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1THE APOCRYPHA
2
3
4with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books 
5ZAINE RIDLING, Ph.D. 
6
7
8
9Editor 
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11
12
13New Revised Standard Version 
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15
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17Copyright ©1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches 
18of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 
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20
21
22APOCRYPHA, TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 
23
24
25TABLE OF CONTENTS 
26
27
28to the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books 
29
30.
31HTIntroduction to the Apocrypha.
32TH …………….……………………. 2 .
33HTTobit.
34TH …………………………………………………………………. 16 .
35HTJudith.
36TH ………………………………………………………………… 44 .
37HTAdditions to Esther.
38TH ……………………………………..………… 75 .
39HTWisdom of Solomon.
40TH ……………………………………….…..…. 99 .
41HTSirach (Ecclesiasticus).
42TH ………………………………..…….……… 138 .
43HTBaruch.
44TH ………………………………………………………………. 252 .
45HTLetter of Jeremiah.
46TH ………………………………………..………. 264 .
47HTAdditions to Daniel.
48TH ………………………………………….…… 270 .
49HTPrayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Jews.
50TH ……… 271 .
51HTSusanna.
52TH ………………………………………………………..… 277 .
53HTBel and the Dragon.
54TH …………………………………………… 283 .
55HT1 Maccabees.
56TH ……………………………………………………….. 287 .
57HT2 Maccabees.
58TH ……………………………………………………….. 350 .
59HT1 Esdras.
60TH ………………………………………………..……………. 397 .
61HTPrayer of Manasseh.
62TH …………………………………..………….. 429 .
63HTPsalm 151.
64TH ………………………………………………..…………. 433 .
65HT3 Maccabees.
66TH ………………………………………………...…….. 435 .
67HT2 Esdras.
68TH ………………………………………………………….…. 456 .
69HT4 Maccabees.
70TH ……………………………………………………..... 517 
71
721 
73
74
75
76INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 2 
77
78
79INTRODUCTION TO THE 
80
81
82APOCRYPHAL/DEUTEROCANONICAL BOOKS 
83
84
85Definitions 
86
87As the terms are used in the New Revised Standard Version translation, 
88the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books are those works that were 
89included in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the 
90Hebrew Bible with additions, or in the Old Latin and Vulgate 
91translations, but are not included in the Hebrew text that forms both 
92the canon for Judaism and the Protestant Old Testament. All of these 
93works, whether they are individual books or additions to the Hebrew 
94texts of Esther and Daniel, have been regarded as canonical by one or 
95more Christian communities, but not by all. (The exception to this is 4 
96Maccabees, which appears in an appendix to the Greek Bible.) 
97
98"Apocrypha" means "hidden things," but it is not clear why the term 
99was chosen to describe these books. It could mean that they were 
100"hidden" or withdrawn from common use because they were viewed 
101as containing mysterious or esoteric teaching, too profound to be 
102communicated to any except the initiated (see 2 Esdras 14.45-46). Or it 
103could mean that such books deserved to be "hidden" because they 
104were spurious or heretical. This ambivalence has continued into the 
105present, although increasingly even scholars from traditions that do 
106not regard these books as canonical consider them of great value for 
107understanding Judaism in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and thus 
108in the wider contexts, both literary and historical, of the later books in 
109the Hebrew Bible and of the New Testament as well. 
110
111"Deuterocanonical," along with it coordinate term "protocanonical," is 
112used in Roman Catholic tradition to describe the status of the two 
113groups of books of the Old Testament. The "protocanon" consists of 
114the books of the Hebrew Bible and the "deuterocanon" of the books 
115whose inspiration came to be recognized later, after the matter had 
116
1172 
118
119
120
121INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 3 
122
123INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 3 
124
125The Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Canons of the Old 
126Testament 
127
128Toward the end of the fourth century CE, Pope Damascus 
129commissioned Jerome, the most learned Christian biblical scholar of his 
130day, to prepare a standard Latin version of the scriptures (the 
131translation that was to become known as the Latin Vulgate). In the Old 
132Testament Jerome followed the Hebrew canon; though he also 
133translated the apocryphal books, he called attention to their distinct 
134status in prefaces. Subsequent copyists of the Latin Bible, however, did 
135not always include Jerome's prefaces, and during the medieval period 
136the Western Church generally regarded these books as part of the holy 
137scriptures without differentiation. In 1546 the Council of Trent decreed 
138that the canon of the Old Testament includes them (with the 
139exceptions as listed above). Subsequent editions of the Latin Vulgate 
140text, officially approved by the Roman Catholic Church, place these 
141books within the Christian sequence of the Old Testament books. Thus 
142Tobit and Judith come after Nehemiah; the Wisdom of Solomon and 
143Ecclesiasticus come after the Song of Solomon; Baruch (with the Letter 
144of Jeremiah as Chapter 6) comes after Lamentations; and 1 and 2 
145Maccabees conclude the books of the Old Testament. Esther is given in 
146its longer (Greek) form rather than in the version based solely on the 
147Hebrew text; the Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Jews appear 
148as vv. 24-90 of ch 3 of Daniel, and the stories of Susanna and Bel and 
149the Dragon as chs 13 and 14 of Daniel. An appendix after the New 
150
1513 
152
153
154
155INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 4 
156
157INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 4 
158
159The Eastern Orthodox Churches recognize several other books as 
160authoritative. Editions of the Old Testament approved by the Holy 
161Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church contain, besides the Roman 
162Catholic Deuterocanonical books, 1 Esdras, Psalm 151, the Prayer of 
163Manasseh, and 3 Maccabees, while 4 Maccabees appears in the 
164Appendix. Slavonic Bibles approved by the Russian Orthodox Church 
165contain besides the Deuterocanonical books, 1 and 2 Esdras (called 2 
166and 3 Esdras), Psalm 151, and 3 Maccabees. 
167
168The Status of the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books in Christianity 
169
170During the first centuries of the Common Era, early Christian 
171theologians (most of whom knew no Hebrew) quoted, in Greek, 
172passages both from books in the Hebrew canon and from these 
173additional works without making any distinction between them. Such 
174citations were usually preceded by a word or phrase making it clear 
175that the writer regarded the text being cited as canonical. During this 
176time, only a few thinkers investigated the Jewish canon or 
177distinguished between, for instance, the Hebrew text of Daniel and the 
178addition of the story of Susanna in the Greek version. 
179
180By the fourth century, theologians in the eastern (Greek) churches had 
181begun to recognize a distinction between the books of the Hebrew 
182canon and the rest, thought they continued to cite all of them as 
183scripture. During the following centuries the matter was debated and, 
184consequently, practice varied in the East, but at the Synod of Jerusalem 
185in 1672 (which expressed the Orthodox churches' reaction to the 
186Protestant Reformation), Tobit, Judith, Ecclesiasticus, Wisdom, 
187Additions to Daniel, and 1 and 2 Maccabees were expressly designated 
188as canonical. 
189
1904 
191
192
193
194INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 5 
195
196
197In the western (Latin) church, on the other hand, though there has 
198been some variety of opinion, in general theologians have regarded 
199these books as canonical. More than one local synodical council (e.g., 
200Hippo, 393, and Carthage, 397 and 419) justified and authorized their 
201use as scripture. The so-called Decretum Gelasianum, a Latin document 
202probably dating to the sixth century, contains lists of the books to be 
203read as scripture and of books to be avoided as apocryphal. The former 
204list, which is not present in all the manuscripts, includes among the 
205biblical books Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, and 1 and 2 
206Maccabees. 
207
208Occasionally, however, theologians questioned the status of these 
209books, Jerome, near the end of the fourth century, thought that books 
210not in the Hebrew canon should be classed as apocryphal, and other 
211thinkers, though always a minority, followed his view, at least 
212theoretically. Toward the close of the fourteenth century John Wycliffe 
213and his disciples produced the first English version of the Bible. This 
214translation of the Latin Vulgate included all of the disputed books, 
215with the exception of 2 Esdras. In the Prologue to the Old Testament, 
216however, it makes a distinction between the books of the Hebrew 
217canon, listed there, and others which, the writer says, "shall be set 
218among the apocrypha, that is, without authority of belief." In the 
219books of Esther and Daniel the translators included a rendering of 
220Jerome's notes calling the reader's attention to the additions. 
221
222At the time of the Reformation, Protestant thinkers came to the 
223conclusion fairly early that they would need to determine which books 
224were authoritative for the establishment of doctrine and which were 
225not. For instance, disputes over the doctrine of Purgatory and of the 
226usefulness o prayers and Masses for the dead involved the authority of 
2272 Maccabees, which contains what was held to be scriptural warrant for 
228them (12.43-45). The first extensive Protestant discussion of the canon 
229was Andreas Bodenstein's treatise De Canonicis Scripturis Libellus 
230(1520). Bodenstein (or Carlstadt, after his place of birth) distinguished 
231the books of the Hebrew Old Testament from the books of the 
232Apocrypha, classifying the Apocrypha into two divisions. Concerning 
233Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Judith, Tobit, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, he 
234
2355 
236
237
238
239INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 6 
240
241INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 6 
242
243What they contain is not to be despised at once; still it is not 
244right that Christians should relieve, much less slake, their thirst 
245with them.... Before all things things the best books must be 
246read, that is, those that are canonical beyond all controversy; 
247afterwards, if one has the time, it is allowed to peruse the 
248controverted books, provided that you have the set purpose 
249of comparing and collating the non-canonical books with 
250those which are truly canonical (§118). 
251
252The second group, 1 and 2 Esdras, Baruch, Prayer of Manasseh, and the 
253Additions to Daniel, he declared without worth. 
254
255The first Bible in a modern vernacular language to segregate the 
256apocryphal books from the others was the Dutch Bible published by 
257Jacob van Liesveldt in 1526 at Antwerp. After Malachi there follows a 
258section embodying the Apocrypha, which is titled, "The books which 
259are not in the canon, that is to say, which one does not find among the 
260Jews in the Hebrew." 
261
262The first edition of the Swiss-German Bible was published in six 
263volumes (Zurich, 1527-29), the fifth of which contains the Apocrypha. 
264The title page of this volume states, "These are the books which are 
265not reckoned as biblical by the ancients, nor are found among the 
266Hebrews." A one-volume edition of the Zurich Bible, which appeared 
267in 1530, contains the apocryphal books grouped together after the New 
268Testament. One Swiss reformer, Oecolampadius, declared in 1530: "We 
269do not despise Judith, Tobit, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, the last two books 
270of Esdras, the three books of Maccabees, the Additions to Daniel; but 
271we do not allow them divine authority with the others." 
272
273In reaction to Protestant criticism of the disputed books, on 8 April 
2741546, the Council of Trent gave what is regarded by Roman Catholics as 
275the definitive declaration on the canon on the canon of the holy 
276scriptures. After enumerating the books, which in the Old Testament 
277include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, and the two 
278
2796 
280
281
282
283INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 7 
284
285INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 7 
286
287In England, though Protestants were unanimous in declaring that the 
288apocryphal books were not to be used to establish any doctrine, 
289differences arose as to the proper use and place of noncanonical 
290books. A milder view prevailed in the Church of England, and the 
291lectionary attached to the Book of Common Prayer, from 1549 onward, 
292has always contained prescribed lessons from the Apocrypha. In 
293addition, portions of the Song of the Three Jews are used as a canticle, 
294or song of praise, alongside selected Psalms in the service of Morning 
295Prayer. In reply to those who urged the discontinuance of reading 
296lessons from apocryphal books, as being inconsistent with the 
297sufficiency of scripture, the bishops at the Savoy Conference, held in 
2981661, replied that the same objection could be raised against the 
299preaching of sermons, and that it was much to be desired that all 
300sermons should give as useful instruction as did the chapters selected 
301from the Apocrypha. 
302
303The Historical Background to the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books 
304
305With the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians 
306in 586 BCE, and the subsequent exile of the leading citizens of Judah in 
307Babylon, the history of Israel underwent a decisive break. Henceforth 
308there would always be Jewish communities outside the land of Israel, 
309
3107 
311
312
313
314INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 8 
315
316INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 8 
317
318For two centuries the Persians controlled the Near East, but little is 
319known about Jewish history during this time. The Persian period came 
320to an end when Alexander the Great completed a series of conquests 
321that put him in control of Greece, the former Persian Empire, and 
322Egypt. When Alexander died in 323, his empire was divided among his 
323warring generals, and two of them — Seleucus, king of Syria, and 
324Ptolemy, king of Egypt — and their successors fought over the territory 
325of Judah, which fell first under Ptolemaic and then Seleucid dynastic 
326control. Despite the political changes, however, the overall cultural 
327influence remained: This was the era of the triumph of Hellenistic 
328culture, including the use of the Greek language as the standard for 
329the whole empire. 
330
331There had already been, in the Hebrew Bible, contention about such 
332issues as intermarriage (Ezra 9.1-10.44; Neh 13.23-31). Now, with large 
333numbers of Jews living outside the land as minorities within much 
334larger and more dominant cultures, this issue and those of other 
335religious observances came to be much more important. Stories of 
336faithfully observant Jews among non-Jewish populations (Tobit, 3 
337Maccabees) were joined by expanded versions of books that 
338strengthened this point (Greek Esther, the Prayer of Azariah, and Song 
339of the Three Jews in ch 3 of Daniel). 
340
341The Seleucid kings increasingly pressured the Jews to adopt Hellenistic 
342ways in their religious observance, and in fact had some success. This 
343effort came to a head under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164). He 
344installed Hellenizing high priests (Jason and Menelaus), against whom 
345observant Jews rebelled. In response, Antiochus invaded Jerusalem in 
346169; in 167 he effectively outlawed the Jewish religion, making the 
347teaching of the Torah a crime and establishing polytheistic worship in 
348the Temple. This final provocation led to the ultimately successful 
349Jewish revolt under the Hasmonean family, led by Mattathias and his 
350five sons, one of whom, Judas, was known as Maccabeus, "the 
351hammer." The revolt and the subsequent establishment of a Jewish 
352government (which took more than twenty years to accomplish) are 
353
3548 
355
356
357
358INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 9 
359
360INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 9 
361
362Kinds of Literature in the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books 
363
364The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books contain several different 
365literary genres, including histories, historical fiction, wisdom, 
366devotional writings, letters, and an apocalypse. Though several of the 
367books combine more than one of these genres, most of the books can 
368be classified as predominantly one or another. Thus 1 Esdras, 1 
369Maccabees, and, in a certain sense, 2 Maccabees are histories. First 
370Esdras summarizes 2 Chr 35.1-36.23 and reproduces all of Ezra and Neh 
3717.38-8.12. Only 1 Esd 3.1-5.6 is a significant addition. First Maccabees 
372recounts the history of the Seleucid persecutions and the rebellion and 
373rise of the Maccabees. Second Maccabees, with its bombastic rhetoric 
374and abundant use of invectives against the Seleucid tyrants and 
375Hellenizing Jews, is an example of a popular Hellenistic genre, the 
376"pathetic history," which uses highly charged language, exhortation, 
377exaggeration, and other methods to stimulate the imaginations and 
378emotions ("pathos") of readers. Third Maccabees is misleadingly 
379named: It actually has nothing to do with the Maccabean period or the 
380Seleucid dynasty, but deals with a period a half-century earlier and 
381concerns the sufferings of the Jewish community in Egypt under the 
382Ptolemaic rulers. It is a religious novel, written in Greek by an 
383Alexandrian Jew sometime between 100 BCE and 70 CE. Using 
384legendary elements, it tells three stories of conflict between Ptolemy IV 
385(221-205 BCE) and the Jewish community in Egypt. The most dramatic 
386section (5.1-6.21) describes Ptolemy's scheme to martyr the Jews: They 
387were to be herded into an arena near Alexandria to be trampled under 
388the foot of five hundred intoxicated elephants. The king's plan was 
389finally foiled when angelic intervention terrorized those supervising 
390the persecutions and also frightened the elephants into turning upon 
391the Egyptian soldiers. 
392
3939 
394
395
396
397INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 10 
398
399
400Fourth Maccabees is not a historical narrative but rather a Greek 
401philosophical treatise addressed to Jews on the supremacy of reason 
402over the passions of the body and soul. In the form of a Stoic diatribe, 
403or popular address, it uses narratives of exemplary behavior, and the 
404conversations and arguments of character in the narratives, to explore 
405philosophical issues. The author begins with a philosophical exposition 
406of his theme, which he then illustrates at length with examples of the 
407martyrs drawn from 2 Maccabees, who preferred death to committing 
408apostasy. The book was probably written by a Hellenistic Jew before 70 
409CE. In early Christianity the Maccabean martyrs were venerated as 
410saints and eventually accorded a yearly festival in the ecclesiastical 
411calendar (August 1). 
412
413Judith, Tobit, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon are short historical 
414fictions written to convey a moral point, as well as to entertain. Except 
415for Judith, which is set in Judah, the rest are sometimes referred to as 
416"Diaspora novels" since they are all set in the Jewish Diaspora of 
417Mesopotamia. Yet they differ from one another in other respects. Like 
418the canonical stories of Daniel 1-6, Bel and the Dragon are court tales, 
419in which the hero's relationship with the king and other members of 
420the court provides the conflict of the plot. The motif of the lion's den, 
421which occurs in Daniel 6, also occurs in the story of the dragon. In 
422contrast to the earlier Daniel tales, however, Bel and the Dragon is 
423preoccupied with the theme of the exposure of idols as false gods and 
424their priests as fraudulent (see also the Letter of Jeremiah). Bel and the 
425Dragon and Susanna are sometimes referred to as ancient examples of 
426the detective story. Whereas Daniel functioned as an interpreter of 
427dreams and visions in Daniel 1-6, in these stories Daniel uses cleverness 
428and logical deduction to disclose deception. 
429
430Although Tobit, like Daniel, is represented as a court official of a 
431Mesopotamian king, the story is concerned with personal and family 
432affairs, not a rivalry at court. Thematically, Tobit maybe be compared 
433with the prose story of Job, since it concerns the suffering of the 
434righteous (both Tobit and his daughter-in-law Sarah). The book of 
435Tobit is distinguished by the use of various folktale motifs (e.g., the 
436motifs of the grateful dead, the angel in disguise, the dangerous bride, 
437
43810 
439
440
441
442INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 11 
443
444INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 11 
445
446Judith might seem to bear comparison with 1 and 2 Maccabees, since it 
447concerns a threat to the people from a foreign army. But whereas 1 
448and 2 Maccabees are histories, the fictional nature of Judith is evident 
449from the story's flagrant historical inaccuracies (describing 
450Nebuchadnezzar as king of Assyria and the invasion as taking place 
451after the people's return from exile!). A better comparison might be 
452between Judith and Esther. Though set in Judah rather than in the 
453Diaspora, Judith, like Esther, tells how a courageous Jewish woman 
454saves her people from enemies bent on destroying them. 
455
456Didactic literature is represented in the Apocrypha by the two treatises 
457on wisdom: the Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Jesus son of 
458Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus). Sirach, which was originally 
459composed in Hebrew ca. 180 BCE, shows particularly close connections 
460with the style and content of the book of Proverbs in the Hebrew 
461Bible, from which it is a natural development. The Wisdom of Solomon, 
462by contrast, contains no proverbial material, such as characterizes the 
463Hebrew wisdom tradition. It does, however, share with Proverbs and 
464Sirach an interest in the figure of wisdom personified as a woman. 
465What makes the Wisdom of Solomon distinctive is the strong influence 
466of Greek literary styles and philosophical ideas. Thus, it comes from the 
467Greek-speaking Diaspora, most probably from Alexandria. 
468
469The Prayer of Manasseh is a hymnic lament of great feeling and literary 
470skill. The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Jews are both 
471modeled on psalms that are liturgical in form. In addition to the 150 
472psalms comprising the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible, during the 
473Hellenistic and Roman periods such hymns were composed in Hebrew 
474and in other languages; there are a number of such compositions in 
475the Dead Sea Scrolls. Another, which celebrates the prowess of young 
476David at slaying Goliath, is appended (as Ps 151) to the Psalter in Greek 
477manuscripts. 
478
47911 
480
481
482
483INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 12 
484
485
486The Hebrew Bible contains no books that are in the form of a letter, 
487although letters (or excerpts) occur at various places. There are decrees 
488(Ezra 1.1-6), diplomatic correspondence (1 Kings 5.2-6), royal commands 
489(2 Sam 11.14-15), even forgeries (1 Kings 21.8-10), but all are used to 
490advance the narratives in which they occur, or explain incidents that 
491follow, so it is unclear how representative they are. Twenty-one of the 
492twenty-seven books of the New Testament are in the form of letters, 
493though some (for instance, Hebrews) are more like sermons than 
494letters. The Letter of Jeremiah, which dates from the Hellenistic period, 
495may have provided later, Christian writers with an example of how this 
496literary form could be used for religious purposes, combining 
497theological content with a direct personal approach. 
498
499Finally, 2 Esdras, a book that purports to reveal the future, is a 
500specimen of apocalypse. An apocalypse is literally "an unveiling." Like 
501the last six chapters of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible and the book of 
502Revelation in the New Testament, which are also apocalypses, 2 Esdras 
503uses metaphoric language, symbolic numbers and animals (including 
504composites, like the eagle with three heads and numerous wings in ch 
50511), and angelic messengers who reveal hidden information. 
506
507Despite this diversity of genres, most of which parallel or are 
508developed from similar ones in the Hebrew Bible, there is no 
509correlative to classical prophecy. Even within the prophetic books of 
510the Hebrew Bible, apocalyptic elements had already begun to supplant 
511strict prophecy (for instance, Isaiah chs 24-27; Ezekiel chs 38-39; Joel ch 
5122; Zechariah chs 9-14). This absence perhaps supports the view that 
513Josephus, the Jewish historian, expressed (Ag. Ap. 1.8), that "the exact 
514succession of the prophets" had been broken after the Persian period; 
515a similar idea is found in later rabbinic literature. Sometimes there is a 
516direct statement that "prophets ceased to appear" (1 Macc 9.27); at 
517other times the writers express the hope that prophecy might one day 
518return (1 Macc 4.46; 14.41). When a writer imitates prophetic style, as in 
519the book of Baruch, he repeats with slight modifications the language 
520of the older prophets. But the introductory phrase, "Thus says the 
521LORD," which occurs so frequently in the prophetic literature of the 
522Hebrew Bible, is absent from the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books. 
523
52412 
525
526
527
528INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 13 
529
530
531The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books within Judaism 
532
533All of the writings in the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books are 
534Jewish in origin, but it is not clear that they were collected by any 
535particular community of Jews. Some of them (for instance, Sirach) were 
536quoted by the rabbis, but for others no evidence exists that they were 
537regarded as central to the Jewish community at any point. Some (Tobit, 
538parts of Sirach, the Letter of Jeremiah, and Psalm 151) are among the 
539Dead Sea Scrolls, and were therefore presumably of importance to the 
540Essene community there, but whether or not they were considered 
541"canonical" is not clear. 
542
543Nevertheless, influences from some of these works are apparent within 
544Judaism. As mentioned above, rabbinic literature quotes and 
545appropriates sayings from Sirach. The martyrdom of the woman and 
546her seven sons (2 Macc 7.1-42; 4 Macc 8.3-18.24) is recounted in several 
547places (Lam. Rab 1. 50; Git. 57b; Seder Eliyahu R 29). 
548
549First and Second Maccabees (1 Macc 4.36-59; 2 Macc 10.1-8) provide the 
550original accounts of the purification of the Temple in 164 BCE, which is 
551commemorated in the festival of Hanukkah. The Talmudic legend 
552(Shab. 21b) that oil in the Temple, though only enough for one day, 
553nevertheless burned for eight — the supposed reason for the eight-day 
554length of the observance — is not found in the books of the 
555Maccabees. Judith was, during the Middle Ages, associated with 
556Hanukkah as well, on the grounds that both had to do with rallying an 
557oppressed Jewish population to overthrow a threatening or occupying 
558power. 
559
560Both Tobit and 2 Esdras influenced later Jewish literature and were 
561popular during the Middle Ages. Baruch may have been read in 
562synagogues at one time (see Bar 1.14), and Baruch himself, and 
563therefore his writing, were regarded in some rabbinic writings as 
564sharing Jeremiah's prophetic status (Sifre Num 78; Seder Olam R 20; 
565Bab Meg. 14b; Jer Sot. 9.12). Susanna's story is recounted in the 
566Babylonian Talmud (b. San. 93a). 
567
56813 
569
570
571
572INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 14 
573
574
575New Testament Uses of the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books 
576
577None of the books of the New Testament quote directly from any 
578Apocryphal book, in distinction from the frequent quotation of the 
579thirty-nine books in the Hebrew Bible. On the other hand, several New 
580Testament writers make allusions to one or more apocryphal books. For 
581example, what seem to be literary echoes from the Wisdom of 
582Solomon are present in Paul's Letter to the Romans (cf Rom 1.20-29 
583with Wis 13.5, 8; 14.24, 27; and Rom 9.20-23 with Wis 12.12, 20; 15.7) and 
584in his correspondence with the Corinthians (compare 2 Cor 5.1, 4 with 
585Wis 9.15). The short Letter of James, a typical bit of "wisdom literature" 
586in the New Testament, contains allusions not only to the book of 
587Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible but to gnomic sayings in Sirach as well (cf 
588Jas 1.19 with Sir 5.11; and Jas 1.13 with Sir 15.11-12). 
589
590The Further Influence of the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books 
591
592The influence of the Apocrypha has been widespread, inspiring 
593homilies, meditations, and liturgical forms, and providing subjects for 
594poets, dramatists, composers, and artists. Some common expressions 
595and proverbs have come from the Apocrypha. The sayings, "A good 
596name endures forever" and "You can't touch pitch without being 
597defiled," are derived from Sir 41.13 and 13.1. The affirmation in 1 Esd 
5984.41, "Great is Truth, and mighty above all things" (King James 
599Version), or its Latin form, Magna est veritas et praevalet, has been 
600used as a motto or maxim in a wide variety of contexts. 
601
602The importance of these books extends to the information they supply 
603concerning the development of Jewish life and thought just prior to 
604the beginning of the Common Era. The stirring political fortunes of the 
605Jews in the time of the Maccabees; the rise of what has been called 
606normative Judaism, and the emergence of the sects of the Pharisees 
607and and Sadducees; the lush growth of popular belief in the activities 
608of angels and demons, and the use of magic to drive away malevolent 
609influences; the first reflections on "original sin" and its relation to the 
610"evil inclination" present in every person; the blossoming of 
611apocalyptic hopes relating to the messiah, the resurrection of the body, 
612
61314 
614
615
616
617INTRO TO THE APOCRYPHA 15 
618
619
620and the vindication of the righteous — all these and many other topics 
621receive welcome light from the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books. 
622
623Copyright ©2001, New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha: New Revised Standard 
624Version. Ed. Michael D. Coogan. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. Used by 
625permission. All rights reserved. 
626
62715 
628
629
630
631TOBIT 16 
632
633
634TOBIT 
635
636
637Introduction 
638
639Combining ethical exhortation, prayers, and doxologies with broad 
640humor, a rollicking plot, and vivid characters, the book of Tobit is a 
641splendid example of the Jewish novella. In addition to its 
642entertainment value, it offers to historians information about the 
643postexilic period and to theologians a view of a God who test the 
644faithful, responds to prayers, and redeems the covenent community. 
645
646The title character, Tobit, was exiled with his wife Anna from the 
647region of Galilee held by the tribe of Naptali. Removed to Assyria, he 
648eventually, like Joseph, Mordecai, and Daniel, found himself in the 
649service of a foreign ruler — in Tobit's case, as an officer of the court of 
650Shalmaneser. This pious Israelite too is tested: First he is removed from 
651his official position and then he is persecuted by Shalmaneser's 
652successor for his insistence on burying the corpses of his fellow Jews. 
653Most ignominious of all: One evening, following yet another burial, 
654Tobit is blinded by a bird with unfortunate aim. Forced to depend on 
655others, including his wife, for support, and following an argument with 
656her in which she questions the value of his piety, Tobit prays for death. 
657
658At the same time his relative Sarah is also praying for death. The 
659demon Asmodeus, who has fallen in love with her, has killed each of 
660her seven successive grooms on the wedding night. To resolve these 
661somewhat improbable situations, the angel Raphael will escort Tobit's 
662son, Tobias, first to Media to exorcise the demon and marry Sarah and 
663then back to Nineveh to cure Tobit. 
664
665The relatively complex plot is tied together by the parallel situations of 
666older father and bride-to-be, frequent doxologies, almost incessant 
667references to almsgiving, and the shifting of scenes between Nineveh 
668and Ecbatana. The humorous aspects of the tale — from the angel in 
669
67016 
671
672
673
674TOBIT 17 
675
676TOBIT 17 
677
678The book of Tobit is also replete with information concerning family 
679life, travel, burial and eating customs, gender roles, and medicine. 
