Sirach — Chapter 41 — Hebrew–Greek comparison
Death, a good name, and proper shame
| Hebrew–English · Literal-Smooth | Greek–English · Literal-Smooth | Classification & Notes |
|---|---|---|
Hebrew 41:1 · fragmentary Alas, death, how bitter is your [remembrance?] to a man at rest in his dwelling, a man at ease and prospering, with stren[gth] still in him to receive pleasure. Hebrew witness B · X verso, lines 2–18חיים <הוי> למות מה מר יברך לאיש שוקט על מכונתו איש שליו ומצליח ועוד ב[ו ח]יל לקבל תענוג | O death, how bitter is your remembrance to a person at peace among his possessions, to a man free from distraction and prospering in everything, who still has strength to take food! | Similar · Hebrew 41:1 — Reads marginal הוי “alas.” Main יברך is problematic; “[remembrance?]” is a conjectural sense, not a securely legible Hebrew word. Greek expressly has remembrance and specifies taking food. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note41:1 The address personifies death; taking food marks continuing bodily enjoyment and strength. |
Hebrew 41:2 · translated Ah, death, how good your decree for a man in distress and lacking strength, a stumbling man ensnared in everything, resistant and bereft of hope. Hebrew witness B · X verso, lines 2–18האח למות כי טוב חקיך לאיש אונים וחסר עצמה איש כושל ינקש בכל סרב ואבד תקוה | O death, how good is your sentence to a person in need and declining in strength, extremely old and distracted about everything, resistant and having lost endurance! | Similar · Hebrew 41:2 — Hebrew hope versus Greek endurance. Inherited Greek note41:2 “Resistant” renders ἀπειθοῦντι; the object of his resistance is not expressed. |
Hebrew 41:3 · translated Do not fear death, your decree; remember that the first and last are with you. Hebrew witness B · X verso, lines 2–18אל תפחד ממות חוקיך זכור כי ראשנים ואחרנים עמך | Do not fear death’s sentence; remember those before you and those who come afterward. | Similar · Hebrew 41:3 — Shared appeal to past and future generations. |
Hebrew 41:4 · fragmentary This is every mortal’s portion from God; why reject the teaching of the Most Hi[gh]? Whether a thousand years, a hundred, or ten, there is no reproach of life in She[ol]. Hebrew witness B · X verso, lines 2–18זה חלק כל בשר מאל ומה תמאס בתורת עלי[ון] לאלף שנים מאה ועשר איש <אין> תוכחות בש[או]ל חיים | This is the sentence from the Lord upon all flesh. Why do you refuse what pleases the Most High? Whether ten or a hundred or a thousand years, in Hades there is no reproach concerning one’s life. | Similar · Hebrew 41:4 — Reads marginal אין “there is no”; Greek pleases the Most High versus Hebrew teaching. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note41:4 The final phrase is literally “no reproach of life”; the particular length of life is supplied by the preceding alternatives, not by an added doctrine of Hades. |
Hebrew 41:5 · fragmentary An offspring is despised—the word of evil people; and a foolish descendant […] wick[ed]. | The children of sinners become loathsome children, those who associate with the dwellings of the ungodly. | Not classified · Hebrew 41:5 — The main text is damaged and syntactically uncertain; no complete Greek-based reconstruction is supplied. No five-category semantic verdict is assigned to this fragment. |
Hebrew 41:6 · fragmentary From a son of injustice, evil rule […] his offspr[ing …]. | The inheritance of sinners’ children will perish, and reproach will remain continually with their offspring. | Not classified · Hebrew 41:6 — Too damaged for secure alignment beyond the shared offspring theme. No five-category semantic verdict is assigned to this fragment. |
Hebrew 41:7 · fragmentary A child curses a wicked father, for because of [him they became an object of contempt]. | Children will blame an ungodly father, because they will be reproached on his account. | Similar · Hebrew 41:7 — Restored ending follows the source transcription. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 41:8 · fragmentary Woe to [you, people of injustice], [who forsake the law of the Most] High. Hebrew witness B · X verso, lines 2–18אוי ל[כ]ם [אנשי עולה] [עזבי תורת על]יון | Woe to you, ungodly men, who have abandoned the law of God Most High! | Similar · Hebrew 41:8 — Large restorations are marked, not presented as extant continuous text. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 41:9 · fragmentary If […] the hands of disaster […] you [be]get for sighing; [i]f you stumble, for the world’s joy; if you die, for a curse. Hebrew witness B · X verso, lines 2–18אם […] ידי אסון […] [ת]ולידו לאנחה [א]ם תכשלו לשמחת עולם ואם תמותו לקללה | If you are born, you will be born for a curse; if you die, you will be allotted to a curse. | Different · Hebrew 41:9 — Continues on XI recto line 1. Hebrew has additional disaster/sighing/falling clauses; Greek is a shorter birth/death curse pair. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
