MinisterRemembered wisdom

Sirach — Chapter 47 — Hebrew–Greek comparison

David, Solomon, and the divided kingdom

Saints Translation · V2 · Hebrew–Greek working comparison

Sirach 47 · 25 source units
Hebrew–English · Literal-Smooth	Greek–English · Literal-Smooth	Classification & Notes
Hebrew 47:1 · translated After him Nathan also arose, to stand before David. Hebrew witness B · B XVI Verso וגם אחריו עמד נתן ]] [[ להתיצב לפני דוד׃ Manuscript transcription	47:1 After him Nathan arose to prophesy in David’s days.	Similar · Hebrew 47:1 — Greek specifies prophesying in David’s days.
Hebrew 47:2 · translated As fat is lifted from the sacred offering, so was David from Israel. Hebrew witness B · B XVI Verso כי כחלב מורם מקדש ]] [[ כן דויד מישראל׃ Manuscript transcription	47:2 As fat is set apart from a peace offering, so David was set apart from the sons of Israel.	Similar · Hebrew 47:2 — The shared sacrificial image describes David’s distinction. Inherited Greek note 47:2 Σωτήριον here denotes the sacrificial offering; the analogy concerns the reserved fat.
Hebrew 47:3 · translated He played with young lions as with a kid, and with bears as with the young of Bashan. Hebrew witness B · B XVI Verso לכפירים שחק כגדי ]] [[ ולדובים כבני בשן׃ Manuscript transcription	47:3 He played with lions as with young goats, and with bears as with lambs of the flock.	Different · Hebrew 47:3 — Hebrew Bashan contrasts with Greek lambs of the flock.
Hebrew 47:4 · fragmentary In his youth he struck a mighty warrior and [removed an age-long reproach]. When he swung his hand with the sling, he shattered Goliath’s splendor. Hebrew witness B · B XVI Verso בנעוריו הכה ג֯ בור ]] [[ ויסרׄ ] חר [פ֯ ת֯ ע֯ ]ו[לם׃ בהניפו ידו על קלע ]] [[ וישבר תפ֯ א֯ רת גלית׃ Manuscript transcription	47:4 In his youth did he not kill a giant and remove reproach from the people, when he raised his hand with a sling stone and brought down Goliath’s pride?	Similar · Hebrew 47:4 — Part of the reproach clause is supplied in the transcription’s brackets. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 47:5 · translated For he called to God Most High, who put strength in his right hand to thrust back a man skilled in warfare and raise the horn of His people. Hebrew witness B · B XVI Verso כי קרא אל אל עליון ]] [[ ויתן בימינו עז׃ להדף את איש יודע מלחמות ]] [[ ולהרים את קרן עמו׃ Manuscript transcription	47:5 For he called upon the Lord Most High, and He put strength in his right hand to remove a mighty warrior and raise the horn of His people.	Similar · Hebrew 47:5 — Both preserve divine aid and the horn of the people. Inherited Greek note 47:5 The horn is the source’s image of strength and is retained.
Hebrew 47:6 · translated Therefore the daughters sang to him and acclaimed him with ten thousand. When he put on a turban, he fought. Hebrew witness B · B XVI Verso על כן ענו לו בנות ]] [[ ויכנוהו ברבבה׃ בעטותו צניף נלחם Manuscript transcription	47:6 Thus they glorified him with tens of thousands and praised him with blessings of the Lord when a crown of glory was brought to him.	Different · Hebrew 47:6 — Hebrew names the daughters and fighting in a turban; Greek offers praise and a crown of glory. Inherited Greek note 47:6 “Tens of thousands” retains the numerical expression without supplying the full words of a song from another book.