680More than mere data, these various matters testify to the author's 
681interest in providing guidance for life in exile: Where Temple sacrifice 
682is unavailable and the people are scattered, the story insists that Jews 
683maintain their identity not only through piety and practice, but also 
684through strong bonds between parents and children, between 
685husbands and wives, and with family members and fellow Jews. To 
686preserve the community, Tobit also insists that his son imitate 
687Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who "took wives from among their 
688kindred" (4.12-13). 
689
690In addition to its references to biblical prophecy, characters, and 
691theology, the volume offers connections to well-known folktale motifs, 
692including the dangerous bride, the monster in the nuptial chamber, the 
693supernatural being in disguise, the miraculous animal, and the grateful 
694dead. Specifically mentioned are the characters of Ahikar and his 
695nephew, whose story was well known in antiquity; there may also be 
696some hints of Homer's 'Odyssey.' 
697
69817 
699
700
701
702TOBIT 18 
703
704TOBIT 18 
705
706[Tobit 1] 
707Exilic context 
708
7091 This book tells the story of Tobit son of Tobiel son of Hananiel son of 
710Aduel son of Gabael son of Raphael son of Raguel of the descendants 
711of Asiel, of the tribe of Naphtali, 2 who in the days of King 
712Shalmaneser of the Assyrians was taken into captivity from Thisbe, 
713which is to the south of Kedesh Naphtali in Upper Galilee, above Asher 
714toward the west, and north of Phogor. 
715
716Tobit's background 
717
7183 I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of 
719my life. I performed many acts of charity for my kindred and my people 
720who had gone with me in exile to Nineveh in the land of the Assyrians. 
7214 When I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was still a 
722young man, the whole tribe of my ancestor Naphtali deserted the 
723house of David and Jerusalem. This city had been chosen from among 
724all the tribes of Israel, where all the tribes of Israel should offer 
725sacrifice and where the temple, the dwelling of God, had been 
726consecrated and established for all generations forever. 
727
7285 All my kindred and our ancestral house of Naphtali sacrificed to the 
729calf that King Jeroboam of Israel had erected in Dan and on all the 
730mountains of Galilee. 6 But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the 
731
73218 
733
734
735
736TOBIT 19 
737
738TOBIT 19 
739
740Early captivity 
741
74210 After I was carried away captive to Assyria and came as a captive to 
743Nineveh, everyone of my kindred and my people ate the food of the 
744Gentiles, 11 but I kept myself from eating the food of the Gentiles. 12 
745Because I was mindful of God with all my heart, 13 the Most High gave 
746me favor and good standing with Shalmaneser, and I used to buy 
747everything he needed. 14 Until his death I used to go into Media, and 
748buy for him there. While in the country of Media I left bags of silver 
749worth ten talents in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabri. 15 But 
750when Shalmaneser died, and his son Sennacherib reigned in his place, 
751the highways into Media became unsafe and I could no longer go 
752there. 
753
75416 In the days of Shalmaneser I performed many acts of charity to my 
755kindred, those of my tribe. 17 I would give my food to the hungry and 
756my clothing to the naked; and if I saw the dead body of any of my 
757people thrown out behind the wall of Nineveh, I would bury it. 18 I 
758also buried any whom King Sennacherib put to death when he came 
759fleeing from Judea in those days of judgment that the king of heaven 
760executed upon him because of his blasphemies. For in his anger he put 
761
76219 
763
764
765
766TOBIT 20 
767
768TOBIT 20 
769
77021 But not forty days passed before two of Sennacherib's sons killed 
771him, and they fled to the mountains of Ararat, and his son Esar-haddon 
772reigned after him. He appointed Ahikar, the son of my brother Hanael 
773over all the accounts of his kingdom, and he had authority over the 
774entire administration. 22 Ahikar interceded for me, and I returned to 
775Nineveh. Now Ahikar was chief cupbearer, keeper of the signet, and in 
776charge of administration of the accounts under King Sennacherib of 
777Assyria; so Esar-haddon reappointed him. He was my nephew and so a 
778close relative. 
779
780[Tobit 2] 
781Tobit's blindness 
782
783
7841 Then during the reign of Esar-haddon I returned home, and my wife 
785Anna and my son Tobias were restored to me. At our festival of 
786Pentecost, which is the sacred festival of weeks, a good dinner was 
787prepared for me and I reclined to eat. 2 When the table was set for me 
788and an abundance of food placed before me, I said to my son Tobias, 
789"Go, my child, and bring whatever poor person you may find of our 
790people among the exiles in Nineveh, who is wholeheartedly mindful of 
791God, and he shall eat together with me. I will wait for you, until you 
792come back." 3 So Tobias went to look for some poor person of our 
793people. When he had returned he said, "Father!" And I replied, "Here I 
794am, my child." Then he went on to say, "Look, father, one of our own 
795people has been murdered and thrown into the market place, and now 
796he lies there strangled." 4 Then I sprang up, left the dinner before even 
797tasting it, and removed the body from the square and laid it in one of 
798the rooms until sunset when I might bury it. 5 When I returned, I 
799
80020 
801
802
803
804TOBIT 21 
805
806TOBIT 21 
807
8087 When the sun had set, I went and dug a grave and buried him. 8 And 
809my neighbors laughed and said, "Is he still not afraid? He has already 
810been hunted down to be put to death for doing this, and he ran away; 
811yet here he is again burying the dead!" 9 That same night I washed 
812myself and went into my courtyard and slept by the wall of the 
813courtyard; and my face was uncovered because of the heat. 10 I did not 
814know that there were sparrows on the wall; their fresh droppings fell 
815into my eyes and produced white films. I went to physicians to be 
816healed, but the more they treated me with ointments the more my 
817vision was obscured by the white films, until I became completely blind. 
818For four years I remained unable to see. All my kindred were sorry for 
819me, and Ahikar took care of me for two years before he went to 
820Elymais. 
821
822The argument 
823
82411 At that time, also, my wife Anna earned money at women's work. 12 
825She used to send what she made to the owners and they would pay 
826wages to her. One day, the seventh of Dystrus, when she cut off a piece 
827she had woven and sent it to the owners, they paid her full wages and 
828also gave her a young goat for a meal. 13 When she returned to me, 
829the goat began to bleat. So I called her and said, "Where did you get 
830this goat? It is surely not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; for we 
831have no right to eat anything stolen." 14 But she said to me, "It was 
832given to me as a gift in addition to my wages." But I did not believe 
833her, and told her to return it to the owners. I became flushed with 
834anger against her over this. Then she replied to me, "Where are your 
835acts of charity? Where are your righteous deeds? These things are 
836known about you!" 
837
83821 
839
840
841
842TOBIT 22 
843
844
845[Tobit 3] 
846Tobit's prayer 
847
8481 Then with much grief and anguish of heart I wept, and with groaning 
849began to pray: 
8502 "You are righteous, O Lord, 
851
852
853and all your deeds are just; 
854all your ways are mercy and truth; 
855you judge the world. 
8563 And now, O Lord, remember me 
857and look favorably upon me. 
858
859Do not punish me for my sins 
860and for my unwitting offenses 
861and those that my ancestors committed before you. 
862
863
864They sinned against you, 
8654 and disobeyed your commandments. 
866
867 So you gave us over to plunder, exile, and death, 
868to become the talk, the byword, and an object of reproach 
869among all the nations among whom you have dispersed us. 
870
871
8725 And now your many judgments are true 
873in exacting penalty from me for my sins. 
874For we have not kept your commandments 
875and have not walked in accordance with truth before you. 
876
8776 So now deal with me as you will; 
878command my spirit to be taken from me, 
879so that I may be released from the face of the earth and 
880become dust. 
881
882For it is better for me to die than to live, 
883because I have had to listen to undeserved insults, 
884and great is the sorrow within me. 
885
886
887Command, O Lord, that I be released from this distress; 
888release me to go to the eternal home, 
889and do not, O Lord, turn your face away from me. 
890
891
892For it is better for me to die 
893than to see so much distress in my life 
894and to listen to insults." 
895
896
89722 
898
899
900
901TOBIT 23 
902
903
904Sarah's plight and prayer 
905
9067 On the same day, at Ecbatana in Media, it also happened that Sarah, 
907the daughter of Raguel, was reproached by one of her father's maids. 
9088 For she had been married to seven husbands, and the wicked demon 
909Asmodeus had killed each of them before they had been with her as is 
910customary for wives. So the maid said to her, "You are the one who 
911kills your husbands! See, you have already been married to seven 
912husbands and have not borne the name of a single one of them. 9 Why 
913do you beat us? Because your husbands are dead? Go with them! May 
914we never see a son or daughter of yours!" 
915
91610 On that day she was grieved in spirit and wept. When she had gone 
917up to her father's upper room, she intended to hang herself. But she 
918thought it over and said, "Never shall they reproach my father, saying 
919to him, 'You had only one beloved daughter but she hanged herself 
920because of her distress.' And I shall bring my father in his old age down 
921in sorrow to Hades. It is better for me not to hang myself, but to pray 
922the Lord that I may die and not listen to these reproaches anymore." 11 
923At that same time, with hands outstretched toward the window, she 
924prayed and said, 
925
926 "Blessed are you, merciful God! 
927
928Blessed is your name forever; 
929
930let all your works praise you forever. 
93112 And now, Lord, I turn my face to you, 
932
933and raise my eyes toward you. 
93413 Command that I be released from the earth 
935
936and not listen to such reproaches any more. 
93714 You know, O Master, that I am innocent 
938
939of any defilement with a man, 
940
94123 
942
943
944
945TOBIT 24 
946
947
94815 and that I have not disgraced my name 
949or the name of my father in the land of my exile. 
950I am my father's only child; 
951he has no other child to be his heir; 
952and he has no close relative or other kindred 
953for whom I should keep myself as wife. 
954Already seven husbands of mine have died. 
955Why should I still live? 
956But if it is not pleasing to you, O Lord, to take my life, 
957hear me in my disgrace." 
958
959Divine response 
960
96116 At that very moment, the prayers of both of them were heard in the 
962glorious presence of God. 17 So Raphael was sent to heal both of them: 
963Tobit, by removing the white films from his eyes, so that he might see 
964God's light with his eyes; and Sarah, daughter of Raguel, by giving her 
965in marriage to Tobias son of Tobit, and by setting her free from the 
966wicked demon Asmodeus. For Tobias was entitled to have her before 
967all others who had desired to marry her. At the same time that Tobit 
968returned from the courtyard into his house, Sarah daughter of Raguel 
969came down from her upper room. 
970
971[Tobit 4] 
972Tobit's advice on the family 
973
974
9751 That same day Tobit remembered the money that he had left in trust 
976with Gabael at Rages in Media, 2 and he said to himself, "Now I have 
977asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias and explain to him 
978about the money before I die?" 3 Then he called his son Tobias, and 
979when he came to him he said, "My son, when I die, give me a proper 
980burial. Honor your mother and do not abandon her all the days of her 
981life. Do whatever pleases her, and do not grieve her in anything. 4 
982Remember her, my son, because she faced many dangers for you while 
983you were in her womb. And when she dies, bury her beside me in the 
984same grave. 
985
98624 
987
988
989
990TOBIT 25 
991
992TOBIT 25 
993
99412 "Beware, my son, of every kind of fornication. First of all, marry a 
995woman from among the descendants of your ancestors; do not marry a 
996foreign woman, who is not of your father's tribe; for we are the 
997descendants of the prophets. Remember, my son, that Noah, Abraham, 
998Isaac, and Jacob, our ancestors of old, all took wives from among their 
999kindred. They were blessed in their children, and their posterity will 
1000inherit the land. 13 So now, my son, love your kindred, and in your 
1001heart do not disdain your kindred, the sons and daughters of your 
1002people, by refusing to take a wife for yourself from among them. For 
1003in pride there is ruin and great confusion. And in idleness there is loss 
1004and dire poverty, because idleness is the mother of famine. 
1005
1006Popular wisdom 
1007
100814 "Do not keep over until the next day the wages of those who work 
1009for you, but pay them at once. If you serve God you will receive 
1010payment. Watch yourself, my son, in everything you do, and discipline 
1011yourself in all your conduct. 15 And what you hate, do not do to 
1012anyone. Do not drink wine to excess or let drunkenness go with you on 
1013your way. 16 Give some of your food to the hungry, and some of your 
1014clothing to the naked. Give all your surplus as alms, and do not let your 
1015eye begrudge your giving of alms. 17 Place your bread on the grave of 
1016the righteous, but give none to sinners. 18 Seek advice from every wise 
1017
101825 
1019
1020
1021
1022TOBIT 26 
1023
1024TOBIT 26 
1025
1026Obtaining funds left in trust 
1027
102820 "And now, my son, let me explain to you that I left ten talents of 
1029silver in trust with Gabael son of Gabrias, at Rages in Media. 21 Do not 
1030be afraid, my son, because we have become poor. You have great 
1031wealth if you fear God and flee from every sin and do what is good in 
1032the sight of the Lord your God." 
1033
1034[Tobit 5] 
1035Raphael's disguise 
1036
1037
10381 Then Tobias answered his father Tobit, "I will do everything that you 
1039have commanded me, father; 2 but how can I obtain the money from 
1040him, since he does not know me and I do not know him? What 
1041evidence am I to give him so that he will recognize and trust me, and 
1042give me the money? Also, I do not know the roads to Media, or how to 
1043get there." 3 Then Tobit answered his son Tobias, "He gave me his 
1044bond and I gave him my bond. I divided his in two; we each took one 
1045part, and I put one with the money. And now twenty years have passed 
1046since I left this money in trust. So now, my son, find yourself a 
1047trustworthy man to go with you, and we will pay him wages until you 
1048return. But get back the money from Gabael." 
1049
10504 So Tobias went out to look for a man to go with him to Media, 
1051someone who was acquainted with the way. He went out and found 
1052the angel Raphael standing in front of him; but he did not perceive 
1053that he was an angel of God. 5 Tobias said to him, "Where do you 
1054come from, young man?" "From your kindred, the Israelites," he 
1055replied, "and I have come here to work." Then Tobias said to him, "Do 
1056you know the way to go to Media?" 6 "Yes," he replied, "I have been 
1057
105826 
1059
1060
1061
1062TOBIT 27 
1063
1064TOBIT 27 
1065
10669 So Tobias went in to tell his father Tobit and said to him, "I have just 
1067found a man who is one of our own Israelite kindred!" He replied, 
1068"Call the man in, my son, so that I may learn about his family and to 
1069what tribe he belongs, and whether he is trustworthy enough to go 
1070with you." 
1071
107210 Then Tobias went out and called him, and said, "Young man, my 
1073father is calling for you." So he went in to him, and Tobit greeted him 
1074first. He replied, "Joyous greetings to you!" But Tobit retorted, "What 
1075joy is left for me any more? I am a man without eyesight; I cannot see 
1076the light of heaven, but I lie in darkness like the dead who no longer 
1077see the light. Although still alive, I am among the dead. I hear people 
1078but I cannot see them." But the young man said, "Take courage; the 
1079time is near for God to heal you; take courage." Then Tobit said to 
1080him, "My son Tobias wishes to go to Media. Can you accompany him 
1081and guide him? I will pay your wages, brother." He answered, "I can go 
1082with him and I know all the roads, for I have often gone to Media and 
1083have crossed all its plains, and I am familiar with its mountains and all 
1084of its roads." 
1085
108611 Then Tobit said to him, "Brother, of what family are you and from 
1087what tribe? Tell me, brother." 12 He replied, "Why do you need to 
1088know my tribe?" But Tobit said, "I want to be sure, brother, whose son 
1089you are and what your name is." 13 He replied, "I am Azariah, the son 
1090of the great Hananiah, one of your relatives." 14 Then Tobit said to 
1091him, "Welcome! God save you, brother. Do not feel bitter toward me, 
1092brother, because I wanted to be sure about your ancestry. It turns out 
1093that you are a kinsman, and of good and noble lineage. For I knew 
1094Hananiah and Nathan, the two sons of Shemeliah, and they used to go 
1095
109627 
1097
1098
1099
1100TOBIT 28 
1101
1102TOBIT 28 
1103
110415 Then he added, "I will pay you a drachma a day as wages, as well as 
1105expenses for yourself and my son. So go with my son, 16 and I will add 
1106something to your wages." Raphael answered, "I will go with him; so 
1107do not fear. We shall leave in good health and return to you in good 
1108health, because the way is safe." 17 So Tobit said to him, "Blessings be 
1109upon you, brother." 
1110
1111Then he called his son and said to him, "Son, prepare supplies for the 
1112journey and set out with your brother. May God in heaven bring you 
1113safely there and return you in good health to me; and may his angel, 
1114my son, accompany you both for your safety." 
1115
1116Before he went out to start his journey, he kissed his father and 
1117mother. Tobit then said to him, "Have a safe journey." 
1118
1119Anna's lament 
1120
112118 But his mother began to weep, and said to Tobit, "Why is it that you 
1122have sent my child away? Is he not the staff of our hand as he goes in 
1123and out before us? 19 Do not heap money upon money, but let it be a 
1124ransom for our child. 20 For the life that is given to us by the Lord is 
1125enough for us." 21 Tobit said to her, "Do not worry; our child will leave 
1126in good health and return to us in good health. Your eyes will see him 
1127on the day when he returns to you in good health. Say no more! Do 
1128not fear for them, my sister. 22 For a good angel will accompany him; 
1129his journey will be successful, and he will come back in good health." 
1130[Tobit 6] 1a So she stopped weeping. 
1131
1132[Tobit 6, continued] 
1133Dangerous journey 
1134
11351b The young man went out and the angel went with him; 2 and the 
1136dog came out with him and went along with them. So they both 
1137journeyed along, and when the first night overtook them they camped 
1138
113928 
1140
1141
1142
1143TOBIT 29 
1144
1145TOBIT 29 
1146
1147The two continued on their way together until they were near Media. 
11487 Then the young man questioned the angel and said to him, "Brother 
1149Azariah, what medicinal value is there in the fish's heart and liver, and 
1150in the gall?" 8 He replied, "As for the fish's heart and liver, you must 
1151burn them to make a smoke in the presence of a man or woman 
1152afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, and every affliction will flee away 
1153and never remain with that person any longer. 9 And as for the gall, 
1154anoint a person's eyes where white films have appeared on them; blow 
1155upon them, upon the white films, and the eyes will be healed." 
1156
1157Prenuptial instructions 
1158
115910 When he entered Media and already was approaching Ecbatana, 11 
1160Raphael said to the young man, "Brother Tobias." "Here I am," he 
1161answered. Then Raphael said to him, "We must stay this night in the 
1162home of Raguel. He is your relative, and he has a daughter named 
1163Sarah. 12 He has no male heir and no daughter except Sarah only, and 
1164you, as next of kin to her, have before all other men a hereditary claim 
1165on her. Also it is right for you to inherit her father's possessions. 
1166Moreover, the girl is sensible, brave, and very beautiful, and her father 
1167is a good man." 13 He continued, "You have every right to take her in 
1168marriage. So listen to me, brother; tonight I will speak to her father 
1169about the girl, so that we may take her to be your bride. When we 
1170return from Rages we will celebrate her marriage. For I know that 
1171Raguel can by no means keep her from you or promise her to another 
1172man without incurring the penalty of death according to the decree of 
1173
117429 
1175
1176
1177
1178TOBIT 30 
1179
1180TOBIT 30 
1181
118214 Then Tobias said in answer to Raphael, "Brother Azariah, I have 
1183heard that she already has been married to seven husbands and that 
1184they died in the bridal chamber. On the night when they went in to 
1185her, they would die. I have heard people saying that it was a demon 
1186that killed them. 15 It does not harm her, but it kills anyone who 
1187desires to approach her. So now, since I am the only son my father has, 
1188I am afraid that I may die and bring my father's and mother's life down 
1189to their grave, grieving for me — and they have no other son to bury 
1190them." 
1191
119216 But Raphael said to him, "Do you not remember your father's orders 
1193when he commanded you to take a wife from your father's house? 
1194Now listen to me, brother, and say no more about this demon. Take 
1195her. I know that this very night she will be given to you in marriage. 17 
1196When you enter the bridal chamber, take some of the fish's liver and 
1197heart, and put them on the embers of the incense. An odor will be 
1198given off; 18 the demon will smell it and flee, and will never be seen 
1199near her any more. Now when you are about to go to bed with her, 
1200both of you must first stand up and pray, imploring the Lord of heaven 
1201that mercy and safety may be granted to you. Do not be afraid, for she 
1202was set apart for you before the world was made. You will save her, 
1203and she will go with you. I presume that you will have children by her, 
1204and they will be as brothers to you. Now say no more!" When Tobias 
1205heard the words of Raphael and learned that she was his kinswoman, 
1206related through his father's lineage, he loved her very much, and his 
1207heart was drawn to her. 
1208
1209[Tobit 7] 
1210Tobit and Sarah marry 
1211
1212
12131 Now when they entered Ecbatana, Tobias said to him, "Brother 
1214Azariah, take me straight to our brother Raguel." So he took him to 
1215
121630 
1217
1218
1219
1220TOBIT 31 
1221
1222TOBIT 31 
1223
1224When they had bathed and washed themselves and had reclined to 
1225dine, Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to give me 
1226my kinswoman Sarah." 10 But Raguel overheard it and said to the lad, 
1227"Eat and drink, and be merry tonight. For no one except you, brother, 
1228has the right to marry my daughter Sarah. Likewise I am not at liberty 
1229to give her to any other man than yourself, because you are my nearest 
1230relative. But let me explain to you the true situation more fully, my 
1231child. 11 I have given her to seven men of our kinsmen, and all died on 
1232the night when they went in to her. But now, my child, eat and drink, 
1233and the Lord will act on behalf of you both." But Tobias said, "I will 
1234neither eat nor drink anything until you settle the things that pertain 
1235to me." So Raguel said, "I will do so. She is given to you in accordance 
1236with the decree in the book of Moses, and it has been decreed from 
1237heaven that she be given to you. Take your kinswoman; from now on 
1238you are her brother and she is your sister. She is given to you from 
1239today and forever. May the Lord of heaven, my child, guide and 
1240prosper you both this night and grant you mercy and peace." 12 Then 
1241Raguel summoned his daughter Sarah. When she came to him he took 
1242her by the hand and gave her to Tobias, saying, "Take her to be your 
1243wife in accordance with the law and decree written in the book of 
1244
124531 
1246
1247
1248
1249TOBIT 32 
1250
1251TOBIT 32 
1252
125315 Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, "Sister, get the other 
1254room ready, and take her there." 16 So she went and made the bed in 
1255the room as he had told her, and brought Sarah there. She wept for 
1256her daughter. Then, wiping away the tears, she said to her, "Take 
1257courage, my daughter; the Lord of heaven grant you joy in place of 
1258your sorrow. Take courage, my daughter." Then she went out. 
1259
1260[Tobit 8] 
1261Asmodeus is exorcised 
1262
1263
12641 When they had finished eating and drinking they wanted to retire; so 
1265they took the young man and brought him into the bedroom. 2 Then 
1266Tobias remembered the words of Raphael, and he took the fish's liver 
1267and heart out of the bag where he had them and put them on the 
1268embers of the incense. 3 The odor of the fish so repelled the demon 
1269that he fled to the remotest parts of Egypt. But Raphael followed him, 
1270and at once bound him there hand and foot. 
1271
12724 When the parents had gone out and shut the door of the room, 
1273Tobias got out of bed and said to Sarah, "Sister, get up, and let us pray 
1274and implore our Lord that he grant us mercy and safety." 5 So she got 
1275up, and they began to pray and implore that they might be kept safe. 
1276Tobias began by saying, 
1277
1278"Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors, 
1279
1280and blessed is your name in all generations forever. 
1281
1282Let the heavens and the whole creation bless you forever. 
12836 You made Adam, and for him you made his wife Eve 
1284
1285as a helper and support. 
1286
1287From the two of them the human race has sprung. 
1288
1289 You said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; 
1290
1291let us make a helper for him like himself.' 
1292
129332 
1294
1295
1296
1297TOBIT 33 
1298
1299
13007 I now am taking this kinswoman of mine, 
1301
1302not because of lust, 
1303
1304 but with sincerity. 
1305
1306Grant that she and I may find mercy 
1307
1308and that we may grow old together." 
13098 And they both said, "Amen, Amen." 9 Then they went to sleep for 
1310the night. 
1311
1312Raguel's fears are assuaged 
1313
1314But Raguel arose and called his servants to him, and they went and dug 
1315a grave, 10 for he said, "It is possible that he will die and we will 
1316become an object of ridicule and derision." 11 When they had finished 
1317digging the grave, Raguel went into his house and called his wife, 12 
1318saying, "Send one of the maids and have her go in to see if he is alive. 
1319But if he is dead, let us bury him without anyone knowing it." 13 So 
1320they sent the maid, lit a lamp, and opened the door; and she went in 
1321and found them sound asleep together. 14 Then the maid came out 
1322and informed them that he was alive and that nothing was wrong. 15 
1323So they blessed the God of heaven, and Raguel said, 
1324
1325 "Blessed are you, O God, with every pure blessing; 
1326
1327let all your chosen ones bless you. 
1328
1329Let them bless you forever. 
133016 Blessed are you because you have made me glad. 
1331
1332It has not turned out as I expected, 
1333
1334but you have dealt with us according to your great mercy. 
133517 Blessed are you because you had compassion 
1336
1337on two only children. 
1338
1339 Be merciful to them, O Master, and keep them safe; 
1340
1341bring their lives to fulfillment 
1342
1343in happiness and mercy." 
134418 Then he ordered his servants to fill in the grave before daybreak. 
1345
1346The wedding celebrated and tasks fulfilled 
1347
134819 After this he asked his wife to bake many loaves of bread; and he 
1349went out to the herd and brought two steers and four rams and 
1350ordered them to be slaughtered. So they began to make preparations. 
1351
135233 
1353
1354
1355
1356TOBIT 34 
1357
1358TOBIT 34 
1359
1360[Tobit 9] 
1361
13621 Then Tobias called Raphael and said to him, 2 "Brother Azariah, take 
1363four servants and two camels with you and travel to Rages. Go to the 
1364home of Gabael, give him the bond, get the money, and then bring 
1365him with you to the wedding celebration. 4 For you know that my 
1366father must be counting the days, and if I delay even one day I will 
1367upset him very much. 3 You are witness to the oath Raguel has sworn, 
1368and I cannot violate his oath." 5 So Raphael with the four servants and 
1369two camels went to Rages in Media and stayed with Gabael. Raphael 
1370gave him the bond and informed him that Tobit's son Tobias had 
1371married and was inviting him to the wedding celebration. So Gabael 
1372got up and counted out to him the money bags, with their seals intact; 
1373then they loaded them on the camels. 6 In the morning they both got 
1374up early and went to the wedding celebration. When they came into 
1375Raguel's house they found Tobias reclining at table. He sprang up and 
1376greeted Gabael, who wept and blessed him with the words, "Good and 
1377noble son of a father good and noble, upright and generous! May the 
1378Lord grant the blessing of heaven to you and your wife, and to your 
1379wife's father and mother. Blessed be God, for I see in Tobias the very 
1380image of my cousin Tobit." 
1381
1382[Tobit 10] 
1383Anxiety at home 
1384
13851 Now, day by day, Tobit kept counting how many days Tobias would 
1386need for going and for returning. And when the days had passed and 
1387his son did not appear, 2 he said, "Is it possible that he has been 
1388detained? Or that Gabael has died, and there is no one to give him the 
1389
139034 
1391
1392
1393
1394TOBIT 35 
1395
1396TOBIT 35 
1397
1398Return to Nineveh 
1399
1400Now when the fourteen days of the wedding celebration had ended 
1401that Raguel had sworn to observe for his daughter, Tobias came to him 
1402and said, "Send me back, for I know that my father and mother do not 
1403believe that they will see me again. So I beg of you, father, to let me 
1404go so that I may return to my own father. I have already explained to 
1405you how I left him." 8 But Raguel said to Tobias, "Stay, my child, stay 
1406with me; I will send messengers to your father Tobit and they will 
1407inform him about you." 9 But he said, "No! I beg you to send me back 
1408to my father." 10 So Raguel promptly gave Tobias his wife Sarah, as 
1409well as half of all his property: male and female slaves, oxen and sheep, 
1410donkeys and camels, clothing, money, and household goods. 11 Then he 
1411saw them safely off; he embraced Tobias and said, "Farewell, my child; 
1412have a safe journey. The Lord of heaven prosper you and your wife 
1413Sarah, and may I see children of yours before I die." 12 Then he kissed 
1414his daughter Sarah and said to her, "My daughter, honor your father-
1415in-law and your mother-in-law, since from now on they are as much 
1416your parents as those who gave you birth. Go in peace, daughter, and 
1417may I hear a good report about you as long as I live." Then he bade 
1418them farewell and let them go. Then Edna said to Tobias, "My child 
1419and dear brother, the Lord of heaven bring you back safely, and may I 
1420live long enough to see children of you and of my daughter Sarah 
1421before I die. In the sight of the Lord I entrust my daughter to you; do 
1422nothing to grieve her all the days of your life. Go in peace, my child. 
