Sirach — Chapter 44 — Hebrew–Greek comparison
Praise of the ancestors
| Hebrew–English · Literal-Smooth | Greek–English · Literal-Smooth | Classification & Notes |
|---|---|---|
Hebrew 44:1 · fragmentary [Heading: “Praise of the fathers of old.”] Let me now praise men of kindness, our ancestors in their generations. Hebrew witness B · XIII verso, lines 1–18שבח אבות עולם אהללה נא אנשי חסד אבותינו בדורותם | Let us now praise glorious men, our fathers according to their generations. | Similar · Hebrew 44:1 — Hebrew first-person singular and kindness; Greek glorious men and first-person plural. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 44:2 · translated The Most High allotted abundant glory, and His greatness is from ancient days. | The Lord created great glory, His majesty from of old. | Similar · Hebrew 44:2 — The relation of greatness to God or the ancestors is compressed; Hebrew margin adds “to them.” |
Hebrew 44:3 · translated Rulers of the earth in their kingdoms, men renowned for their might; counselors in their understanding, and seers of all things in their prophecy. Hebrew witness B · XIII verso, lines 1–18דורי <רודי> ארץ במלכותם ואנשי שם בגבורתם היועצים בתבונתם וחוזי כל בנבואתם | There were those who ruled in their kingdoms, men renowned for power; those who counseled with their understanding, who made declarations in prophecies; | Similar · Hebrew 44:3 — Uses marginal רודי “rulers”; shared rule/counsel/prophecy themes. |
Hebrew 44:4 · translated Princes of nations in their plans, rulers in their inquiries, wise in discourse through their writings, and speakers of proverbs in their traditions. Hebrew witness B · XIII verso, lines 1–18שרי גוים במזמתם ורוזנים במחקרותם חכמי שיח בספרתם ומושלים במשמרותם | leaders of the people in deliberations and in understanding the people’s writings, wise words being part of their instruction; | Similar · Hebrew 44:4 — Hebrew lists princes, rulers, and wise speakers; Greek more compactly combines leaders with deliberation, writings, and instruction. The final Hebrew במשמרותם, “in their observances/charges,” is difficult. Inherited Greek note44:4 The source’s final phrase is literally “wise words in their instruction,” rather than an additional explicit class of “wise men.” The administrative or literary scope of γραμματεία is not narrowed beyond “writings.” |
Hebrew 44:5 · translated Those who investigate song according to rule, and set down a proverb in writing. | those who sought out musical melodies and related verses in writing; | Similar · Hebrew 44:5 — Greek composers of musical tunes and written verses. |
Hebrew 44:6 · translated Men of resources, supporters of strength, dwelling quietly in their homes. Hebrew witness B · XIII verso, lines 1–18אנשי חיל וסומכי כח ושוקטים על מכונתם | wealthy men furnished with strength, living peacefully in their dwellings. | Similar · Hebrew 44:6 — Same prosperity and peaceful dwelling. |
Hebrew 44:7 · translated All these in their generation, and from their days comes their splendor. | All these were honored in their generations and were a source of boasting in their days. | Similar · Hebrew 44:7 — Margin adds “were honored”; Greek explicitly honored in their generations. |
Hebrew 44:8 · translated Some of them left a name, to be recounted in their inheritance. | Some of them left a name, so that their praises might be recounted. | Different · Hebrew 44:8 — The first verb of the second clause is uncertain; marginal להשתעות supports recounting. Hebrew inheritance differs from Greek praises. |
Hebrew 44:9 · translated Others have no remembrance; they ceased when they ceased, becoming as though they had never been, and their children after them. Hebrew witness B · XIII verso, lines 1–18ויש מהם אשר אין לו זכר וישבתו כאשר שבתו כאשר לא היו היו ובניהם מאחריהם | But there are some of whom there is no remembrance, who perished as though they had never existed, becoming as though they had never been born, and their children after them. | Similar · Hebrew 44:9 — Shared forgotten-ancestors contrast. |
Hebrew 44:10 · fragmentary But these were men of kindness, and their hope will [not be cut o]ff. Hebrew witness B · XIII verso, lines 1–18ואולם אלה אנשי חסד ותקותם ל[א תכר]ת | Yet these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten. | Different · Hebrew 44:10 — Hebrew hope versus Greek righteous deeds not forgotten. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 44:11 · fragmentary With their descendants their goodness remains faithful, and their inheritance […]. | It will remain with their offspring; their descendants are a good inheritance. | Similar · Hebrew 44:11 — Greek has good inheritance with posterity; Hebrew final phrase is lost. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note44:11 The first clause has an unexpressed singular subject. The English retains that compression rather than substituting a reconstructed “wealth” or making the preceding plural righteous deeds its grammatical subject. |
