ReverendGenerous wisdom

Sirach — Chapter 14 — Hebrew–Greek comparison

Generosity, Mortality, and the Pursuit of Wisdom

Saints Translation · V2 · Hebrew–Greek working comparison

Sirach 14 · 27 source units
Hebrew–English · Literal-Smooth	Greek–English · Literal-Smooth	Classification & Notes
Hebrew 14:1 · translated Happy the person whose mouth has not grieved him, and whose heart's judgment has not come against him. Hebrew witness A · A V Verso אשרי אנוש לא עצבו פיהו ולא אבה עליו דין לבו ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:1 Happy is the man who has not slipped with his mouth and has not been pierced by grief over sins.	Similar · Hebrew 14:1 — Both link happiness to guarded speech and freedom from inner condemnation.
Hebrew 14:2 · translated Happy the man whose soul has not failed him and whose hope has not ceased. Hebrew witness A · A V Verso אשרי איש לא חס רתו נפשו ולא שבתה תוחלתו ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:2 Happy is the one whose soul has not condemned him and who has not fallen away from his hope.	Similar · Hebrew 14:2 — Greek says soul has not condemned him; hope is common.
Hebrew 14:3 · translated Wealth is not fitting for a small heart, nor gold for a man with an evil eye. Hebrew witness A · A V Verso ללב קטן לא נאוה עושר ולאיש רע עין לא נאוה חרוץ ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:3 Wealth is not good for a miserly man; what are possessions for a grudging person?	Similar · Hebrew 14:3 — Same condemnation of miserly possession; Hebrew specifies gold.
Hebrew 14:4 · translated One who deprives himself gathers for another, and a stranger revels in his good things. Hebrew witness A · A V Verso מונע נפשו יקבץ לאחר ובטובתו יתבעבע זר ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:4 The one who gathers by depriving his own soul gathers for others, and strangers will enjoy his good things.	Similar · Hebrew 14:4 — Same transfer of hoarded goods to others.
Hebrew 14:5 · translated One evil to himself—to whom will he do good? He does not enjoy his own good things. Hebrew witness A · A V Verso רע לנפשו למי ייטיב ולא יקרה בטובתו ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:5 To whom will the one who is bad to himself be good? He will certainly not rejoice in his possessions.	Similar · Hebrew 14:5 — Same self-deprivation question.
Hebrew 14:6 · translated No one is worse than one evil to himself, and the repayment of his evil remains with him. Hebrew witness A · A V Verso רע לנפשו אין רע ממנו ועמו תשלומת רעתו ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:6 No one is worse than the one who begrudges himself, and this is the repayment of his evil:	Similar · Hebrew 14:6 — Same evaluation; Greek leads into the next saying while Hebrew closes the sentence.
No Hebrew text is available in the selected manuscript coverage for this unit. This is a source gap, not a classified omission.	14:7 even if he does good, he does it forgetfully, and at the last he reveals his evil.	Not classified. No paired Hebrew reading is supplied.
No Hebrew text is available in the selected manuscript coverage for this unit. This is a source gap, not a classified omission.	14:8 Evil is the one who begrudges with his eye, turning his face away and disregarding souls.	Not classified. No paired Hebrew reading is supplied. Inherited Greek note 14:8 The grudging-eye image is retained; souls refers to persons being disregarded.
Hebrew 14:9 · translated To a failing eye its portion is too small; one taking his neighbor's portion loses his own. Hebrew witness A · A V Verso בעין כושל מְ עַ ט הוּ ^א^ חלקו ולוקח חלק רעהו מאבד חלקו ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:9 A greedy person’s eye is not satisfied with its portion, and evil injustice dries up the soul.	Different · Hebrew 14:9 — Greek speaks of an unsatisfied greedy eye and injustice drying the soul; Hebrew adds taking another's portion and losing one's own.
Hebrew 14:10 · translated The evil eye swoops upon bread, and turmoil is at his table. A good eye increases bread, and water flows upon the table from a dry spring. Hebrew witness A · A V Verso עין רע עין תעיט על לחם ומהומה על שלחנו ׃ עין טובה מרבה הלחם ומעין יבש יזל מים על השלחן ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:10 An evil eye begrudges bread, and his own table is lacking.	Different · Hebrew 14:10 — A adds the good-eye couplet and dry-spring image, absent from the inherited Greek. Inherited Greek note 14:10 The wording connects the grudging gaze with deprivation at the person’s own table.