1423
142435 
1425
1426
1427
1428TOBIT 36 
1429
1430TOBIT 36 
1431
1432[Tobit 11] 
1433Tobias returns 
1434
14351 When they came near to Kaserin, which is opposite Nineveh, Raphael 
1436said, 2 "You are aware of how we left your father. 3 Let us run ahead 
1437of your wife and prepare the house while they are still on the way." 4 
1438As they went on together Raphael said to him, "Have the gall ready." 
1439And the dog went along behind them. 
1440
14415 Meanwhile Anna sat looking intently down the road by which her 
1442son would come. 6 When she caught sight of him coming, she said to 
1443his father, "Look, your son is coming, and the man who went with 
1444him!" 
1445
1446Tobit is healed 
1447
14487 Raphael said to Tobias, before he had approached his father, "I know 
1449that his eyes will be opened. 8 Smear the gall of the fish on his eyes; 
1450the medicine will make the white films shrink and peel off from his 
1451eyes, and your father will regain his sight and see the light." 
1452
14539 Then Anna ran up to her son and threw her arms around him, saying, 
1454"Now that I have seen you, my child, I am ready to die." And she wept. 
145510 Then Tobit got up and came stumbling out through the courtyard 
1456door. Tobias went up to him, 11 with the gall of the fish in his hand, 
1457and holding him firmly, he blew into his eyes, saying, "Take courage, 
1458father." With this he applied the medicine on his eyes, 12 and it made 
1459them smart. 13 Next, with both his hands he peeled off the white films 
1460from the corners of his eyes. Then Tobit saw his son and threw his arms 
1461
146236 
1463
1464
1465
1466TOBIT 37 
1467
1468TOBIT 37 
1469
1470"Blessed be God, 
1471
1472and blessed be his great name, 
1473
1474and blessed be all his holy angels. 
1475
1476 May his holy name be blessed 
1477
1478throughout all the ages. 
147915 Though he afflicted me, 
1480
1481he has had mercy upon me. 
1482
1483Now I see my son Tobias!" 
1484So Tobit went in rejoicing and praising God at the top of his voice. 
1485Tobias reported to his father that his journey had been successful, that 
1486he had brought the money, that he had married Raguel's daughter 
1487Sarah, and that she was, indeed, on her way there, very near to the 
1488gate of Nineveh. 
1489
149016 Then Tobit, rejoicing and praising God, went out to meet his 
1491daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh. When the people of Nineveh 
1492saw him coming, walking along in full vigor and with no one leading 
1493him, they were amazed. 17 Before them all, Tobit acknowledged that 
1494God had been merciful to him and had restored his sight. When Tobit 
1495met Sarah the wife of his son Tobias, he blessed her saying, "Come in, 
1496my daughter, and welcome. Blessed be your God who has brought you 
1497to us, my daughter. Blessed be your father and your mother, blessed be 
1498my son Tobias, and blessed be you, my daughter. Come in now to your 
1499home, and welcome, with blessing and joy. Come in, my daughter." So 
1500on that day there was rejoicing among all the Jews who were in 
1501Nineveh. 18 Ahikar and his nephew Nadab were also present to share 
1502Tobit's joy. With merriment they celebrated Tobias's wedding feast for 
1503seven days, and many gifts were given to him. 
1504
1505[Tobit 12] 
1506Raphael's revelations 
1507
1508
15091 When the wedding celebration was ended, Tobit called his son Tobias 
1510and said to him, "My child, see to paying the wages of the man who 
1511went with you, and give him a bonus as well." 2 He replied, "Father, 
1512how much shall I pay him? It would do no harm to give him half of the 
1513
151437 
1515
1516
1517
1518TOBIT 38 
1519
1520TOBIT 38 
1521
15226 Then Raphael called the two of them privately and said to them, 
1523"Bless God and acknowledge him in the presence of all the living for 
1524the good things he has done for you. Bless and sing praise to his name. 
1525With fitting honor declare to all people the deeds of God. Do not be 
1526slow to acknowledge him. 7 It is good to conceal the secret of a king, 
1527but to acknowledge and reveal the works of God, and with fitting 
1528honor to acknowledge him. Do good and evil will not overtake you. 8 
1529Prayer with fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with 
1530righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than wealth with 
1531wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold. 9 For 
1532almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who 
1533give alms will enjoy a full life, 10 but those who commit sin and do 
1534wrong are their own worst enemies. 
1535
153611 "I will now declare the whole truth to you and will conceal nothing 
1537from you. Already I have declared it to you when I said, 'It is good to 
1538conceal the secret of a king, but to reveal with due honor the works of 
1539God.' 12 So now when you and Sarah prayed, it was I who brought and 
1540read the record of your prayer before the glory of the Lord, and 
1541likewise whenever you would bury the dead. 13 And that time when 
1542you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner to go and bury 
1543the dead, 14 I was sent to you to test you. And at the same time God 
1544sent me to heal you and Sarah your daughter-in-law. 15 I am Raphael, 
1545one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of 
1546the Lord." 
1547
154816 The two of them were shaken; they fell face down, for they were 
1549afraid. 17 But he said to them, "Do not be afraid; peace be with you. 
1550Bless God forevermore. 18 As for me, when I was with you, I was not 
1551acting on my own will, but by the will of God. Bless him each and every 
1552day; sing his praises. 19 Although you were watching me, I really did 
1553
155438 
1555
1556
1557
1558TOBIT 39 
1559
1560TOBIT 39 
1561
1562[Tobit 13] 
1563Tobit's hymn 
1564
15651 Then Tobit said: 
1566"Blessed be God who lives forever, 
1567because his kingdom lasts throughout all ages. 
1568
15692 For he afflicts, and he shows mercy; 
1570he leads down to Hades in the lowest regions of the earth, 
1571and he brings up from the great abyss, 
1572and there is nothing that can escape his hand. 
1573
15743 Acknowledge him before the nations, O children of Israel; 
1575for he has scattered you among them. 
15764 He has shown you his greatness even there. 
1577
1578 Exalt him in the presence of every living being, 
1579because he is our Lord and he is our God; 
1580he is our Father and he is God forever. 
1581
1582
15835 He will afflict you for your iniquities, 
1584but he will again show mercy on all of you. 
1585He will gather you from all the nations 
1586among whom you have been scattered. 
1587
158839 
1589
1590
1591
1592TOBIT 40 
1593
1594
15956 If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul, 
1596to do what is true before him, 
1597then he will turn to you 
1598and will no longer hide his face from you. 
1599So now see what he has done for you; 
1600acknowledge him at the top of your voice. 
1601Bless the Lord of righteousness, 
1602and exalt the King of the ages. 
1603In the land of my exile I acknowledge him, 
1604and show his power and majesty to a nation of sinners: 
1605'Turn back, you sinners, and do what is right before him; 
1606perhaps he may look with favor upon you and show you mercy.' 
16077 As for me, I exalt my God, 
1608and my soul rejoices in the King of heaven. 
16098 Let all people speak of his majesty, 
1610and acknowledge him in Jerusalem. 
1611
16129 O Jerusalem, the holy city, 
1613
1614he afflicted you for the deeds of your hands, 
1615
1616but will again have mercy on the children of the righteous. 
161710 Acknowledge the Lord, for he is good, 
1618
1619and bless the King of the ages, 
1620
1621so that his tent may be rebuilt in you in joy. 
1622
1623 May he cheer all those within you who are captives, 
1624
1625and love all those within you who are distressed, 
1626
1627to all generations forever. 
162811 A bright light will shine to all the ends of the earth; 
1629many nations will come to you from far away, 
1630the inhabitants of the remotest parts of the earth to your holy name, 
1631bearing gifts in their hands for the King of heaven. 
1632Generation after generation will give joyful praise in you; 
1633the name of the chosen city will endure forever. 
1634
163540 
1636
1637
1638
1639TOBIT 41 
1640
1641
164212 Cursed are all who speak a harsh word against you; 
1643cursed are all who conquer you 
1644and pull down your walls, 
1645
1646 all who overthrow your towers 
1647and set your homes on fire. 
1648But blessed forever will be all who revere you. 
1649
1650
165113 Go, then, and rejoice over the children of the righteous, 
1652for they will be gathered together 
1653and will praise the Lord of the ages. 
1654
165514 Happy are those who love you, 
1656and happy are those who rejoice in your prosperity. 
1657Happy also are all people who grieve with you 
1658because of your afflictions; 
1659for they will rejoice with you 
1660
1661and witness all your glory forever. 
166215 My soul blesses the Lord, the great King! 
166316 For Jerusalem will be built as his house for all ages. 
1664
1665 How happy I will be if a remnant of my descendants should survive 
1666to see your glory and acknowledge the King of heaven. 
1667The gates of Jerusalem will be built with sapphire and emerald, 
1668and all your walls with precious stones. 
1669The towers of Jerusalem will be built with gold, 
1670and their battlements with pure gold. 
1671The streets of Jerusalem will be paved 
1672with ruby and with stones of Ophir. 
167317 The gates of Jerusalem will sing hymns of joy, 
1674and all her houses will cry, 'Hallelujah! 
1675Blessed be the God of Israel!' 
1676and the blessed will bless the holy name forever and ever." 
1677
1678[Tobit 14] 1 So ended Tobit's words of praise. 
1679
1680Tobit's testament 
1681
16822 Tobit died in peace when he was one hundred twelve years old, and 
1683was buried with great honor in Nineveh. He was sixty-two years old 
1684when he lost his eyesight, and after regaining it he lived in prosperity, 
1685
168641 
1687
1688
1689
1690TOBIT 42 
1691
1692TOBIT 42 
1693
16943 When he was about to die, he called his son Tobias and the seven 
1695sons of Tobias and gave this command: "My son, take your children 4 
1696and hurry off to Media, for I believe the word of God that Nahum 
1697spoke about Nineveh, that all these things will take place and overtake 
1698Assyria and Nineveh. Indeed, everything that was spoken by the 
1699prophets of Israel, whom God sent, will occur. None of all their words 
1700will fail, but all will come true at their appointed times. So it will be 
1701safer in Media than in Assyria and Babylon. For I know and believe that 
1702whatever God has said will be fulfilled and will come true; not a single 
1703word of the prophecies will fail. All of our kindred, inhabitants of the 
1704land of Israel, will be scattered and taken as captives from the good 
1705land; and the whole land of Israel will be desolate, even Samaria and 
1706Jerusalem will be desolate. And the temple of God in it will be burned 
1707to the ground, and it will be desolate for a while. 
1708
17095 "But God will again have mercy on them, and God will bring them 
1710back into the land of Israel; and they will rebuild the temple of God, 
1711but not like the first one until the period when the times of fulfillment 
1712shall come. After this they all will return from their exile and will 
1713rebuild Jerusalem in splendor; and in it the temple of God will be 
1714rebuilt, just as the prophets of Israel have said concerning it. 6 Then the 
1715nations in the whole world will all be converted and worship God in 
1716truth. They will all abandon their idols, which deceitfully have led them 
1717into their error; 7 and in righteousness they will praise the eternal God. 
1718All the Israelites who are saved in those days and are truly mindful of 
1719God will be gathered together; they will go to Jerusalem and live in 
1720safety forever in the land of Abraham, and it will be given over to 
1721them. Those who sincerely love God will rejoice, but those who commit 
1722sin and injustice will vanish from all the earth. 8,9 So now, my children, 
1723I command you, serve God faithfully and do what is pleasing in his 
1724sight. Your children are also to be commanded to do what is right and 
1725to give alms, and to be mindful of God and to bless his name at all 
1726times with sincerity and with all their strength. So now, my son, leave 
1727Nineveh; do not remain here. 10 On whatever day you bury your 
1728mother beside me, do not stay overnight within the confines of the 
1729
173042 
1731
1732
1733
1734TOBIT 43 
1735
1736TOBIT 43 
1737
1738Tobit and Anna die 
1739
1740Then they laid him on his bed, and he died; and he received an 
1741honorable funeral. 12 When Tobias's mother died, he buried her beside 
1742his father. Then he and his wife and children returned to Media and 
1743settled in Ecbatana with Raguel his father-in-law. 13 He treated his 
1744parents-in-law with great respect in their old age, and buried them in 
1745Ecbatana of Media. He inherited both the property of Raguel and that 
1746of his father Tobit. 14 He died highly respected at the age of one 
1747hundred seventeen years. 15 Before he died he heard of the 
1748destruction of Nineveh, and he saw its prisoners being led into Media, 
1749those whom King Cyaxares of Media had taken captive. Tobias praised 
1750God for all he had done to the people of Nineveh and Assyria; before 
1751he died he rejoiced over Nineveh, and he blessed the Lord God forever 
1752and ever. Amen. 
1753
175443 
1755
1756
1757
1758JUDITH 44 
1759
1760
1761JUDITH 
1762
1763
1764Introduction 
1765
1766Judith, perhaps more than any other biblical book, consistently reverses 
1767the reader's expectations. The potent Assyrian army, able to defeat 
1768mighty nations both east and west, is routed by the tiny town of 
1769Bethulia. Judith, a Jewish widow, so beguiles Holofernes, the invincible 
1770head of the Assyrian army, and all his servants and soldiers that she is 
1771able to assassinate him in the middle of his camp and sneak away 
1772without being caught. The book's characters and scenes resonate with 
1773irony, humor, wordplay, suspense, and the unexpected. The story's 
1774characters are vividly drawn and take on lives of their own. Judith is an 
1775especially compelling figure. She is morally ambiguous: Although 
1776pious, faithful, and religiously observant, she lies, seduces, and 
1777murders. She is introduced as a traditionally ideal Jewish woman in 
1778many aspects: beautiful, well-connected, devoted to God and her late 
1779husband; yet it is she, and not the male rulers of Bethulia, who acts to 
1780save the town and rallies the people to her cause. She has often been 
1781viewed as a model for human liberation, and her courage and 
1782complexity have fascinated artists, writers, and composers for centuries. 
1783
1784The book of Judith is a well-crafted work of fiction, an example of the 
1785ancient Jewish novel in the Greco-Roman period. Its tone is 
1786exaggerated throughout; it contains historical inaccuracies so great 
1787that they strike a reader as absurd; and many of the geographical sites, 
1788including the principal scene of the action (the town of Bethulia), are 
1789unknown. Religion is a primary concern of the book. The plot's central 
1790conflict revolves around the question of whether true power lies with 
1791Israel's God or with the military might of a foreign ruler. The work 
1792provides evidence of traditional religious practices, including prayer, 
1793fasting, and observation of dietary laws. 
1794
179544 
1796
1797
1798
1799JUDITH 45 
1800
1801JUDITH 45 
1802
1803The figure of Judith and her mode of operation have been variously 
1804compared to the biblical characters of Jael and Deborah (Judg 4.4-5.31), 
1805Moses, Esther, Abraham, Delilah (Judg 16), and Woman Wisdom (Prov 
18068). Yet she also may have been fashioned after the real-life persons 
1807Judas Maccabeus (hence her name "Judith") or the popular queen 
1808Salome Alexandra. It is probably best to view Judith as a fabricated 
1809character, a composite of the traits and activities of many other figures 
1810from the Bible and from history. 
1811
1812Although the character after whom the book is named does not 
1813appear until ch 8, the first seven chapters establish the narrative 
1814themes that frame the entire story: fear, deceit, hearing, blessing, and 
1815the proper recipient of worship. Contrasts such as weakness and 
1816strength, innocence and guilt, courage and timidity, and godliness and 
1817ungodliness should be noted. False appearances and 
1818misunderstandings occur regularly; for instance, the Assyrian army only 
1819seems strong. Judith's lies are often interpreted as wisdom, and the 
1820success of her mission is achieved by means of cosmetic adornment. 
1821
1822The book is divided into two main parts, each with a chiastic structure 
1823and thematic repetition. The first part (1.1-7.32), which narrates the 
1824Assyrian campaign and revenge against western nations, begins with 
1825Nebuchadnezzar's campaign against Arphaxad (1.1-16), his 
1826commissioning Holofernes's campaign, the people of other nations 
1827surrender (2.14-3.10), and consequently Israel is afraid and Joakim 
1828prepares for war (4.1-15). After advising Holofernes, Achior is expelled 
1829(5.1-6.11). Then the pattern reverses itself: Achior is received into 
1830
183145 
1832
1833
1834
1835JUDITH 46 
1836
1837JUDITH 46 
1838
1839[Judith 1] 
1840Nebuchadnezzar is introduced. He declares ware on Arphaxad, the 
1841king of Media 
1842
18431 It was the twelfth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled 
1844over the Assyrians in the great city of Nineveh. In those days Arphaxad 
1845ruled over the Medes in Ecbatana. 2 He built walls around Ecbatana 
1846with hewn stones three cubits thick and six cubits long; he made the 
1847walls seventy cubits high and fifty cubits wide. 3 At its gates he raised 
1848towers one hundred cubits high and sixty cubits wide at the 
1849foundations. 4 He made its gates seventy cubits high and forty cubits 
1850wide to allow his armies to march out in force and his infantry to form 
1851their ranks. 5 Then King Nebuchadnezzar made war against King 
1852Arphaxad in the great plain that is on the borders of Ragau. 6 There 
1853rallied to him all the people of the hill country and all those who lived 
1854along the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the Hydaspes, and, on the plain, 
1855Arioch, king of the Elymeans. Thus, many nations joined the forces of 
1856the Chaldeans. 
1857
1858The Persians and the western nations disregard Nebuchadnezzar's 
1859pleas for assistance 
1860
18617 Then Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, sent messengers to all 
1862who lived in Persia and to all who lived in the west, those who lived in 
1863
186446 
1865
1866
1867
1868JUDITH 47 
1869
1870JUDITH 47 
1871
1872Nebuchadnezzar vows revenge upon the western nations and alone 
1873defeats Arphaxad 
1874
187512 Then Nebuchadnezzar became very angry with this whole region, 
1876and swore by his throne and kingdom that he would take revenge on 
1877the whole territory of Cilicia and Damascus and Syria, that he would 
1878kill with his sword also all the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the 
1879people of Ammon, and all Judea, and every one in Egypt, as far as the 
1880coasts of the two seas. 
1881
188213 In the seventeenth year he led his forces against King Arphaxad and 
1883defeated him in battle, overthrowing the whole army of Arphaxad and 
1884all his cavalry and all his chariots. 14 Thus he took possession of his 
1885towns and came to Ecbatana, captured its towers, plundered its 
1886markets, and turned its glory into disgrace. 15 He captured Arphaxad in 
1887the mountains of Ragau and struck him down with his spears, thus 
1888destroying him once and for all. 16 Then he returned to Nineveh, he 
1889and all his combined forces, a vast body of troops; and there he and his 
1890forces rested and feasted for one hundred twenty days. 
1891
189247 
1893
1894
1895
1896JUDITH 48 
1897
1898
1899[Judith 2] 
1900Nebuchadnezzar commissions Holofernes to lead a punitive expedition 
1901against the disobedient nations 
1902
19031 In the eighteenth year, on the twenty-second day of the first month, 
1904there was talk in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, 
1905about carrying out his revenge on the whole region, just as he had 
1906said. 2 He summoned all his ministers and all his nobles and set before 
1907them his secret plan and recounted fully, with his own lips, all the 
1908wickedness of the region. 3 They decided that every one who had not 
1909obeyed his command should be destroyed. 
1910
19114 When he had completed his plan, Nebuchadnezzar, king of the 
1912Assyrians, called Holofernes, the chief general of his army, second only 
1913to himself, and said to him, 5 "Thus says the Great King, the lord of the 
1914whole earth: Leave my presence and take with you men confident in 
1915their strength, one hundred twenty thousand foot soldiers and twelve 
1916thousand cavalry. 6 March out against all the land to the west, because 
1917they disobeyed my orders. 7 Tell them to prepare earth and water, for I 
1918am coming against them in my anger, and will cover the whole face of 
1919the earth with the feet of my troops, to whom I will hand them over to 
1920be plundered. 8 Their wounded shall fill their ravines and gullies, and 
1921the swelling river shall be filled with their dead. 9 I will lead them away 
1922captive to the ends of the whole earth. 10 You shall go and seize all 
1923their territory for me in advance. They must yield themselves to you, 
1924and you shall hold them for me until the day of their punishment. 11 
1925But to those who resist show no mercy, but hand them over to 
1926slaughter and plunder throughout your whole region. 12 For as I live, 
1927and by the power of my kingdom, what I have spoken I will accomplish 
1928by my own hand. 13 And you — take care not to transgress any of your 
1929lord's commands, but carry them out exactly as I have ordered you; do 
1930it without delay." 
1931
1932Holofernes musters an enormous army, attacking and defeating the 
1933western nations 
1934
193514 So Holofernes left the presence of his lord, and summoned all the 
1936commanders, generals, and officers of the Assyrian army. 15 He 
1937
193848 
1939
1940
1941
1942JUDITH 49 
1943
1944JUDITH 49 
1945
194619 Then he set out with his whole army, to go ahead of King 
1947Nebuchadnezzar and to cover the whole face of the earth to the west 
1948with their chariots and cavalry and picked foot soldiers. 20 Along with 
1949them went a mixed crowd like a swarm of locusts, like the dust of the 
1950earth — a multitude that could not be counted. 
1951
195221 They marched for three days from Nineveh to the plain of Bectileth, 
1953and camped opposite Bectileth near the mountain that is to the north 
1954of Upper Cilicia. 22 From there Holofernes took his whole army, the 
1955infantry, cavalry, and chariots, and went up into the hill country. 23 He 
1956ravaged Put and Lud, and plundered all the Rassisites and the 
1957Ishmaelites on the border of the desert, south of the country of the 
1958Chelleans. 24 Then he followed the Euphrates and passed through 
1959Mesopotamia and destroyed all the fortified towns along the brook 
1960Abron, as far as the sea. 25 He also seized the territory of Cilicia, and 
1961killed everyone who resisted him. Then he came to the southern 
1962borders of Japheth, facing Arabia. 26 He surrounded all the Midianites, 
1963and burned their tents and plundered their sheepfolds. 27 Then he 
1964went down into the plain of Damascus during the wheat harvest, and 
1965burned all their fields and destroyed their flocks and herds and sacked 
1966their towns and ravaged their lands and put all their young men to the 
1967sword. 
1968
1969The peoples of the seacoast become afraid and surrender 
1970
197128 So fear and dread of him fell upon all the people who lived along 
1972the seacoast, at Sidon and Tyre, and those who lived in Sur and Ocina 
1973and all who lived in Jamnia. Those who lived in Azotus and Ascalon 
1974feared him greatly. 
1975
197649 
1977
1978
1979
1980JUDITH 50 
1981
1982
1983[Judith 3] 
1984
19851 They therefore sent messengers to him to sue for peace in these 
1986words: 2 "We, the servants of Nebuchadnezzar, the Great King, lie 
1987prostrate before you. Do with us whatever you will. 3 See, our 
1988buildings and all our land and all our wheat fields and our flocks and 
1989herds and all our encampments lie before you; do with them as you 
1990please. 4 Our towns and their inhabitants are also your slaves; come 
1991and deal with them as you see fit." 
1992
1993Despite the peoples' submission, Holofernes destroys their religious 
1994sites 
1995
19965 The men came to Holofernes and told him all this. 6 Then he went 
1997down to the seacoast with his army and stationed garrisons in the 
1998fortified towns and took picked men from them as auxiliaries. 7 These 
1999people and all in the countryside welcomed him with garlands and 
2000dances and tambourines. 8 Yet he demolished all their shrines and cut 
2001down their sacred groves; for he had been commissioned to destroy all 
2002the gods of the land, so that all nations should worship 
2003Nebuchadnezzar alone, and that all their dialects and tribes should call 
2004upon him as a god. 
2005
20069 Then he came toward Esdraelon, near Dothan, facing the great ridge 
2007of Judea; 10 he camped between Geba and Scythopolis, and remained 
2008for a whole month in order to collect all the supplies for his army. 
2009
2010[Judith 4] 
2011The Israelites become afraid, prepare for battle, and pray 
2012
2013
20141 When the Israelites living in Judea heard of everything that 
2015Holofernes, the general of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Assyrians, 
2016had done to the nations, and how he had plundered and destroyed all 
2017their temples, 2 they were therefore greatly terrified at his approach; 
2018they were alarmed both for Jerusalem and for the temple of the Lord 
2019their God. 3 For they had only recently returned from exile, and all the 
2020people of Judea had just now gathered together, and the sacred 
2021vessels and the altar and the temple had been consecrated after their 
2022
202350 
2024
2025
2026
2027JUDITH 51 
2028
2029JUDITH 51 
2030
20316 The high priest, Joakim, who was in Jerusalem at the time, wrote to 
2032the people of Bethulia and Betomesthaim, which faces Esdraelon 
2033opposite the plain near Dothan, 7 ordering them to seize the mountain 
2034passes, since by them Judea could be invaded; and it would be easy to 
2035stop any who tried to enter, for the approach was narrow, wide 
2036enough for only two at a time to pass. 
2037
20388 So the Israelites did as they had been ordered by the high priest 
2039Joakim and the senate of the whole people of Israel, in session at 
2040Jerusalem. 9 And every man of Israel cried out to God with great 
2041fervor, and they humbled themselves with much fasting. 10 They and 
2042their wives and their children and their cattle and every resident alien 
2043and hired laborer and purchased slave — they all put sackcloth around 
2044their waists. 11 And all the Israelite men, women, and children living at 
2045Jerusalem prostrated themselves before the temple and put ashes on 
2046their heads and spread out their sackcloth before the Lord. 12 They 
2047even draped the altar with sackcloth and cried out in unison, praying 
2048fervently to the God of Israel not to allow their infants to be carried off 
2049and their wives to be taken as booty, and the towns they had inherited 
2050to be destroyed, and the sanctuary to be profaned and desecrated to 
2051the malicious joy of the Gentiles. 
2052
205313 The Lord heard their prayers and had regard for their distress; for 
2054the people fasted many days throughout Judea and in Jerusalem 
2055before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty. 14 The high priest Joakim 
2056and all the priests who stood before the Lord and ministered to the 
2057Lord, with sackcloth around their loins, offered the daily burnt 
2058offerings, the votive offerings, and freewill offerings of the people. 15 
2059With ashes on their turbans, they cried out to the Lord with all their 
2060might to look with favor on the whole house of Israel. 
2061
206251 
2063
2064
2065
2066JUDITH 52 
2067
2068
2069[Judith 5] 
2070Holofernes questions the unique character of the Israelites 
2071
2072
20731 It was reported to Holofernes, the general of the Assyrian army, that 
2074the people of Israel had prepared for war and had closed the mountain 
2075passes and fortified all the high hilltops and set up barricades in the 
2076plains. 2 In great anger he called together all the princes of Moab and 
2077the commanders of Ammon and all the governors of the coastland, 3 
2078and said to them, "Tell me, you Canaanites, what people is this that 
2079lives in the hill country? What towns do they inhabit? How large is 
2080their army, and in what does their power and strength consist? Who 
2081rules over them as king and leads their army? 4 And why have they 
2082alone, of all who live in the west, refused to come out and meet me?" 
2083
2084Achior instructs Holofernes by outlining the history of the Israelites 
2085
20865 Then Achior, the leader of all the Ammonites, said to him, "May my 
2087lord please listen to a report from the mouth of your servant, and I will 
2088tell you the truth about this people that lives in the mountain district 
2089near you. No falsehood shall come from your servant's mouth. 6 These 
2090people are descended from the Chaldeans. 7 At one time they lived in 
2091Mesopotamia, because they did not wish to follow the gods of their 
2092ancestors who were in Chaldea. 8 Since they had abandoned the ways 
2093of their ancestors, and worshiped the God of heaven, the God they had 
2094come to know, their ancestors drove them out from the presence of 
2095their gods. So they fled to Mesopotamia, and lived there for a long 
2096time. 9 Then their God commanded them to leave the place where 
2097they were living and go to the land of Canaan. There they settled, and 
2098grew very prosperous in gold and silver and very much livestock. 10 
2099When a famine spread over the land of Canaan they went down to 
2100Egypt and lived there as long as they had food. There they became so 
2101great a multitude that their race could not be counted. 11 So the king 
2102of Egypt became hostile to them; he exploited them and forced them 
2103to make bricks. 12 They cried out to their God, and he afflicted the 
2104whole land of Egypt with incurable plagues. So the Egyptians drove 
2105them out of their sight. 13 Then God dried up the Red Sea before them, 
210614 and he led them by the way of Sinai and Kadesh-barnea. They drove 
2107out all the people of the desert, 15 and took up residence in the land of 
2108
210952 
2110
2111
2112
2113JUDITH 53 
2114
2115JUDITH 53 
2116
211717 "As long as they did not sin against their God they prospered, for 
2118the God who hates iniquity is with them. 18 But when they departed 
2119from the way he had prescribed for them, they were utterly defeated 
2120in many battles and were led away captive to a foreign land. The 
2121temple of their God was razed to the ground, and their towns were 
2122occupied by their enemies. 19 But now they have returned to their God, 
2123and have come back from the places where they were scattered, and 
2124have occupied Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is, and have settled in 
2125the hill country, because it was uninhabited. 
