Глава 33

A reasonable person is faithful to the law, and the law is faithful to him. Be prepared in speech and careful in friendship. Remember the power and justice of God. Be in charge in all your affairs and do not put a stain on your honor. Accustom your slave to hard work, but do not forget in him the person close to you. Sir.33:1 No evil will befall him who fears the Lord, but even in temptation He will deliver him. Sir.33:2 A wise man does not hate the law, but he who pretends to adhere to it is like a ship in a storm. 2. Like a ship without a rudder during a storm, so is a person not governed by a firm and wise law. Sir.33:3 A reasonable person believes the law, and the law is true for him, like the answer of the Urim. Sir.33:4 Prepare your word and you will be heard; collect instructions - and answer. 4. Answer those who ask you. Sir.33:5 The wheel of a chariot is the heart of a fool, and like a turning axle is his thought. 5. The thought and feeling of an unreasonable person are as unstable as a wheel while a chariot is moving. Sir.33:6 A mocking friend is like a fierce horse that neighs under every rider. Sir.33:7 Why is one day better than another, when every daylight in the year comes from the sun? Sir.33:8 They are divided by the wisdom of the Lord; He distinguished times and festivals: Sir.33:9 Some of them He exalted and sanctified, and others He designated among ordinary days. Sir.33:10 And all men are from dust, and Adam was created from the earth; Sir.33:11 But according to His omniscience, the Lord distinguished between them and assigned them different paths: Sir.33:12 He blessed and exalted some of them, sanctified others and brought them closer to Himself, and cursed and humiliated others and removed them from their places. Sir.33:13 As clay is in the potter's hand and all its destinies are in his will, so people are in the hand of Him who created them, and He rewards them according to His judgment. Sir.33:14 Just as the opposite of evil is good and the opposite of death is life, so the opposite of the pious is the sinner. So look at all the works of the Almighty: there are two of them, one opposite the other. 7–14. All days, in their origin, are the same, but some of them, by the will of God, are elevated to the level of deliberate days, to perpetuate in the memory of the peoples the glorious and saving deeds of the Lord. All people, by their origin, are also equal to each other, but the omniscience of the Lord (v. 11) sees who and how of them will use the free will granted to him in earthly life (Sir. 15:11-20), and therefore in his justice the Lord determines bliss for some, and suffering for others. Sir.33:15 And I was the last to labor vigilantly, like one gleaning behind the grape gatherers, Sir.33:16 And with the blessing of the Lord he succeeded and filled the winepress like a grape gatherer. Sir.33:17 Understand that I worked not for myself alone, but for all who seek instruction. 15–17. Wed. Sire. 24:37. The writer of the book speaks of his zeal in collecting wise instructions for the admonition of all those seeking instruction, and calls himself the last in the line of Old Testament teachers who worked in the vineyard of Wisdom. Sir.33:18 Hear me, O princes of the people, and give ear, O leaders of the congregation: Sir.33:19 Do not give power over you to your son, nor to your wife, nor to your brother, nor to your friend during your lifetime; Sir.33:20 And do not give your property to another, lest you repent and beg for it. Sir.33:21 As long as you live and the breath is in you, do not replace yourself with anyone; Sir.33:22 For it is better that your children should ask you, than that you should look into the hands of your sons. Sir.33:23 Be the leader in all your affairs, and do not put a stain on your honor. Sir.33:24 At the end of the days of your life and at death, pass on the inheritance. Sir.33:25 Fodder, stick and burden are for the donkey; bread, punishment and work are for the slave. Sir.33:26 Keep a slave busy with work and you will have peace; loosen his hands - and he will seek freedom. Sir.33:27 A yoke and a thong are bent on the neck of an ox, and for a wicked servant - bonds and wounds; Sir.33:28 Use him for work, so that he does not remain idle, for idleness has taught him many evil things; Sir.33:29 Put him to work as he should, and if he does not obey, put heavy fetters on him. Sir.33:30 But do not impose unnecessary things on anyone and do nothing without reason. Sir.33:31 If you have a servant, let him be like you, for you purchased him with blood; 31. You purchased it with blood, i.e. I acquired him with part of your blood wealth and brought him closer to you through the blood of his labors and suffering. Sir.33:32 If you have a slave, then treat him as you would a brother, for you will need him as your soul; Sir.33:33 If you offend him, and he gets up and runs away from you, then on what road will you look for him?