ReverendMajestic creation

Sirach — Chapter 43 — Hebrew–Greek comparison

The heavens, the seasons, and the sea

Saints Translation · V2 · Hebrew–Greek working comparison

Sirach 43 · 33 source units
Hebrew–English · Literal-Smooth	Greek–English · Literal-Smooth	Classification & Notes
Hebrew 43:1 · fragmentary […] in purity; and the substance of heaven spreads its splendor […]. [Margin: “The beauty of the height: a firmament in purity, and the substance of heaven displaying radiance.”] Hebrew witness B · XII recto, lines 2–18 […] לטוהר ועצם שמים מרביט הדרו […] <תואר מרום רקע על טהר ועצם שמים מביט נהרה> Manuscript transcription	43:1 The pride of the heights is the clear firmament, the appearance of heaven in a vision of glory.	Similar · Hebrew 43:1 — The fuller marginal reading is on XII verso line 1; the main opening is damaged. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 43:2 · translated The sun pours out heat in its distress; how awe-inspiring are YHWH’s works! Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 שמש מביע בצרתו חמה מה נורא מעשי ייי Manuscript transcription	43:2 The sun, appearing, announces as it rises: a wondrous instrument, a work of the Most High.	Different · Hebrew 43:2 — Main בצרתו differs from marginal בצאתו “at its going forth,” which agrees better with Greek rising. Inherited Greek note 43:2 The Greek’s announcing verb has no expressed object. The apposition “a wondrous instrument” is retained without adding what the sun announces.
Hebrew 43:3 · translated At noon it boils the world; who can endure before its scorching heat? Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 בהצהירו ירתיח תבל לפני חרבו מי יתכלכל Manuscript transcription	43:3 At its noon it dries out the land; who will withstand its burning heat?	Similar · Hebrew 43:3 — Greek dries out the land.
Hebrew 43:4 · fragmentary A blown furnace casts metal; the sun’s outpouring sets mountains alight. […] light, blowing embers; its flame burns the eye. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 כור נפוח מהם מצוק שולח שמש ידליק הרים לשאון מאור תגמר נושבת ומנורה תכוה עין Manuscript transcription	43:4 One blows a furnace for works requiring heat, but the sun burns mountains three times as fiercely. Breathing out fiery vapors and flashing rays, it dims the eyes.	Different · Hebrew 43:4 — The middle main Hebrew clause is corrupt; Greek explicitly adds “three times,” absent from the readable Hebrew. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 43:4 “Three times” is explicit. The furnace comparison has a compressed first clause whose human operator is supplied in English.
Hebrew 43:5 · translated For great is YHWH who made it; His words direct His mighty ones. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 כי גדיל ייי עושהו ודבריו ינצח אביריו Manuscript transcription	43:5 Great is the Lord who made it, and by His words it hastens on its course.	Different · Hebrew 43:5 — Greek describes the sun hastening on its course; Hebrew’s closing term is difficult.
Hebrew 43:6 · fragmentary And the moon too […] appointed times, governing the season and a sign forever. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 וגם ירח ירח עתות שכות ממשלת קץ ואות עולם Manuscript transcription	43:6 The moon too is always there at its appointed time, a display of seasons and a sign of the age.	Not classified · Hebrew 43:6 — The main middle words are corrupt; margin has “time by time until the appointed time.” No five-category semantic verdict is assigned to this fragment.
Hebrew 43:7 · translated In them are festival and appointed statutory times, and its time’s delight in its circuit. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 בם מועד וזמני חוק וחפץ עתה בתקופתו Manuscript transcription	43:7 From the moon comes the sign of a festival, a luminary that diminishes as it completes its course.	Different · Hebrew 43:7 — The main text is difficult; Greek specifies the luminary diminishing as its course completes.