2126
212720 "So now, my master and lord, if there is any oversight in this people 
2128and they sin against their God and we find out their offense, then we 
2129can go up and defeat them. 21 But if they are not a guilty nation, then 
2130let my lord pass them by; for their Lord and God will defend them, and 
2131we shall become the laughingstock of the whole world." 
2132
213322 When Achior had finished saying these things, all the people 
2134standing around the tent began to complain; Holofernes' officers and 
2135all the inhabitants of the seacoast and Moab insisted that he should be 
2136cut to pieces. 23 They said, "We are not afraid of the Israelites; they are 
2137a people with no strength or power for making war. 24 Therefore let 
2138us go ahead, Lord Holofernes, and your vast army will swallow them 
2139up." 
2140
2141[Judith 6] 
2142Holofernes denounces Achior and ejects him from the camp 
2143
2144
21451 When the disturbance made by the people outside the council had 
2146died down, Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army, said to 
2147Achior in the presence of all the foreign contingents: 
2148
214953 
2150
2151
2152
2153JUDITH 54 
2154
2155JUDITH 54 
2156
21575 "As for you, Achior, you Ammonite mercenary, you have said these 
2158words in a moment of perversity; you shall not see my face again from 
2159this day until I take revenge on this race that came out of Egypt. 6 
2160Then at my return the sword of my army and the spear of my servants 
2161shall pierce your sides, and you shall fall among their wounded. 7 Now 
2162my slaves are going to take you back into the hill country and put you 
2163in one of the towns beside the passes. 8 You will not die until you 
2164perish along with them. 9 If you really hope in your heart that they will 
2165not be taken, then do not look downcast! I have spoken, and none of 
2166my words shall fail to come true." 
2167
216810 Then Holofernes ordered his slaves, who waited on him in his tent, 
2169to seize Achior and take him away to Bethulia and hand him over to 
2170the Israelites. 11 So the slaves took him and led him out of the camp 
2171into the plain, and from the plain they went up into the hill country 
2172and came to the springs below Bethulia. 12 When the men of the town 
2173saw them, they seized their weapons and ran out of the town to the 
2174top of the hill, and all the slingers kept them from coming up by 
2175throwing stones at them. 13 So having taken shelter below the hill, 
2176they bound Achior and left him lying at the foot of the hill, and 
2177returned to their master. 
2178
2179The Israelites find and rescue Achior, bringing him into Bethulia 
2180
218114 Then the Israelites came down from their town and found him; they 
2182untied him and brought him into Bethulia and placed him before the 
2183
218454 
2185
2186
2187
2188JUDITH 55 
2189
2190JUDITH 55 
2191
219219 "O Lord God of heaven, see their arrogance, and have pity on our 
2193people in their humiliation, and look kindly today on the faces of those 
2194who are consecrated to you." 
2195
219620 Then they reassured Achior, and praised him highly. 21 Uzziah took 
2197him from the assembly to his own house and gave a banquet for the 
2198elders; and all that night they called on the God of Israel for help. 
2199
2200[Judith 7] 
2201The Assyrians begin war preparations; the Israelites are again 
2202frightened and prepare to fight 
2203
22041 The next day Holofernes ordered his whole army, and all the allies 
2205who had joined him, to break camp and move against Bethulia, and to 
2206seize the passes up into the hill country and make war on the Israelites. 
22072 So all their warriors marched off that day; their fighting forces 
2208numbered one hundred seventy thousand infantry and twelve 
2209thousand cavalry, not counting the baggage and the foot soldiers 
2210handling it, a very great multitude. 3 They encamped in the valley near 
2211Bethulia, beside the spring, and they spread out in breadth over 
2212Dothan as far as Balbaim and in length from Bethulia to Cyamon, 
2213which faces Esdraelon. 
2214
22154 When the Israelites saw their vast numbers, they were greatly 
2216terrified and said to one another, "They will now strip clean the whole 
2217land; neither the high mountains nor the valleys nor the hills will bear 
2218
221955 
2220
2221
2222
2223JUDITH 56 
2224
2225
2226their weight." 5 Yet they all seized their weapons, and when they had 
2227kindled fires on their towers, they remained on guard all that night. 
2228
2229Holofernes, on the advice of his leaders, decides to seize Bethulia's 
2230water supply 
2231
22326 On the second day Holofernes led out all his cavalry in full view of 
2233the Israelites in Bethulia. 7 He reconnoitered the approaches to their 
2234town, and visited the springs that supplied their water; he seized them 
2235and set guards of soldiers over them, and then returned to his army. 
2236
22378 Then all the chieftains of the Edomites and all the leaders of the 
2238Moabites and the commanders of the coastland came to him and said, 
22399 "Listen to what we have to say, my lord, and your army will suffer no 
2240losses. 10 This people, the Israelites, do not rely on their spears but on 
2241the height of the mountains where they live, for it is not easy to reach 
2242the tops of their mountains. 11 Therefore, my lord, do not fight against 
2243them in regular formation, and not a man of your army will fall. 12 
2244Remain in your camp, and keep all the men in your forces with you; let 
2245your servants take possession of the spring of water that flows from 
2246the foot of the mountain, 13 for this is where all the people of Bethulia 
2247get their water. So thirst will destroy them, and they will surrender 
2248their town. Meanwhile, we and our people will go up to the tops of 
2249the nearby mountains and camp there to keep watch to see that no 
2250one gets out of the town. 14 They and their wives and children will 
2251waste away with famine, and before the sword reaches them they will 
2252be strewn about in the streets where they live. 15 Thus you will pay 
2253them back with evil, because they rebelled and did not receive you 
2254peaceably." 
2255
225616 These words pleased Holofernes and all his attendants, and he gave 
2257orders to do as they had said. 17 So the army of the Ammonites moved 
2258forward, together with five thousand Assyrians, and they encamped in 
2259the valley and seized the water supply and the springs of the Israelites. 
226018 And the Edomites and Ammonites went up and encamped in the hill 
2261country opposite Dothan; and they sent some of their men toward the 
2262south and the east, toward Egrebeh, which is near Chusi beside the 
2263Wadi Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army encamped in the plain, 
2264
226556 
2266
2267
2268
2269JUDITH 57 
2270
2271
2272and covered the whole face of the land. Their tents and supply trains 
2273spread out in great number, and they formed a vast multitude. 
2274
2275Driven to desperation, the citizens of Bethulia urge the leaders to 
2276surrender 
2277
227819 The Israelites then cried out to the Lord their God, for their courage 
2279failed, because all their enemies had surrounded them, and there was 
2280no way of escape from them. 20 The whole Assyrian army, their 
2281infantry, chariots, and cavalry, surrounded them for thirty-four days, 
2282until all the water containers of every inhabitant of Bethulia were 
2283empty; 21 their cisterns were going dry, and on no day did they have 
2284enough water to drink, for their drinking water was rationed. 22 Their 
2285children were listless, and the women and young men fainted from 
2286thirst and were collapsing in the streets of the town and in the 
2287gateways; they no longer had any strength. 
2288
228923 Then all the people, the young men, the women, and the children, 
2290gathered around Uzziah and the rulers of the town and cried out with 
2291a loud voice, and said before all the elders, 24 "Let God judge between 
2292you and us! You have done us a great injury in not making peace with 
2293the Assyrians. 25 For now we have no one to help us; God has sold us 
2294into their hands, to be strewn before them in thirst and exhaustion. 26 
2295Now summon them and surrender the whole town as booty to the 
2296army of Holofernes and to all his forces. 27 For it would be better for us 
2297to be captured by them. We shall indeed become slaves, but our lives 
2298will be spared, and we shall not witness our little ones dying before 
2299our eyes, and our wives and children drawing their last breath. 28 We 
2300call to witness against you heaven and earth and our God, the Lord of 
2301our ancestors, who punishes us for our sins and the sins of our 
2302ancestors; do today the things that we have described!" 
2303
2304Uzziah advises instead a delay of five days 
2305
230629 Then great and general lamentation arose throughout the assembly, 
2307and they cried out to the Lord God with a loud voice. 30 But Uzziah 
2308said to them, "Courage, my brothers and sisters! Let us hold out for 
2309five days more; by that time the Lord our God will turn his mercy to us 
2310
231157 
2312
2313
2314
2315JUDITH 58 
2316
2317JUDITH 58 
2318
231932 Then he dismissed the people to their various posts, and they went 
2320up on the walls and towers of their town. The women and children he 
2321sent home. In the town they were in great misery. 
2322
2323[Judith 8] 
2324Judith is introduced 
2325
2326
23271 Now in those days Judith heard about these things: she was the 
2328daughter of Merari son of Ox son of Joseph son of Oziel son of Elkiah 
2329son of Ananias son of Gideon son of Raphain son of Ahitub son of 
2330Elijah son of Hilkiah son of Eliab son of Nathanael son of Salamiel son 
2331of Sarasadai son of Israel. 2 Her husband Manasseh, who belonged to 
2332her tribe and family, had died during the barley harvest. 3 For as he 
2333stood overseeing those who were binding sheaves in the field, he was 
2334overcome by the burning heat, and took to his bed and died in his 
2335town Bethulia. So they buried him with his ancestors in the field 
2336between Dothan and Balamon. 4 Judith remained as a widow for three 
2337years and four months 5 at home where she set up a tent for herself on 
2338the roof of her house. She put sackcloth around her waist and dressed 
2339in widow's clothing. 6 She fasted all the days of her widowhood, 
2340except the day before the sabbath and the sabbath itself, the day 
2341before the new moon and the day of the new moon, and the festivals 
2342and days of rejoicing of the house of Israel. 7 She was beautiful in 
2343appearance, and was very lovely to behold. Her husband Manasseh had 
2344left her gold and silver, men and women slaves, livestock, and fields; 
2345and she maintained this estate. 8 No one spoke ill of her, for she 
2346feared God with great devotion. 
2347
2348Judith upbraids the Bethulian leaders 
2349
23509 When Judith heard the harsh words spoken by the people against the 
2351ruler, because they were faint for lack of water, and when she heard 
2352all that Uzziah said to them, and how he promised them under oath to 
2353surrender the town to the Assyrians after five days, 10 she sent her 
2354maid, who was in charge of all she possessed, to summon Uzziah and 
2355
235658 
2357
2358
2359
2360JUDITH 59 
2361
2362
2363Chabris and Charmis, the elders of her town. 11 They came to her, and 
2364she said to them: 
2365
2366"Listen to me, rulers of the people of Bethulia! What you have said to 
2367the people today is not right; you have even sworn and pronounced 
2368this oath between God and you, promising to surrender the town to 
2369our enemies unless the Lord turns and helps us within so many days. 12 
2370Who are you to put God to the test today, and to set yourselves up in 
2371the place of God in human affairs? 13 You are putting the Lord 
2372Almighty to the test, but you will never learn anything! 14 You cannot 
2373plumb the depths of the human heart or understand the workings of 
2374the human mind; how do you expect to search out God, who made all 
2375these things, and find out his mind or comprehend his thought? No, 
2376my brothers, do not anger the Lord our God. 15 For if he does not 
2377choose to help us within these five days, he has power to protect us 
2378within any time he pleases, or even to destroy us in the presence of our 
2379enemies. 16 Do not try to bind the purposes of the Lord our God; for 
2380God is not like a human being, to be threatened, or like a mere mortal, 
2381to be won over by pleading. 17 Therefore, while we wait for his 
2382deliverance, let us call upon him to help us, and he will hear our voice, 
2383if it pleases him. 
2384
238518 "For never in our generation, nor in these present days, has there 
2386been any tribe or family or people or town of ours that worships gods 
2387made with hands, as was done in days gone by. 19 That was why our 
2388ancestors were handed over to the sword and to pillage, and so they 
2389suffered a great catastrophe before our enemies. 20 But we know no 
2390other god but him, and so we hope that he will not disdain us or any 
2391of our nation. 21 For if we are captured, all Judea will be captured and 
2392our sanctuary will be plundered; and he will make us pay for its 
2393desecration with our blood. 22 The slaughter of our kindred and the 
2394captivity of the land and the desolation of our inheritance — all this he 
2395will bring on our heads among the Gentiles, wherever we serve as 
2396slaves; and we shall be an offense and a disgrace in the eyes of those 
2397who acquire us. 23 For our slavery will not bring us into favor, but the 
2398Lord our God will turn it to dishonor. 
2399
240059 
2401
2402
2403
2404JUDITH 60 
2405
2406JUDITH 60 
2407
2408The leaders acknowledge Judith's wisdom and she vows to deliver the 
2409city 
2410
241128 Then Uzziah said to her, "All that you have said was spoken out of a 
2412true heart, and there is no one who can deny your words. 29 Today is 
2413not the first time your wisdom has been shown, but from the 
2414beginning of your life all the people have recognized your 
2415understanding, for your heart's disposition is right. 30 But the people 
2416were so thirsty that they compelled us to do for them what we have 
2417promised, and made us take an oath that we cannot break. 31 Now 
2418since you are a God-fearing woman, pray for us, so that the Lord may 
2419send us rain to fill our cisterns. Then we will no longer feel faint from 
2420thirst." 
2421
242232 Then Judith said to them, "Listen to me. I am about to do something 
2423that will go down through all generations of our descendants. 33 Stand 
2424at the town gate tonight so that I may go out with my maid; and 
2425within the days after which you have promised to surrender the town 
2426to our enemies, the Lord will deliver Israel by my hand. 34 Only, do not 
2427try to find out what I am doing; for I will not tell you until I have 
2428finished what I am about to do." 
2429
243035 Uzziah and the rulers said to her, "Go in peace, and may the Lord 
2431God go before you, to take vengeance on our enemies." 36 So they 
2432returned from the tent and went to their posts. 
2433
243460 
2435
2436
2437
2438JUDITH 61 
2439
2440
2441[Judith 9] 
2442The Prayer of Judith 
2443
2444
24451 Then Judith prostrated herself, put ashes on her head, and uncovered 
2446the sackcloth she was wearing. At the very time when the evening 
2447incense was being offered in the house of God in Jerusalem, Judith 
2448cried out to the Lord with a loud voice, and said, 
2449
24502 "O Lord God of my ancestor Simeon, to whom you gave a sword to 
2451take revenge on those strangers who had torn off a virgin's clothing to 
2452defile her, and exposed her thighs to put her to shame, and polluted 
2453her womb to disgrace her; for you said, 'It shall not be done' — yet 
2454they did it; 3 so you gave up their rulers to be killed, and their bed, 
2455which was ashamed of the deceit they had practiced, was stained with 
2456blood, and you struck down slaves along with princes, and princes on 
2457their thrones. 4 You gave up their wives for booty and their daughters 
2458to captivity, and all their booty to be divided among your beloved 
2459children who burned with zeal for you and abhorred the pollution of 
2460their blood and called on you for help. O God, my God, hear me also, a 
2461widow. 
2462
24635 "For you have done these things and those that went before and 
2464those that followed. You have designed the things that are now, and 
2465those that are to come. What you had in mind has happened; 6 the 
2466things you decided on presented themselves and said, 'Here we are!' 
2467For all your ways are prepared in advance, and your judgment is with 
2468foreknowledge. 
2469
24707 "Here now are the Assyrians, a greatly increased force, priding 
2471themselves in their horses and riders, boasting in the strength of their 
2472foot soldiers, and trusting in shield and spear, in bow and sling. They 
2473do not know that you are the Lord who crushes wars; the Lord is your 
2474name. 8 Break their strength by your might, and bring down their 
2475power in your anger; for they intend to defile your sanctuary, and to 
2476pollute the tabernacle where your glorious name resides, and to break 
2477off the horns of your altar with the sword. 9 Look at their pride, and 
2478send your wrath upon their heads. Give to me, a widow, the strong 
2479hand to do what I plan. 10 By the deceit of my lips strike down the 
2480
248161 
2482
2483
2484
2485JUDITH 62 
2486
2487JUDITH 62 
2488
248911 "For your strength does not depend on numbers, nor your might on 
2490the powerful. But you are the God of the lowly, helper of the 
2491oppressed, upholder of the weak, protector of the forsaken, savior of 
2492those without hope. 12 Please, please, God of my father, God of the 
2493heritage of Israel, Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, 
2494King of all your creation, hear my prayer! 13 Make my deceitful words 
2495bring wound and bruise on those who have planned cruel things 
2496against your covenant, and against your sacred house, and against 
2497Mount Zion, and against the house your children possess. 14 Let your 
2498whole nation and every tribe know and understand that you are God, 
2499the God of all power and might, and that there is no other who 
2500protects the people of Israel but you alone!" 
2501
2502[Judith 10] 
2503Judith bathes and dresses in preparation for her mission 
2504
2505
25061 When Judith had stopped crying out to the God of Israel, and had 
2507ended all these words, 2 she rose from where she lay prostrate. She 
2508called her maid and went down into the house where she lived on 
2509sabbaths and on her festal days. 3 She removed the sackcloth she had 
2510been wearing, took off her widow's garments, bathed her body with 
2511water, and anointed herself with precious ointment. She combed her 
2512hair, put on a tiara, and dressed herself in the festive attire that she 
2513used to wear while her husband Manasseh was living. 4 She put sandals 
2514on her feet, and put on her anklets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and all 
2515her other jewelry. Thus she made herself very beautiful, to entice the 
2516eyes of all the men who might see her. 5 She gave her maid a skin of 
2517wine and a flask of oil, and filled a bag with roasted grain, dried fig 
2518cakes, and fine bread; then she wrapped up all her dishes and gave 
2519them to her to carry. 
2520
2521The elders bless Judith and she and her servant leave Bethulia 
2522
25236 Then they went out to the town gate of Bethulia and found Uzziah 
2524standing there with the elders of the town, Chabris and Charmis. 7 
2525
252662 
2527
2528
2529
2530JUDITH 63 
2531
2532JUDITH 63 
2533
25349 Then she said to them, "Order the gate of the town to be opened for 
2535me so that I may go out and accomplish the things you have just said to 
2536me." So they ordered the young men to open the gate for her, as she 
2537requested. 10 When they had done this, Judith went out, accompanied 
2538by her maid. The men of the town watched her until she had gone 
2539down the mountain and passed through the valley, where they lost 
2540sight of her. 
2541
2542The two women are captured by the Assyrians and brought to 
2543Holofernes 
2544
254511 As the women were going straight on through the valley, an 
2546Assyrian patrol met her 12 and took her into custody. They asked her, 
2547"To what people do you belong, and where are you coming from, and 
2548where are you going?" She replied, "I am a daughter of the Hebrews, 
2549but I am fleeing from them, for they are about to be handed over to 
2550you to be devoured. 13 I am on my way to see Holofernes the 
2551commander of your army, to give him a true report; I will show him a 
2552way by which he can go and capture all the hill country without losing 
2553one of his men, captured or slain." 
2554
255514 When the men heard her words, and observed her face — she was in 
2556their eyes marvelously beautiful — they said to her, 15 "You have saved 
2557your life by hurrying down to see our lord. Go at once to his tent; some 
2558of us will escort you and hand you over to him. 16 When you stand 
2559before him, have no fear in your heart, but tell him what you have just 
2560said, and he will treat you well." 
2561
256217 They chose from their number a hundred men to accompany her and 
2563her maid, and they brought them to the tent of Holofernes. 18 There 
2564was great excitement in the whole camp, for her arrival was reported 
2565from tent to tent. They came and gathered around her as she stood 
2566
256763 
2568
2569
2570
2571JUDITH 64 
2572
2573JUDITH 64 
2574
257520 Then the guards of Holofernes and all his servants came out and led 
2576her into the tent. 21 Holofernes was resting on his bed under a canopy 
2577that was woven with purple and gold, emeralds and other precious 
2578stones. 22 When they told him of her, he came to the front of the tent, 
2579with silver lamps carried before him. 23 When Judith came into the 
2580presence of Holofernes and his servants, they all marveled at the 
2581beauty of her face. She prostrated herself and did obeisance to him, 
2582but his slaves raised her up. 
2583
2584[Judith 11] 
2585Holofernes welcomes Judith 
2586
2587
25881 Then Holofernes said to her, "Take courage, woman, and do not be 
2589afraid in your heart, for I have never hurt anyone who chose to serve 
2590Nebuchadnezzar, king of all the earth. 2 Even now, if your people who 
2591live in the hill country had not slighted me, I would never have lifted 
2592my spear against them. They have brought this on themselves. 3 But 
2593now tell me why you have fled from them and have come over to us. In 
2594any event, you have come to safety. Take courage! You will live 
2595tonight and ever after. 4 No one will hurt you. Rather, all will treat you 
2596well, as they do the servants of my lord King Nebuchadnezzar." 
2597
2598Judith's explanation of her departure commends her to Holofernes 
2599and his advisors 
2600
26015 Judith answered him, "Accept the words of your slave, and let your 
2602servant speak in your presence. I will say nothing false to my lord this 
2603night. 6 If you follow out the words of your servant, God will 
2604accomplish something through you, and my lord will not fail to achieve 
2605his purposes. 7 By the life of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the whole earth, 
2606and by the power of him who has sent you to direct every living being! 
2607
260864 
2609
2610
2611
2612JUDITH 65 
2613
2614JUDITH 65 
2615
26169 "Now as for Achior's speech in your council, we have heard his words, 
2617for the people of Bethulia spared him and he told them all he had said 
2618to you. 10 Therefore, lord and master, do not disregard what he said, 
2619but keep it in your mind, for it is true. Indeed our nation cannot be 
2620punished, nor can the sword prevail against them, unless they sin 
2621against their God. 
2622
262311 "But now, in order that my lord may not be defeated and his 
2624purpose frustrated, death will fall upon them, for a sin has overtaken 
2625them by which they are about to provoke their God to anger when 
2626they do what is wrong. 12 Since their food supply is exhausted and 
2627their water has almost given out, they have planned to kill their 
2628livestock and have determined to use all that God by his laws has 
2629forbidden them to eat. 13 They have decided to consume the first fruits 
2630of the grain and the tithes of the wine and oil, which they had 
2631consecrated and set aside for the priests who minister in the presence 
2632of our God in Jerusalem — things it is not lawful for any of the people 
2633even to touch with their hands. 14 Since even the people in Jerusalem 
2634have been doing this, they have sent messengers there in order to 
2635bring back permission from the council of the elders. 15 When the 
2636response reaches them and they act upon it, on that very day they will 
2637be handed over to you to be destroyed. 
2638
263916 "So when I, your slave, learned all this, I fled from them. God has 
2640sent me to accomplish with you things that will astonish the whole 
2641world wherever people shall hear about them. 17 Your servant is 
2642indeed God-fearing and serves the God of heaven night and day. So, 
2643my lord, I will remain with you; but every night your servant will go out 
2644into the valley and pray to God. He will tell me when they have 
2645committed their sins. 18 Then I will come and tell you, so that you may 
2646go out with your whole army, and not one of them will be able to 
2647
264865 
2649
2650
2651
2652JUDITH 66 
2653
2654JUDITH 66 
2655
265620 Her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants. They marveled at 
2657her wisdom and said, 21 "No other woman from one end of the earth 
2658to the other looks so beautiful or speaks so wisely!" 22 Then 
2659Holofernes said to her, "God has done well to send you ahead of the 
2660people, to strengthen our hands and bring destruction on those who 
2661have despised my lord. 23 You are not only beautiful in appearance, 
2662but wise in speech. If you do as you have said, your God shall be my 
2663God, and you shall live in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar and be 
2664renowned throughout the whole world." 
2665
2666[Judith 12] 
2667Judith establishes a pattern of leaving the camp for prayer 
2668
2669
26701 Then he commanded them to bring her in where his silver dinnerware 
2671was kept, and ordered them to set a table for her with some of his own 
2672delicacies, and with some of his own wine to drink. 2 But Judith said, "I 
2673cannot partake of them, or it will be an offense; but I will have enough 
2674with the things I brought with me." 3 Holofernes said to her, "If your 
2675supply runs out, where can we get you more of the same? For none of 
2676your people are here with us." 4 Judith replied, "As surely as you live, 
2677my lord, your servant will not use up the supplies I have with me 
2678before the Lord carries out by my hand what he has determined." 
2679
26805 Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she 
2681slept until midnight. Toward the morning watch she got up 6 and sent 
2682this message to Holofernes: "Let my lord now give orders to allow your 
2683servant to go out and pray." 7 So Holofernes commanded his guards 
2684not to hinder her. She remained in the camp three days. She went out 
2685each night to the valley of Bethulia, and bathed at the spring in the 
2686camp. 8 After bathing, she prayed the Lord God of Israel to direct her 
2687way for the triumph of his people. 9 Then she returned purified and 
2688stayed in the tent until she ate her food toward evening. 
2689
269066 
2691
2692
2693
2694JUDITH 67 
2695
2696
2697Holofernes invites Judith to a banquet 
2698
269910 On the fourth day Holofernes held a banquet for his personal 
2700attendants only, and did not invite any of his officers. 11 He said to 
2701Bagoas, the eunuch who had charge of his personal affairs, "Go and 
2702persuade the Hebrew woman who is in your care to join us and to eat 
2703and drink with us. 12 For it would be a disgrace if we let such a woman 
2704go without having intercourse with her. If we do not seduce her, she 
2705will laugh at us." 
2706
270713 So Bagoas left the presence of Holofernes, and approached her and 
2708said, "Let this pretty girl not hesitate to come to my lord to be honored 
2709in his presence, and to enjoy drinking wine with us, and to become 
2710today like one of the Assyrian women who serve in the palace of 
2711Nebuchadnezzar." 14 Judith replied, "Who am I to refuse my lord? 
2712Whatever pleases him I will do at once, and it will be a joy to me until 
2713the day of my death." 15 So she proceeded to dress herself in all her 
2714woman's finery. Her maid went ahead and spread for her on the 
2715ground before Holofernes the lambskins she had received from Bagoas 
2716for her daily use in reclining. 
2717
271816 Then Judith came in and lay down. Holofernes' heart was ravished 
2719with her and his passion was aroused, for he had been waiting for an 
2720opportunity to seduce her from the day he first saw her. 17 So 
2721Holofernes said to her, "Have a drink and be merry with us!" 18 Judith 
2722said, "I will gladly drink, my lord, because today is the greatest day in 
2723my whole life." 19 Then she took what her maid had prepared and ate 
2724and drank before him. 20 Holofernes was greatly pleased with her, and 
2725drank a great quantity of wine, much more than he had ever drunk in 
2726any one day since he was born. 
2727
2728[Judith 13] 
2729Judith, alone with Holofernes, decapitates him 
2730
2731
27321 When evening came, his slaves quickly withdrew. Bagoas closed the 
2733tent from outside and shut out the attendants from his master's 
2734presence. They went to bed, for they all were weary because the 
2735
273667 
2737
2738
2739
2740JUDITH 68 
2741
2742JUDITH 68 
2743
27443 Now Judith had told her maid to stand outside the bedchamber and 
2745to wait for her to come out, as she did on the other days; for she said 
2746she would be going out for her prayers. She had said the same thing to 
2747Bagoas. 4 So everyone went out, and no one, either small or great, was 
2748left in the bedchamber. Then Judith, standing beside his bed, said in 
2749her heart, "O Lord God of all might, look in this hour on the work of 
2750my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem. 5 Now indeed is the time to 
2751help your heritage and to carry out my design to destroy the enemies 
2752who have risen up against us." 
2753
27546 She went up to the bedpost near Holofernes' head, and took down 
2755his sword that hung there. 7 She came close to his bed, took hold of 
2756the hair of his head, and said, "Give me strength today, O Lord God of 
2757Israel!" 8 Then she struck his neck twice with all her might, and cut off 
2758his head. 9 Next she rolled his body off the bed and pulled down the 
2759canopy from the posts. Soon afterward she went out and gave 
2760Holofernes' head to her maid, 10 who placed it in her food bag. 
2761
2762Judith flees the enemy camp and returns to Bethulia 
2763
2764Then the two of them went out together, as they were accustomed to 
2765do for prayer. They passed through the camp, circled around the valley, 
2766and went up the mountain to Bethulia, and came to its gates. 11 From a 
2767distance Judith called out to the sentries at the gates, "Open, open the 
2768gate! God, our God, is with us, still showing his power in Israel and his 
2769strength against our enemies, as he has done today!" 
2770
277112 When the people of her town heard her voice, they hurried down to 
2772the town gate and summoned the elders of the town. 13 They all ran 
2773together, both small and great, for it seemed unbelievable that she 
2774had returned. They opened the gate and welcomed them. Then they lit 
2775a fire to give light, and gathered around them. 14 Then she said to 
2776them with a loud voice, "Praise God, O praise him! Praise God, who has 
2777not withdrawn his mercy from the house of Israel, but has destroyed 
2778our enemies by my hand this very night!" 
