Sirach 15-18 refuses two evasions: blaming God for sin and assuming mercy removes responsibility. The Lord gives wisdom, commands the will, judges evil, and still calls the sinner to return.
Overview
The heart of this unit is synergy: God does not author sin, and man is not a puppet. Freedom is real, judgment is real, and mercy is real. Sirach presses the reader to stop blaming God, stop postponing repentance, and return while the door of mercy is still open.
This unit belongs after the social realism of Sirach 12-14 because discernment must reach the deepest question: what will the person do with freedom? Ben Sira insists that God does not command wickedness and does not need the sinner to remain in sin. The same Lord who orders creation also opens the way of return.
The chapters belong together around moral responsibility and mercy. Sirach 15 teaches freedom under wisdom, Sirach 16 warns that numbers and success do not excuse sin, Sirach 17 remembers creation and covenant, and Sirach 18 urges return before judgment. The next unit narrows the focus to the mouth and the passions.
Wisdom Receives the Fearful Heart (Sirach 15:1-10)
1 He that feareth the Lord will do good; and he that hath the knowledge of the law shall obtain her; 2 and as a mother shall she meet him, and receive him as a wife married of a virgin. 3 With the bread of understanding shall she feed him, and give him the water of wisdom to drink. 4 He shall be stayed upon her, and shall not be moved; and shall rely upon her, and shall not be confounded. 5 She shall exalt him above his neighbours, and in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth. 6 He shall find joy and a crown of gladness, and she shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name. 7 But foolish men shall not attain unto her, and sinners shall not see her. 8 For she is far from pride, and men that are liars cannot remember her.
9 Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him of the Lord. 10 For praise shall be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it.
Wisdom meets the one who fears the Lord and keeps the law. She is not given as ornament to a proud mind. Sirach describes her as mother, wife, bread, water, joy, and crown. Wisdom feeds the soul because she forms a whole life.
The images are intimate because wisdom is not merely information. The wise person is nourished, accompanied, corrected, and crowned. Christian readers hear this in the larger light of Christ, who gives Himself as bread and living water.
For our life
Ask whether your pursuit of knowledge is making you more obedient, patient, and merciful.
Do Not Blame God for Sin (Sirach 15:11-20)
11 Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away: for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth. 12 Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the sinful man.
13 The Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love it not. 14 He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his counsel; 15 if thou wilt, to keep the commandments, and to perform acceptable faithfulness. 16 He hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt. 17 Before man is life and death; and whether he liketh shall be given him. 18 For the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in power, and beholdeth all things: 19 and his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth every work of man. 20 He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he given any man licence to sin.
Sirach directly rejects the excuse that God caused the sinner to fall. God does not need wickedness, command impiety, or give permission to sin. The person is set before fire and water, life and death, and remains accountable for what he chooses.
This is spiritually bracing. It protects mercy from becoming fatalism. People suffer under many pressures, wounds, temptations, and inherited weaknesses, but Sirach refuses to let the soul accuse God in order to avoid repentance.
For our life
Name one place where you explain sin only by circumstance. Then ask what obedience is still available today.
The ‘if thou wilt’ of Sirach 15:15 is not isolated self-salvation. God gives the commandment, the law of life, and the way of return; the human will truly cooperates with grace instead of blaming God or treating sin as destiny. Place this beside Deuteronomy 30:15-20: life and death are set before the covenant people so they may choose life.
Numbers Do Not Save the Wicked (Sirach 16:1-14)
1 Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons. 2 Though they multiply, rejoice not in them, except the fear of the Lord be with them. 3 Trust not thou in their life, neither respect their multitude: for one that is just is better than a thousand; and better it is to die without children, than to have them that are ungodly. 4 For by one that hath understanding shall the city be replenished: but the kindred of the wicked shall speedily become desolate. 5 Many such things have I seen with mine eyes, and mine ear hath heard greater things than these.
6 In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire. 7 He was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in the strength of their foolishness. 8 Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride. 9 He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins: 10 nor the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts. 11 And if there be one stiffnecked among the people, it is marvel if he escape unpunished: for mercy and wrath are with him; he is mighty to forgive and to pour out displeasure.
12 As his mercy is great, so is his correction also: he judgeth a man according to his works. 13 The sinner shall not escape with his spoils: and the patience of the godly shall not be frustrate. 14 Make way for every work of mercy: for every man shall find according to his works.
Sirach warns that many children, strong numbers, or outward success cannot redeem impiety. A multitude without the fear of the Lord is not strength. God’s mercy and wrath both belong to His righteous judgment.
Communities can be tempted to measure health by size, influence, and visibility. Sirach asks for a deeper measure: are the people faithful, repentant, merciful, and obedient?
This hard saying must not be turned against the childless, the infertile, grieving parents, or parents whose children are struggling. Sirach is not measuring a parent’s worth by visible outcomes. He is refusing the illusion that biological increase, institutional size, or impressive numbers can replace the fear of God. In the Church, children are gifts to be formed, prayed for, corrected, and loved, not trophies by which families or ministries prove themselves.
For our life
Do not ask only whether a ministry is growing. Ask whether it is becoming holy.