Hebrew 43:8 · fragmentary Month by month it renews itself; how wondrous its changing! An instrument of the heavenly host […] of the heights, paving the firmament with its brightness. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 חדש בחדשו הוא מתחדש מה נורא בהשתנותו כלי צבא נבלי מרום מרצף רקיע מזהירתו Manuscript transcription	43:8 The month takes its name from it. It grows wondrously in its changes, an instrument of the encampments on high, shining in the firmament of heaven.	Similar · Hebrew 43:8 — The word נבלי is uncertain; Hebrew moon/month/newness wordplay cannot be reproduced literally in English. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 43:8 The Greek shifts from the feminine moon to masculine μήν, “month.” The military image “encampments” is preserved without specifying a reconstructed heavenly arrangement.
Hebrew 43:9 · translated The beauty of heaven and splendor of a star—its light shines in God’s heights. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 תואר שמים והדר כוכב ואורו מזהיר במרומי אל Manuscript transcription	43:9 The beauty of heaven is the glory of the stars, an ornament shining in the Lord’s heights.	Similar · Hebrew 43:9 — Greek plural stars and ornament.
Hebrew 43:10 · translated At God’s word the ordinance stands, and it does not sink in their watches. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 בדבר אל יעמד חק ולא ישח באשמרותם Manuscript transcription	43:10 At the Holy One’s words they will stand according to His judgment and will never grow slack in their watches.	Similar · Hebrew 43:10 — Margin “does not sleep”; Greek does not grow slack.
Hebrew 43:11 · fragmentary Look at the rainbow and bless its Maker, for it is exceedingly majestic in [glo]ry. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 ראה קשת וברך עושיה כי מאד נאדרה [בכ]בוד Manuscript transcription	43:11 Look at the rainbow and bless the One who made it, exceedingly beautiful in its radiance.	Similar · Hebrew 43:11 — Same invitation to praise through the rainbow. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 43:12 · fragmentary It encircles a boundary in its glory, and God’s hand stretched it out in mi[ght]. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 חוק הקיפה בכבודה ויד אל נטתה בגבו[רה] Manuscript transcription	43:12 It encircles heaven with a ring of glory; the hands of the Most High stretched it out.	Similar · Hebrew 43:12 — Margin “splendor” for main “boundary”; Greek expressly heaven. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 43:13 · fragmentary His might marks out lightning and directs sparks […]. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 גבורתו תתוה ברק ותנצח זיקות […] Manuscript transcription	43:13 By His command He hastens the snow and speeds the lightning of His judgment.	Different · Hebrew 43:13 — Greek first has snow and then lightning of judgment; the Hebrew main lightning clause differs from its marginal reading. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 43:14 · fragmentary For this He created a store[house] and made cl[ouds] fly […]. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 למען ברא או[צר] ויעף ע[בים …] Manuscript transcription	43:14 Therefore the storehouses were opened, and clouds flew out like birds.	Similar · Hebrew 43:14 — Greek storehouses opened, rather than created. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 43:15 · translated His might strengthens the cloud and breaks hailstones. Hebrew witness Masada · Column VI, line 8 גבורתו חזק ענן ותגדע אבני ברד Manuscript transcription	43:15 By His greatness He strengthened the clouds, and hailstones were broken into pieces.	Similar · Hebrew 43:15 — Masada VI supplies a readable line where B XII verso is almost entirely lost; both Hebrew and Greek strengthen clouds and break hailstones.