2779
278068 
2781
2782
2783
2784JUDITH 69 
2785
2786JUDITH 69 
2787
278817 All the people were greatly astonished. They bowed down and 
2789worshiped God, and said with one accord, "Blessed are you our God, 
2790who have this day humiliated the enemies of your people." 
2791
279218 Then Uzziah said to her, "O daughter, you are blessed by the Most 
2793High God above all other women on earth; and blessed be the Lord 
2794God, who created the heavens and the earth, who has guided you to 
2795cut off the head of the leader of our enemies. 19 Your praise will never 
2796depart from the hearts of those who remember the power of God. 20 
2797May God grant this to be a perpetual honor to you, and may he reward 
2798you with blessings, because you risked your own life when our nation 
2799was brought low, and you averted our ruin, walking in the straight 
2800path before our God." And all the people said, "Amen. Amen." 
2801
2802[Judith 14] 
2803Judith directs the Israelites' military strategy 
2804
2805
28061 Then Judith said to them, "Listen to me, my friends. Take this head 
2807and hang it upon the parapet of your wall. 2 As soon as day breaks and 
2808the sun rises on the earth, each of you take up your weapons, and let 
2809every able-bodied man go out of the town; set a captain over them, as 
2810if you were going down to the plain against the Assyrian outpost; only 
2811do not go down. 3 Then they will seize their arms and go into the camp 
2812and rouse the officers of the Assyrian army. They will rush into the tent 
2813of Holofernes and will not find him. Then panic will come over them, 
2814and they will flee before you. 4 Then you and all who live within the 
2815borders of Israel will pursue them and cut them down in their tracks. 5 
2816But before you do all this, bring Achior the Ammonite to me so that he 
2817may see and recognize the man who despised the house of Israel and 
2818sent him to us as if to his death." 
2819
282069 
2821
2822
2823
2824JUDITH 70 
2825
2826
2827Achior identifies the head of Holofernes and converts 
2828
28296 So they summoned Achior from the house of Uzziah. When he came 
2830and saw the head of Holofernes in the hand of one of the men in the 
2831assembly of the people, he fell down on his face in a faint. 7 When 
2832they raised him up he threw himself at Judith's feet, and did obeisance 
2833to her, and said, "Blessed are you in every tent of Judah! In every 
2834nation those who hear your name will be alarmed. 8 Now tell me what 
2835you have done during these days." 
2836
2837So Judith told him in the presence of the people all that she had done, 
2838from the day she left until the moment she began speaking to them. 9 
2839When she had finished, the people raised a great shout and made a 
2840joyful noise in their town. 10 When Achior saw all that the God of Israel 
2841had done, he believed firmly in God. So he was circumcised, and joined 
2842the house of Israel, remaining so to this day. 
2843
2844The enemy discovers Holofernes's death 
2845
284611 As soon as it was dawn they hung the head of Holofernes on the 
2847wall. Then they all took their weapons, and they went out in 
2848companies to the mountain passes. 12 When the Assyrians saw them 
2849they sent word to their commanders, who then went to the generals 
2850and the captains and to all their other officers. 13 They came to 
2851Holofernes' tent and said to the steward in charge of all his personal 
2852affairs, "Wake up our lord, for the slaves have been so bold as to come 
2853down against us to give battle, to their utter destruction." 
2854
285514 So Bagoas went in and knocked at the entry of the tent, for he 
2856supposed that he was sleeping with Judith. 15 But when no one 
2857answered, he opened it and went into the bedchamber and found him 
2858sprawled on the floor dead, with his head missing. 16 He cried out with 
2859a loud voice and wept and groaned and shouted, and tore his clothes. 
286017 Then he went to the tent where Judith had stayed, and when he did 
2861not find her, he rushed out to the people and shouted, 18 "The slaves 
2862have tricked us! One Hebrew woman has brought disgrace on the 
2863house of King Nebuchadnezzar. Look, Holofernes is lying on the 
2864ground, and his head is missing!" 
2865
286670 
2867
2868
2869
2870JUDITH 71 
2871
2872JUDITH 71 
2873
2874[Judith 15] 
2875The Assyrians flee in panic; the Israelites follow and lay waste to them 
2876
2877
28781 When the men in the tents heard it, they were amazed at what had 
2879happened. 2 Overcome with fear and trembling, they did not wait for 
2880one another, but with one impulse all rushed out and fled by every 
2881path across the plain and through the hill country. 3 Those who had 
2882camped in the hills around Bethulia also took to flight. Then the 
2883Israelites, everyone that was a soldier, rushed out upon them. 4 Uzziah 
2884sent men to Betomasthaim and Choba and Kola, and to all the 
2885frontiers of Israel, to tell what had taken place and to urge all to rush 
2886out upon the enemy to destroy them. 5 When the Israelites heard it, 
2887with one accord they fell upon the enemy, and cut them down as far as 
2888Choba. Those in Jerusalem and all the hill country also came, for they 
2889were told what had happened in the camp of the enemy. The men in 
2890Gilead and in Galilee outflanked them with great slaughter, even 
2891beyond Damascus and its borders. 6 The rest of the people of Bethulia 
2892fell upon the Assyrian camp and plundered it, acquiring great riches. 7 
2893And the Israelites, when they returned from the slaughter, took 
2894possession of what remained. Even the villages and towns in the hill 
2895country and in the plain got a great amount of booty, since there was 
2896a vast quantity of it. 
2897
2898Judith is honored and leads in triumph to Jerusalem 
2899
29008 Then the high priest Joakim and the elders of the Israelites who lived 
2901in Jerusalem came to witness the good things that the Lord had done 
2902for Israel, and to see Judith and to wish her well. 9 When they met her, 
2903they all blessed her with one accord and said to her, "You are the glory 
2904of Jerusalem, you are the great boast of Israel, you are the great pride 
2905of our nation! 10 You have done all this with your own hand; you have 
2906done great good to Israel, and God is well pleased with it. May the 
2907Almighty Lord bless you forever!" And all the people said, "Amen." 
2908
290971 
2910
2911
2912
2913JUDITH 72 
2914
2915JUDITH 72 
2916
291712 All the women of Israel gathered to see her, and blessed her, and 
2918some of them performed a dance in her honor. She took ivy-wreathed 
2919wands in her hands and distributed them to the women who were 
2920with her; 13 and she and those who were with her crowned themselves 
2921with olive wreaths. She went before all the people in the dance, 
2922leading all the women, while all the men of Israel followed, bearing 
2923their arms and wearing garlands and singing hymns. 
2924
2925Judith and the people sing a thanksgiving psalm 
2926
292714 Judith began this thanksgiving before all Israel, and all the people 
2928loudly sang this song of praise. [Judith 16] 1 And Judith said, 
2929Begin a song to my God with tambourines, 
2930sing to my Lord with cymbals. 
2931Raise to him a new psalm; 
2932exalt him, and call upon his name. 
2933
29342 For the Lord is a God who crushes wars; 
2935
2936he sets up his camp among his people; 
2937
2938he delivered me from the hands of my pursuers. 
2939
29403 The Assyrian came down from the mountains of the north; 
2941he came with myriads of his warriors; 
2942their numbers blocked up the wadis, 
2943and their cavalry covered the hills. 
29444 He boasted that he would burn up my territory, 
2945and kill my young men with the sword, 
2946
2947and dash my infants to the ground, 
2948
2949and seize my children as booty, 
2950
2951and take my virgins as spoil. 
2952
295372 
2954
2955
2956
2957JUDITH 73 
2958
2959
29605 But the Lord Almighty has foiled them 
2961by the hand of a woman. 
2962
29636 For their mighty one did not fall by the hands of the young men, 
2964nor did the sons of the Titans strike him down, 
2965nor did tall giants set upon him; 
2966
2967but Judith daughter of Merari 
2968with the beauty of her countenance undid him. 
2969
2970
29717 For she put away her widow's clothing 
2972to exalt the oppressed in Israel. 
2973She anointed her face with perfume; 
29748 she fastened her hair with a tiara 
2975and put on a linen gown to beguile him. 
2976
29779 Her sandal ravished his eyes, 
2978her beauty captivated his mind, 
2979and the sword severed his neck! 
2980
298110 The Persians trembled at her boldness, 
2982the Medes were daunted at her daring. 
2983
298411 Then my oppressed people shouted; 
2985my weak people cried out, and the enemy trembled; 
2986they lifted up their voices, and the enemy were turned back. 
2987
298812 Sons of slave-girls pierced them through 
2989and wounded them like the children of fugitives; 
2990they perished before the army of my Lord. 
2991
299213 I will sing to my God a new song: 
2993O Lord, you are great and glorious, 
2994wonderful in strength, invincible. 
299514 Let all your creatures serve you, 
2996for you spoke, and they were made. 
2997You sent forth your spirit, and it formed them; 
2998there is none that can resist your voice. 
2999
300015 For the mountains shall be shaken to their foundations with 
3001the waters; 
3002before your glance the rocks shall melt like wax. 
3003
3004But to those who fear you 
3005you show mercy. 
3006
3007
300873 
3009
3010
3011
3012JUDITH 74 
3013
3014
301516 For every sacrifice as a fragrant offering is a small thing, 
3016
3017and the fat of all whole burnt offerings to you is a very little 
3018
3019thing; but whoever fears the Lord is great forever. 
3020
302117 Woe to the nations that rise up against my people! 
3022
3023The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day 
3024
3025of judgment; he will send fire and worms into their flesh; 
3026
3027they shall weep in pain forever. 
3028
3029The procession arrives in Jerusalem 
3030
303118 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they worshiped God. As soon as the 
3032people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, their freewill 
3033offerings, and their gifts. 19 Judith also dedicated to God all the 
3034possessions of Holofernes, which the people had given her; and the 
3035canopy that she had taken for herself from his bedchamber she gave as 
3036a votive offering. 20 For three months the people continued feasting in 
3037Jerusalem before the sanctuary, and Judith remained with them. 
3038
3039Judith's subsequent life 
3040
304121 After this they all returned home to their own inheritances. Judith 
3042went to Bethulia, and remained on her estate. For the rest of her life 
3043she was honored throughout the whole country. 22 Many desired to 
3044marry her, but she gave herself to no man all the days of her life after 
3045her husband Manasseh died and was gathered to his people. 23 She 
3046became more and more famous, and grew old in her husband's house, 
3047reaching the age of one hundred five. She set her maid free. She died 
3048in Bethulia, and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manasseh; 
304924 and the house of Israel mourned her for seven days. Before she died 
3050she distributed her property to all those who were next of kin to her 
3051husband Manasseh, and to her own nearest kindred. 25 No one ever 
3052again spread terror among the Israelites during the lifetime of Judith, 
3053or for a long time after her death. 
3054
305574 
3056
3057
3058
3059ESTHER 75 
3060
3061
3062ADDITIONS TO ESTHER 
3063
3064
3065ADDITIONS TO ESTHER 
3066
3067NOTE. The deuterocanonical portions of the Book of Esther are several 
3068additional passages found in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Book 
3069of Esther, a translation that differs also in other respects from the 
3070Hebrew text (the latter is translated in the NRSV Old Testament). The 
3071disordered chapter numbers come from the displacement of the 
3072additions to the end of the canonical Book of Esther by Jerome in his 
3073Latin translation and from the subsequent division of the Bible into 
3074chapters by Stephen Langton, who numbered the additions 
3075consecutively as though they formed a direct continuation of the 
3076Hebrew text. So that the additions may be read in their proper context, 
3077the whole of the Greek version is here translated, though certain 
3078familiar names are given according to their Hebrew rather than their 
3079Greek form; for example, Mordecai and Vashti instead of Mardocheus 
3080and Astin. The order followed is that of the Greek text, but the chapter 
3081and verse numbers conform to those of the King James or Authorized 
3082Version. The additions, conveniently indicated by the letters A-F, are 
3083located as follows: A, before 1.1; B, after 3.13; C and D, after 4.17; E, 
3084after 8.12; F, after 10.3. 
3085
3086Most importantly, the following textual order follows the Greek 
3087edition of Esther found in the New Oxford Annotated Bible with the 
3088Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version. 3rd edition, ed. Michael D. 
3089Coogan (Oxford University Press, 2001). 
3090
3091Introduction 
3092
3093The Greek version of Esther is a translation of the canonical Hebrew 
3094book of Esther (i.e., the one included in the "Hebrew Scriptures" 
3095
309675 
3097
3098
3099
3100ESTHER 76 
3101
3102ESTHER 76 
3103
3104The translator — very likely the Lysimachus of Jerusalem mentioned in 
3105
310611.1 — produced a systematic but relatively free translation of the 
3107Hebrew. Besides numerous small but often significant omissions and 
3108additions, the Greek version includes six extra sections that have no 
3109counterparts in the Hebrew. These additional sections are clearly 
3110intrusive and secondary, for they contradict the Hebrew at a number of 
3111points. While they sometimes make the characters and events more 
3112vivid or dramatic, their main purpose is to transform the comparatively 
3113subtle and enigmatic Hebrew story of Esther into a more conventional 
3114tale of divine intervention and exemplary Jewish piety. 
3115The Additions to the book of Esther comprise 107 verses. Their contents 
3116are as follows: 
3117
3118*Addition A: Mordecai's dream (11.2-12) and his discovery of a plot 
3119against the king (12.1-6) 
3120*Addition B: The royal edict dictated by Haman, decreeing the 
3121extermination of the Jews (13.1-7) 
3122*Addition C: The prayers of Mordecai (13.8-18) and Esther (14.1-19) 
3123*Addition D: Esther's appearing unsummoned, before the 
3124king (15.4-19) 
3125*Addition E: The royal edict dictated by Mordecai, counteracting 
3126the edict sent by Haman (16.1-24) 
3127*Addition F: The interpretation of Mordecai's dream (10.4-13) and 
3128the colophon (an inscription at the end of a 
3129manuscript) to the Greek version (1.11) 
3130
3131Although there is no mention of God in the Hebrew narrative, in the 
3132Greek version the terms "Lord" or "God" appear more than fifty times. 
3133Most of the these occurrences are in the Additions, but occasionally the 
3134Greek translation inserts references to God into verses that correspond 
3135to the canonical Hebrew text (see 2.20; 4.8; 6.13). 
3136
3137The additions provided their authors with an opportunity to express 
3138their own particular theological views. Additions A and F introduce 
3139
314076 
3141
3142
3143
3144ESTHER 77 
3145
3146ESTHER 77 
3147
3148Besides giving the story a more explicitly religious character, the 
3149additions create new emphases. A and F, which frame the story, graft 
3150onto it a new apocalyptic perspective of cosmic struggle between good 
3151and evil. The juxtaposition of C's extensive praise of God, with similar 
3152terms and phrases applied to Ahasuerus in D, makes explicit the Greek 
3153version's intent to contrast the capricious earthly king with God the 
3154trustworthy heavenly king. Similarly, the royal decrees in B and E 
3155highlight the theme of human commandments versus the law of Moses 
3156to which Esther also alludes when she prays in C. 
3157
3158Originally, A, C, D, and F were probably composed in either Hebrew or 
3159Aramaic (both Semitic languages) and, if so, were already part of that 
3160particular Semitic text used by the Greek translator. The florid 
3161phraseology of B and E indicates that they must originally have been 
3162composed in Greek, perhaps in Alexandria, a sophisticated Greek-
3163Jewish center. 
3164
3165The additions were not composed at the same time. The latest possible 
3166date for B, C, D, and E is 93 CE, when the historian Josephus 
3167paraphrased them in his 'Jewish Antiquities.' The colophon's location 
3168
3169(11.1) immediately after F suggests that A as well as F were part of the 
3170Semitic text at the time that Lysimachus made his Greek translation in 
3171the late second or first century BCE. 
317277 
3173
3174
3175
3176ESTHER 78 
3177
3178
3179Esther (The Greek Version Containing the Additional Chapters) 
3180
3181ADDITION A 
3182
3183[Esther 11] 
3184Mordecai's prophetic dream of impending danger to the Jews 
3185
3186
31872 In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the Great, on the first 
3188day of Nisan, Mordecai son of Jair son of Shimei son of Kish, of the 
3189tribe of Benjamin, had a dream. 3 He was a Jew living in the city of 
3190Susa, a great man, serving in the court of the king. 4 He was one of the 
3191captives whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had brought from 
3192Jerusalem with King Jeconiah of Judea. And this was his dream: 5 
3193Noises and confusion, thunders and earthquake, tumult on the earth! 6 
3194Then two great dragons came forward, both ready to fight, and they 
3195roared terribly. 7 At their roaring every nation prepared for war, to 
3196fight against the righteous nation. 8 It was a day of darkness and 
3197gloom, of tribulation and distress, affliction and great tumult on the 
3198earth! 9 And the whole righteous nation was troubled; they feared the 
3199evils that threatened them, and were ready to perish. 10 Then they 
3200cried out to God; and at their outcry, as though from a tiny spring, 
3201there came a great river, with abundant water; 11 light came, and the 
3202sun rose, and the lowly were exalted and devoured those held in 
3203honor. 
3204
320512 Mordecai saw in this dream what God had determined to do, and 
3206after he awoke he had it on his mind, seeking all day to understand it 
3207in every detail. 
3208
3209[Esther 12] 
3210Mordecai saves the king's life 
3211
3212
32131 Now Mordecai took his rest in the courtyard with Gabatha and 
3214Tharra, the two eunuchs of the king who kept watch in the courtyard. 
32152 He overheard their conversation and inquired into their purposes, 
3216and learned that they were preparing to lay hands on King Artaxerxes; 
3217and he informed the king concerning them. 3 Then the king examined 
3218the two eunuchs, and after they had confessed it, they were led away 
3219
322078 
3221
3222
3223
3224ESTHER 79 
3225
3226ESTHER 79 
3227
3228END OF ADDITION A 
3229
3230[Esther 1] 
3231Artaxerxes's banquet 
3232
32331 It was after this that the following things happened in the days of 
3234Artaxerxes, the same Artaxerxes who ruled over one hundred twenty-
3235seven provinces from India to Ethiopia. 2 In those days, when King 
3236Artaxerxes was enthroned in the city of Susa, 3 in the third year of his 
3237reign, he gave a banquet for his Friends and other persons of various 
3238nations, the Persians and Median nobles, and the governors of the 
3239provinces. 4 After this, when he had displayed to them the riches of his 
3240kingdom and the splendor of his bountiful celebration during the 
3241course of one hundred eighty days, 5 at the end of the festivity the 
3242king gave a drinking party for the people of various nations who lived 
3243in the city. This was held for six days in the courtyard of the royal 
3244palace, 6 which was adorned with curtains of fine linen and cotton, 
3245held by cords of purple linen attached to gold and silver blocks on 
3246pillars of marble and other stones. Gold and silver couches were placed 
3247on a mosaic floor of emerald, mother-of-pearl, and marble. There were 
3248coverings of gauze, embroidered in various colors, with roses arranged 
3249around them. 7 The cups were of gold and silver, and a miniature cup 
3250was displayed, made of ruby, worth thirty thousand talents. There was 
3251abundant sweet wine, such as the king himself drank. 8 The drinking 
3252was not according to a fixed rule; but the king wished to have it so, 
3253and he commanded his stewards to comply with his pleasure and with 
3254that of the guests. 
3255
32569 Meanwhile, Queen Vashti gave a drinking party for the women in 
3257the palace where King Artaxerxes was. 
3258
325979 
3260
3261
3262
3263ESTHER 80 
3264
3265
3266The fall of Vashti and the king's first edict 
3267
326810 On the seventh day, when the king was in good humor, he told 
3269Haman, Bazan, Tharra, Boraze, Zatholtha, Abataza, and Tharaba, the 
3270seven eunuchs who served King Artaxerxes, 11 to escort the queen to 
3271him in order to proclaim her as queen and to place the diadem on her 
3272head, and to have her display her beauty to all the governors and the 
3273people of various nations, for she was indeed a beautiful woman. 12 
3274But Queen Vashti refused to obey him and would not come with the 
3275eunuchs. This offended the king and he became furious. 13 He said to 
3276his Friends, "This is how Vashti has answered me. Give therefore your 
3277ruling and judgment on this matter." 14 Arkesaeus, Sarsathaeus, and 
3278Malesear, then the governors of the Persians and Medes who were 
3279closest to the king — Arkesaeus, Sarsathaeus, and Malesear, who sat 
3280beside him in the chief seats — came to him 15 and told him what must 
3281be done to Queen Vashti for not obeying the order that the king had 
3282sent her by the eunuchs. 16 Then Muchaeus said to the king and the 
3283governors, "Queen Vashti has insulted not only the king but also all 
3284the king's governors and officials" 17 (for he had reported to them 
3285what the queen had said and how she had defied the king). "And just 
3286as she defied King Artaxerxes, 18 so now the other ladies who are 
3287wives of the Persian and Median governors, on hearing what she has 
3288said to the king, will likewise dare to insult their husbands. 19 If 
3289therefore it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, inscribed in 
3290accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians so that it may not 
3291be altered, that the queen may no longer come into his presence; but 
3292let the king give her royal rank to a woman better than she. 20 Let 
3293whatever law the king enacts be proclaimed in his kingdom, and thus 
3294all women will give honor to their husbands, rich and poor alike." 21 
3295This speech pleased the king and the governors, and the king did as 
3296Muchaeus had recommended. 22 The king sent the decree into all his 
3297kingdom, to every province in its own language, so that in every house 
3298respect would be shown to every husband. 
3299
330080 
3301
3302
3303
3304ESTHER 81 
3305
3306
3307[Esther 2] 
3308Esther becomes the new queen 
3309
3310
33111 After these things, the king's anger abated, and he no longer was 
3312concerned about Vashti or remembered what he had said and how he 
3313had condemned her. 2 Then the king's servants said, "Let beautiful and 
3314virtuous girls be sought out for the king. 3 The king shall appoint 
3315officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, and they shall select 
3316beautiful young virgins to be brought to the harem in Susa, the capital. 
3317Let them be entrusted to the king's eunuch who is in charge of the 
3318women, and let ointments and whatever else they need be given them. 
33194 And the woman who pleases the king shall be queen instead of 
3320Vashti." This pleased the king, and he did so. 
3321
3322Mordecai and Esther 
3323
33245 Now there was a Jew in Susa the capital whose name was Mordecai 
3325son of Jair son of Shimei son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin; 6 he had 
3326been taken captive from Jerusalem among those whom King 
3327Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had captured. 7 And he had a foster child, 
3328the daughter of his father's brother, Aminadab, and her name was 
3329Esther. When her parents died, he brought her up to womanhood as 
3330his own. The girl was beautiful in appearance. 8 So, when the decree 
3331of the king was proclaimed, and many girls were gathered in Susa the 
3332capital in custody of Gai, Esther also was brought to Gai, who had 
3333custody of the women. 9 The girl pleased him and won his favor, and 
3334he quickly provided her with ointments and her portion of food, as 
3335well as seven maids chosen from the palace; he treated her and her 
3336maids with special favor in the harem. 10 Now Esther had not disclosed 
3337her people or country, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make 
3338it known. 11 And every day Mordecai walked in the courtyard of the 
3339harem, to see what would happen to Esther. 
3340
3341Esther becomes queen 
3342
334312 Now the period after which a girl was to go to the king was twelve 
3344months. During this time the days of beautification are completed — 
3345six months while they are anointing themselves with oil of myrrh, and 
3346
334781 
3348
3349
3350
3351ESTHER 82 
3352
3353ESTHER 82 
3354
335515 When the time was fulfilled for Esther daughter of Aminadab, the 
3356brother of Mordecai's father, to go in to the king, she neglected none 
3357of the things that Gai, the eunuch in charge of the women, had 
3358commanded. Now Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 
3359So Esther went in to King Artaxerxes in the twelfth month, which is 
3360Adar, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 And the king loved Esther and 
3361she found favor beyond all the other virgins, so he put on her the 
3362queen's diadem. 18 Then the king gave a banquet lasting seven days 
3363for all his Friends and the officers to celebrate his marriage to Esther; 
3364and he granted a remission of taxes to those who were under his rule. 
3365
3366Mordecai and Esther save the king's life 
3367
336819 Meanwhile Mordecai was serving in the courtyard. 20 Esther had not 
3369disclosed her country — such were the instructions of Mordecai; but 
3370she was to fear God and keep his laws, just as she had done when she 
3371was with him. So Esther did not change her mode of life. 
3372
337321 Now the king's eunuchs, who were chief bodyguards, were angry 
3374because of Mordecai's advancement, and they plotted to kill King 
3375Artaxerxes. 22 The matter became known to Mordecai, and he warned 
3376Esther, who in turn revealed the plot to the king. 23 He investigated 
3377the two eunuchs and hanged them. Then the king ordered a 
3378memorandum to be deposited in the royal library in praise of the 
3379goodwill shown by Mordecai. 
3380
3381[Esther 3] 
3382Haman plots to annihilate the Jews 
3383
3384
33851 After these events King Artaxerxes promoted Haman son of 
3386Hammedatha, a Bougean, advancing him and granting him precedence 
3387
338882 
3389
3390
3391
3392ESTHER 83 
3393
3394ESTHER 83 
3395
33967 In the twelfth year of King Artaxerxes Haman came to a decision by 
3397casting lots, taking the days and the months one by one, to fix on one 
3398day to destroy the whole race of Mordecai. The lot fell on the 
3399fourteenth day of the month of Adar. 
3400
34018 Then Haman said to King Artaxerxes, "There is a certain nation 
3402scattered among the other nations in all your kingdom; their laws are 
3403different from those of every other nation, and they do not keep the 
3404laws of the king. It is not expedient for the king to tolerate them. 9 If it 
3405pleases the king, let it be decreed that they are to be destroyed, and I 
3406will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the king's treasury." 10 So 
3407the king took off his signet ring and gave it to Haman to seal the 
3408decree that was to be written against the Jews. 11 The king told 
3409Haman, "Keep the money, and do whatever you want with that 
3410nation." 
3411
341212 So on the thirteenth day of the first month the king's secretaries 
3413were summoned, and in accordance with Haman's instructions they 
3414wrote in the name of King Artaxerxes to the magistrates and the 
3415governors in every province from India to Ethiopia. There were one 
3416hundred twenty-seven provinces in all, and the governors were 
3417addressed each in his own language. 13 Instructions were sent by 
3418couriers throughout all the empire of Artaxerxes to destroy the Jewish 
3419people on a given day of the twelfth month, which is Adar, and to 
3420plunder their goods. 
3421
342283 
3423
3424
3425
3426ESTHER 84 
3427
3428
3429ADDITION B 
3430
3431[Esther 13] 
3432The text of the king's letter authorizing the slaughter of the Jews 
3433
3434
34351 This is a copy of the letter: "The Great King, Artaxerxes, writes the 
3436following to the governors of the hundred twenty-seven provinces 
3437from India to Ethiopia and to the officials under them: 
3438
34392 "Having become ruler of many nations and master of the whole 
3440world (not elated with presumption of authority but always acting 
3441reasonably and with kindness), I have determined to settle the lives of 
3442my subjects in lasting tranquility and, in order to make my kingdom 
3443peaceable and open to travel throughout all its extent, to restore the 
3444peace desired by all people. 
3445
34463 "When I asked my counselors how this might be accomplished, 
3447Haman — who excels among us in sound judgment, and is 
3448distinguished for his unchanging goodwill and steadfast fidelity, and 
3449has attained the second place in the kingdom — 4 pointed out to us 
3450that among all the nations in the world there is scattered a certain 
3451hostile people, who have laws contrary to those of every nation and 
3452continually disregard the ordinances of kings, so that the unifying of 
3453the kingdom that we honorably intend cannot be brought about. 5 We 
3454understand that this people, and it alone, stands constantly in 
3455opposition to every nation, perversely following a strange manner of 
3456life and laws, and is ill-disposed to our government, doing all the harm 
3457they can so that our kingdom may not attain stability. 
3458
34596 "Therefore we have decreed that those indicated to you in the letters 
3460written by Haman, who is in charge of affairs and is our second father, 
3461shall all — wives and children included — be utterly destroyed by the 
3462swords of their enemies, without pity or restraint, on the fourteenth 
3463day of the twelfth month, Adar, of this present year, 7 so that those 
3464who have long been hostile and remain so may in a single day go 
3465down in violence to Hades, and leave our government completely 
3466secure and untroubled hereafter." 
3467
346884 
3469
3470
3471
3472ESTHER 85 
3473
3474
3475END OF ADDITION B 
3476
3477[Esther 3] 
3478Haman and the kind celebrate the publication of the decree 
3479
3480
348114 Copies of the document were posted in every province, and all the 
3482nations were ordered to be prepared for that day. 15 The matter was 
3483expedited also in Susa. And while the king and Haman caroused 
3484together, the city of Susa was thrown into confusion. 