Hebrew 14:11 · translated My son, if you have means, serve your own soul; if you have means, do yourself good, and according to your ability be generous. Hebrew witness A · A V Verso; A VI Recto בני אם יש לך שָ רֵ ות נפשך ואם יש לך היטיב לך ולאל ידך הדשן ׃ Manuscript transcription Additional folio transcriptions: 2	14:11 Child, do yourself good according to what you have, and bring offerings worthily to the Lord.	Different · Hebrew 14:11 — The Hebrew last phrase ולאל ידך is read according to your ability; Greek explicitly commands offerings to the Lord.
Hebrew 14:12 · translated Remember that in Sheol there is no pleasure and death does not delay; the statute of Sheol has not been told you. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto זכור כי לא בשאול תענוג ולא מות יתמהמה ׃ וחוק לשאול לא הגד לך ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:12 Remember that death will not delay, and the covenant of Hades has not been shown to you.	Different · Hebrew 14:12 — A adds the opening statement about no pleasure in Sheol. Inherited Greek note 14:12 Covenant of Hades retains the unusual διαθήκη ᾅδου rather than replacing it with a precise date of death.
Hebrew 14:13 · fragmentary Before you die, do good to a friend; give him what your hand can afford. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto בטרם תמׄ וׄת היטב לאוהב ׃ ]] [[ והשיגת ידך תן לו ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:13 Before you die, do good to a friend; according to your strength, reach out and give to him.	Similar · Hebrew 14:13 — Same instruction to generous friendship before death. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 14:14 · translated Do not hold back from a good day. When a brother is taken, do not pass by, and do not covet a neighbor's desirable thing. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto }}א {{<<° >>ל {{<<°}} >>ת מנע מטובת יום ׃ ובהלקח אח אל תעבר וחמוד רע אל תחמוד ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:14 Do not miss a good day, and do not let your share of a good desire pass you by.	Different · Hebrew 14:14 — A has extra and difficult clauses about a brother and coveting; Greek speaks only of enjoying a good day and one's share of good desire.
Hebrew 14:15 · translated Will you not leave your wealth to another and your toil to those who cast lots? Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto הלא לאחר תעזב חילך ויגיעך ליודי גורל ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:15 Will you not leave your labors to another, and your toils to the division of an inheritance?	Similar · Hebrew 14:15 — Hebrew lot-casters corresponds to Greek division of inheritance.
Hebrew 14:16 · translated Give to a brother, and give; pamper yourself, for in Sheol there is no seeking pleasure. Every fitting thing to do before God—do it. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto תן לאח ותֶ ין ופניׄק֯ נפשך כי אין בשאול לבקש תענוג וכל דבר שיפה ׃ לעשות ^ לפני ^ אלהים עשה Manuscript transcription	14:16 Give and receive, and beguile your soul, for in Hades there is no seeking luxury.	Different · Hebrew 14:16 — A adds the final injunction before God and reads give twice rather than Greek give and receive. Inherited Greek note 14:16 Beguile follows ἀπάτησον, used here in the setting of enjoying life; its precise nuance of diversion or pleasure remains open. The statement about Hades is retained.
Hebrew 14:17 · translated All flesh wears out like a garment; the everlasting statute is that they surely die. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto כל הבשר כבגד יבלה וחוק עולם גוע יגועו ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:17 All flesh grows old like a garment, for the covenant from eternity is, “You will surely die.”	Similar · Hebrew 14:17 — Same garment image and universal death. Inherited Greek note 14:17 The emphatic death formula and garment image are both explicit.
Hebrew 14:18 · translated Like a leaf blossoming on a flourishing tree, one withers and another sprouts; so are the generations of flesh and blood: one dies and another matures. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto כפרח עלה על עץ רענן {{שזה נובל ואחר }}גומל ^ צומח ׃^ > }}כן אסחות{{ כן דורות בשר ודם אחד גוע ואחד גומל ׃< Manuscript transcription	14:18 Like flourishing foliage on a leafy tree—some it casts down, while other leaves it grows—so is a generation of flesh and blood: one dies, and another is born.	Similar · Hebrew 14:18 — Same tree and generation comparison; A has scribal corrections preserved in the transcription.
Hebrew 14:19 · translated All his works surely decay, and the work of his hands follows after him. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto כל מעשיו רקוב ירקבו ופעל ידיו ימשך אחריו ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:19 Every decaying work comes to an end, and its maker will depart with it.	Different · Hebrew 14:19 — Hebrew has the work follow the person; Greek says the maker departs with the decaying work.
Hebrew 14:20 · fragmentary Happy the person who meditates on wisdom and attends to understanding. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto אשרי אנוש בחכמה יהגה ובתבונה ישעה ׃ ]] [[ Manuscript transcription	14:20 Happy is the man who meditates on wisdom and speaks with his understanding,	Similar · Hebrew 14:20 — Greek says speaks with understanding. Classification assesses only the surviving/readable wording, not lost portions.
Hebrew 14:21 · translated Who sets his heart upon her ways and considers her insights. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto השם על דרכיה לבו ובתבונתיה יתבונן ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:21 who considers her ways in his heart and reflects upon her hidden things.	Similar · Hebrew 14:21 — Greek hidden things corresponds to Hebrew insights.
Hebrew 14:22 · translated To go out after her in search and keep watch at all her entrances. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto לצאת אחריה בחקר וכל מבואיה ירצד ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:22 Go out after her like a tracker, and lie in wait on her paths.	Similar · Hebrew 14:22 — Both use pursuit imagery; Greek paths differs from Hebrew entrances. Inherited Greek note 14:22 The pursuit imagery is retained in its positive wisdom setting.
Hebrew 14:23 · translated Who looks through her window and listens at her doorways. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto המשקיף בעד }}ה{{חלונה ועל פתחיה יצותת ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:23 The one who peers through her windows will also listen at her doorways;	Similar · Hebrew 14:23 — Same household pursuit image.
Hebrew 14:24 · translated Who camps around her house and brings his tent-cords into her wall. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto החונה סביבות ביתה והביא יתריו בקירה ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:24 the one who lodges near her house will fix a tent peg in her walls.	Similar · Hebrew 14:24 — Greek tent peg differs from Hebrew cords.
Hebrew 14:25 · translated He pitches his tent beside her and dwells as a good neighbor. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto ונוטה אהלו על ידה ושכן שכן טוב ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:25 He will pitch his tent beside her and lodge in a lodging of good things.	Similar · Hebrew 14:25 — Greek lodging of good things differs from Hebrew good neighbor.
Hebrew 14:26 · translated He sets his nest in her foliage and lodges among her branches. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto וישים קנו בעֳ ופיה ובענפיה יתלונן ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:26 He will place his children in her shelter and spend the night beneath her branches.	Different · Hebrew 14:26 — Hebrew nest and foliage differ from Greek children and shelter.
Hebrew 14:27 · translated He shelters in her shade from heat and dwells in her habitations. Hebrew witness A · A VI Recto וחוסה בצלה מחרב ובמענותיה ישכן ׃ Manuscript transcription	14:27 He will be sheltered by her from the heat and lodge in her glory.	Similar · Hebrew 14:27 — The unpointed Hebrew חרב may suggest heat or sword; heat fits the image and Greek. Greek ends with glory. Inherited Greek note 14:27 Wisdom remains the feminine figure through the dwelling and tree images.

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.