Hebrew 43:16 · fragmentary [Margin: “By His strength He makes mountains rage; His terror makes the south shudder.”] Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 <ובכוחו יזעים הרים אימתו תחרף תימין> Manuscript transcription	43:16 At His appearing the mountains will be shaken; at His will the south wind will blow.	Similar · Hebrew 43:16 — This verse survives here as a marginal addition. Greek appearance/will and blowing south wind differ in expression. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 43:17, 43:18; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 43:17 · fragmentary The voice of His [th]under convulses His earth: the raging north wind, whirlwind and storm. Like a flying spark He waves His snow; like a locust its descent settles. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 קול [ר]עמו יחול ארצו זלעפות צפון סופה וסערה רשף יניף שלגו וכארבה ישכון דרתו Manuscript transcription	43:17 The sound of His thunder rebuked the earth, as did the north wind’s storm and the whirling of wind.	Similar · Hebrew 43:17 — The snow clause continues on XIII recto line 1 and aligns Greek 43:18. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 43:17–18, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
This Hebrew unit spans Greek 43:17, 43:18; repeated here for alignment. Its classification applies to the combined passage. Hebrew 43:17 · fragmentary The voice of His [th]under convulses His earth: the raging north wind, whirlwind and storm. Like a flying spark He waves His snow; like a locust its descent settles. Hebrew witness B · XII verso, lines 1–18 קול [ר]עמו יחול ארצו זלעפות צפון סופה וסערה רשף יניף שלגו וכארבה ישכון דרתו Manuscript transcription Hebrew 43:18 · translated The beauty of its whiteness dazzles the eyes, and at its shower the heart murmurs in awe. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 תואר לבנה יגהה עינים וממטרו יהמה לבב Manuscript transcription	43:18 Like birds flying down, He sprinkles snow; like a settling locust is its descent. The eye will marvel at the beauty of its whiteness, and the heart will be astounded by its falling shower.	Similar · Hebrew 43:17 — The snow clause continues on XIII recto line 1 and aligns Greek 43:18. The comparison applies to the combined Greek units 43:17–18, whose boundaries differ from this Hebrew unit. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Similar · Hebrew 43:18 — Greek marveling/astonishment; Hebrew describes eyes and heart responding.
Hebrew 43:19 · translated Frost too settles like salt and flowers with blossoms like sapphire. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 וגם כפור כמלח ישכון ויציץ כספיר ציצים Manuscript transcription	43:19 He pours frost upon the earth like salt, and when frozen it becomes points of thorns.	Different · Hebrew 43:19 — Hebrew main sapphire imagery differs from Greek points of thorns. Masada VI instead has thornbush imagery.
Hebrew 43:20 · translated He sends the cold north wind, and like decay it freezes its spring. Over every standing body of water it forms a crust; the pool wears it like armor. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 צינת רוח צפון ישיב וכרקב יקפיא מקורו על כל מעמד מים יקרים וכשרין ילבש מקוה Manuscript transcription	43:20 A cold north wind will blow, and ice will freeze upon water. It will settle upon every gathering of water, and the water will put it on like a breastplate.	Different · Hebrew 43:20 — Main כרקב “like decay” is difficult; Masada VI has כרגב “like a clod.” Greek simply freezes water; shared armor image.
Hebrew 43:21 · fragmentary It scorches the produce [of mountains] like drought, and the abode of plants like a flame. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 יבול ^הרים^ כחרב ישיק ונוה צמחים כלהבה Manuscript transcription	43:21 It will consume mountains and burn the wilderness, and extinguish green growth like fire.	Similar · Hebrew 43:21 — Inserted mountains marked; Greek consumes mountains and burns wilderness. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions. Inherited Greek note 43:21 The destructive subject continues from the cold and ice. “Extinguish” preserves the verb normally used of putting out flame, followed here by the fire comparison.
Hebrew 43:22 · translated The dripping of cloud heals everything; dew is released to refresh the scorched ground. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 מרפא כל מערף ענן טל פורע לדשן שרב Manuscript transcription	43:22 A mist quickly brings healing to everything; dew arriving from the scorching heat will bring gladness.	Similar · Hebrew 43:22 — Compressed Hebrew; dew relief aligns Greek. Inherited Greek note 43:22 The final expression ἀπὸ καύσωνος is compressed; the rendering retains its connection with the scorching heat without adding a meteorological explanation.
Hebrew 43:23 · translated His thought brings the great deep to rest, and He plants islands in the abyss. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 מחשבתו תשיק רבה ויט בתהום איים Manuscript transcription	43:23 By His purpose He stilled the abyss and planted islands in it.	Similar · Hebrew 43:23 — Reads the difficult main verb in the stilling sense; Greek closely parallels the scene.