3485
3486[Esther 4] 
3487Mordecai persuades Queen Esther to risk her life and save her people 
3488
3489
34901 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his 
3491clothes, put on sackcloth, and sprinkled himself with ashes; then he 
3492rushed through the street of the city, shouting loudly: "An innocent 
3493nation is being destroyed!" 2 He got as far as the king's gate, and there 
3494he stopped, because no one was allowed to enter the courtyard 
3495clothed in sackcloth and ashes. 3 And in every province where the 
3496king's proclamation had been posted there was a loud cry of mourning 
3497and lamentation among the Jews, and they put on sackcloth and ashes. 
34984 When the queen's maids and eunuchs came and told her, she was 
3499deeply troubled by what she heard had happened, and sent some 
3500clothes to Mordecai to put on instead of sackcloth; but he would not 
3501consent. 5 Then Esther summoned Hachratheus, the eunuch who 
3502attended her, and ordered him to get accurate information for her 
3503from Mordecai. 
3504
35057 So Mordecai told him what had happened and how Haman had 
3506promised to pay ten thousand talents into the royal treasury to bring 
3507about the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of what 
3508had been posted in Susa for their destruction, to show to Esther; and 
3509he told him to charge her to go in to the king and plead for his favor in 
3510behalf of the people. "Remember," he said, "the days when you were 
3511an ordinary person, being brought up under my care — for Haman, 
3512who stands next to the king, has spoken against us and demands our 
3513death. Call upon the Lord; then speak to the king in our behalf, and 
3514save us from death." 
3515
351685 
3517
3518
3519
3520ESTHER 86 
3521
3522ESTHER 86 
3523
352412 When Hachratheus delivered her entire message to Mordecai, 13 
3525Mordecai told him to go back and say to her, "Esther, do not say to 
3526yourself that you alone among all the Jews will escape alive. 14 For if 
3527you keep quiet at such a time as this, help and protection will come to 
3528the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will 
3529perish. Yet, who knows whether it was not for such a time as this that 
3530you were made queen?" 15 Then Esther gave the messenger this 
3531answer to take back to Mordecai: 16 "Go and gather all the Jews who 
3532are in Susa and fast on my behalf; for three days and nights do not eat 
3533or drink, and my maids and I will also go without food. After that I will 
3534go to the king, contrary to the law, even if I must die." 17 So Mordecai 
3535went away and did what Esther had told him to do. 
3536
3537ADDITION C 
3538[Esther 13] 
3539The prayers of Mordecai and Esther 
3540
35418 Then Mordecai prayed to the Lord, calling to remembrance all the 
3542works of the Lord. 
3543
35449 He said, "O Lord, Lord, you rule as King over all things, for the 
3545universe is in your power and there is no one who can oppose you 
3546when it is your will to save Israel, 10 for you have made heaven and 
3547earth and every wonderful thing under heaven. 11 You are Lord of all, 
3548and there is no one who can resist you, the Lord. 12 You know all 
3549things; you know, O Lord, that it was not in insolence or pride or for 
3550any love of glory that I did this, and refused to bow down to this proud 
3551Haman; 13 for I would have been willing to kiss the soles of his feet to 
3552save Israel! 14 But I did this so that I might not set human glory above 
3553the glory of God, and I will not bow down to anyone but you, who are 
3554my Lord; and I will not do these things in pride. 15 And now, O Lord 
3555
355686 
3557
3558
3559
3560ESTHER 87 
3561
3562ESTHER 87 
3563
356418 And all Israel cried out mightily, for their death was before their 
3565eyes. 
3566
3567[Esther 14] 
3568Esther humbly petitions God 
3569
3570
35711 Then Queen Esther, seized with deadly anxiety, fled to the Lord. 2 She 
3572took off her splendid apparel and put on the garments of distress and 
3573mourning, and instead of costly perfumes she covered her head with 
3574ashes and dung, and she utterly humbled her body; every part that she 
3575loved to adorn she covered with her tangled hair. 3 She prayed to the 
3576Lord God of Israel, and said: "O my Lord, you only are our king; help 
3577me, who am alone and have no helper but you, 4 for my danger is in 
3578my hand. 5 Ever since I was born I have heard in the tribe of my family 
3579that you, O Lord, took Israel out of all the nations, and our ancestors 
3580from among all their forebears, for an everlasting inheritance, and that 
3581you did for them all that you promised. 6 And now we have sinned 
3582before you, and you have handed us over to our enemies 7 because we 
3583glorified their gods. You are righteous, O Lord! 8 And now they are 
3584not satisfied that we are in bitter slavery, but they have covenanted 
3585with their idols 9 to abolish what your mouth has ordained, and to 
3586destroy your inheritance, to stop the mouths of those who praise you 
3587and to quench your altar and the glory of your house, 10 to open the 
3588mouths of the nations for the praise of vain idols, and to magnify 
3589forever a mortal king. 
3590
359111 "O Lord, do not surrender your scepter to what has no being; and do 
3592not let them laugh at our downfall; but turn their plan against them, 
3593and make an example of him who began this against us. 12 Remember, 
3594O Lord; make yourself known in this time of our affliction, and give me 
3595
359687 
3597
3598
3599
3600ESTHER 88 
3601
3602ESTHER 88 
3603
3604END OF ADDITION C 
3605
3606ADDITION D 
3607
3608[Esther 15] 
3609Esther approaches the king 
3610
3611
36121 On the third day, when she ended her prayer, she took off the 
3613garments in which she had worshiped, and arrayed herself in splendid 
3614attire. 2 Then, majestically adorned, after invoking the aid of the all-
3615seeing God and Savior, she took two maids with her; 3 on one she 
3616leaned gently for support, 4 while the other followed, carrying her 
3617train. 5 She was radiant with perfect beauty, and she looked happy, as 
3618if beloved, but her heart was frozen with fear. 6 When she had gone 
3619through all the doors, she stood before the king. He was seated on his 
3620royal throne, clothed in the full array of his majesty, all covered with 
3621gold and precious stones. He was most terrifying. 
3622
36237 Lifting his face, flushed with splendor, he looked at her in fierce 
3624anger. The queen faltered, and turned pale and faint, and collapsed on 
3625the head of the maid who went in front of her. 8 Then God changed 
3626
362788 
3628
3629
3630
3631ESTHER 89 
3632
3633ESTHER 89 
3634
363511 Then he raised the golden scepter and touched her neck with it; 12 
3636he embraced her, and said, "Speak to me." 13 She said to him, "I saw 
3637you, my lord, like an angel of God, and my heart was shaken with fear 
3638at your glory. 14 For you are wonderful, my lord, and your countenance 
3639is full of grace." 15 And while she was speaking, she fainted and fell. 16 
3640Then the king was agitated, and all his servants tried to comfort her. 
3641
3642END OF ADDITION D 
3643
3644[Esther 5] 
3645Esther invites the king and Haman to dinner 
3646
3647
36483 The king said to her, "What do you wish, Esther? What is your 
3649request? It shall be given you, even to half of my kingdom." 4 And 
3650Esther said, "Today is a special day for me. If it pleases the king, let him 
3651and Haman come to the dinner that I shall prepare today." 5 Then the 
3652king said, "Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther desires." 
3653So they both came to the dinner that Esther had spoken about. 6 While 
3654they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, "What is it, Queen 
3655Esther? It shall be granted you." 7 She said, "My petition and request 
3656is: 8 if I have found favor in the sight of the king, let the king and 
3657Haman come to the dinner that I shall prepare them, and tomorrow I 
3658will do as I have done today." 
3659
3660Haman's happiness is spoiled 
3661
36629 So Haman went out from the king joyful and glad of heart. But when 
3663he saw Mordecai the Jew in the courtyard, he was filled with anger. 10 
3664Nevertheless, he went home and summoned his friends and his wife 
3665Zosara. 11 And he told them about his riches and the honor that the 
3666king had bestowed on him, and how he had advanced him to be the 
3667first in the kingdom. 12 And Haman said, "The queen did not invite 
3668
366989 
3670
3671
3672
3673ESTHER 90 
3674
3675ESTHER 90 
3676
3677[Esther 6] 
3678Mordecai's triumph 
3679
36801 That night the Lord took sleep from the king, so he gave orders to his 
3681secretary to bring the book of daily records, and to read to him. 2 He 
3682found the words written about Mordecai, how he had told the king 
3683about the two royal eunuchs who were on guard and sought to lay 
3684hands on King Artaxerxes. 3 The king said, "What honor or dignity did 
3685we bestow on Mordecai?" The king's servants said, "You have not 
3686done anything for him." 4 While the king was inquiring about the 
3687goodwill shown by Mordecai, Haman was in the courtyard. The king 
3688asked, "Who is in the courtyard?" Now Haman had come to speak to 
3689the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had 
3690prepared. 5 The servants of the king answered, "Haman is standing in 
3691the courtyard." And the king said, "Summon him." 6 Then the king 
3692said to Haman, "What shall I do for the person whom I wish to honor?" 
3693And Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king wish to honor 
3694more than me?" 7 So he said to the king, "For a person whom the king 
3695wishes to honor, 8 let the king's servants bring out the fine linen robe 
3696that the king has worn, and the horse on which the king rides, 9 and 
3697let both be given to one of the king's honored Friends, and let him 
3698robe the person whom the king loves and mount him on the horse, 
3699and let it be proclaimed through the open square of the city, saying, 
3700'Thus shall it be done to everyone whom the king honors.'" 10 Then the 
3701king said to Haman, "You have made an excellent suggestion! Do just 
3702as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who is on duty in the courtyard. 
3703And let nothing be omitted from what you have proposed." 11 So 
3704Haman got the robe and the horse; he put the robe on Mordecai and 
3705made him ride through the open square of the city, proclaiming, "Thus 
3706shall it be done to everyone whom the king wishes to honor." 12 Then 
3707
370890 
3709
3710
3711
3712ESTHER 91 
3713
3714ESTHER 91 
3715
3716Esther's second banquet and Haman's fall 
3717
371814 While they were still talking, the eunuchs arrived and hurriedly 
3719brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared. [Esther 7] 1 
3720So the king and Haman went in to drink with the queen. 2 And the 
3721second day, as they were drinking wine, the king said, "What is it, 
3722Queen Esther? What is your petition and what is your request? It shall 
3723be granted to you, even to half of my kingdom." 3 She answered and 
3724said, "If I have found favor with the king, let my life be granted me at 
3725my petition, and my people at my request. 4 For we have been sold, I 
3726and my people, to be destroyed, plundered, and made slaves — we and 
3727our children — male and female slaves. This has come to my 
3728knowledge. Our antagonist brings shame on the king's court." 5 Then 
3729the king said, "Who is the person that would dare to do this thing?" 6 
3730Esther said, "Our enemy is this evil man Haman!" At this, Haman was 
3731terrified in the presence of the king and queen. 
3732
37337 The king rose from the banquet and went into the garden, and 
3734Haman began to beg for his life from the queen, for he saw that he 
3735was in serious trouble. 8 When the king returned from the garden, 
3736Haman had thrown himself on the couch, pleading with the queen. 
3737The king said, "Will he dare even assault my wife in my own house?" 
3738Haman, when he heard, turned away his face. 9 Then Bugathan, one of 
3739the eunuchs, said to the king, "Look, Haman has even prepared a 
3740gallows for Mordecai, who gave information of concern to the king; it 
3741is standing at Haman's house, a gallows fifty cubits high." So the king 
3742said, "Let Haman be hanged on that." 10 So Haman was hanged on the 
3743gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. With that the anger of the king 
3744abated. 
3745
374691 
3747
3748
3749
3750ESTHER 92 
3751
3752
3753[Esther 8] 
3754The king shows favor to Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews 
3755
3756
37571 On that very day King Artaxerxes granted to Esther all the property of 
3758the persecutor Haman. Mordecai was summoned by the king, for 
3759Esther had told the king that he was related to her. 2 The king took the 
3760ring that had been taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and 
3761Esther set Mordecai over everything that had been Haman's. 
3762
37633 Then she spoke once again to the king and, falling at his feet, she 
3764asked him to avert all the evil that Haman had planned against the 
3765Jews. 4 The king extended his golden scepter to Esther, and she rose 
3766and stood before the king. 5 Esther said, "If it pleases you, and if I have 
3767found favor, let an order be sent rescinding the letters that Haman 
3768wrote and sent to destroy the Jews in your kingdom. 6 How can I look 
3769on the ruin of my people? How can I be safe if my ancestral nation is 
3770destroyed?" 7 The king said to Esther, "Now that I have granted all of 
3771Haman's property to you and have hanged him on a tree because he 
3772acted against the Jews, what else do you request? 8 Write in my name 
3773what you think best and seal it with my ring; for whatever is written at 
3774the king's command and sealed with my ring cannot be contravened." 
3775
37769 The secretaries were summoned on the twenty-third day of the first 
3777month, that is, Nisan, in the same year; and all that he commanded 
3778with respect to the Jews was given in writing to the administrators and 
3779governors of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred 
3780twenty-seven provinces, to each province in its own language. 10 The 
3781edict was written with the king's authority and sealed with his ring, 
3782and sent out by couriers. 11 He ordered the Jews in every city to observe 
3783their own laws, to defend themselves, and to act as they wished 
3784against their opponents and enemies 12 on a certain day, the 
3785thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is Adar, throughout all the 
3786kingdom of Artaxerxes. 
3787
378892 
3789
3790
3791
3792ESTHER 93 
3793
3794
3795ADDITION E 
3796
3797[Esther 16] 
3798The king's second letter denounces Haman, praises Mordecai and 
3799Esther, and directs his subjects to help the Jews 
3800
38011 The following is a copy of this letter: 
3802
3803"The Great King, Artaxerxes, to the governors of the provinces from 
3804India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, and to those 
3805who are loyal to our government, greetings. 
3806
38072 "Many people, the more they are honored with the most generous 
3808kindness of their benefactors, the more proud do they become, 3 and 
3809not only seek to injure our subjects, but in their inability to stand 
3810prosperity, they even undertake to scheme against their own 
3811benefactors. 4 They not only take away thankfulness from others, but, 
3812carried away by the boasts of those who know nothing of goodness, 
3813they even assume that they will escape the evil-hating justice of God, 
3814who always sees everything. 5 And often many of those who are set in 
3815places of authority have been made in part responsible for the 
3816shedding of innocent blood, and have been involved in irremediable 
3817calamities, by the persuasion of friends who have been entrusted with 
3818the administration of public affairs, 6 when these persons by the false 
3819trickery of their evil natures beguile the sincere goodwill of their 
3820sovereigns. 
3821
38227 "What has been wickedly accomplished through the pestilent 
3823behavior of those who exercise authority unworthily can be seen, not 
3824so much from the more ancient records that we hand on, as from 
3825investigation of matters close at hand. 8 In the future we will take care 
3826to render our kingdom quiet and peaceable for all, 9 by changing our 
3827methods and always judging what comes before our eyes with more 
3828equitable consideration. 10 For Haman son of Hammedatha, a 
3829Macedonian (really an alien to the Persian blood, and quite devoid of 
3830our kindliness), having become our guest, 11 enjoyed so fully the 
3831goodwill that we have for every nation that he was called our father 
3832and was continually bowed down to by all as the person second to the 
3833
383493 
3835
3836
3837
3838ESTHER 94 
3839
3840ESTHER 94 
3841
384215 "But we find that the Jews, who were consigned to annihilation by 
3843this thrice-accursed man, are not evildoers, but are governed by most 
3844righteous laws 16 and are children of the living God, most high, most 
3845mighty, who has directed the kingdom both for us and for our 
3846ancestors in the most excellent order. 
3847
384817 "You will therefore do well not to put in execution the letters sent 
3849by Haman son of Hammedatha, 18 since he, the one who did these 
3850things, has been hanged at the gate of Susa with all his household — 
3851for God, who rules over all things, has speedily inflicted on him the 
3852punishment that he deserved. 
3853
385419 "Therefore post a copy of this letter publicly in every place, and 
3855permit the Jews to live under their own laws. 20 And give them 
3856reinforcements, so that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, 
3857Adar, on that very day, they may defend themselves against those who 
3858attack them at the time of oppression. 21 For God, who rules over all 
3859things, has made this day to be a joy for his chosen people instead of a 
3860day of destruction for them. 
3861
386222 "Therefore you shall observe this with all good cheer as a notable 
3863day among your commemorative festivals, 23 so that both now and 
3864hereafter it may represent deliverance for you and the loyal Persians, 
3865but that it may be a reminder of destruction for those who plot against 
3866us. 
3867
386824 "Every city and country, without exception, that does not act 
3869accordingly shall be destroyed in wrath with spear and fire. It shall be 
3870made not only impassable for human beings, but also most hateful to 
3871wild animals and birds for all time. 
3872
387394 
3874
3875
3876
3877ESTHER 95 
3878
3879
3880END OF ADDITION E 
3881
3882[Esther 8] 
3883Dispatch and posting of the king's decree 
3884
3885
388613 "Let copies of the decree be posted conspicuously in all the 
3887kingdom, and let all the Jews be ready on that day to fight against 
3888their enemies." 
3889
389014 So the messengers on horseback set out with all speed to perform 
3891what the king had commanded; and the decree was published also in 
3892Susa. 15 Mordecai went out dressed in the royal robe and wearing a 
3893gold crown and a turban of purple linen. The people in Susa rejoiced 
3894on seeing him. 16 And the Jews had light and gladness 17 in every city 
3895and province wherever the decree was published; wherever the 
3896proclamation was made, the Jews had joy and gladness, a banquet and 
3897a holiday. And many of the Gentiles were circumcised and became Jews 
3898out of fear of the Jews. 
3899
3900[Esther 9] 
3901The Jews triumph over their enemies 
3902
3903
39041 Now on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is Adar, the 
3905decree written by the king arrived. 2 On that same day the enemies of 
3906the Jews perished; no one resisted, because they feared them. 3 The 
3907chief provincial governors, the princes, and the royal secretaries were 
3908paying honor to the Jews, because fear of Mordecai weighed upon 
3909them. 4 The king's decree required that Mordecai's name be held in 
3910honor throughout the kingdom. 6 Now in the city of Susa the Jews 
3911killed five hundred people, 7 including Pharsannestain, Delphon, 
3912Phasga, 8 Pharadatha, Barea, Sarbacha, 9 Marmasima, Aruphaeus, 
3913Arsaeus, Zabutheus, 10 the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the 
3914Bougean, the enemy of the Jews — and they indulged themselves in 
3915plunder. 
3916
391711 That very day the number of those killed in Susa was reported to the 
3918king. 12 The king said to Esther, "In Susa, the capital, the Jews have 
3919destroyed five hundred people. What do you suppose they have done 
3920
392195 
3922
3923
3924
3925ESTHER 96 
3926
3927ESTHER 96 
3928
392916 Now the other Jews in the kingdom gathered to defend themselves, 
3930and got relief from their enemies. They destroyed fifteen thousand of 
3931them, but did not engage in plunder. 17 On the fourteenth day they 
3932rested and made that same day a day of rest, celebrating it with joy 
3933and gladness. 18 The Jews who were in Susa, the capital, came together 
3934also on the fourteenth, but did not rest. They celebrated the fifteenth 
3935with joy and gladness. 19 On this account then the Jews who are 
3936scattered around the country outside Susa keep the fourteenth of Adar 
3937as a joyful holiday, and send presents of food to one another, while 
3938those who live in the large cities keep the fifteenth day of Adar as their 
3939joyful holiday, also sending presents to one another. 
3940
3941The inauguration of the feast of Purim 
3942
394320 Mordecai recorded these things in a book, and sent it to the Jews in 
3944the kingdom of Artaxerxes both near and far, 21 telling them that they 
3945should keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar, 22 for on these 
3946days the Jews got relief from their enemies. The whole month (namely, 
3947Adar), in which their condition had been changed from sorrow into 
3948gladness and from a time of distress to a holiday, was to be celebrated 
3949as a time for feasting and gladness and for sending presents of food to 
3950their friends and to the poor. 
3951
395223 So the Jews accepted what Mordecai had written to them 24 — how 
3953Haman son of Hammedatha, the Macedonian, fought against them, 
3954how he made a decree and cast lots to destroy them, 25 and how he 
3955went in to the king, telling him to hang Mordecai; but the wicked plot 
3956he had devised against the Jews came back upon himself, and he and 
3957his sons were hanged. 26 Therefore these days were called "Purim," 
3958because of the lots (for in their language this is the word that means 
3959
396096 
3961
3962
3963
3964ESTHER 97 
3965
3966ESTHER 97 
3967
396829 Then Queen Esther daughter of Aminadab along with Mordecai the 
3969Jew wrote down what they had done, and gave full authority to the 
3970letter about Purim. 30 Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the one 
3971hundred twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in 
3972words of peace and truth. 31 And Mordecai and Queen Esther 
3973established this decision on their own responsibility, pledging their 
3974own well-being to the plan. 32 Esther established it by a decree 
3975forever, and it was written for a memorial. 
3976
3977[Esther 10] 
3978The greatness of Ahasuerus and Mordecai 
3979
3980
39811 The king levied a tax upon his kingdom both by land and sea. 2 And 
3982as for his power and bravery, and the wealth and glory of his kingdom, 
3983they were recorded in the annals of the kings of the Persians and the 
3984Medes. 3 Mordecai acted with authority on behalf of King Artaxerxes 
3985and was great in the kingdom, as well as honored by the Jews. His way 
3986of life was such as to make him beloved to his whole nation. 
3987
3988ADDITION F 
3989Epilogue: Mordecai's dream explained 
3990
39914 And Mordecai said, "These things have come from God; 5 for I 
3992remember the dream that I had concerning these matters, and none of 
3993them has failed to be fulfilled. 6 There was the little spring that 
3994became a river, and there was light and sun and abundant water — the 
3995river is Esther, whom the king married and made queen. 7 The two 
3996dragons are Haman and myself. 8 The nations are those that gathered 
3997
399897 
3999
4000
4001
4002ESTHER 98 
4003
4004ESTHER 98 
4005
4006[Esther 11] 
4007The Colophon to Greek Esther 
4008
4009
40101 In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, 
4011who said that he was a priest and a Levite, and his son Ptolemy 
4012brought to Egypt the preceding Letter about Purim, which they said 
4013was authentic and had been translated by Lysimachus son of Ptolemy, 
4014one of the residents of Jerusalem. 
4015
4016END OF ADDITION F 
4017
401898 
4019
4020
4021
4022WISDOM OF SOLOMON 99 
4023
4024
4025THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON 
4026
4027
4028Introduction 
4029
4030The Wisdom of Solomon was written as a message of encouragement 
4031and exhortation for Jews living somewhere in the Diaspora (the Jewish 
4032communities outside the land of Israel) during the Greco-Roman era. 
4033Immersed in a cosmopolitan, pagan culture, one that generally viewed 
4034Judaism with suspicion if not contempt, many Jews felt hard-pressed to 
4035remain loyal to the basic principles and practices of their faith. This 
4036book simultaneously affirms the basis of that faith and critiques those 
4037who oppose it, in the interests of promoting adherence to Jewish 
4038traditions in changing, difficult circumstances. 
4039
4040Although the author claims to be King Solomon (with parts of ch 9 
4041based on his prayer for wisdom in 1 Kings 3.6-9), this ascription has 
4042been recognized as a literary fiction since ancient times. Instead, the 
4043author is an anonymous Hellenistic Jew writing sometime in the late 
4044first century BCE or early first century CE. The book's bitter polemic 
4045against Egyptian religion (see, for instance, ch 12) suggests Alexandria 
4046as a location, and anti-Jewish uprisings in that city may provide part of 
4047the background for the author's reflections. 
4048
4049Composed in Greek, this book is among the most Hellenized works of 
4050the Apocrypha; that is, it reflects extensive interaction with Greek 
4051literary and philosophical conventions (see, for example, the use of the 
4052standard list of cardinal virtues in 8.7). The author's intention, 
4053however, is not to promote the achievements of Greek culture, but to 
4054appropriate them, so as to prove the excellence of Judaism in 
4055categories relevant to his readers' multicultural environment. As for its 
4056literary genre, many modern critics describe the Wisdom of Solomon as 
4057a form of didactic exhortation that demonstrates the superiority of a 
4058particular way of life or school of philosophy (in this case, Judaism) 
4059over its competitors and detractors. (This is technically called 
4060
406199 
4062
4063
4064
4065WISDOM OF SOLOMON 100 
4066
4067WISDOM OF SOLOMON 100 
4068
4069The book consists of three major sections. The first, chs 1-6, contrasts 
4070the lives of the just and the wicked, dramatizing the eschatological 
4071destinies of the two groups. The sections begins and ends with 
4072exhortation to seek wisdom and righteousness (1.1-15; 6.1-25). The next 
4073section, chs 7-10, celebrates the figure of divine Sophia. The author's 
4074persona as Solomon emerges most clearly here, as the king describes 
4075wisdom and his pursuit of her. The third section, chs 11-19, adopts the 
4076approach of historical comparison, presenting an elaborate system of 
4077contrasts based largely on Exodus 7-14. A series of digressions in 11.17
4078
4079
408015.19 explains why God's judgment manifested itself differently in 
4081dealing with the Egyptians and the Israelites. This adaptation of the 
4082Exodus story is meant to complement the arguments of the first two 
4083sections, providing biblical examples of the righteous and the 
4084unrighteous, and demonstrating how the power of divine wisdom 
4085operates in human history. 
4086This book is included among the deuterocanonical books of the Roman 
4087Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, but is considered one of the 
4088Apocrypha by the Protestant churches. 
4089
4090100 
4091
4092
4093
4094WISDOM OF SOLOMON 101 
4095
4096
4097[Wisdom of Solomon 1] 
4098A discourse contrasting the righteous and the wicked; Prologue 
4099
4100
41011 Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth, 
4102think of the Lord in goodness 
4103and seek him with sincerity of heart; 
4104
41052 because he is found by those who do not put him to the test, 
4106and manifests himself to those who do not distrust him. 
41073 For perverse thoughts separate people from God, 
4108and when his power is tested, it exposes the foolish; 
41094 because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul, 
4110or dwell in a body enslaved to sin. 
4111
41125 For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit, 
4113and will leave foolish thoughts behind, 
4114and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness. 
4115
41166 For wisdom is a kindly spirit, 
4117but will not free blasphemers from the guilt of their words; 
4118because God is witness of their inmost feelings, 
4119and a true observer of their hearts, and a hearer of their tongues. 
4120
41217 Because the spirit of the Lord has filled the world, 
4122and that which holds all things together knows what is said, 
41238 therefore those who utter unrighteous things will not escape notice, 
4124and justice, when it punishes, will not pass them by. 
4125
41269 For inquiry will be made into the counsels of the ungodly, 
4127and a report of their words will come to the Lord, 
4128to convict them of their lawless deeds; 
4129
413010 because a jealous ear hears all things, 
4131and the sound of grumbling does not go unheard. 
4132
413311 Beware then of useless grumbling, 
4134and keep your tongue from slander; 
4135because no secret word is without result, 
4136and a lying mouth destroys the soul. 
4137
413812 Do not invite death by the error of your life, 
4139or bring on destruction by the works of your hands; 
414013 because God did not make death, 
4141and he does not delight in the death of the living. 
4142
4143101 
4144
4145
4146
4147WISDOM OF SOLOMON 102 
4148
4149
415014 For he created all things so that they might exist; 
4151the generative forces of the world are wholesome, 
4152and there is no destructive poison in them, 
4153and the dominion of Hades is not on earth. 
4154
415515 For righteousness is immortal. 
4156
4157The deluded reasoning of the ungodly 
4158
415916 But the ungodly by their words and deeds summoned death; 
4160considering him a friend, they pined away 
4161and made a covenant with him, 
4162because they are fit to belong to his company. 
4163
4164[Wisdom of Solomon 2] 
4165
41661 For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, 
4167"Short and sorrowful is our life, 
4168and there is no remedy when a life comes to its end, 
4169and no one has been known to return from Hades. 
4170
41712 For we were born by mere chance, 
4172and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been, 
4173for the breath in our nostrils is smoke, 
4174and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts; 
4175
41763 when it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes, 
4177and the spirit will dissolve like empty air. 
4178
41794 Our name will be forgotten in time, 
4180and no one will remember our works; 
4181our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, 
4182and be scattered like mist 
4183that is chased by the rays of the sun 
4184and overcome by its heat. 
4185
41865 For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow, 
4187and there is no return from our death, 
4188because it is sealed up and no one turns back. 
4189
41906 "Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist, 
4191and make use of the creation to the full as in youth. 
4192
4193102 
4194
4195
4196
4197WISDOM OF SOLOMON 103 
4198
4199
42007 Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes, 
4201
4202and let no flower of spring pass us by. 
42038 Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. 
42049 Let none of us fail to share in our revelry; 
4205
4206everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment, 
4207because this is our portion, and this our lot. 
