Sirach 36-39 is a servant’s unit. It teaches prayer for God’s people, discernment in counsel, honor for physicians, honest grief, respect for skilled work, and the disciplined vocation of the scribe.
Overview
These chapters dignify the ordinary disciplines that keep life sane before God: prayer for the people, tested counsel, care for the body, measured grief, skilled labor, and the vocation of the scribe. Wisdom is not escape from practical life. It is the Lord’s order entering decisions, wounds, work, study, and praise.
After Sirach 32-35 joined worship with justice, this unit turns to the practical life of the community: national prayer, counsel, healing, mourning, labor, study, and teaching. It is especially useful for servants and professionals because it refuses to separate spiritual life from vocation.
These chapters belong together because they ask how wisdom works in community roles. Prayer, advice, medicine, grief, craftsmanship, and teaching all require humility before God. The next unit turns from these vocations to mortality, shame, and creation’s praise.
Prayer for God’s People (Sirach 36:1-22)
1 Have mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold us: 2 and send thy fear upon all the nations that seek not after thee. 3 Lift up thy hand against the strange nations, and let them see thy power. 4 As thou wast sanctified in us before them: so be thou magnified among them before us. 5 And let them know thee, as we have known thee, that there is no God but only thou, O God. 6 Shew new signs, and make other strange wonders: glorify thy hand and thy right arm, that they may set forth thy wondrous works.
7 Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath: take away the adversary, and destroy the enemy. 8 Make the time short, remember the covenant, and let them declare thy wonderful works. 9 Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire; and let them perish that oppress the people.
10 Smite in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen, that say, There is none other but we. 11 Gather all the tribes of Jacob together.
17 O Lord have mercy upon the people that is called by thy name, and upon Israel, whom thou hast named thy firstborn. 18 O be merciful unto Jerusalem, thy holy city, the place of thy rest. 19 Fill Sion with thine unspeakable oracles, and thy people with thy glory. 20 Give testimony unto those that thou hast possessed from the beginning, and raise up prophets that have been in thy name. 21 Reward them that wait for thee, and let thy prophets be found faithful. 22 O Lord, hear the prayer of thy servants, according to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, that all they which dwell upon the earth may know that thou art the Lord, the eternal God.
Sirach’s prayer begins with mercy for the people called by God, the revelation of God’s power among the nations, remembrance of the covenant, the gathering of Jacob, Jerusalem the holy city, Sion filled with divine oracles, faithful prophets, and the blessing of Aaron over the people. Wisdom here is not private self-improvement. It remembers covenant, worship, prophecy, priestly blessing, and the people who belong to God.
Orthodox readers can hear the same shape in the Church’s intercessions for peace, the Church, the clergy, the faithful, the afflicted, and the whole world. This must not become triumphalism or political fantasy. The prayer asks that all who dwell on earth may know the Lord, the eternal God. The servant learns to pray as a member of the Body, not as an isolated moral project.
Hard-text guardrail: the fierce lines against oppressors must not be used as permission for ethnic hatred, political fantasy, or private vengeance. In Christ, the Church prays for enemies’ conversion while also asking God to overthrow oppression, idolatry, sin, death, and the demonic powers that enslave people. The final purpose remains verse 22: that all who dwell on earth may know the Lord, the eternal God.
For our life
Let personal repentance widen into intercession for the Church, the suffering, the scattered, and those who do not yet know the Lord.
Counsel Must Be Tested (Sirach 37:1-15)
1 Every friend saith, I am his friend also: but there is a friend, which is only a friend in name. 2 Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy? 3 O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit? 4 There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him. 5 There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy. 6 Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
7 Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself. 8 Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee, 9 and say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee. 10 Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee. 11 Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.
12 But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry. 13 And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it; 14 for a man’s mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower. 15 And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.
Sirach warns that not every friend is a true counselor. Advice can be distorted by self-interest, rivalry, envy, or ignorance. The wise person seeks counsel but tests it before God.
