Sirach — Chapter 51 — Hebrew–Greek comparison
Thanksgiving and the pursuit of wisdom
| Hebrew–English · Literal-Smooth | Greek–English · Literal-Smooth | Classification & Notes |
|---|---|---|
Hebrew 51:1 · translated I will praise You, God of my salvation; I will thank You, God of my father. I will recount Your name, stronghold of my life. Hebrew witness B · B XX Rectoאהללך אלהי ישעי א֯ ו֯ד֯ ך אלהי אבי׃ אספרה שמך מעוז חיי ]] [[ | I will give thanks to You, Lord and King, and praise You, God my Savior. I give thanks to Your name, | Different · Hebrew 51:1 — Hebrew God of my father and stronghold of my life differ from Greek Lord and King and God my Savior. Inherited Greek note51:1 The publisher displays no separate prayer superscription. Swete, p. 752, prints Προσευχὴ Ἰησοῦ υἱοῦ Σειράχ, “Prayer of Jesus son of Sirach.” That actually read heading is preserved here as an edition comparison, not counted as an additional publisher verse. The chapter title is editorial. [SWETE-SIR] |
Hebrew 51:2 · translated For You redeemed my soul from death, withheld my flesh from the pit, and delivered my feet from Sheol’s hand. You rescued me from a people’s slander, from the scourge of a slanderous tongue and lips that spread falsehood. Against those rising against me You were there for me. Hebrew witness B · B XX Rectoכי פדית ממות נפשי ׃ חשכת בשרי משחת ]] [[ ומיד שאול הצלת רגלי׃ פציתני מדבת עם ]] [[ משוט דבת לשון ומשפת שטי כזב׃ נגד קמי הי ^י^ תה לי ]] [[ | because You became my shelter and helper. You redeemed my body from destruction and from the snare of a slanderous tongue, from lips that work falsehood. Before those standing around, You became my helper and redeemed me, | Different · Hebrew 51:2 — Hebrew expands bodily deliverance and hostile slander; Greek has shelter and helper. |
Hebrew 51:3 · translated You helped me according to Your abundant faithfulness, from the snare of watchers on a rock, from the hand of those seeking my life; from many troubles You saved me. Hebrew witness B · B XX Rectoעזרתני כרוב חסדך׃ ממוקש צופי סלע ]] [[ ומיד מבקשי נפשי׃ מרבות צרות הושעתני ]] [[ | according to the abundance of Your mercy and Your name, from gnashing teeth when I was ready to be devoured, from the hand of those seeking my life, from the many afflictions I had, | Different · Hebrew 51:3 — The difficult Hebrew watchers on a rock differs from Greek gnashing teeth ready to devour. Inherited Greek note51:3 “And Your name” is explicit; the Greek does not supply “glory of” before it. |
Hebrew 51:4 · fragmentary And from the straits of flame, from the burns of a fire not fanned. | from the choking of a fire all around, and from the midst of a fire that I did not kindle, | Different · Hebrew 51:4 — Hebrew fire not fanned differs from Greek fire I did not kindle. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note51:4 The active οὐκ ἐξέκαυσα, rendered “I did not kindle,” was visually confirmed in Swete, p. 752. LSJ documents the transitive sense “kindle”; the grammatical construction and possible broader burning sense remain a review question. No passive form is asserted to occur in the publisher. [SWETE-SIR; LSJ-EKKAIO] |
Hebrew 51:5 · fragmentary From the [womb] of the deep […] ; from lips of wickedness and fabricators of falsehood. | from the depth of Hades’ belly, from an unclean tongue and a false word— | Similar · Hebrew 51:5 — The deep clause is damaged; both list deceitful speech. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 51:6 · translated And arrows of a deceitful tongue. My soul touched death, and my life the lowest Sheol. Hebrew witness B · B XX Recto; B XX Versoוחצי לשון מרמה׃ ותגע למות נפשי [[ ]] וחיתי לשאול תחתיות׃ Additional folio transcriptions: 2 | slander to a king from an unjust tongue. My soul drew near to death, and my life was close to Hades below. | Different · Hebrew 51:6 — Hebrew arrows of a deceitful tongue differs from Greek slander to a king from an unjust tongue. Inherited Greek note51:6 The first clause is a nominal phrase continuing the preceding slander language; “to a king” preserves the dative βασιλεῖ. |
Hebrew 51:7 · translated I turned all around, but there was no helper for me; I looked for support, but there was none. | They surrounded me on every side, and there was no helper. I looked for support from people, but there was none. | Different · Hebrew 51:7 — Hebrew I turned contrasts with Greek they surrounded me. |
Hebrew 51:8 · translated I remembered YHWH’s mercies and His faithful deeds from of old: He rescues those who take refuge in Him and redeems them from every evil. Hebrew witness B · B XX Versoואזכרה את רחמי ייי [[ ]] וחסדיו אשר מעולם׃ המציל את חוסי בו [[ ]] ויגאלם מכל רע׃ | I remembered Your mercy, Lord, and Your work from of old: You rescue those who wait for You and save them from the hand of enemies. | Similar · Hebrew 51:8 — Hebrew from every evil corresponds to Greek from enemies’ hands. |
