different meaning with respect to Hezekiah and to Jesus. If Hezekiah managed to have the divine judgment revoked, would Jesus not give the remission of sins? Be converted, therefore, and mourn over your sins, close the door and pray to obtain the forgiveness of sins and avoid the burning flames, since confession has the power to put out the fire itself, just as it has the strength to tame lions.
Catechetical Lecture 2:15
He saw by an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the last, and he comforted them that mourned in Sion.
πνεύματι μεγάλῳ εἶδε τὰ ἔσχατα καὶ παρεκάλεσε τοὺς πενθοῦντας ἐν Σιών·
дꙋ́хомъ ве́лїимъ ви́дѣ послѣ̑днѧѧ и҆ ᲂу҆тѣ́ши сѣ́тꙋющыѧ въ сїѡ́нѣ:
He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things or ever they came.
ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος ὑπέδειξε τὰ ἐσόμενα καὶ τὰ ἀπόκρυφα πρὶν ἢ παραγενέσθαι αὐτά.
да́же до вѣ́ка показа̀ бꙋ̑дꙋщаѧ и҆ сокровє́наѧ, пре́жде не́же прїитѝ и҆̀мъ.
Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned like a lamp.
ΚΑΙ ἀνέστη ᾿Ηλίας προφήτης ὡς πῦρ, καὶ ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ ὡς λαμπὰς ἐκαίετο·
И҆ воста̀ и҆лїа̀ прⷪ҇ро́къ ꙗ҆́кѡ ѻ҆́гнь, и҆ сло́во є҆гѡ̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ свѣща̀ горѧ́ше: