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All wisdom is from the Lord. The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, its branches are prosperity. Sir.1:1 All wisdom is from the Lord and remains with Him forever. 1. The immense wisdom seen in the structure of the world and man has its source in the ever-living God, the Creator of the world and man. Sir.1:2 Who can number the sand of the seas and the drops of rain and the days of eternity? Sir.1:3 Who searches the height of the heavens and the breadth of the earth and the abyss and wisdom? 2–3. The entire breadth of Divine Wisdom, invested by the Creator in His creations, is not accessible to the knowledge of any created being. Sir.1:4 Wisdom came first of all, and the understanding of wisdom from everlasting. Sir.1:5 The source of wisdom is the word of the Most High God, and its course is the eternal commandments. 4–5. In contrast to creation, which received its existence in time, the Wisdom of the Lord, which created the world, is primordial and abides forever. Sir.1:6 To whom is the root of wisdom revealed? and who has known its art? Sir.1:7 There is one all-wise, very awesome, who sits on his throne, the Lord. Sir.1:8 He produced it and saw and measured it Sir.1:9 and poured it out on all His works 6–9. See note. to 2–3 tbsp. Sir.1:10 and upon all flesh according to His gift, and He has given it especially to those who love Him. 10. If the entire creation generally testifies to the Wisdom of its Creator, then all the more does a reasonable person who loves his Creator and strives in his life to become like Him testify to it. Sir.1:11 The fear of the Lord is glory and honor and gladness and a crown of joy. Sir.1:12 The fear of the Lord will sweeten the heart and give gladness and joy and long life. Sir.1:13 He who fears the Lord will have good fortune in the end, and on the day of his death he will receive a blessing. The fear of the Lord is a gift from the Lord and leads to the paths of love. 11–13. Reasonable fear of the Lord, which inspires a person to sacredly honor and preserve the will of the Lord, deserves God’s favor for a person and is a source of true well-being for him throughout his life. Sir.1:14 Love for the Lord is glorious wisdom, and whoever He pleases shares it at His discretion. Sir.1:15 The beginning of wisdom is to fear God, and with the faithful it is formed together in the womb. Among people she has established an eternal foundation for herself and will entrust herself to their seed. 13–15. Reverence for the Creator and the desire to fulfill His will in acts of love for God and neighbor is a man’s innate gift from above; and, like any other gift, it can either be suppressed by a person, or, with the help of the divine, we can develop and improve it. Sir.1:16 The fullness of wisdom is to fear the Lord; she will give them drink from her fruits: Sir.1:17 She will fill their entire house with everything they desire, and their storerooms with her produce. Sir.1:18 The crown of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, which produces peace and unharmed health; but both are gifts of God, who spreads the glory of those who love Him. Sir.1:19 He saw it and measured it, rained down knowledge and intelligent knowledge like rain, and magnified the glory of those who possessed it. Sir.1:20 The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and its branches are long life. 16–20. See note. by 11–13. Sir.1:21 The fear of the Lord drives away sins; he who does not have fear cannot justify himself. 21. Reverent fear of the Lord protects a person from violating the will of God. If, due to human weakness, he sinned, then, by the goodness of God, he can be pardoned, taking into account his dominant spiritual mood. A person who is alien to the fear of God is defenseless against sin and the punishment for sin. Sir.1:22 Unjust anger cannot be justified, for the very movement of anger is a fall for a person. 22. A person’s unjust anger is condemned, not only expressed outwardly, but also unexpressed. Both are humiliating for the one who is angry and insulting for the one on whom the unjust anger extends. Sir.1:23 He who is patient will endure for a time and will be rewarded with joy afterwards. Sir.1:24 Until the time he will hide his words, and the lips of the faithful will tell of his prudence. 23–24. There are circumstances when prudence requires a person to refrain for the time being, and from just indignation - if this indignation is inappropriate or unhelpful. Subsequently, the one who abstains will understand and appreciate his abstinence, and others will approve of him for this. Sir.1:25 In the treasuries of wisdom are parables of reason, but the sinner hates the fear of the Lord. Sir.1:26 If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will give it to you, Sir.1:27 For wisdom and knowledge are the fear of the Lord, and to please Him is faith and meekness. 25–27. True wisdom for a person is the same as piety, i.e. knowledge of the good and perfect will of God, expressed in the commandments of the Lord, and following these commandments in one’s life. An ungodly man, who rejects the dictates of the divine law, is at the same time an unreasonable man, who has withdrawn not only from God, but also from his own well-being. Sir.1:28 Do not be distrustful of the fear of the Lord and do not approach Him with a divided heart. 28. Man's reverent fear of God is fully salutary only when it is not weakened by hesitations of unbelief or lack of faith. A person who hesitates in choosing between God and mammon is not a reliable traveler along the paths of virtue. Sir.1:29 Do not be a hypocrite before the lips of others, and be attentive to your lips. Sir.1:30 Do not exalt yourself, lest you fall and bring dishonor on your soul, for the Lord will reveal your secrets and humiliate you among the congregation because you have not sincerely approached the fear of the Lord, and your heart is full of wickedness. 30. Without being truly a God-fearing and pious person, do not try to be known as such among people, since the Lord, who knows the heart, knows your spiritual weakness and will punish you for exaltation with humiliation.