Hebrew 51:9 · translated I raised my voice from the earth and my cry from Sheol’s gates. | I lifted my supplication from the earth and pleaded for deliverance from death. | Different · Hebrew 51:9 — Hebrew Sheol’s gates contrasts with Greek plea for deliverance from death. |
Hebrew 51:10 · translated I exalted YHWH: You are my Father, for You are the champion of my salvation. Do not let me go in a day of trouble, in a day of devastation and desolation. Hebrew witness B · B XX Versoוארומם ייי אבי אתה [[ ]] כי אתה גבור ישעי׃ אל תרפני ביום צרה [[ ]] ביום שואה ומשואה׃ This Hebrew unit spans Greek 51:10, 51:11; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 51:11 · translated I will praise Your name continually and remember You in prayer. Then YHWH heard my voice and listened to my supplications. Hebrew witness B · B XX Verso]] [[ אהללה שמך תמיד ואזכרך בתפלה׃ אז שמע קולי ייי [[ ]] ויאזין אל תחנוני׃ | I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, not to abandon me in days of affliction, in a time of arrogance when there was no help. I will praise Your name continually and sing hymns with thanksgiving. | Different · Hebrew 51:10 — Hebrew You are my Father contrasts with the inherited Greek-English the Father of my Lord. Similar · Hebrew 51:11 — The praise promise aligns with Greek 51:10 and hearing with 51:11. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 51:10–11, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Inherited Greek note51:10 “The Lord, the Father of my Lord” follows κύριον πατέρα κυρίου μου, also visually confirmed in Swete, p. 753. Its presence alone does not establish the date or doctrinal intention of a textual layer. The address is retained without substituting another form. [SWETE-SIR] |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 51:10, 51:11; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 51:11 · translated I will praise Your name continually and remember You in prayer. Then YHWH heard my voice and listened to my supplications. Hebrew witness B · B XX Verso]] [[ אהללה שמך תמיד ואזכרך בתפלה׃ אז שמע קולי ייי [[ ]] ויאזין אל תחנוני׃ This Hebrew unit spans Greek 51:11, 51:12; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 51:12 · translated He redeemed me from every evil and delivered me in the day of trouble. Therefore I gave thanks and praise and blessed YHWH’s name. Hebrew witness B · B XX Versoויפדני֯ מׄ כל רע [[ ]] וימלטני ביום צרה׃ על כן הודיתי ואהללה [[ ]] ואברכה את שם ייי׃ | My petition was heard, for You saved me from destruction and rescued me from an evil time. | Similar · Hebrew 51:11 — The praise promise aligns with Greek 51:10 and hearing with 51:11. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 51:10–11, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Similar · Hebrew 51:12 — The rescue clause aligns with Greek 51:11; thanksgiving with 51:12. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 51:11–12, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 51:11, 51:12; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 51:12 · translated He redeemed me from every evil and delivered me in the day of trouble. Therefore I gave thanks and praise and blessed YHWH’s name. Hebrew witness B · B XX Versoויפדני֯ מׄ כל רע [[ ]] וימלטני ביום צרה׃ על כן הודיתי ואהללה [[ ]] ואברכה את שם ייי׃ | Therefore I will give thanks to You and praise You and bless the Lord’s name. | Similar · Hebrew 51:12 — The rescue clause aligns with Greek 51:11; thanksgiving with 51:12. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 51:11–12, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. |
Hebrew 51:13 · translated I was a youth, and I desired her and sought her. | While I was still young, before I wandered, I openly sought wisdom in my prayer. | Different · Hebrew 51:13 — Hebrew lacks the Greek before I wandered and prayer wording in this line. Inherited Greek note51:13 Πλανηθῆναι may concern traveling about or straying; the English “wandered” preserves the ambiguity without supplying a moral lapse. |
Hebrew 51:14 · translated I prayed a prayer in my youth. | Before the sanctuary I asked for her, and until the end I will seek her out. | Different · Hebrew 51:14 — The Hebrew short line differs from Greek prayer before the sanctuary and lifelong seeking. |
Hebrew 51:15 · translated My foot trod in her truth; my Lord, from my youth I learned wisdom. | From her blossom, as from a ripening grape, my heart rejoiced in her. My foot stepped in uprightness; from my youth I traced her path. | Different · Hebrew 51:15 — Hebrew lacks Greek blossom and ripening-grape rejoicing. Inherited Greek note51:15 The compressed blossom-and-grape comparison is retained without importing another version’s stage-by-stage description of fruit. |
Hebrew 51:16 · translated And I found much knowledge in her. | I inclined my ear a little and received, and found much instruction for myself. | Different · Hebrew 51:16 — Hebrew lacks the Greek inclined-ear clause. |