Hebrew 44:12 · fragmentary In their covenant their descendants stood, and their offspring […]. | Their offspring stood within the covenants, and their children did so because of them. | Similar · Hebrew 44:12 — Masada preserves this line absent from B; Greek offspring and children stand in the covenants. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 44:13 · fragmentary Their memory stands forever, and [their] righteousness [will not be erased]. Hebrew witness B · XIII verso, lines 1–18עד עולם יעמד זכרם וצדקת[ם] ל[א ימחה] | Their offspring will remain forever, and their glory will not be blotted out. | Different · Hebrew 44:13 — Greek offspring remains and glory not erased; Hebrew memory/righteousness differs. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 44:14 · fragmentary [Their bodies were gathered in peace], and their name lives [from generation] to generation. Hebrew witness B · XIII verso, lines 1–18[וגויתם בשלום נאספה] ושמם חי [לדור] ודור | Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives through generations. | Similar · Hebrew 44:14 — Bracketed passages are restored in the source; Greek buried in peace. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 44:15 · fragmentary [Margin: “The congregation repeats their wisdom, and the assembly recounts their praise.”] | Peoples will recount their wisdom, and the assembly proclaims their praise. | Similar · Hebrew 44:15 — This verse is a marginal addition in B, closely paralleling Greek. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 44:16 · translated Enoch was found blameless and walked with YHWH; he was taken, a sign of knowledge for generation after generation. Hebrew witness B · XIII verso, lines 1–18חנוך נמצא תמים והתהלך עם ייי ונלקח אות דעת לדור ודור | Enoch pleased the Lord and was taken away, an example of repentance to the generations. | Different · Hebrew 44:16 — Greek pleasing the Lord and an example of repentance; Hebrew blamelessness, walking, and a sign of knowledge. Inherited Greek note44:16 “Repentance” translates μετανοίας as printed; no substitution is made on the basis of another account of Enoch. |
Hebrew 44:17 · fragmentary [N]oah the righteous was found blameless; at the time of destruction he became a replacement. Through him there was a remnant, and through his covenant the flood ceased. Hebrew witness B · XIV recto, lines 1–13[נ]ח צדיק נמצא תמים לעת כלה היה תחליף בעבורו היה שארית ובבריתו חדל מבול | Noah was found perfect and righteous; in a time of wrath he became an exchange. Through him a remnant was left to the earth when the flood came. | Similar · Hebrew 44:17 — Hebrew covenant/flood cessation differs in phrasing from Greek remnant preserved in the flood. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note44:17 Ἀντάλλαγμα is an exchange or equivalent; how Noah functions as such is not explained by inserting “atoning sacrifice” or another doctrinal gloss. |
Hebrew 44:18 · translated With an everlasting sign a covenant was cut with him, that all flesh would not be destroyed. Hebrew witness B · XIV recto, lines 1–13באות עולם נכרת עמו לבלתי השחית כל בשר | Everlasting covenants were established with him, so that all flesh might not be wiped out by a flood. | Similar · Hebrew 44:18 — Greek everlasting covenant; Hebrew expressly sign. |
Hebrew 44:19 · translated Abraham, father of a multitude of nations, put no blemish upon his honor. Hebrew witness B · XIV recto, lines 1–13אברהם אב המון גוים לא נתן בכבודו מום | Abraham was a great father of a multitude of nations, and no one like him was found in glory. | Different · Hebrew 44:19 — Greek no one like him in glory; Hebrew no blemish in honor. |
Hebrew 44:20 · translated He kept the commandments of the Most High and entered covenant with Him; in his flesh He cut a statute for him, and in testing he was found faithful. Hebrew witness B · XIV recto, lines 1–13אשר שמר מצות עליון ובא בברית עמו בבשרו כרת לו חק ובניסוי נמצא נאמן | He kept the law of the Most High and entered a covenant with Him. He established a covenant in his flesh, and under testing he was found faithful. | Similar · Hebrew 44:20 — Shared obedience, embodied covenant, and tested faithfulness. Inherited Greek note44:20 The subject of “established” may be Abraham continuing the sentence or God understood in the covenant action. Lowercase “his flesh” identifies Abraham’s flesh without settling that subject beyond the Greek. |