4208
4209
421010 Let us oppress the righteous poor man; 
4211let us not spare the widow 
4212or regard the gray hairs of the aged. 
4213
421411 But let our might be our law of right, 
4215for what is weak proves itself to be useless." 
4216
421712 "Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, 
4218because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; 
4219he reproaches us for sins against the law, 
4220and accuses us of sins against our training. 
4221
422213 He professes to have knowledge of God, 
4223
4224and calls himself a child of the Lord. 
422514 He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; 
422615 the very sight of him is a burden to us, 
4227
4228because his manner of life is unlike that of others, 
4229and his ways are strange. 
4230
423116 We are considered by him as something base, 
4232and he avoids our ways as unclean; 
4233he calls the last end of the righteous happy, 
4234and boasts that God is his father. 
4235
423617 Let us see if his words are true, 
4237and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; 
423818 for if the righteous man is God's child, he will help him, 
4239and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. 
4240
424119 Let us test him with insult and torture, 
4242so that we may find out how gentle he is, 
4243and make trial of his forbearance. 
4244
424520 Let us condemn him to a shameful death, 
4246for, according to what he says, he will be protected." 
4247
424821 Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, 
4249for their wickedness blinded them, 
4250
4251103 
4252
4253
4254
4255WISDOM OF SOLOMON 104 
4256
4257
425822 and they did not know the secret purposes of God, 
4259nor hoped for the wages of holiness, 
4260nor discerned the prize for blameless souls; 
4261
426223 for God created us for incorruption, 
4263and made us in the image of his own eternity, 
426424 but through the devil's envy death entered the world, 
4265and those who belong to his company experience it. 
4266
4267[Wisdom of Solomon 3] 
4268The reward of the righteous 
4269
4270
42711 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, 
4272and no torment will ever touch them. 
42732 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, 
4274and their departure was thought to be a disaster, 
42753 and their going from us to be their destruction; 
4276but they are at peace. 
42774 For though in the sight of others they were punished, 
4278their hope is full of immortality. 
42795 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, 
4280because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; 
42816 like gold in the furnace he tried them, 
4282and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. 
42837 In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, 
4284and will run like sparks through the stubble. 
42858 They will govern nations and rule over peoples, 
4286and the Lord will reign over them forever. 
4287
42889 Those who trust in him will understand truth, 
4289and the faithful will abide with him in love, 
4290because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, 
4291and he watches over his elect. 
4292
4293Rewards and punishments 
4294
429510 But the ungodly will be punished as their reasoning deserves, 
4296those who disregarded the righteous 
4297and rebelled against the Lord; 
4298
4299104 
4300
4301
4302
4303WISDOM OF SOLOMON 105 
4304
4305
430611 for those who despise wisdom and instruction are miserable. 
4307Their hope is vain, their labors are unprofitable, 
4308and their works are useless. 
4309
431012 Their wives are foolish, and their children evil; 
4311
431213 their offspring are accursed. 
4313For blessed is the barren woman who is undefiled, 
4314who has not entered into a sinful union; 
4315she will have fruit when God examines souls. 
4316
431714 Blessed also is the eunuch whose hands have done no lawless deed, 
4318and who has not devised wicked things against the Lord; 
4319for special favor will be shown him for his faithfulness, 
4320and a place of great delight in the temple of the Lord. 
4321
432215 For the fruit of good labors is renowned, 
4323and the root of understanding does not fail. 
432416 But children of adulterers will not come to maturity, 
4325and the offspring of an unlawful union will perish. 
432617 Even if they live long they will be held of no account, 
4327and finally their old age will be without honor. 
432818 If they die young, they will have no hope 
4329and no consolation on the day of judgment. 
433019 For the end of an unrighteous generation is grievous. 
4331
4332[Wisdom of Solomon 4] 
4333
43341 Better than this is childlessness with virtue, 
4335for in the memory of virtue is immortality, 
4336because it is known both by God and by mortals. 
4337
43382 When it is present, people imitate it, 
4339and they long for it when it has gone; 
4340throughout all time it marches, crowned in triumph, 
4341victor in the contest for prizes that are undefiled. 
4342
43433 But the prolific brood of the ungodly will be of no use, 
4344and none of their illegitimate seedlings will strike a deep root 
4345or take a firm hold. 
4346
43474 For even if they put forth boughs for a while, 
4348standing insecurely they will be shaken by the wind, 
4349and by the violence of the winds they will be uprooted. 
4350
4351105 
4352
4353
4354
4355WISDOM OF SOLOMON 106 
4356
4357
43585 The branches will be broken off before they come to maturity, 
4359and their fruit will be useless, 
4360not ripe enough to eat, and good for nothing. 
4361
43626 For children born of unlawful unions 
4363are witnesses of evil against their parents when God 
4364examines them. 
4365
4366The blessedness of the righteous despite early death 
4367
43687 But the righteous, though they die early, will be at rest. 
43698 For old age is not honored for length of time, 
4370or measured by number of years; 
43719 but understanding is gray hair for anyone, 
4372and a blameless life is ripe old age. 
4373
437410 There were some who pleased God and were loved by him, 
4375and while living among sinners were taken up. 
4376
437711 They were caught up so that evil might not change their 
4378understanding 
4379or guile deceive their souls. 
4380
438112 For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, 
4382
4383and roving desire perverts the innocent mind. 
438413 Being perfected in a short time, they fulfilled long years; 
438514 for their souls were pleasing to the Lord, 
4386
4387therefore he took them quickly from the midst of wickedness. 
4388
438915 Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, 
4390or take such a thing to heart, 
4391that God's grace and mercy are with his elect, 
4392and that he watches over his holy ones. 
4393
439416 The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are 
4395living, and youth that is quickly perfected will condemn the 
4396prolonged old age of the unrighteous. 
4397
439817 For they will see the end of the wise, 
4399and will not understand what the Lord purposed for them, 
4400and for what he kept them safe. 
4401
4402106 
4403
4404
4405
4406WISDOM OF SOLOMON 107 
4407
4408
440918 The unrighteous will see, and will have contempt for them, 
4410but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. 
4411After this they will become dishonored corpses, 
4412and an outrage among the dead forever; 
4413
441419 because he will dash them speechless to the ground, 
4415and shake them from the foundations; 
4416they will be left utterly dry and barren, 
4417and they will suffer anguish, 
4418and the memory of them will perish. 
4419
4420The final judgment 
4421
442220 They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up, 
4423and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face. 
4424
4425[Wisdom of Solomon 5] 
4426
44271 Then the righteous will stand with great confidence 
4428in the presence of those who have oppressed them 
4429and those who make light of their labors. 
4430
44312 When the unrighteous see them, they will be shaken with dreadful 
4432fear, and they will be amazed at the unexpected salvation of 
4433the righteous. 
4434
44353 They will speak to one another in repentance, 
4436and in anguish of spirit they will groan, and say, 
4437
44384 "These are persons whom we once held in derision 
4439and made a byword of reproach — fools that we were! 
4440We thought that their lives were madness 
4441and that their end was without honor. 
4442
44435 Why have they been numbered among the children of God? 
4444And why is their lot among the saints? 
4445
44466 So it was we who strayed from the way of truth, 
4447and the light of righteousness did not shine on us, 
4448and the sun did not rise upon us. 
4449
4450107 
4451
4452
4453
4454WISDOM OF SOLOMON 108 
4455
4456
44577 We took our fill of the paths of lawlessness and destruction, 
4458and we journeyed through trackless deserts, 
4459but the way of the Lord we have not known. 
4460
44618 What has our arrogance profited us? 
4462And what good has our boasted wealth brought us? 
4463
44649 "All those things have vanished like a shadow, 
4465and like a rumor that passes by; 
4466
446710 like a ship that sails through the billowy water, 
4468and when it has passed no trace can be found, 
4469no track of its keel in the waves; 
4470
447111 or as, when a bird flies through the air, 
4472no evidence of its passage is found; 
4473the light air, lashed by the beat of its pinions 
4474and pierced by the force of its rushing flight, 
4475is traversed by the movement of its wings, 
4476and afterward no sign of its coming is found there; 
4477
447812 or as, when an arrow is shot at a target, 
4479the air, thus divided, comes together at once, 
4480so that no one knows its pathway. 
4481
448213 So we also, as soon as we were born, ceased to be, 
4483and we had no sign of virtue to show, 
4484but were consumed in our wickedness." 
4485
448614 Because the hope of the ungodly is like thistledown carried by 
4487the wind, and like a light frost driven away by a storm; 
4488it is dispersed like smoke before the wind, 
4489and it passes like the remembrance of a guest who stays 
4490but a day. 
4491
449215 But the righteous live forever, 
4493and their reward is with the Lord; 
4494the Most High takes care of them. 
4495
449616 Therefore they will receive a glorious crown 
4497and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord, 
4498because with his right hand he will cover them, 
4499and with his arm he will shield them. 
4500
4501108 
4502
4503
4504
4505WISDOM OF SOLOMON 109 
4506
4507
450817 The Lord will take his zeal as his whole armor, 
4509and will arm all creation to repel his enemies; 
451018 he will put on righteousness as a breastplate, 
4511
4512and wear impartial justice as a helmet; 
451319 he will take holiness as an invincible shield, 
451420 and sharpen stern wrath for a sword, 
4515
4516and creation will join with him to fight against his frenzied foes. 
4517
451821 Shafts of lightning will fly with true aim, 
4519and will leap from the clouds to the target, as from a well- 
4520drawn bow, 
4521
452222 and hailstones full of wrath will be hurled as from a catapult; 
4523the water of the sea will rage against them, 
4524and rivers will relentlessly overwhelm them; 
4525
452623 a mighty wind will rise against them, 
4527and like a tempest it will winnow them away. 
4528Lawlessness will lay waste the whole earth, 
4529and evildoing will overturn the thrones of rulers. 
4530
4531[Wisdom of Solomon 6] 
4532Exhortation to seek wisdom 
4533
45341 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; 
4535learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. 
45362 Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, 
4537and boast of many nations. 
4538
45393 For your dominion was given you from the Lord, 
4540and your sovereignty from the Most High; 
4541he will search out your works and inquire into your plans. 
4542
45434 Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly, 
4544or keep the law, 
4545or walk according to the purpose of God, 
4546
45475 he will come upon you terribly and swiftly, 
4548because severe judgment falls on those in high places. 
45496 For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy, 
4550but the mighty will be mightily tested. 
4551
4552109 
4553
4554
4555
4556WISDOM OF SOLOMON 110 
4557
4558
45597 For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of anyone, 
4560or show deference to greatness; 
4561because he himself made both small and great, 
4562and he takes thought for all alike. 
4563
45648 But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty. 
45659 To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed, 
4566so that you may learn wisdom and not transgress. 
456710 For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness, 
4568and those who have been taught them will find a defense. 
456911 Therefore set your desire on my words; 
4570long for them, and you will be instructed. 
4571
457212 Wisdom is radiant and unfading, 
4573and she is easily discerned by those who love her, 
4574and is found by those who seek her. 
4575
457613 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. 
457714 One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, 
4578for she will be found sitting at the gate. 
4579
458015 To fix one's thought on her is perfect understanding, 
4581and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free 
4582from care, 
4583
458416 because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, 
4585and she graciously appears to them in their paths, 
4586and meets them in every thought. 
4587
458817 The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction, 
4589and concern for instruction is love of her, 
459018 and love of her is the keeping of her laws, 
4591
4592and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality, 
459319 and immortality brings one near to God; 
459420 so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom. 
4595
459621 Therefore if you delight in thrones and scepters, O monarchs 
4597over the peoples, honor wisdom, so that you may reign forever. 
4598
4599110 
4600
4601
4602
4603WISDOM OF SOLOMON 111 
4604
4605
460622 I will tell you what wisdom is and how she came to be, 
4607and I will hide no secrets from you, 
4608but I will trace her course from the beginning of creation, 
4609and make knowledge of her clear, 
4610and I will not pass by the truth; 
4611
461223 nor will I travel in the company of sickly envy, 
4613for envy does not associate with wisdom. 
461424 The multitude of the wise is the salvation of the world, 
4615and a sensible king is the stability of any people. 
461625 Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit. 
4617
4618[Wisdom of Solomon 7] 
4619King Solomon and the quest for wisdom; Solomon's Speech 
4620
4621
46221 I also am mortal, like everyone else, 
4623a descendant of the first-formed child of earth; 
4624and in the womb of a mother I was molded into flesh, 
4625
46262 within the period of ten months, compacted with blood, 
4627from the seed of a man and the pleasure of marriage. 
4628
46293 And when I was born, I began to breathe the common air, 
4630and fell upon the kindred earth; 
4631my first sound was a cry, as is true of all. 
4632
46334 I was nursed with care in swaddling cloths. 
46345 For no king has had a different beginning of existence; 
46356 there is for all one entrance into life, and one way out. 
46367 Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; 
4637
4638
4639I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. 
46408 I preferred her to scepters and thrones, 
4641and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. 
4642
46439 Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, 
4644because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, 
4645and silver will be accounted as clay before her. 
4646
464710 I loved her more than health and beauty, 
4648and I chose to have her rather than light, 
4649because her radiance never ceases. 
4650
465111 All good things came to me along with her, 
4652and in her hands uncounted wealth. 
4653
4654111 
4655
4656
4657
4658WISDOM OF SOLOMON 112 
4659
4660
466112 I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; 
4662but I did not know that she was their mother. 
466313 I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; 
4664I do not hide her wealth, 
4665
466614 for it is an unfailing treasure for mortals; 
4667those who get it obtain friendship with God, 
4668commended for the gifts that come from instruction. 
4669
467015 May God grant me to speak with judgment, 
4671and to have thoughts worthy of what I have received; 
4672for he is the guide even of wisdom 
4673and the corrector of the wise. 
4674
467516 For both we and our words are in his hand, 
4676as are all understanding and skill in crafts. 
4677
467817 For it is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists, 
4679to know the structure of the world and the activity of the 
4680elements; 
4681
468218 the beginning and end and middle of times, 
4683
4684the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons, 
468519 the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars, 
468620 the natures of animals and the tempers of wild animals, 
4687
4688the powers of spirits and the thoughts of human beings, 
4689
4690the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots; 
469121 I learned both what is secret and what is manifest, 
469222 for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me. 
4693
4694The divine essence and activity of wisdom 
4695
4696There is in her a spirit that is intelligent, holy, 
4697unique, manifold, subtle, 
4698mobile, clear, unpolluted, 
4699distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, 
4700irresistible, 23 beneficent, humane, 
4701steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, 
4702all-powerful, overseeing all, 
4703and penetrating through all spirits 
4704that are intelligent, pure, and altogether subtle. 
4705
4706
4707112 
4708
4709
4710
4711WISDOM OF SOLOMON 113 
4712
4713
471424 For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; 
4715because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. 
4716
471725 For she is a breath of the power of God, 
4718and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; 
4719therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. 
4720
472126 For she is a reflection of eternal light, 
4722a spotless mirror of the working of God, 
4723and an image of his goodness. 
4724
472527 Although she is but one, she can do all things, 
4726and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; 
4727in every generation she passes into holy souls 
4728and makes them friends of God, and prophets; 
4729
473028 for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom. 
4731
473229 She is more beautiful than the sun, 
4733and excels every constellation of the stars. 
4734Compared with the light she is found to be superior, 
4735
473630 for it is succeeded by the night, 
4737but against wisdom evil does not prevail. 
4738
4739[Wisdom of Solomon 8] 
4740
47411 She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, 
4742and she orders all things well. 
4743
4744The many benefits of a relationship with wisdom 
4745
47462 I loved her and sought her from my youth; 
4747I desired to take her for my bride, 
4748and became enamored of her beauty. 
4749
47503 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God, 
4751and the Lord of all loves her. 
47524 For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God, 
4753and an associate in his works. 
47545 If riches are a desirable possession in life, 
4755what is richer than wisdom, the active cause of all things? 
47566 And if understanding is effective, 
4757who more than she is fashioner of what exists? 
4758
4759113 
4760
4761
4762
4763WISDOM OF SOLOMON 114 
4764
4765
47667 And if anyone loves righteousness, 
4767her labors are virtues; 
4768for she teaches self-control and prudence, 
4769justice and courage; 
4770nothing in life is more profitable for mortals than these. 
4771
47728 And if anyone longs for wide experience, 
4773she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come; 
4774she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles; 
4775she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders 
4776and of the outcome of seasons and times. 
4777
47789 Therefore I determined to take her to live with me, 
4779knowing that she would give me good counsel 
4780and encouragement in cares and grief. 
4781
478210 Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes 
4783and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young. 
478411 I shall be found keen in judgment, 
4785and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired. 
4786
478712 When I am silent they will wait for me, 
4788and when I speak they will give heed; 
4789if I speak at greater length, 
4790they will put their hands on their mouths. 
4791
479213 Because of her I shall have immortality, 
4793and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come 
4794after me. 
4795
479614 I shall govern peoples, 
4797and nations will be subject to me; 
4798
479915 dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me; 
4800among the people I shall show myself capable, and courageous 
4801in war. 
4802
480316 When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her; 
4804for companionship with her has no bitterness, 
4805and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy. 
4806
480717 When I considered these things inwardly, 
4808and pondered in my heart 
4809that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality, 
4810
4811114 
4812
4813
4814
4815WISDOM OF SOLOMON 115 
4816
4817
481818 and in friendship with her, pure delight, 
4819and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth, 
4820and in the experience of her company, understanding, 
4821and renown in sharing her words, 
4822I went about seeking how to get her for myself. 
4823
482419 As a child I was naturally gifted, 
4825and a good soul fell to my lot; 
482620 or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body. 
4827
4828Solomon's prayer for wisdom 
4829
483021 But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave 
4831her to me — and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift 
4832she was — so I appealed to the Lord and implored him, 
4833and with my whole heart I said: 
4834
4835[Wisdom of Solomon 9] 
4836
48371 "O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, 
4838who have made all things by your word, 
48392 and by your wisdom have formed humankind 
4840to have dominion over the creatures you have made, 
48413 and rule the world in holiness and righteousness, 
4842and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul, 
48434 give me the wisdom that sits by your throne, 
4844and do not reject me from among your servants. 
4845
48465 For I am your servant the son of your serving girl, 
4847a man who is weak and short-lived, 
4848with little understanding of judgment and laws; 
4849
48506 for even one who is perfect among human beings 
4851will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that 
4852comes from you. 
4853
48547 You have chosen me to be king of your people 
4855and to be judge over your sons and daughters. 
4856
48578 You have given command to build a temple on your holy mountain, 
4858and an altar in the city of your habitation, 
4859a copy of the holy tent that you prepared from the beginning. 
4860
4861115 
4862
4863
4864
4865WISDOM OF SOLOMON 116 
4866
4867
48689 With you is wisdom, she who knows your works 
4869and was present when you made the world; 
4870she understands what is pleasing in your sight 
4871and what is right according to your commandments. 
4872
487310 Send her forth from the holy heavens, 
4874and from the throne of your glory send her, 
4875that she may labor at my side, 
4876and that I may learn what is pleasing to you. 
4877
487811 For she knows and understands all things, 
4879and she will guide me wisely in my actions 
4880and guard me with her glory. 
4881
488212 Then my works will be acceptable, 
4883and I shall judge your people justly, 
4884and shall be worthy of the throne of my father. 
4885
488613 For who can learn the counsel of God? 
4887Or who can discern what the Lord wills? 
488814 For the reasoning of mortals is worthless, 
4889and our designs are likely to fail; 
489015 for a perishable body weighs down the soul, 
4891and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind. 
4892
489316 We can hardly guess at what is on earth, 
4894and what is at hand we find with labor; 
4895but who has traced out what is in the heavens? 
4896
489717 Who has learned your counsel, 
4898unless you have given wisdom 
4899and sent your holy spirit from on high? 
4900
490118 And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, 
4902and people were taught what pleases you, 
4903and were saved by wisdom." 
4904
4905[Wisdom of Solomon 10] 
4906Historical illustrations of wisdom's saving and punitive power 
4907
4908
49091 Wisdom protected the first-formed father of the world, when 
4910he alone had been created; she delivered him from his 
4911transgression, 
4912
4913116 
4914
4915
4916
4917WISDOM OF SOLOMON 117 
4918
4919
49202 and gave him strength to rule all things. 
49213 But when an unrighteous man departed from her in his anger, 
4922he perished because in rage he killed his brother. 
49234 When the earth was flooded because of him, wisdom again saved it, 
4924steering the righteous man by a paltry piece of wood. 
4925
49265 Wisdom also, when the nations in wicked agreement had been put to 
4927confusion, recognized the righteous man and preserved him 
4928blameless before God, and kept him strong in the face of his 
4929compassion for his child. 
4930
49316 Wisdom rescued a righteous man when the ungodly were perishing; 
4932he escaped the fire that descended on the Five Cities. 
4933
49347 Evidence of their wickedness still remains: 
4935a continually smoking wasteland, 
4936plants bearing fruit that does not ripen, 
4937and a pillar of salt standing as a monument to an 
4938unbelieving soul. 
4939
49408 For because they passed wisdom by, 
4941they not only were hindered from recognizing the good, 
4942but also left for humankind a reminder of their folly, 
4943so that their failures could never go unnoticed. 
4944
49459 Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her. 
4946
494710 When a righteous man fled from his brother's wrath, 
4948she guided him on straight paths; 
4949she showed him the kingdom of God, 
4950and gave him knowledge of holy things; 
4951she prospered him in his labors, 
4952and increased the fruit of his toil. 
4953
495411 When his oppressors were covetous, 
4955she stood by him and made him rich. 
4956
495712 She protected him from his enemies, 
4958and kept him safe from those who lay in wait for him; 
4959in his arduous contest she gave him the victory, 
4960so that he might learn that godliness is more powerful 
4961than anything else. 
4962
4963117 
4964
4965
4966
4967WISDOM OF SOLOMON 118 
4968
4969
497013 When a righteous man was sold, wisdom did not desert him, 
4971but delivered him from sin. 
4972She descended with him into the dungeon, 
4973
497414 and when he was in prison she did not leave him, 
4975until she brought him the scepter of a kingdom 
4976and authority over his masters. 
4977Those who accused him she showed to be false, 
4978and she gave him everlasting honor. 
4979
498015 A holy people and blameless race 
4981wisdom delivered from a nation of oppressors. 
498216 She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, 
4983and withstood dread kings with wonders and signs. 
4984
498517 She gave to holy people the reward of their labors; 
4986she guided them along a marvelous way, 
4987and became a shelter to them by day, 
4988and a starry flame through the night. 
4989
499018 She brought them over the Red Sea, 
4991and led them through deep waters; 
499219 but she drowned their enemies, 
4993and cast them up from the depth of the sea. 
4994
499520 Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly; 
4996they sang hymns, O Lord, to your holy name, 
4997and praised with one accord your defending hand; 
4998
499921 for wisdom opened the mouths of those who were mute, 
5000and made the tongues of infants speak clearly. 
5001
5002[Wisdom of Solomon 11] 
5003A historical meditation contrasting God's dealings with the Israelites 
5004and the Egyptians; the first contrast 
5005
50061 Wisdom prospered their works by the hand of a holy prophet. 
50072 They journeyed through an uninhabited wilderness, 
5008
5009and pitched their tents in untrodden places. 
50103 They withstood their enemies and fought off their foes. 
50114 When they were thirsty, they called upon you, 
5012
5013and water was given them out of flinty rock, 
5014and from hard stone a remedy for their thirst. 
5015
5016
5017118 
5018
5019
5020
5021WISDOM OF SOLOMON 119 
5022
5023
50245 For through the very things by which their enemies were punished, 
5025they themselves received benefit in their need. 
50266 Instead of the fountain of an ever-flowing river, 
5027stirred up and defiled with blood 
50287 in rebuke for the decree to kill the infants, 
5029you gave them abundant water unexpectedly, 
50308 showing by their thirst at that time 
5031how you punished their enemies. 
5032
50339 For when they were tried, though they were being disciplined 
5034in mercy,they learned how the ungodly were tormented when 
5035judged in wrath. 
5036
503710 For you tested them as a parent does in warning, 
5038but you examined the ungodly as a stern king does in 
5039condemnation. 
5040
504111 Whether absent or present, they were equally distressed, 
504212 for a twofold grief possessed them, 
5043and a groaning at the memory of what had occurred. 
5044
504513 For when they heard that through their own punishments 
5046the righteous had received benefit, they perceived it was the 
5047LORD's doing. 
5048
504914 For though they had mockingly rejected him who long before had 
5050been cast out and exposed, at the end of the events they 
5051marveled at him, when they felt thirst in a different way from 
5052the righteous. 
5053
505415 In return for their foolish and wicked thoughts, 
5055which led them astray to worship irrational serpents and 
5056worthless animals, you sent upon them a multitude of irrational 
5057creatures to punish them, 
5058
505916 so that they might learn that one is punished by the very things by 
5060which one sins. 
5061
5062A series of digressions; God exercises power and mercy in judgment 
5063
506417 For your all-powerful hand, 
5065which created the world out of formless matter, 
5066did not lack the means to send upon them a multitude of bears, 
5067or bold lions, 
5068
5069119 
5070
5071
5072
5073WISDOM OF SOLOMON 120 
5074
5075
507618 or newly-created unknown beasts full of rage, 
5077or such as breathe out fiery breath, 
5078or belch forth a thick pall of smoke, 
5079or flash terrible sparks from their eyes; 
5080
508119 not only could the harm they did destroy people, 
5082but the mere sight of them could kill by fright. 
5083
508420 Even apart from these, people could fall at a single breath 
5085when pursued by justice 
5086and scattered by the breath of your power. 
5087But you have arranged all things by measure and number and 
5088weight. 
5089
509021 For it is always in your power to show great strength, 
5091and who can withstand the might of your arm? 
509222 Because the whole world before you is like a speck that tips the 
5093scales, and like a drop of morning dew that falls on the ground. 
509423 But you are merciful to all, for you can do all things, 
5095and you overlook people's sins, so that they may repent. 
5096
509724 For you love all things that exist, 
5098and detest none of the things that you have made, 
5099for you would not have made anything if you had hated it. 
5100
510125 How would anything have endured if you had not willed it? 
5102Or how would anything not called forth by you have been 
5103preserved? 
5104
510526 You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord, you who love the 
5106living. 
5107
5108[Wisdom of Solomon 12] 
5109Divine righteousness and forbearance 
5110
5111
51121 For your immortal spirit is in all things. 
5113
51142 Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass, 
5115and you remind and warn them of the things through which 
5116they sin, so that they may be freed from wickedness and put 
5117their trust in you, O Lord. 
5118
5119120 
5120
5121
5122
5123WISDOM OF SOLOMON 121 
5124
5125
51263 Those who lived long ago in your holy land 
51274 you hated for their detestable practices, 
5128their works of sorcery and unholy rites, 
5129
51305 their merciless slaughter of children, 
5131and their sacrificial feasting on human flesh and blood. 
5132These initiates from the midst of a heathen cult, 
5133
51346 these parents who murder helpless lives, 
5135you willed to destroy by the hands of our ancestors, 
51367 so that the land most precious of all to you 
5137might receive a worthy colony of the servants of God. 
5138
51398 But even these you spared, since they were but mortals, 
5140and sent wasps as forerunners of your army 
5141to destroy them little by little, 
5142
51439 though you were not unable to give the ungodly into the hands of 
5144the righteous in battle, or to destroy them at one blow by dread 
5145wild animals or your stern word. 
5146
514710 But judging them little by little you gave them an opportunity to 
5148repent, 
5149though you were not unaware that their origin was evil 
5150and their wickedness inborn, 
5151and that their way of thinking would never change. 
5152
515311 For they were an accursed race from the beginning, 
5154and it was not through fear of anyone that you left them 
5155unpunished for their sins. 
5156
515712 For who will say, "What have you done?" 
5158or will resist your judgment? 
5159Who will accuse you for the destruction of nations that you 
5160made? 
5161Or who will come before you to plead as an advocate for the 
5162unrighteous? 
5163
516413 For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for all people, 
5165to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly; 
516614 nor can any king or monarch confront you about those whom you 
5167have punished. 
5168
516915 You are righteous and you rule all things righteously, 
5170deeming it alien to your power 
5171to condemn anyone who does not deserve to be punished. 
5172
5173121 
5174
5175
5176
5177WISDOM OF SOLOMON 122 
5178
5179
518016 For your strength is the source of righteousness, 
5181and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all. 
5182
518317 For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of 
5184your power, 
5185and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it. 
5186
518718 Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness, 
5188and with great forbearance you govern us; 
5189for you have power to act whenever you choose. 
5190
519119 Through such works you have taught your people 
5192that the righteous must be kind, 
5193and you have filled your children with good hope, 
5194because you give repentance for sins. 
5195
519620 For if you punished with such great care and indulgence 
5197the enemies of your servants and those deserving of death, 
5198granting them time and opportunity to give up their wickedness, 
5199
520021 with what strictness you have judged your children, 
5201to whose ancestors you gave oaths and covenants full of good 
5202promises! 
