The chapter develops the theme of appearances versus reality. Do not praise a person for his beauty or despise him for his looks; the bee is small but produces the sweetest fruit. Do not boast before examining the matter. God alone brings low and raises up, and prosperity can turn to loss in an instant. Guard against inviting strangers into your house carelessly. Do not call anyone blessed before his death.
The bee proverb (v. 3) is one of Sirach's most elegant images: the smallest creature produces the greatest sweetness. The instruction not to call anyone blessed before death (v. 28) echoes Solon's famous warning to Croesus and represents a meeting point between Hebrew wisdom and Greek philosophical tradition.
The warnings about hospitality (vv. 29-34) sit in tension with the generous hospitality ethic of Genesis 18 and the Torah's welcome of strangers. Ben Sira's caution reflects urban anxieties about exploitation by social climbers, a more cynical stance than the patriarchal ideal.
1 Samuel 16:7 (man looks at outward appearance, God at the heart); Ecclesiastes 7:8 (the end of a matter is better than its beginning); Herodotus 1.32 (Solon to Croesus: call no man happy until he is dead); Proverbs 27:1 (do not boast about tomorrow); James 4:13-16 (you do not know what tomorrow will bring).
Sapientia humiliati exaltabit caput illius et in medio magnatorum consedere illum faciet.
The wisdom of a humble man will lift up his head, and will cause him to sit among the great.
Humiliatus can mean one who has been humbled by circumstance or one who is humble by character; both readings work here.
Non laudes virum in specie sua neque spernas hominem in visu suo.
Do not praise a man for his appearance, nor despise anyone for his looks.
Brevis in volatilibus est apis et initium dulcoris habet fructus illius.
The bee is small among flying creatures, yet her fruit holds the first place in sweetness.
The bee was a symbol of industry and hidden value throughout the ancient Mediterranean world.
In vestitu ne glorieris umquam nec in die honoris tui extollaris quoniam mirabilia opera Altissimi solius et gloriosa et absconsa et invisa opera illius.
Do not ever boast about your clothing, nor exalt yourself on the day of your honor; for the works of the Most High alone are wonderful, and his works are glorious, hidden, and unseen.
Multi tyranni sederunt in throno et insuspicabilis portavit diadema.
Many tyrants have sat upon the throne, while one whom no one suspected has worn the crown.
The completely unexpected person; divine election overturns human expectation.
Multi potentes oppressi sunt valide et gloriosi traditi sunt in manus alterorum.
Many powerful men have been utterly crushed, and the glorious have been delivered into the hands of others.
Priusquam interroges ne vituperes quemquam et cum interrogaveris corripe iuste.
Before you investigate, do not blame anyone; and when you have investigated, reprove justly.
Priusquam audias ne respondeas verbum et in medio sermonum ne adicias loqui.
Before you have heard the matter, do not answer a word; and do not interrupt in the middle of a speech.
De ea re quae te non molestat ne certeris et in iudicio peccantium ne consistas.
About a matter that does not concern you, do not quarrel; and in the judgment of sinners do not take your stand.
Fili ne in multis sint actus tui et si dives fueris non eris inmunis a delicto si enim secutus fueris non adprehendes et non effugies si praecucurreris.
My son, do not busy yourself with many matters; if you pursue riches, you will not be free from fault; if you chase them you will not overtake them, and if you run ahead you will not escape.
Est laborans et festinans et dolens impius et tanto magis non abundabit.
There is one who labors and hurries and grieves -- a wicked man -- and all the more he will not prosper.
Est homo marcidus egens recuperatione plus deficiens virtute et abundans paupertate.
There is another who is feeble and in need of help, lacking in strength and abounding in poverty.
Et oculus Dei respexit illum in bono et erexit eum ab humilitate ipsius et exaltavit caput eius et mirati sunt in illo multi et honoraverunt Deum.
Yet the eye of God looked upon him for good, and raised him up from his low estate, and lifted up his head; and many marveled at him and glorified God.
God's attentive gaze, which sees what humans overlook and intervenes for the overlooked.
Bona et mala vita et mors paupertas et honestas a Deo sunt.