Hebrew 47:7 · fragmentary All around he subdued the enemy, set cities among the Philistines, and [broke their horn] to this day. Hebrew witness B · B XVI Verso [[ ]]ומסביב הכניע צר׃ ויתן בפלשתים ערים ]] [[ ועד היום שבר֯ קׄ ר֯ ]נם ׃[ Manuscript transcription	47:7 For he destroyed enemies all around and reduced his Philistine adversaries to nothing; he shattered their horn to this day.	Different · Hebrew 47:7 — The Hebrew cities clause is unusual and retained literally; Greek destroys Philistine adversaries. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 47:8 · fragmentary In every deed he gave thanks to God Most High […] glory. With all his heart he loved his Maker, and with all […] […]. Hebrew witness B · B XVI Verso ]בכל מעשהו נתן הודות ]] [[ לאל עליון– כ[ב֯ וד׃ < דויד> בכל לבו אוהב עושהו ]] [[ ובכל ] °°° — °°[׃ Manuscript transcription	47:8 In every deed he gave thanks to the Holy Most High with a word of glory. With his whole heart he sang hymns and loved the One who made him.	Similar · Hebrew 47:8 — The surviving devotion agrees; damaged phrases remain open. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 47:9 · fragmentary Melodies of song […] and the sound of […] he arranged. Hebrew witness B · B XVI Verso ]נגינות שיר <הכין> ל– [[ ]] °[וׄקׄ ו֯ל מ֯ ] [ל] [ל֯ ים <נבל> תיקן ׃ <ק֯ ו֯ל֯ מ֯ ז֯ מ֯ ו֯ר֯ ה֯ נ֯ ע֯ י֯ם֯ > [ — ] Manuscript transcription	47:9 He stationed psalm singers before the altar, to sweeten the melodies with their sound.	Similar · Hebrew 47:9 — The Hebrew is damaged; marginal readings mention a lyre and sweet psalmody. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 47:10 · fragmentary […] year […]; as he praised His holy name, before morning he made judgment sing [correction: sanctuary]. Hebrew witness B · B XVI Verso [ ]ל ]] [[ ] — [ש֯ נה׃ בהלל֯ ]ו [א֯ תׄ שם קדשו ]] [[ לפני בקר֯ ירין משפט ׃ ^ מ֯ ק֯ ד֯ ש ׃^ Manuscript transcription	47:10 He gave festivals splendor and adorned the appointed seasons to their completion, while they praised His holy name and made the sanctuary resound from early morning.	Different · Hebrew 47:10 — The transcription corrects judgment to sanctuary; most festival wording is lost. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 47:11 · fragmentary YHWH [also] removed his transgression and raised his horn forever. He gave him a royal statute and established his throne over Jerusalem. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto ג֯ ]ם[ ייי העביר פשעו ]] [[ וירם לעולם קרנו׃ ו֯י֯ת֯ ן לו֯ חק מ֯ מלכת ]] [[ וכסאו הכין על ירושלם׃ Manuscript transcription	47:11 The Lord took away his sins, raised his horn forever, and gave him a covenant of kings and a throne of glory in Israel.	Different · Hebrew 47:11 — Hebrew Jerusalem is more specific than Greek Israel. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 47:12 · fragmentary For his sake there arose after him an [understanding] son who dwelt securely. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto ו֯בע֯ ב֯ ו֯רו עמד אחריו ]] [[ בן ]מ[שכיל שוכן לבטח׃ Manuscript transcription	47:12 After him arose a knowledgeable son, who because of him rested in spacious prosperity.	Similar · Hebrew 47:12 — The shared succession and peace agree. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 47:12 “Because of him” is not expanded into a further explanation of David’s achievements; “spacious prosperity” renders πλατυσμός.
Hebrew 47:13 · translated Solomon reigned in days of tranquility, and God gave him rest on every side, so that he prepared a house for His name and established a sanctuary forever. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto שלמה מלך בימי שלוה ]] [[ ואל הניח לו מסביב׃ אשר הכין בית לשמו ]] [[ ויצב לעד מקדש׃ Manuscript transcription	47:13 Solomon reigned in days of peace; God gave him rest all around, so that he might establish a house for His name and prepare a sanctuary forever.	Similar · Hebrew 47:13 — The wording and message closely agree.
Hebrew 47:14 · translated How wise you were in your youth, overflowing with instruction like the Nile! Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto מה חכמת בנעריך ]] [[ ותצף כיאר מוסר׃ Manuscript transcription	47:14 How wise you became in your youth! You were filled with understanding like a river.	Similar · Hebrew 47:14 — Hebrew Nile/instruction corresponds to Greek river/understanding.