Hebrew 43:24 · translated Those who go down to the sea tell of its farthest reaches; at what our ears hear, we are astonished. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 יורדי הים יספרו קצהו לשמע אזננו נשתומם Manuscript transcription	43:24 Those who sail the sea recount its danger, and we marvel at what our ears hear.	Different · Hebrew 43:24 — Hebrew reaches/extremity versus Greek danger.
Hebrew 43:25 · translated There are wonders, marvels of His work: every kind of living thing and the mighty things of the deep. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 שם פלאות תמהי מעשהו מין כל חי וגבורות רבה Manuscript transcription	43:25 There too are strange things and wondrous works, the variety of every living creature, the creation of sea monsters.	Similar · Hebrew 43:25 — Greek expressly names sea monsters; Hebrew leaves the deep’s mighty things broader.
Hebrew 43:26 · translated For His sake a messenger succeeds, and by His words His will is accomplished. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 למענו יצלח מלאך ובדבריו יפעל רצון Manuscript transcription	43:26 Because of Him His messenger succeeds, and by His word all things hold together.	Different · Hebrew 43:26 — Greek all things hold together versus Hebrew accomplishing will. Inherited Greek note 43:26 Ἄγγελος can mean messenger or angel; the sea context does not identify this messenger more precisely.
Hebrew 43:27 · translated We will add no more such things; the end of the matter is: He is all. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 עוד כאלה לא נוסף וקץ דבר הוא הכל Manuscript transcription	43:27 We will say much and still never reach the end. The conclusion of our words is this: He is everything.	Different · Hebrew 43:27 — Hebrew refrains from adding; Greek says much yet does not reach the end. Shared culminating praise. Inherited Greek note 43:27 The comprehensive praise is retained literally; it is not expanded into a philosophical assertion identifying God with material creation.
Hebrew 43:28 · fragmentary […] still, for we cannot search it out; He is greater than all His works. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 […] לה עוד כי לא נחקור והוא גדול מכל מעשיו Manuscript transcription	43:28 When glorifying Him, where will we find strength? For He is greater than all His works.	Similar · Hebrew 43:28 — Damaged opening; shared divine greatness beyond works. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 43:29 · fragmentary [YHWH is awe-inspiring], exceedingly so, and His words are wondrous. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 נו[רא ייי מ]אד מאד ונפלאות דבריו Manuscript transcription	43:29 The Lord is fearsome and exceedingly great, and His power is wondrous.	Different · Hebrew 43:29 — Restoration follows source; Greek power versus Hebrew words, with Hebrew marginal power. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 43:30 · fragmentary […] [Raise your voice with all your strength, for there is more; you who exalt Him, renew your strength and do not weary, for you will not …]. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 […] [הרימו קול בכל תוכלו כי יש עוד מרומים תחליפו כח ואל תלאו כי לא ת׳ …] Manuscript transcription	43:30 As you glorify the Lord, exalt Him as much as you can, for He will surpass even that. As you exalt Him, increase your strength; do not grow weary, for you will never reach the end.	Similar · Hebrew 43:30 — The transcription brackets much of this line as restored; an unfinished final clause is not completed from Greek. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
No Hebrew text is available in the selected manuscript coverage for this unit. This is a source gap, not a classified omission.	43:31 Who has seen Him and will recount Him? Who will magnify Him as He is?	Not classified. No paired Hebrew reading is supplied.
Hebrew 43:32 · fragmentary Much is [wondrous and] stronger than these; little have I seen of His works. Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 רוב נ[פלא ו]חזק מאלה מעט ראיתי ממעשיו Manuscript transcription	43:32 Many hidden things are greater than these, for we have seen few of His works.	Similar · Hebrew 43:32 — Hebrew first-person singular versus Greek we. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 43:33 · fragmentary Everything […] […] Hebrew witness B · XIII recto, lines 2–17 את הכל[…] […] ל[…] Manuscript transcription	43:33 For the Lord made all things, and He gave wisdom to the godly.	Not classified · Hebrew 43:33 — B ending is too damaged for a full translation; Greek’s complete concluding assertion is not supplied. No five-category semantic verdict is assigned to this fragment.

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.