This is important for confession, mentoring, job decisions, family counsel, and ministry planning. The loudest adviser is not always wise. Good counsel helps the person obey God more clearly.
Verse 11 should be taught by its principle, not weaponized as contempt for women or trades. Sirach is warning against counsel from someone whose interest is entangled with the decision: jealousy, fear, profit, envy, laziness, or divided loyalty. The point is discernment about conflict of interest: seek counsel from the godly person who keeps the commandments and will sorrow with you if you fall.
Honor the Physician and Pray (Sirach 38:1-15)
1 Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him. 2 For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the king. 3 The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration. 4 The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them. 5 Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known? 6 And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works. 7 With such doth he heal [men,] and taketh away their pains. 8 Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth.
9 My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole. 10 Leave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness. 11 Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat offering, as not being. 12 Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him. 13 There is a time when in their hands there is good success. 14 For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper that which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life. 15 He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand of the physician.
Sirach gives a remarkably balanced teaching on medicine. Honor the physician, because the Lord created medicines from the earth. Pray, repent, offer rightly, and also make room for the physician. Healing is not set against faith.
This is pastorally useful. Christians should not treat medicine as unbelief, nor should they treat medicine as a replacement for prayer and repentance. Both creaturely means and divine mercy belong under God.
Hard-text guardrail: verse 15 must not be taught as though every sickness is the direct punishment of a personal sin. Job and the man born blind in John 9 forbid that simplification. Sirach calls the sick person to repentance because sickness exposes dependence on God, but he also commands honor for the physician because medicine itself is one of God’s mercies.
Grief With Measure and Hope (Sirach 38:16-23)
16 My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial. 17 Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness; 18 for of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength. 19 In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of the heart. 20 Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and remember the last end. 21 Forget him not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself. 22 Remember his judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for thee. 23 When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him when his spirit is departed from him.
Sirach does not forbid mourning. It commands lament, burial, and tears, but also warns against grief that consumes the living. Mourning should honor the dead without surrendering the soul to despair.
This must be taught gently. People should not be rushed through grief or shamed for tears. Yet grief needs prayer, community, and hope so sorrow does not become a second death.
The ‘day or two’ language should not be used as a rigid rule for Christian mourning. Sirach is warning against grief that devours the living, not commanding servants to rush mourners. Orthodox remembrance, prayer, burial, the fortieth day, and annual memorials show grief being carried into hope rather than silenced.
Skilled Work and the Scribe’s Vocation (Sirach 38:24-34, 39:1-11)
24 The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise. 25 How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks? 26 He giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the kine fodder. 27 So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work:
28 The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly:
29 So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number; 30 he fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace: 31 all these trust to their hands; and every one is wise in his work. 32 Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down: 33 they shall not be sought for in public counsel, nor sit high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges’ seat, nor understand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken. 34 But they will maintain the state of the world, and [all] their desire is in the work of their craft. But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof,
1 will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and be occupied in prophecies. 2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also. 3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables. 4 He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men. 5 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins. 6 When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer. 7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and on his secrets shall he meditate. 8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
9 Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation. 10 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise. 11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.
Sirach honors craftsmen and laborers, then distinguishes the vocation of the scribe who gives himself to the law, wisdom, prayer, and teaching. The contrast is not contempt for manual work. It shows that different vocations serve the community differently.
This is a good passage for professionals and servants. Work matters. Study matters. Prayer matters. The scribe should not study to appear superior, but to serve with judgment, memory, and praise.
This must not become contempt for laborers. Christ Himself was known as the carpenter, the apostles included fishermen, and Paul worked with his hands. Sirach is distinguishing vocations, not ranking human worth. The one with leisure for study is therefore more accountable to pray, interpret, and teach for the life of the whole community.
All the Works of the Lord Are Good (Sirach 39:12-35)
12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.
13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field: 14 and give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works. 15 Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner: 16 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season. 17 For at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth, the receptacles of waters. 18 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save. 19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes. 20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.
21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses. 22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood. 23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.
24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumbling-blocks unto the wicked. 25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners. 26 The principal things for the whole use of man’s life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing. 27 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.
