SirachChapter 27

Sirach Chapter 27: Meaning

Ben Sira teaches that how you talk and treat others reveals your true character.

Summary

The chapter begins by warning about greed and dishonest business. Ben Sira says many people sin because they want more money. If a person doesn't fear God, their household will fall apart quickly. He then explains that what a person says reveals who they really are, just like a sieve shows what is in it when you shake it.

Next, Ben Sira talks about how speech shows character. A wise person's words show wisdom. A fool's talk is disgusting and full of sin. Swearing constantly, picking fights, and telling people's secrets all point to a bad character. He says that birds flock with their own kind, and truth sticks to people who live honestly.

The final part of the chapter is about two-faced people, those who smile to your face but stab you in the back. Ben Sira says he hates nothing more than a person like that, and so does God. He warns that these traps people set for others will come back on them. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. The chapter closes with a call to forgive others, because God will only forgive those who forgive.

Historical Context

Ben Sira wrote around 180 BC when Jerusalem was under Greek influence. Commerce and trade were growing, and with them came more temptation for dishonesty.

In Jewish wisdom tradition, a person's speech was seen as a window into their soul. Ben Sira drew on earlier wisdom books like Proverbs to teach that character and words are deeply connected.