Hebrew 41:10 · translated Everything returns from nothing to nothing; so the godless goes from emptiness to emptiness. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18כל מאפס אל אפס ישוב כן חנף מתהו אל תהו | Everything that comes from earth will depart into earth; so the ungodly go from a curse to destruction. | Different · Hebrew 41:10 — Hebrew nothing/emptiness differs from Greek earth/curse/destruction. |
Hebrew 41:11 · translated A human being is a breath in his body, but a name of kindness will not be cut off. | People’s mourning concerns their bodies, but the name of sinners, being no good, will be blotted out. | Different · Hebrew 41:11 — Hebrew positively preserves the kindly name; Greek negatively erases the sinners’ name. Inherited Greek note41:11 The negative οὐκ ἀγαθόν belongs to the description of the sinners’ name; it is not omitted. |
Hebrew 41:12 · translated Care for your name, for it accompanies you beyond thousands of treasuries of wisdom. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18פחד על שם כי הוא ילוך מאלפי אוצרות חכמה | Take care of your name, for it will remain with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold. | Different · Hebrew 41:12 — Main חכמה “wisdom”; margin חמדה “desirable things.” Greek treasures of gold. |
Hebrew 41:13 · translated The goodness of life lasts numbered days; the goodness of a name lasts days beyond number. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18טובת חי ימי מספר וטובת שם ימי אין מספר | A good life has a numbered span of days, but a good name will remain forever. | Similar · Hebrew 41:13 — Shared contrast of life’s brevity and enduring reputation. |
Hebrew 41:14 · translated Hidden wisdom and concealed treasure—what benefit is there in either? Children, hear instruction concerning shame. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18חכמה טמונה ואוצר מוסתר מה תועלה בשתיהם מוסר בשת שמעו בנים | Children, preserve instruction in peace. But hidden wisdom and an unseen treasure—what benefit is there in either? | Similar · Hebrew 41:14 — B places the instruction concerning shame after 41:15; source order retained in notes, grouped here by reference. |
Hebrew 41:15 · translated Better a man who hides his folly than a man who hides his wisdom. | A person who hides his foolishness is better than a person who hides his wisdom. | Similar · Hebrew 41:15 — Same maxim. |
Hebrew 41:16 · translated Be ashamed according to my judgments. Not every shame is fitting to preserve, and not every humiliation is desirable. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18והכלמו על משפטי לא כל בשת נאה לשמר ולא כל הכלם נבחר | Therefore, be ashamed in accordance with my word. For it is not good to preserve every kind of shame, and not everything finds approval with everyone in good faith. | Similar · Hebrew 41:16 — Greek adds the qualification concerning approval in good faith. Inherited Greek note41:16 The distinction introduces occasions for shame and, at 42:1, occasions when shame is inappropriate. The final qualification ἐν πίστει is retained without claiming a technical theological meaning. |
Hebrew 41:17 · translated Be ashamed before father and mother for sexual misconduct, before a seated prince for falsehood. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18בוש מאב ואם אל זנות מנשיא יושב אל כחש | Be ashamed before father and mother concerning sexual immorality, and before a leader and ruler concerning a lie; | Similar · Hebrew 41:17 — Hebrew seated prince; margin supplies “and ruler.” |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:18, 41:19; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 41:18 · fragmentary Before a master and mistress for lying, before assembly and people for transgression, […] and [friend] for treachery. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18מאדון וגברת על שקר מעדה ועם על פשע […] ו[רע] על מעל | before a judge and magistrate concerning an offense, and before an assembly and people concerning lawlessness; | Different · Hebrew 41:18 — Greek first names judge/magistrate; Hebrew’s friend clause aligns Greek 41:19. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:18–19, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:18, 41:19; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 41:18 · fragmentary Before a master and mistress for lying, before assembly and people for transgression, […] and [friend] for treachery. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18מאדון וגברת על שקר מעדה ועם על פשע […] ו[רע] על מעל This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:19, 41:20, 41:21, 41:22; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 41:19 · fragmentary Before the place where you dwell for estrangement; […] oath and covenant; for leaning your elbow upon bread; […] a request; for turning away your friend’s face. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18וממקום תגור על זר […] אלה וברית ממטה אציל אל לחם […] שאלה מהשב אפי רעך | before a partner and friend concerning injustice, and before the place where you reside concerning theft; | Different · Hebrew 41:18 — Greek first names judge/magistrate; Hebrew’s friend clause aligns Greek 41:19. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:18–19, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Different · Hebrew 41:19 — Spans content of Greek 41:19–22. Main זר is difficult beside Greek theft; damaged clauses are not repaired from Greek. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:19–22, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:19, 41:20, 41:21, 41:22; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 41:19 · fragmentary Before the place where you dwell for estrangement; […] oath and covenant; for leaning your elbow upon bread; […] a request; for turning away your friend’s face. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18וממקום תגור על זר […] אלה וברית ממטה אציל אל לחם […] שאלה מהשב אפי רעך | before the truth of God and His covenant, and of planting your elbow upon bread; | Different · Hebrew 41:19 — Spans content of Greek 41:19–22. Main זר is difficult beside Greek theft; damaged clauses are not repaired from Greek. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:19–22, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note41:20 The list shifts from people before whom one feels shame to conduct of which one should be ashamed. The physical table gesture is retained. |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:19, 41:20, 41:21, 41:22; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 41:19 · fragmentary Before the place where you dwell for estrangement; […] oath and covenant; for leaning your elbow upon bread; […] a request; for turning away your friend’s face. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18וממקום תגור על זר […] אלה וברית ממטה אציל אל לחם […] שאלה מהשב אפי רעך This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:21, 41:22, 41:23, 41:24; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 41:21 · fragmentary For turning back […] a [por]tion [of food]; for remaining silent toward [one who asks] after your welfare; for looking […] and for [rising up ag]ainst […]. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18מהש[ב … מ]חלק[ת מנה] ו[משאל] שלום מהחריש מהביט […] ומהת[קומם ע]ל […] | of contempt in receiving and giving, and of silence toward those who greet you; | Different · Hebrew 41:19 — Spans content of Greek 41:19–22. Main זר is difficult beside Greek theft; damaged clauses are not repaired from Greek. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:19–22, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Not classified · Hebrew 41:21 — Combines B lines 16–17. The greeting clause aligns Greek 41:21, while the other surviving pieces range over Greek 41:23–24; extensive damage prevents full comparison. No five-category semantic verdict is assigned to this fragment. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:21–24, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Inherited Greek note41:21 Σκορακισμός denotes contemptuous dismissal; “in receiving and giving” preserves the paired transaction language. |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:19, 41:20, 41:21, 41:22; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 41:19 · fragmentary Before the place where you dwell for estrangement; […] oath and covenant; for leaning your elbow upon bread; […] a request; for turning away your friend’s face. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18וממקום תגור על זר […] אלה וברית ממטה אציל אל לחם […] שאלה מהשב אפי רעך This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:21, 41:22, 41:23, 41:24; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 41:21 · fragmentary For turning back […] a [por]tion [of food]; for remaining silent toward [one who asks] after your welfare; for looking […] and for [rising up ag]ainst […]. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18מהש[ב … מ]חלק[ת מנה] ו[משאל] שלום מהחריש מהביט […] ומהת[קומם ע]ל […] | of looking at a courtesan, and of turning your face away from a relative; | Different · Hebrew 41:19 — Spans content of Greek 41:19–22. Main זר is difficult beside Greek theft; damaged clauses are not repaired from Greek. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:19–22, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Not classified · Hebrew 41:21 — Combines B lines 16–17. The greeting clause aligns Greek 41:21, while the other surviving pieces range over Greek 41:23–24; extensive damage prevents full comparison. No five-category semantic verdict is assigned to this fragment. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:21–24, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:21, 41:22, 41:23, 41:24; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 41:21 · fragmentary For turning back […] a [por]tion [of food]; for remaining silent toward [one who asks] after your welfare; for looking […] and for [rising up ag]ainst […]. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18מהש[ב … מ]חלק[ת מנה] ו[משאל] שלום מהחריש מהביט […] ומהת[קומם ע]ל […] | of taking away a portion and a gift, and of scrutinizing a married woman; | Not classified · Hebrew 41:21 — Combines B lines 16–17. The greeting clause aligns Greek 41:21, while the other surviving pieces range over Greek 41:23–24; extensive damage prevents full comparison. No five-category semantic verdict is assigned to this fragment. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:21–24, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:21, 41:22, 41:23, 41:24; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 41:21 · fragmentary For turning back […] a [por]tion [of food]; for remaining silent toward [one who asks] after your welfare; for looking […] and for [rising up ag]ainst […]. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18מהש[ב … מ]חלק[ת מנה] ו[משאל] שלום מהחריש מהביט […] ומהת[קומם ע]ל […] | of meddling with his maidservant—and do not stand over her bed; | Not classified · Hebrew 41:21 — Combines B lines 16–17. The greeting clause aligns Greek 41:21, while the other surviving pieces range over Greek 41:23–24; extensive damage prevents full comparison. No five-category semantic verdict is assigned to this fragment. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:21–24, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Inherited Greek note41:24 “His” has no newly named male antecedent in the immediate clause; the Greek’s pronoun is retained rather than replaced with “your.” |
Hebrew 41:22 · translated Before a friend for words of reproach; after giving, do not revile. Hebrew witness B · XI recto, lines 2–18מאוהב על דברי חרפה ומאחרי מתת אל תנאץ | before friends concerning words of reproach—and after giving, do not reproach; | Similar · Hebrew 41:22 — Content aligns Greek 41:25, not Greek 41:22. |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:26, 41:27, 42:1; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 42:1 · translated For repeating a report you hear and exposing every secret. Then you will be truly modest and find favor in the eyes of all living. But do not be ashamed of these things, and do not show partiality and sin. Hebrew witness B · XI verso, lines 1–18משנות דבר תשמע ומחסוף כל סוד והיית בוש באמת ומצא חן בעיני כל חי אך על אלה אל תבוש ואל תשא פנים וחטא | of repeating a report you have heard, and of concealing secret words. | Different · Hebrew 42:1 — Hebrew opening aligns Greek 41:26–27; exposing a secret differs from the inherited Greek “concealing.” The final sentence aligns Greek 42:1. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:26–27; 42:1, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Inherited Greek note41:26 Source difference: the publisher reads καλύψεως, “concealing.” Swete, p. 731, under his reference 42:1, prints ἀποκαλύψεων, giving “and of revealing secret words.” That alternate phrase was directly read in the printed Greek. This draft retains the declared publisher’s reading and numbering; determining whether its difference is editorial or a digital error requires the corresponding printed Rahlfs–Hanhart page. [SWETE-SIR] |
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 41:26, 41:27, 42:1; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 42:1 · translated For repeating a report you hear and exposing every secret. Then you will be truly modest and find favor in the eyes of all living. But do not be ashamed of these things, and do not show partiality and sin. Hebrew witness B · XI verso, lines 1–18משנות דבר תשמע ומחסוף כל סוד והיית בוש באמת ומצא חן בעיני כל חי אך על אלה אל תבוש ואל תשא פנים וחטא | Then you will be truly modest and find favor before every person. | Different · Hebrew 42:1 — Hebrew opening aligns Greek 41:26–27; exposing a secret differs from the inherited Greek “concealing.” The final sentence aligns Greek 42:1. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 41:26–27; 42:1, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. |
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.