Hebrew 51:17 · translated Her yoke became an honor to me; to my Teacher I will give thanks. | I made progress in her; I will give glory to the One who gives me wisdom. | Different · Hebrew 51:17 — Hebrew her yoke contrasts with Greek progress in her. |
Hebrew 51:18 · translated I resolved to do good and will not turn back when I find it. | For I resolved to practice her and was zealous for the good, and I will never be put to shame. | Different · Hebrew 51:18 — Hebrew not turning back contrasts with Greek never being ashamed. |
Hebrew 51:19 · fragmentary My soul desired her, and I will not turn my face from her. My hand opened her gates; for her I trembled and looked at […]. Hebrew witness B · B XXI Rectoחשקה נפשי בה ]] [[ ופני לא אהפך ממנה׃ ידי פתחה שעריה ]] [[ ולה אחׄ ר֯ ד֯ ואביט ב °[ — ] | My soul struggled for her, and I was exact in practicing the law. I spread my hands toward the height and mourned my soul’s unwitting faults. | Different · Hebrew 51:19 — Hebrew pursuit imagery and opening her gates differ from Greek law practice, hands toward heaven, and mourning unwitting faults. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note51:19 The final feminine “her/its” can refer back to ψυχή, “soul.” Naming the soul in English avoids attributing ignorance to wisdom as a settled interpretation; the pronoun’s antecedent remains a translation question. |
Hebrew 51:20 · fragmentary I gave my soul to following her and will never, ever turn [away from her]. In purity I found her and gained a heart for her from her beginning; therefore […]. Hebrew witness B · B XXI Rectoנפשי נתתי בה אחריה ]] [[ ולנצח נ צחים לא אטה֯ מ֯ מ֯ ]נה [ ֯ובטהרה מצאתיה ולב קניתי לה מתחלתה בעבור כן ] [ | I directed my soul toward her and found her in purity. From the beginning I gained a heart together with her; therefore I will never be abandoned. | Similar · Hebrew 51:20 — The purity and gaining-a-heart clauses agree; the conclusion is damaged. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note51:20 “Gained a heart” is retained as the source’s expression rather than replaced by an added faculty or emotional state. |
Hebrew 51:21 · translated My inward parts roared like a furnace as I looked at her; therefore I acquired her as a good possession. Hebrew witness B · B XXI Versoמעי יהמו כתנור להביט בה ]] [[ בעבור כן קניתיה קנין טוב׃ | My inward parts were stirred to seek her out; therefore I acquired a good possession. | Different · Hebrew 51:21 — Hebrew furnace image is absent from the Greek stirred inward parts. |
Hebrew 51:22 · translated YHWH gave me the reward of my lips, and with my tongue I will thank Him. | The Lord gave me a tongue as my reward, and with it I will praise Him. | Different · Hebrew 51:22 — Hebrew reward of my lips differs from Greek a tongue as reward. |
Hebrew 51:23 · translated Turn to me, you foolish ones, and lodge in my house of study. | Draw near to me, you who are uninstructed, and lodge in a house of instruction. | Similar · Hebrew 51:23 — Hebrew my house makes the teacher’s invitation explicit. |
Hebrew 51:24 · translated How long will you lack these things, while your soul is exceedingly thirsty? Hebrew witness B · B XXI Versoעד מתי תחסרון מן אילו ואילו ]] [[ ונפשכם צמאה מאד תהיה׃ | Why do you say you are lacking in these things, while your souls thirst exceedingly? | Similar · Hebrew 51:24 — Greek casts the opening as why do you say rather than how long. |
Hebrew 51:25 · translated I opened my mouth and spoke of her: Acquire wisdom for yourselves without silver. | I opened my mouth and said, “Acquire for yourselves without silver. | Similar · Hebrew 51:25 — Hebrew explicitly names wisdom in the invitation. |
Hebrew 51:26 · translated Bring your necks under her yoke, and let your soul carry her burden. She is near to those seeking her; whoever gives his soul finds her. Hebrew witness B · B XXI Versoוצואריכם בעלה הביאו ]] [[ ומשאה תשא נפשכם׃ קרובה היא למבקשיה ]] [[ ונותן נפשו מוצא אתה׃ | “Put your neck beneath the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction. She is near at hand to be found. | Different · Hebrew 51:26 — Hebrew has her burden and the final wholehearted-search clause; Greek instruction and near at hand. |
Hebrew 51:27 · translated See with your eyes that I was small, but stood by her and found her. Hebrew witness B · B XXI Versoראו בעיניכם כי קטן הייתי ]] [[ ועמדתי בה ומצאתיה | “See with your own eyes that I labored a little and found much rest for myself. | Different · Hebrew 51:27 — Hebrew I was small differs from Greek I labored a little and found rest. |
Hebrew 51:28 · translated Many heard my instruction in my youth, and silver and gold you will acquire through me. Hebrew witness B · B XXI Versoרבים שמעו למודי בנערותי ]] [[ וכסף וזהב תקנו בי׃ | “Take part in instruction at the cost of much silver, and acquire much gold through her. | Different · Hebrew 51:28 — Hebrew youthful teaching and through me differ from Greek paying much silver and acquiring gold through her. Inherited Greek note51:28 “Much silver” is present here, beside the invitation “without silver” in verse twenty-five. The contrast is retained without deleting either expression or claiming a textual correction. |
