Ben Sira 1:12-22

12 To honor the Lord is a heartfelt delight; it will give you a long and happy life,

13 and at the end of your days all will go well for you. God will bless you on the day of your death.

14 To fear the Lord is the first step to Wisdom. Wisdom is given to the faithful in their mothers' wombs.

15 She has lived with us from ancient times, and generations to come will rely on her.

16 To fear the Lord is Wisdom at her fullest; she satisfies us completely with her gifts

17 and fills our homes and our barns ¹ with all that our hearts can desire.

18 To fear the Lord is the flower of Wisdom that blossoms with peace and good health. ^[a]

19 She sends knowledge and understanding like the rain, and increases the honor of those who receive her.

20 To fear the Lord is the root of Wisdom; ² her branches are long life.

22 There is no excuse for unjustified anger; it can bring about your downfall.

Cross References

• 1. 1.17Wisdom 7.11.
• 2. 1.20Proverbs 3.16; 4.10.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Some manuscripts add:] He saw her and recognized her value [(see 1.9).]
• [b]. [Some manuscripts add verse 21:] Honoring the Lord takes sin away; where the fear of the Lord is found, it turns away anger.