Good and evil, life and death, poverty and wealth -- all come from God.
Sapientia et disciplina et scientia legis apud Deum dilectio et viarum bonorum patientia.
Wisdom and discipline and knowledge of the law are with God; love and the patient walking of good paths are from him.
Error et tenebrae peccatoribus concreata sunt qui autem exultant in malis consenescunt in malo.
Error and darkness are created together with sinners, and those who exult in evil grow old in evil.
Datio Dei permanet iustis et profectus illius successus habebit in aeternum.
The gift of God remains with the righteous, and his favor will prosper forever.
Est qui locupletatur parce agendo et haec est pars mercedis illius.
There is one who grows rich by his frugality, and this is the portion of his reward.
In eo quod dicit inveni requiem mihi et nunc manducabo de bonis meis solus.
In that he says, 'I have found rest for myself, and now I will feast on my goods alone.'
Et non scit quod tempus praeteriet et mors adpropinquet et relinquat omnia aliis et moriatur.
And he does not know that time will pass, and death draws near, and he will leave everything to others and die.
Sta in testamento tuo et in illo colloquere et in opere mandatorum tuorum veterasce.
Stand firm in your covenant, and be occupied with it, and grow old in the work of your commandments.
Testamentum here means covenant commitment, not a legal will; the binding agreement between God and his people.
Ne manseris in operibus peccatorum confide autem in Deo et mane in loco tuo.
Do not dwell on the works of sinners; trust in God and remain in your place.
Facile est enim in oculis Dei subito honestare pauperem.
For it is easy in the eyes of God to enrich a poor man suddenly.
Benedictio Dei in mercedem iusti festinat et in hora veloci processus illius fructificat.
The blessing of God hastens as the reward of the righteous, and in a swift hour his progress bears fruit.
Ne dixeris quid est mihi opus et quae erunt mihi ex hoc bona.
Do not say, 'What do I need?' or 'What good things will come to me from now on?'
Ne dixeris sufficiens mihi est et quid ex hoc pessimabor.
Do not say, 'I have enough,' or 'How can things go badly for me now?'
In die bonorum ne inmemor sis malorum et in die malorum ne inmemor sis bonorum.
In the day of prosperity do not forget adversity, and in the day of adversity do not forget prosperity.
Quoniam facile est coram Deo in die obitus retribuere unicuique secundum vias suas.
For it is easy for God, on the day of death, to repay each person according to his ways.
Malitia horae oblivionem facit luxuriae magnae et in fine hominis denudatio operum illius.
An hour of misery makes one forget great luxury, and at the end of a person's life his deeds are laid bare.
Ante mortem ne laudes hominem quemquam quoniam in filiis suis agnoscitur vir.
Before death, do not call anyone blessed, for a man is known by his children.
Non omnem hominem inducas in domum tuam multae enim sunt insidiae dolosi.
Do not bring every person into your house, for many are the plots of the deceitful.
Sicut enim eructant praecordia fetentium et sicut perdix inducitur in caveam et ut caprea in laqueum sic et cor superborum et sicut prospector videns casum proximi sui.
For as the entrails of the rotting stink, and as a partridge is lured into a cage, and as a roe deer into a snare, so is the heart of the proud -- and like a spy watching for the fall of his neighbor.
Bona enim in mala convertens insidiatur et in electis imponet maculam.
For turning good into evil, he lies in ambush, and upon the chosen he places a stain.
A scintilla una augetur ignis et ab uno doloso augetur sanguis homo vero peccator sanguini insidiatur.
From a single spark a fire grows, and from one deceitful person bloodshed increases; a sinful person lies in wait to shed blood.
Adtende tibi a pestifero fabricat enim mala ne forte inducat super te subsannationem in perpetuum.
Beware of a pestilent person, for he devises evil; lest he bring upon you lasting mockery.
Admitte ad te alienigenam et subvertet te in turbine et abalbinabit te a tuis propriis.
Admit a stranger to your house, and he will overturn you in turmoil and estrange you from your own people.
Not the ger (protected resident alien) of Torah but an outsider with unknown and possibly predatory intentions.