Hebrew 44:21 · fragmentary Therefore by [oa]th He established for him that nations would be blessed through his offspring, and that they would inherit [from] sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth. Hebrew witness B · XIV recto, lines 1–13על כן בש[בו]עה הקים לו לברך בזרעו גוים להנחילם [מ]ים ועד ים ומנהר ועד אפסי ארץ | Therefore He assured him by an oath that nations would be blessed in his offspring, that He would multiply him like the dust of the earth, raise his offspring like the stars, and give them an inheritance from sea to sea and from the River to the end of the earth. | Different · Hebrew 44:21 — Hebrew lacks here Greek’s explicit dust/stars multiplication clauses; gaps remain marked. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note44:21 “The River” is retained without inserting a proper river name. The singular offspring expression shifts to plural “them,” as in Greek. |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 44:22, 44:23; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 44:22 · translated And He established the same for Isaac on account of Abraham his father; He gave him the covenant of all the former ones. Hebrew witness B · XIV recto, lines 1–13וגם ליצחק הקים בן <כן> בעבור אברהם אביו ברית כל ראשון נתנו | In Isaac He established it in the same way, because of Abraham his father. | Similar · Hebrew 44:22 — Uses marginal כן “thus/the same”; main בן means son. Final covenant clause is compressed. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 44:22–23, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 44:22, 44:23; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 44:22 · translated And He established the same for Isaac on account of Abraham his father; He gave him the covenant of all the former ones. Hebrew witness B · XIV recto, lines 1–13וגם ליצחק הקים בן <כן> בעבור אברהם אביו ברית כל ראשון נתנו This Hebrew unit spans Greek 44:23, 45:1; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 44:23 · fragmentary Blessing rested upon Israel’s head; He established him in blessing and gave him his inheritance. He set him in tribes, to divide into twelve; and [He brought] forth from him a man who found favor in the eyes of all living. Hebrew witness B · XIV recto, lines 1–13וברכה נחה על ראש ישראל ויכוננהו בברכה ויתן לו נחלתו ויציבהו לשבטים לחלק שנים עשר [ויוצי]א ממנו איש מוצא חן בעיני כל חי | He caused the blessing of all people and the covenant to rest upon Jacob’s head. He acknowledged him with His blessings and gave him an inheritance. He distinguished his portions and divided them among twelve tribes. | Similar · Hebrew 44:22 — Uses marginal כן “thus/the same”; main בן means son. Final covenant clause is compressed. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 44:22–23, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Similar · Hebrew 44:23 — B blessing versus marginal birthright. The closing man-finding-favor clause aligns Greek 45:1, not the inherited Greek 44:23. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 44:23; 45:1, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note44:23 “Twelve” is explicit. The inheritance is not given an added geographical name. |
Source and numbering
Hebrew English is newly translated from the manuscript-specific transcriptions in The Book of Ben Sira portal. Each translated unit identifies its selected witness and folio. This is a selected-witness working edition, not an exhaustive collation of every manuscript or a reconstruction of lost Hebrew. Brackets and fragmentary status identify uncertainty; no Greek text has been back-translated to fill Hebrew gaps.
The Greek-source English and its notes are inherited from the existing Sirach edition. The comparison categories are provisional editorial assessments against that English; this update is not a fresh verification of every Greek reading or its apparatus.
Working translation preserved from the recovered manuscript of 8 September 2026. Declared source: Septuaginta, Rahlfs–Hanhart, 2006, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, publisher’s Greek main text. Independent linguistic and critical-apparatus review remains outstanding. Source-access and reception claims in the inherited notes have not been freshly revalidated. Chapter and section headings are editorial.
The translator’s prologue is separate from the 51 chapters. Its eight source units map to publisher labels 1, 1a–1g; main-text 1:1 maps to 1h. Source 5:15 includes material often numbered 6:1, so chapter 6 begins at 6:2. Source label gaps are preserved; no text is invented.