When Sirach says every person finds according to his works, he is not teaching that mercy is purchased. Works reveal whether mercy has been received or resisted; the Lord who is mighty to forgive also refuses to call unrepentant evil life. Christian echoes include Matthew 16:27 and 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Created, Taught, and Called Back (Sirach 17:1-14)
1 The Lord created man of the earth, and turned him into it again. 2 He gave them few days, and a short time, and power also over the things therein. 3 He endued them with strength by themselves, and made them according to his image, 4 and put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls.
6 Counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart, gave he them to understand. 7 Withal he filled them with the knowledge of understanding, and shewed them good and evil. 8 He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might shew them the greatness of his works;
10 and they shall praise his holy name, that they may search out his marvellous works.
11 Beside this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for an heritage. 12 He made an everlasting covenant with them, and shewed them his judgments. 13 Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice. 14 And he said unto them, Beware of all unrighteousness; and he gave every man commandment concerning his neighbour.
Sirach remembers humanity as created from earth, given days, strength, reason, speech, eyes, ears, and a heart to understand. God makes human beings capable of knowing His works and praising His holy name. Responsibility is rooted in gift.
The passage makes repentance dignifying, not degrading. To repent is to return to the purpose for which the human person was made: to see, hear, understand, praise, and live under the covenant of God.
For our life
Give thanks for the faculties God gave you, then ask how each has been misused and how each can return to praise.
Return Before Judgment (Sirach 18:1-14, 20-33)
1 He that liveth for ever created all things in general. 2 The Lord only is righteous.
4 To none hath he given power to declare his works; and who shall find out his noble acts? 5 Who shall number the strength of his majesty? and who shall also tell out his mercies?
6 As for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, neither may any thing be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out. 7 When a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth off, then he shall be doubtful. 8 What is man, and whereto serveth he; what is his good, and what is his evil? 9 The number of a man’s days at the most is an hundred years. 10 As a drop of water unto the sea, and a gravel-stone in comparison of the sand; so are a thousand years to the days of eternity. 11 Therefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth his mercy upon them. 12 He saw and perceived their end to be evil; therefore he multiplied his compassion. 13 The mercy of man is toward his neighbour; but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh: he reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth, and bringeth again, as a shepherd his flock. 14 He hath mercy on them that receive discipline, and that diligently seek after his judgments.
20 Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy. 21 Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew repentance.
22 Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified. 23 Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord. 24 Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when he shall turn away his face. 25 When thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, think upon poverty and need. 26 From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all things are soon done before the Lord.
27 A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offence: but a fool will not observe time. 28 Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise unto him that found her. 29 They that had understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables.
30 Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites. 31 If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies that malign thee. 32 Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expence thereof. 33 Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse.
Sirach holds together God’s immeasurable greatness and His compassion toward flesh. Human life is small before eternity, yet the Lord teaches, disciplines, and has mercy. That mercy creates urgency: before judgment, examine yourself and turn back.
The passage is deeply ascetical. It tells the soul not to wait until sickness, old age, exposure, or crisis. Repentance is wiser before collapse. Desire must be disciplined before it becomes command.
For our life
Set a regular examination before confession: not to shame yourself endlessly, but to return before sin hardens.
This does not deny deathbed mercy; the thief on the cross shows the Lord can save at the last hour. Sirach warns against using that hope as an excuse to delay repentance while we still have strength.
Spiritual Fruit 🍇
The fruit of this unit is repentance without blame-shifting. The sinner cannot accuse God, hide inside the crowd, or postpone return. Yet the same God who judges also teaches, forgives, and calls the soul back while time remains.
Teaching Notes
Wisdom Receives the Fearful Heart (Sirach 15:1-10)
- Ask: Why does Sirach describe Wisdom with family and nourishment images?
- Emphasize: Wisdom is communion-forming, not merely informational.
- Watch for: Do not collapse every wisdom image into a simplistic one-to-one proof-text.
- Connect: Christ gives Himself as bread and living water, fulfilling the deepest hunger wisdom names.
Do Not Blame God for Sin (Sirach 15:11-20)
- Ask: Why is blaming God for sin spiritually dangerous?
- Emphasize: Human responsibility remains real under the mercy of God.
- Watch for: Do not flatten pastoral complexity. Responsibility does not erase wounds or pressures.
- Connect: Deuteronomy sets life and death before Israel; Sirach renews that covenant seriousness.
Numbers Do Not Save the Wicked (Sirach 16:1-14)
- Ask: What false measures of success does this passage expose?
- Emphasize: Numbers cannot replace righteousness.
- Watch for: Do not turn this into contempt for growth. The warning is against impiety hidden by size.
- Connect: The narrow way in the Gospel warns against measuring truth by crowds.
Created, Taught, and Called Back (Sirach 17:1-14)
- Ask: How does creation make human responsibility more serious?
- Emphasize: God gives reason, speech, and perception for praise and obedience.
- Watch for: Do not teach creation as abstraction. Sirach makes it personal.
- Connect: Genesis 1-2 and Psalm 8 stand behind this dignity.
Return Before Judgment (Sirach 18:1-14, 20-33)
- Ask: Why does Sirach move from God’s greatness to urgent repentance?
- Emphasize: Mercy gives time, and time should be used for return.
- Watch for: Avoid fear tactics. The passage is sober because God is compassionate.
- Connect: Christ calls, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Source Notes
Embedded Scripture is from Brenton’s English Septuagint (LXX).
This passage has no established place in the Coptic Orthodox lectionary.
No direct patristic commentary on this Sirach unit surfaced in this study’s sources.