Hebrew 47:15 · fragmentary The earth […] and you were praised with lofty song. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto ] ארץ ] ° °°[ — °[ך ]] [[ ותקלס֯ ב֯ מרום שירה׃ Manuscript transcription	47:15 Your soul covered the earth, and you filled it with comparisons containing riddles.	Different · Hebrew 47:15 — The surviving second clause differs from Greek filling the earth with riddling comparisons. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 47:15 “Your soul,” not “your wisdom,” is the source’s subject. “It” supplies the earth as the object of the second clause.
No Hebrew text is available in the selected manuscript coverage for this unit. This is a source gap, not a classified omission.	47:16 Your name reached distant islands, and you were loved for your peace.	Not classified. No paired Hebrew reading is supplied.
Hebrew 47:17 · fragmentary With song, [proverb], riddle, and saying, you stirred up peoples. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto [[ ]] בשיר מ֯ ]ש[ל חידה ומליצה עמׄ יםׄ הסערתה׃ Manuscript transcription	47:17 Countries marveled at you for songs, proverbs, comparisons, and interpretations.	Similar · Hebrew 47:17 — Greek countries marvel at the same kinds of wisdom speech. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 47:18 · translated You were called by the honored name that is called over Israel. You heaped up gold like iron and multiplied silver like lead. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto נקראת בשם הנכבד ]] [[ הנקרא על ישראל׃ ותצבר כברזל זהב ]] [[ וכעפרת הרבית כסף׃ Manuscript transcription	47:18 In the name of the Lord God, who is called the God of Israel, you gathered gold like tin and multiplied silver like lead.	Different · Hebrew 47:18 — Hebrew addresses Solomon as called by the honored name and compares gold to iron; Greek invokes the divine name and compares gold to tin. Inherited Greek note 47:18 The divine-name introduction is present in this Greek verse and is retained.
Hebrew 47:19 · translated You gave your loins to women and let them rule over your body. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto ותתן לנשים כסליך ]] [[ ותמשילם בגויתך׃ Manuscript transcription	47:19 You bent your loins toward women and were brought under power in your body.	Similar · Hebrew 47:19 — The same surrender is expressed actively in Hebrew.
Hebrew 47:20 · fragmentary You put a blemish on your glory and profaned your beds; […] wrath upon your offspring and a groan upon your bed. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto ו֯]ת[תן מום בכבודך ]] [[ ותחלל את יצועיך׃ [ — ] אף על צאצאיך ]] [[ ואנחה על משכבך׃ [– ] Manuscript transcription	47:20 You put a blemish upon your glory and profaned your offspring, bringing wrath upon your children and anguish because of your folly,	Different · Hebrew 47:20 — Hebrew beds and bed differ from Greek offspring and folly. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 47:20 The passive κατανυγῆναι lacks an explicit subject here; “anguish” retains its effect without choosing an unexpressed person who felt it.
Hebrew 47:21 · fragmentary […] into two tribes, and from Ephraim a kingdom of violence. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto לשני שבטים ]] [[ ומאפרים ממלכת חמס׃ [ — ] Manuscript transcription	47:21 so that the dominion became divided and a disobedient kingdom began from Ephraim.	Different · Hebrew 47:21 — Hebrew violence differs from Greek disobedience; the opening is lost. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 47:22 · fragmentary God will not abandon faithfulness or let His words fall to the ground. […] offspring and descendants, and those who love Him He will not destroy. He gave Jacob […] and David […]. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto ]א[ל לא יטוש חסד ]] [[ ולא יפיל מדבריו ארצה׃ ] ֯לא– [[ ]] [ו נין ונכד ] ואו[ה֯ ביו לא ישמיד׃ ויתן ל]יעקב– [ ]] [[ ולד֯ ]וד– °[׃ Manuscript transcription	47:22 But the Lord will never abandon His mercy or let any of His words fail. He will never wipe out His chosen one’s descendants or remove the offspring of the one who loved Him. He gave Jacob a remnant, and David a root from him.	Similar · Hebrew 47:22 — The surviving covenant fidelity agrees; the remnant/root clauses are damaged. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 47:22 The final “from him” remains as the Greek’s pronoun rather than being replaced by a genealogical explanation. All four emphatic negatives are preserved.