28 There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them. 29 Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance; 30 teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword, punishing the wicked to destruction, 31 shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not go beyond his word.
32 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing. 33 All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season. 34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved. 35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.
The unit ends in praise of the Lord’s works. Wisdom that studies, heals, mourns, and labors finally blesses the Creator. Even difficult realities are placed before God’s providence, not treated as meaningless chaos.
Sirach’s praise is not sentimental. He names water, fire, iron, salt, wheat, wine, oil, and clothing as gifts, but he also names fire, hail, famine, death, wild beasts, serpents, and sword as realities that obey God’s command. The point is not that suffering feels good, or that every disaster should be assigned to someone’s personal sin. The point is that creation is not meaningless chaos. The same world that nourishes the godly can become judgment and stumbling to sinners when the creature rebels against the Creator.
In Christ, this providence is read through the Cross. God does not call evil good, but He can make even affliction serve repentance, endurance, humility, and salvation. Sirach therefore teaches sober praise: the Lord gives every needful thing in due season, and even the powers that terrify man remain under His word.
The servant needs this ending. Work and grief can narrow the heart. Praise widens it again. The wise person returns from tasks to doxology.
Sirach is not teaching that evil is a positive substance created by God, nor that every calamity reveals the personal guilt of the sufferer. Created things are good under God, but they can become judgment, trial, or stumbling when creation is met by rebellion. Read through the Cross, even affliction can be made to serve repentance and salvation without calling evil itself good.
Spiritual Fruit 🍇
The fruit of this unit is vocational humility. The wise person prays for the people, chooses counsel carefully, receives healing without superstition, mourns without collapse, honors work, and studies so that others may be served.
Teaching Notes
Prayer for God’s People (Sirach 36:1-22)
- Ask: Why does a wisdom book include prayer for God’s people?
- Emphasize: Wisdom carries intercession, not only personal advice.
- Watch for: Do not turn the prayer into political fantasy. Keep it worshipful and ecclesial.
- Connect: The Church prays for peace, the churches, the clergy, the people, and the whole world.
Counsel Must Be Tested (Sirach 37:1-15)
- Ask: How can advice be distorted by self-interest?
- Emphasize: Seeking counsel is wise, but counsel must be tested.
- Watch for: Do not use this to dismiss all correction.
- Connect: Proverbs also teaches safety in many counselors, but Sirach asks what kind of counselors they are.
Honor the Physician and Pray (Sirach 38:1-15)
- Ask: How does Sirach hold prayer and medicine together?
- Emphasize: The Lord can work through created means and through prayer.
- Watch for: Reject both superstition and contempt for medical care.
- Connect: Christ heals directly, and He also teaches mercy through concrete care for bodies.
Grief With Measure and Hope (Sirach 38:16-23)
- Ask: What is the difference between honest grief and consuming grief?
- Emphasize: Sirach allows tears but guards against despair.
- Watch for: Do not use the passage to silence mourners.
- Connect: Christ weeps at Lazarus’ tomb and then calls him forth.
Skilled Work and the Scribe’s Vocation (Sirach 38:24-34, 39:1-11)
- Ask: How do skilled work and study both serve the community?
- Emphasize: Vocation is service under God.
- Watch for: Do not demean manual labor when honoring study.
- Connect: The Church needs craftsmen, healers, teachers, chanters, parents, and scribes of the kingdom.
All the Works of the Lord Are Good (Sirach 39:12-35)
- Ask: Why does Sirach end this practical unit with praise of creation?
- Emphasize: Wisdom returns every vocation to praise.
- Watch for: Do not use providence language to minimize pain.
- Connect: Romans 8 teaches that creation groans and waits for redemption in Christ.
Source Notes
Embedded Scripture is from Brenton’s English Septuagint (LXX).
The Brenton source used for the Sirach 36 prayer preserves the prayer material in more than one numeric cluster. This guide keeps the common Sirach 36 reference while quoting the Brenton wording used in the series.
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.