Hebrew 51:29 · translated May my soul rejoice in my assembly, and may you not be ashamed of my song. | “May your soul rejoice in His mercy, and may you not be ashamed in His praise. | Different · Hebrew 51:29 — Hebrew my soul/my assembly/my song differs from Greek your soul/His mercy/His praise. |
Hebrew 51:30 · translated Do your deeds in righteousness, and He gives you your reward in its time. Blessed be YHWH forever, and praised be His name from generation to generation. Thus far the words of Simon son of Jeshua, called Ben Sira. The Wisdom of Simon son of Jeshua son of Eleazar son of Sira. May YHWH’s name be blessed from now and forever. Hebrew witness B · B XXI Versoמעשיכם עשו בצדקה ]] [[ והוא נותן לכם שכרכם בעתו׃ ברוך ייי לעולם ]] [[ ומשובח שמו לדר ודר׃ עד הנה דברי שמעון בן ישוע שנקרא בן סירא׃ חכמת שמעון בן ישוע בן אלעזר בן סירא׃ יהי שם ייי מבורך מעתה ועד עולם׃ | “Do your work before the appointed time, and He will give you your reward in His time.” | Different · Hebrew 51:30 — Hebrew righteousness differs from Greek before the appointed time. The concluding blessings and author colophons are manuscript additions without a parallel in the inherited Greek-English verse. Inherited Greek note51:30 The quotation introduced in verse twenty-five is closed editorially here; the Greek source does not mark every intervening verse as a separate speech. |
Hebrew 51:12a · translated Give thanks to YHWH, for He is good, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12a — Hebrew thanksgiving hymn absent from the inherited Greek-English main text. |
Hebrew 51:12b · translated Give thanks to the God of praises, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12b — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12c · translated Give thanks to the Keeper of Israel, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12c — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12d · translated Give thanks to the Maker of all, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12d — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12e · translated Give thanks to the Redeemer of Israel, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12e — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12f · fragmentary [Give thanks] to the Gatherer of Israel’s outcasts, for His faithfulness endures forever. Hebrew witness B · B XX Verso[הו]דו למקב֯ ץ֯ נדחי ישראל [[ ]] כי לעולם חסדו׃ | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12f — The opening is partly restored; Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 51:12g · translated Give thanks to the Builder of His city and His sanctuary, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12g — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12h · translated Give thanks to Him who makes a horn spring up for David’s house, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12h — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12i · translated Give thanks to Him who chooses Zadok’s sons to serve as priests, for His faithfulness endures forever. Hebrew witness B · B XXI Rectoהודו לבוחר בבני צדוק לכהן ]] [[ כי לעולם חסדו׃ | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12i — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12j · translated Give thanks to Abraham’s Shield, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12j — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12k · translated Give thanks to Isaac’s Rock, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12k — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12l · translated Give thanks to the Mighty One of Jacob, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12l — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12m · translated Give thanks to Him who chooses Zion, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12m — Hebrew-only hymn line in this comparison. |
Hebrew 51:12n · translated Give thanks to the King of kings of kings, for His faithfulness endures forever. | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12n — The doubled kings is preserved from Hebrew; no parallel in inherited Greek-English. |
Hebrew 51:12o · translated He raised a horn for His people, praise for all His faithful ones, for Israel’s children, the people near Him. Praise Yah! Hebrew witness B · B XXI Rectoוירם קרן לעמו תהלה לכל חסידיו לבני ישראל עם קרבו הללו יה׃ [[ ]] [[ ]] | No aligned Greek unit is supplied here; see the alignment note. | Divergent · Hebrew 51:12o — The hymn closes with language of Psalm 148:14; absent from inherited Greek-English Sirach. |
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.