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 47:23, 47:24; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 47:23 · fragmentary Solomon lay down in despair and left after him […]: abundant in folly and lacking understanding, Rehoboam, who broke the people loose through counsel; until there arose—may he have no remembrance—Jeroboam son of Nebat, who sinned and caused Israel to sin and set a stumbling block before Ephraim. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto; B XVII Verso וישכב שלמה֯ מ֯ י֯ו֯א֯ ש ]] [[ ויעזב אח֯ ]ריו– °°[ ןׄ׃ רחב אולת וחסר בינה ]] [[ רחבעם הפריע בעצ֯ ]ה [עׄ ם׃ עד אשר קם אל יהי לו זכר ירבעם בן נבט אשר ח֯ ]ט[א֯ ו֯]יח[ט֯ י֯א֯ א֯ ת֯ י֯ש֯ ר֯ א֯ ל֯ ׃ ויתן לאפרים מכשול Manuscript transcription Additional folio transcriptions: 2	47:23 Solomon rested with his fathers and left after him, from his offspring, the people’s foolishness: Rehoboam, deficient in understanding, who made the people revolt through his counsel.	Different · Hebrew 47:23 — Hebrew Solomon in despair differs from Greek with his fathers; Jeroboam material aligns with Greek 47:24. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 47:23–24, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 47:23 “The people’s foolishness” is an appositional description in this text; it is not corrected to a statement that the people themselves became foolish.
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 47:23, 47:24; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 47:23 · fragmentary Solomon lay down in despair and left after him […]: abundant in folly and lacking understanding, Rehoboam, who broke the people loose through counsel; until there arose—may he have no remembrance—Jeroboam son of Nebat, who sinned and caused Israel to sin and set a stumbling block before Ephraim. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Recto; B XVII Verso וישכב שלמה֯ מ֯ י֯ו֯א֯ ש ]] [[ ויעזב אח֯ ]ריו– °°[ ןׄ׃ רחב אולת וחסר בינה ]] [[ רחבעם הפריע בעצ֯ ]ה [עׄ ם׃ עד אשר קם אל יהי לו זכר ירבעם בן נבט אשר ח֯ ]ט[א֯ ו֯]יח[ט֯ י֯א֯ א֯ ת֯ י֯ש֯ ר֯ א֯ ל֯ ׃ ויתן לאפרים מכשול Manuscript transcription Additional folio transcriptions: 2 This Hebrew unit spans Greek 47:24, 47:25; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 47:24 · translated To drive them from their land; his sin grew very great, and he sold himself to every evil. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Verso [[ ]] להדיחם מ֯ אדמת֯ ם׃ ותגדל חטאתו מאד ]] [[ ולכל רעה התמכ֯ ר֯ ׃ Manuscript transcription	47:24 There was also Jeroboam son of Nebat, who made Israel sin and gave Ephraim a path of sin. Their sins multiplied exceedingly, so that they were removed from their land.	Different · Hebrew 47:23 — Hebrew Solomon in despair differs from Greek with his fathers; Jeroboam material aligns with Greek 47:24. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 47:23–24, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Different · Hebrew 47:24 — Hebrew singular guilt contrasts with the Greek collective descendants and expulsion in 47:25. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 47:24–25, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit.
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 47:24, 47:25; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 47:24 · translated To drive them from their land; his sin grew very great, and he sold himself to every evil. Hebrew witness B · B XVII Verso [[ ]] להדיחם מ֯ אדמת֯ ם׃ ותגדל חטאתו מאד ]] [[ ולכל רעה התמכ֯ ר֯ ׃ Manuscript transcription	47:25 They sought out every kind of wickedness, until vengeance came upon them.	Different · Hebrew 47:24 — Hebrew singular guilt contrasts with the Greek collective descendants and expulsion in 47:25. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 47:24–25, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Inherited Greek note 47:25 The final Greek subjunctive views the arrival as the endpoint of the preceding pursuit; English uses the narrative past.

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.