5203
520422 So while chastening us you scourge our enemies ten thousand times 
5205more, so that, when we judge, we may meditate upon your 
5206goodness, and when we are judged, we may expect mercy. 
5207
520823 Therefore those who lived unrighteously, in a life of folly, 
5209you tormented through their own abominations. 
5210
521124 For they went far astray on the paths of error, 
5212accepting as gods those animals that even their enemies despised; 
5213they were deceived like foolish infants. 
5214
521525 Therefore, as though to children who cannot reason, 
5216you sent your judgment to mock them. 
521726 But those who have not heeded the warning of mild rebukes 
5218will experience the deserved judgment of God. 
5219
522027 For when in their suffering they became incensed 
5221at those creatures that they had thought to be gods, being 
5222punished by means of them, they saw and recognized as the 
5223true God the one whom they had before refused to know. 
5224Therefore the utmost condemnation came upon them. 
5225
5226122 
5227
5228
5229
5230WISDOM OF SOLOMON 123 
5231
5232
5233[Wisdom of Solomon 13] 
5234The folly of false worship; critique of nature worship 
5235
5236
52371 For all people who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; 
5238and they were unable from the good things that are seen to 
5239know the one who exists, 
5240nor did they recognize the artisan while paying heed to his 
5241works; 
5242
52432 but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, 
5244or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, 
5245or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world. 
5246
52473 If through delight in the beauty of these things people assumed them 
5248to be gods, 
5249let them know how much better than these is their Lord, 
5250for the author of beauty created them. 
5251
52524 And if people were amazed at their power and working, 
5253let them perceive from them 
5254how much more powerful is the one who formed them. 
5255
52565 For from the greatness and beauty of created things 
5257comes a corresponding perception of their Creator. 
5258
52596 Yet these people are little to be blamed, 
5260for perhaps they go astray 
5261while seeking God and desiring to find him. 
5262
52637 For while they live among his works, they keep searching, 
5264and they trust in what they see, because the things that are 
5265seen are beautiful. 
5266
52678 Yet again, not even they are to be excused; 
5268
52699 for if they had the power to know so much 
5270that they could investigate the world, 
5271how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things? 
5272
5273Polemic against idolatry 
5274
527510 But miserable, with their hopes set on dead things, are those 
5276who give the name "gods" to the works of human hands, 
5277gold and silver fashioned with skill, 
5278and likenesses of animals, 
5279or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand. 
5280
5281123 
5282
5283
5284
5285WISDOM OF SOLOMON 124 
5286
5287
528811 A skilled woodcutter may saw down a tree easy to handle 
5289and skillfully strip off all its bark, 
5290and then with pleasing workmanship 
5291make a useful vessel that serves life's needs, 
5292
529312 and burn the cast-off pieces of his work 
5294to prepare his food, and eat his fill. 
5295
529613 But a cast-off piece from among them, useful for nothing, 
5297a stick crooked and full of knots, 
5298he takes and carves with care in his leisure, 
5299and shapes it with skill gained in idleness; 
5300he forms it in the likeness of a human being, 
5301
530214 or makes it like some worthless animal, 
5303giving it a coat of red paint and coloring its surface red 
5304and covering every blemish in it with paint; 
5305
530615 then he makes a suitable niche for it, 
5307and sets it in the wall, and fastens it there with iron. 
5308
530916 He takes thought for it, so that it may not fall, 
5310because he knows that it cannot help itself, 
5311for it is only an image and has need of help. 
5312
531317 When he prays about possessions and his marriage and children, 
5314he is not ashamed to address a lifeless thing. 
5315
531618 For health he appeals to a thing that is weak; 
5317for life he prays to a thing that is dead; 
5318for aid he entreats a thing that is utterly inexperienced; 
5319for a prosperous journey, a thing that cannot take a step; 
5320
532119 for money-making and work and success with his hands 
5322he asks strength of a thing whose hands have no strength. 
5323
5324[Wisdom of Solomon 14] 
5325
53261 Again, one preparing to sail and about to voyage over raging waves 
5327calls upon a piece of wood more fragile than the ship that carries 
5328him. 
5329
53302 For it was desire for gain that planned that vessel, 
5331and wisdom was the artisan who built it; 
5332
53333 but it is your providence, O Father, that steers its course, 
5334because you have given it a path in the sea, 
5335and a safe way through the waves, 
5336
5337124 
5338
5339
5340
5341WISDOM OF SOLOMON 125 
5342
5343
53444 showing that you can save from every danger, 
5345so that even a person who lacks skill may put to sea. 
5346
53475 It is your will that works of your wisdom should not be without 
5348effect; therefore people trust their lives even to the smallest 
5349piece of wood, and passing through the billows on a raft they 
5350come safely to land. 
5351
53526 For even in the beginning, when arrogant giants were perishing, 
5353the hope of the world took refuge on a raft, 
5354and guided by your hand left to the world the seed of a new 
5355generation. 
5356
53577 For blessed is the wood by which righteousness comes. 
5358
53598 But the idol made with hands is accursed, and so is the one who 
5360made it — he for having made it, and the perishable thing 
5361because it was named a god. 
5362
53639 For equally hateful to God are the ungodly and their ungodliness; 
5364
536510 for what was done will be punished together with the one who 
5366did it. 
5367
536811 Therefore there will be a visitation also upon the heathen idols, 
5369because, though part of what God created, they became an 
5370abomination, snares for human souls and a trap for the feet of 
5371the foolish. 
5372
5373Idols are the invention of human vanity 
5374
537512 For the idea of making idols was the beginning of fornication, 
5376and the invention of them was the corruption of life; 
5377
537813 for they did not exist from the beginning, 
5379nor will they last forever. 
5380
538114 For through human vanity they entered the world, 
5382and therefore their speedy end has been planned. 
5383
538415 For a father, consumed with grief at an untimely bereavement, 
5385made an image of his child, who had been suddenly taken from 
5386him; he now honored as a god what was once a dead human 
5387being, and handed on to his dependents secret rites and 
5388initiations. 
5389
5390125 
5391
5392
5393
5394WISDOM OF SOLOMON 126 
5395
5396
539716 Then the ungodly custom, grown strong with time, was kept as a 
5398law, and at the command of monarchs carved images were 
5399worshiped. 
5400
540117 When people could not honor monarchs in their presence, since they 
5402lived at a distance, they imagined their appearance far away, 
5403and made a visible image of the king whom they honored, 
5404so that by their zeal they might flatter the absent one as though 
5405present. 
5406
540718 Then the ambition of the artisan impelled 
5408even those who did not know the king to intensify their worship. 
540919 For he, perhaps wishing to please his ruler, 
5410skillfully forced the likeness to take more beautiful form, 
5411
541220 and the multitude, attracted by the charm of his work, 
5413now regarded as an object of worship the one whom shortly 
5414before they had honored as a human being. 
5415
541621 And this became a hidden trap for humankind, 
5417because people, in bondage to misfortune or to royal authority, 
5418bestowed on objects of stone or wood the name that ought not 
5419to be shared. 
5420
5421The repercussions of idolatry 
5422
542322 Then it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of 
5424God, but though living in great strife due to ignorance, 
5425they call such great evils peace. 
5426
542723 For whether they kill children in their initiations, or celebrate secret 
5428mysteries, or hold frenzied revels with strange customs, 
5429
543024 they no longer keep either their lives or their marriages pure, 
5431but they either treacherously kill one another, or grieve one 
5432another by adultery, 
5433
543425 and all is a raging riot of blood and murder, theft and deceit, 
5435corruption, faithlessness, tumult, perjury, 
5436
543726 confusion over what is good, forgetfulness of favors, 
5438defiling of souls, sexual perversion, 
5439disorder in marriages, adultery, and debauchery. 
5440
544127 For the worship of idols not to be named 
5442is the beginning and cause and end of every evil. 
5443
5444126 
5445
5446
5447
5448WISDOM OF SOLOMON 127 
5449
5450
545128 For their worshipers either rave in exultation, 
5452or prophesy lies, or live unrighteously, or readily commit perjury; 
545329 for because they trust in lifeless idols 
5454they swear wicked oaths and expect to suffer no harm. 
5455
545630 But just penalties will overtake them on two counts: 
5457because they thought wrongly about God in devoting themselves 
5458to idols, and because in deceit they swore unrighteously through 
5459contempt for holiness. 
5460
546131 For it is not the power of the things by which people swear, 
5462but the just penalty for those who sin, 
5463that always pursues the transgression of the unrighteous. 
5464
5465[Wisdom of Solomon 15] 
5466The benefits of true worship 
5467
54681 But you, our God, are kind and true, 
5469patient, and ruling all things in mercy. 
5470
54712 For even if we sin we are yours, knowing your power; 
5472but we will not sin, because we know that you acknowledge 
5473us as yours. 
5474
54753 For to know you is complete righteousness, 
5476and to know your power is the root of immortality. 
5477
54784 For neither has the evil intent of human art misled us, 
5479nor the fruitless toil of painters, 
5480a figure stained with varied colors, 
5481
54825 whose appearance arouses yearning in fools, 
5483so that they desire the lifeless form of a dead image. 
54846 Lovers of evil things and fit for such objects of hope 
5485are those who either make or desire or worship them. 
5486
5487127 
5488
5489
5490
5491WISDOM OF SOLOMON 128 
5492
5493
5494The fabrication of idols 
5495
54967 A potter kneads the soft earth 
5497and laboriously molds each vessel for our service, 
5498fashioning out of the same clay 
5499both the vessels that serve clean uses 
5500and those for contrary uses, making all alike; 
5501but which shall be the use of each of them 
5502the worker in clay decides. 
5503
55048 With misspent toil, these workers form a futile god from the same 
5505clay — these mortals who were made of earth a short time 
5506before and after a little while go to the earth from which all 
5507mortals are taken, when the time comes to return the souls that 
5508were borrowed. 
5509
55109 But the workers are not concerned that mortals are destined to die 
5511or that their life is brief, 
5512but they compete with workers in gold and silver, 
5513and imitate workers in copper; 
5514and they count it a glorious thing to mold counterfeit gods. 
5515
551610 Their heart is ashes, their hope is cheaper than dirt, 
5517and their lives are of less worth than clay, 
5518
551911 because they failed to know the one who formed them 
5520and inspired them with active souls 
5521and breathed a living spirit into them. 
5522
552312 But they considered our existence an idle game, 
5524and life a festival held for profit, 
5525for they say one must get money however one can, even by 
5526base means. 
5527
552813 For these persons, more than all others, know that they sin 
5529when they make from earthy matter fragile vessels and 
5530carved images. 
5531
553214 But most foolish, and more miserable than an infant, 
5533are all the enemies who oppressed your people. 
5534
5535128 
5536
5537
5538
5539WISDOM OF SOLOMON 129 
5540
5541
554215 For they thought that all their heathen idols were gods, 
5543though these have neither the use of their eyes to see with, 
5544nor nostrils with which to draw breath, 
5545nor ears with which to hear, 
5546nor fingers to feel with, 
5547and their feet are of no use for walking. 
5548
554916 For a human being made them, 
5550and one whose spirit is borrowed formed them; 
5551for none can form gods that are like themselves. 
5552
555317 People are mortal, and what they make with lawless hands is dead; 
5554for they are better than the objects they worship, 
5555since they have life, but the idols never had. 
5556
555718 Moreover, they worship even the most hateful animals, 
5558which are worse than all others when judged by their lack of 
5559intelligence; 
5560
556119 and even as animals they are not so beautiful in appearance that 
5562one would desire them, but they have escaped both the praise of 
5563God and his blessing. 
5564
5565[Wisdom of Solomon 16] 
5566The second contrast 
5567
55681 Therefore those people were deservedly punished through such 
5569creatures, and were tormented by a multitude of animals. 
5570
55712 Instead of this punishment you showed kindness to your people, 
5572and you prepared quails to eat, 
5573a delicacy to satisfy the desire of appetite; 
5574
55753 in order that those people, when they desired food, 
5576might lose the least remnant of appetite 
5577because of the odious creatures sent to them, 
5578while your people, after suffering want a short time, 
5579might partake of delicacies. 
5580
55814 For it was necessary that upon those oppressors inescapable want 
5582should come, while to these others it was merely shown how 
5583their enemies were being tormented. 
5584
5585129 
5586
5587
5588
5589WISDOM OF SOLOMON 130 
5590
5591
5592The third contrast 
5593
55945 For when the terrible rage of wild animals came upon your people 
5595and they were being destroyed by the bites of writhing serpents, 
5596your wrath did not continue to the end; 
5597
55986 they were troubled for a little while as a warning, 
5599and received a symbol of deliverance to remind them of your 
5600law's command. 
5601
56027 For the one who turned toward it was saved, not by the thing that 
5603was beheld, but by you, the Savior of all. 
56048 And by this also you convinced our enemies 
5605that it is you who deliver from every evil. 
5606
56079 For they were killed by the bites of locusts and flies, 
5608and no healing was found for them, 
5609because they deserved to be punished by such things. 
5610
561110 But your children were not conquered even by the fangs of 
5612venomous serpents, for your mercy came to their help and healed 
5613them. 
5614
561511 To remind them of your oracles they were bitten, 
5616and then were quickly delivered, 
5617so that they would not fall into deep forgetfulness 
5618and become unresponsive to your kindness. 
5619
562012 For neither herb nor poultice cured them, 
5621but it was your word, O Lord, that heals all people. 
562213 For you have power over life and death; 
5623you lead mortals down to the gates of Hades and back again. 
5624
562514 A person in wickedness kills another, 
5626but cannot bring back the departed spirit, 
5627or set free the imprisoned soul. 
5628
5629The fourth contrast 
5630
563115 To escape from your hand is impossible; 
5632
563316 for the ungodly, refusing to know you, 
5634were flogged by the strength of your arm, 
5635pursued by unusual rains and hail and relentless storms, 
5636and utterly consumed by fire. 
5637
5638130 
5639
5640
5641
5642WISDOM OF SOLOMON 131 
5643
5644
564517 For — most incredible of all — in water, which quenches all things, 
5646the fire had still greater effect, 
5647for the universe defends the righteous. 
5648
564918 At one time the flame was restrained, 
5650so that it might not consume the creatures sent against the 
5651ungodly, but that seeing this they might know 
5652that they were being pursued by the judgment of God; 
5653
565419 and at another time even in the midst of water it burned more 
5655intensely than fire, to destroy the crops of the unrighteous land. 
5656
565720 Instead of these things you gave your people food of angels, 
5658and without their toil you supplied them from heaven with bread 
5659ready to eat, providing every pleasure and suited to every taste. 
5660
566121 For your sustenance manifested your sweetness toward your 
5662children; and the bread, ministering to the desire of the one who 
5663took it, was changed to suit everyone's liking. 
5664
566522 Snow and ice withstood fire without melting, 
5666so that they might know that the crops of their enemies 
5667were being destroyed by the fire that blazed in the hail 
5668and flashed in the showers of rain; 
5669
567023 whereas the fire, in order that the righteous might be fed, 
5671even forgot its native power. 
5672
567324 For creation, serving you who made it, 
5674exerts itself to punish the unrighteous, 
5675and in kindness relaxes on behalf of those who trust in you. 
5676
567725 Therefore at that time also, changed into all forms, 
5678it served your all-nourishing bounty, 
5679according to the desire of those who had need, 
5680
568126 so that your children, whom you loved, O Lord, might learn 
5682that it is not the production of crops that feeds humankind 
5683but that your word sustains those who trust in you. 
5684
568527 For what was not destroyed by fire 
5686was melted when simply warmed by a fleeting ray of the sun, 
568728 to make it known that one must rise before the sun to give you 
5688thanks, and must pray to you at the dawning of the light; 
568929 for the hope of an ungrateful person will melt like wintry frost, 
5690and flow away like waste water. 
5691
5692131 
5693
5694
5695
5696WISDOM OF SOLOMON 132 
5697
5698
5699[Wisdom of Solomon 17] 
5700The fifth contrast 
5701
57021 Great are your judgments and hard to describe; 
5703therefore uninstructed souls have gone astray. 
5704
57052 For when lawless people supposed that they held the holy nation in 
5706their power, they themselves lay as captives of darkness and 
5707prisoners of long night, shut in under their roofs, exiles from 
5708eternal providence. 
5709
57103 For thinking that in their secret sins they were unobserved 
5711behind a dark curtain of forgetfulness, 
5712they were scattered, terribly alarmed, 
5713and appalled by specters. 
5714
57154 For not even the inner chamber that held them protected them from 
5716fear, but terrifying sounds rang out around them, 
5717and dismal phantoms with gloomy faces appeared. 
5718
57195 And no power of fire was able to give light, 
5720nor did the brilliant flames of the stars 
5721avail to illumine that hateful night. 
5722
57236 Nothing was shining through to them 
5724except a dreadful, self-kindled fire, 
5725and in terror they deemed the things that they saw 
5726to be worse than that unseen appearance. 
5727
57287 The delusions of their magic art lay humbled, 
5729and their boasted wisdom was scornfully rebuked. 
57308 For those who promised to drive off the fears and disorders of a sick 
5731soul were sick themselves with ridiculous fear. 
5732
57339 For even if nothing disturbing frightened them, 
5734yet, scared by the passing of wild animals and the hissing of 
5735snakes 
5736
573710 they perished in trembling fear, 
5738refusing to look even at the air, though it nowhere could be 
5739avoided. 
5740
574111 For wickedness is a cowardly thing, condemned by its own testimony; 
5742distressed by conscience, it has always exaggerated the 
5743difficulties. 
5744
5745132 
5746
5747
5748
5749WISDOM OF SOLOMON 133 
5750
5751
575212 For fear is nothing but a giving up of the helps that come from 
5753reason; 
575413 and hope, defeated by this inward weakness, 
5755prefers ignorance of what causes the torment. 
5756
575714 But throughout the night, which was really powerless 
5758and which came upon them from the recesses of powerless 
5759Hades, they all slept the same sleep, 
5760
576115 and now were driven by monstrous specters, 
5762and now were paralyzed by their souls' surrender; 
5763for sudden and unexpected fear overwhelmed them. 
5764
576516 And whoever was there fell down, 
5766and thus was kept shut up in a prison not made of iron; 
5767
576817 for whether they were farmers or shepherds 
5769or workers who toiled in the wilderness, 
5770they were seized, and endured the inescapable fate; 
5771for with one chain of darkness they all were bound. 
5772
577318 Whether there came a whistling wind, 
5774or a melodious sound of birds in wide-spreading branches, 
5775or the rhythm of violently rushing water, 
5776
577719 or the harsh crash of rocks hurled down, 
5778or the unseen running of leaping animals, 
5779or the sound of the most savage roaring beasts, 
5780or an echo thrown back from a hollow of the mountains, 
5781it paralyzed them with terror. 
5782
578320 For the whole world was illumined with brilliant light, 
5784and went about its work unhindered, 
5785
578621 while over those people alone heavy night was spread, 
5787an image of the darkness that was destined to receive them; 
5788but still heavier than darkness were they to themselves. 
5789
5790[Wisdom of Solomon 18] 
5791
57921 But for your holy ones there was very great light. 
5793Their enemies heard their voices but did not see their forms, 
5794and counted them happy for not having suffered, 
5795
57962 and were thankful that your holy ones, though previously wronged, 
5797were doing them no injury; and they begged their pardon for 
5798having been at variance with them. 
5799
5800133 
5801
5802
5803
5804WISDOM OF SOLOMON 134 
5805
5806
58073 Therefore you provided a flaming pillar of fire 
5808as a guide for your people's unknown journey, 
5809and a harmless sun for their glorious wandering. 
5810
58114 For their enemies deserved to be deprived of light and imprisoned in 
5812darkness, those who had kept your children imprisoned, 
5813through whom the imperishable light of the law was to be given 
5814to the world. 
5815
5816The sixth contrast 
5817
58185 When they had resolved to kill the infants of your holy ones, 
5819and one child had been abandoned and rescued, 
5820you in punishment took away a multitude of their children; 
5821and you destroyed them all together by a mighty flood. 
5822
58236 That night was made known beforehand to our ancestors, 
5824so that they might rejoice in sure knowledge of the oaths in 
5825which they trusted. 
5826
58277 The deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of their enemies 
5828were expected by your people. 
58298 For by the same means by which you punished our enemies 
5830you called us to yourself and glorified us. 
5831
58329 For in secret the holy children of good people offered sacrifices, 
5833and with one accord agreed to the divine law, 
5834so that the saints would share alike the same things, 
5835both blessings and dangers; 
5836and already they were singing the praises of the ancestors. 
5837
583810 But the discordant cry of their enemies echoed back, 
5839and their piteous lament for their children was spread abroad. 
584011 The slave was punished with the same penalty as the master, 
5841and the commoner suffered the same loss as the king; 
5842
584312 and they all together, by the one form of death, 
5844had corpses too many to count. 
5845For the living were not sufficient even to bury them, 
5846since in one instant their most valued children had been 
5847destroyed. 
5848
584913 For though they had disbelieved everything because of their magic 
5850arts, yet, when their firstborn were destroyed, they 
5851acknowledged your people to be God's child. 
5852
5853134 
5854
5855
5856
5857WISDOM OF SOLOMON 135 
5858
5859
586014 For while gentle silence enveloped all things, 
5861and night in its swift course was now half gone, 
586215 your all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne, 
5863into the midst of the land that was doomed, a stern warrior 
5864
586516 carrying the sharp sword of your authentic command, 
5866and stood and filled all things with death, 
5867and touched heaven while standing on the earth. 
5868
586917 Then at once apparitions in dreadful dreams greatly troubled them, 
5870and unexpected fears assailed them; 
587118 and one here and another there, hurled down half dead, 
5872made known why they were dying; 
5873
587419 for the dreams that disturbed them forewarned them of this, 
5875so that they might not perish without knowing why they 
5876suffered. 
5877
587820 The experience of death touched also the righteous, 
5879and a plague came upon the multitude in the desert, 
5880but the wrath did not long continue. 
5881
588221 For a blameless man was quick to act as their champion; 
5883he brought forward the shield of his ministry, 
5884prayer and propitiation by incense; 
5885he withstood the anger and put an end to the disaster, 
5886showing that he was your servant. 
5887
588822 He conquered the wrath not by strength of body, 
5889not by force of arms, 
5890but by his word he subdued the avenger, 
5891appealing to the oaths and covenants given to our ancestors. 
5892
589323 For when the dead had already fallen on one another in heaps, 
5894he intervened and held back the wrath, 
5895and cut off its way to the living. 
5896
589724 For on his long robe the whole world was depicted, 
5898and the glories of the ancestors were engraved on the four rows 
5899of stones, and your majesty was on the diadem upon his head. 
5900
590125 To these the destroyer yielded, these he feared; 
5902for merely to test the wrath was enough. 
5903
5904135 
5905
5906
5907
5908WISDOM OF SOLOMON 136 
5909
5910
5911[Wisdom of Solomon 19] 
5912The seventh contrast 
5913
59141 But the ungodly were assailed to the end by pitiless anger, 
5915for God knew in advance even their future actions: 
5916
59172 how, though they themselves had permitted your people to depart 
5918and hastily sent them out, 
5919they would change their minds and pursue them. 
5920
59213 For while they were still engaged in mourning, 
5922and were lamenting at the graves of their dead, 
5923they reached another foolish decision, 
5924and pursued as fugitives those whom they had begged and 
5925compelled to leave. 
5926
59274 For the fate they deserved drew them on to this end, 
5928and made them forget what had happened, 
5929in order that they might fill up the punishment that their 
5930torments still lacked, 
5931
59325 and that your people might experience an incredible journey, 
5933but they themselves might meet a strange death. 
5934
59356 For the whole creation in its nature was fashioned anew, 
5936complying with your commands, 
5937so that your children might be kept unharmed. 
5938
59397 The cloud was seen overshadowing the camp, 
5940and dry land emerging where water had stood before, 
5941an unhindered way out of the Red Sea, 
5942and a grassy plain out of the raging waves, 
5943
59448 where those protected by your hand passed through as one nation, 
5945after gazing on marvelous wonders. 
5946
59479 For they ranged like horses, 
5948and leaped like lambs, 
5949praising you, O Lord, who delivered them. 
5950
595110 For they still recalled the events of their sojourn, 
5952how instead of producing animals the earth brought forth gnats, 
5953and instead of fish the river spewed out vast numbers of frogs. 
5954
595511 Afterward they saw also a new kind of birds, 
5956when desire led them to ask for luxurious food; 
5957
5958136 
5959
5960
5961
5962WISDOM OF SOLOMON 137 
5963
5964
596512 for, to give them relief, quails came up from the sea. 
5966
596713 The punishments did not come upon the sinners 
5968without prior signs in the violence of thunder, 
5969for they justly suffered because of their wicked acts; 
5970for they practiced a more bitter hatred of strangers. 
5971
597214 Others had refused to receive strangers when they came to them, 
5973but these made slaves of guests who were their benefactors. 
597415 And not only so — but, while punishment of some sort will come 
5975upon the former for having received strangers with hostility, 
5976
597716 the latter, having first received them with festal celebrations, 
5978afterward afflicted with terrible sufferings 
5979those who had already shared the same rights. 
5980
598117 They were stricken also with loss of sight — 
5982just as were those at the door of the righteous man — 
5983when, surrounded by yawning darkness, 
5984all of them tried to find the way through their own doors. 
5985
598618 For the elements changed places with one another, 
5987as on a harp the notes vary the nature of the rhythm, 
5988while each note remains the same. 
5989This may be clearly inferred from the sight of what took place. 
5990
599119 For land animals were transformed into water creatures, 
5992and creatures that swim moved over to the land. 
599320 Fire even in water retained its normal power, 
5994and water forgot its fire-quenching nature. 
5995
599621 Flames, on the contrary, failed to consume 
5997the flesh of perishable creatures that walked among them, 
5998nor did they melt the crystalline, quick-melting kind of 
5999heavenly food. 
6000
6001The concluding doxology 
6002
600322 For in everything, O Lord, you have exalted and glorified your 
6004people, and you have not neglected to help them at all times 
6005and in all places. 
6006
6007137 
6008
6009
6010
6011SIRACH 138 
6012
6013
6014SIRACH 
6015
6016
6017(Ecclesiasticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach) 
6018
6019Introduction 
6020
6021The names by which this book is known reflect something of its origin 
6022and history. Sirach is the name of the author, Jesus son of Eleazar son 
6023of Sirach (50.27), in Hebrew, Yeshua be El-azar ben Sira. Although the 
6024book was highly regarded in rabbinic literature and even cited in the 
6025Talmud, it did not achieve canonical status. The early Christian church, 
6026however, did consider it canonical. Although originally it was titled 
6027"The Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach" in Greek and Old Latin 
6028manuscripts, many manuscripts of the Latin Vulgate referred to it as 
6029"Ecclesiasticus," that is, "the Church's book." The Protestant reformers, 
6030in keeping with their practice of conforming the Christian Old 
6031Testament to the book deemed canonical in the Hebrew scriptures, 
6032relegated it to the Apocrypha. 
6033
6034Because the book was not canonical in Judaism, the original Hebrew 
6035text was lost to the western world from about 400 to 1900 CE; the 
6036book survived in Greek, Latin, Syriac, and other translations. Since 
6037about 1900 CE fragmentary copies of the Hebrew, dating from 
6038antiquity to the Middle Ages, have been discovered in various places: 
6039Qumran, Masada, and the Geniza (i.e., storage room) of a medieval 
6040Cairo synagogue. In this way two-thirds of the Hebrew text has been 
6041recovered. The translation here is one of a critically established text, 
6042using both Hebrew and other witnesses to the original. The reader will 
6043occasionally find a slightly different verse numbering from that in 
6044traditional renderings, since the NRSV follows the numbering of the 
6045critical text edited by J. Ziegler. 
6046
6047Ben Sira composed his work in Jerusalem sometime before 180 BCE (see 
6048his description in 50.1-24 of Simon II, high priest from 219-196). Thus he 
6049wrote before the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus IV Epiphanes 
6050
6051138 
6052
6053
6054
6055SIRACH 139 
6056
6057SIRACH 139 
6058
6059Like the book of Proverbs, Sirach stresses characteristic wisdom 
6060teachings: prudent speech, wealth and poverty, honesty, diligence, 
6061choice of friends, sin and death, retribution, and wisdom itself. Unlike 
6062Proverbs 10ff., individual proverbs are not set apart, but are 
6063incorporated into smooth-flowing poems of some length (often 22 
6064lines in accordance with the number of letters of the Hebrew 
6065alphabet). The doctrine is surprisingly traditional, almost as if Job and 
6066Ecclesiastes had never been written. Ben Sira is not unaware of the 
6067problem of suffering (2.1-6; 11.14; 40.1-10), but he firmly believes in the 
6068justice of divine retribution. God will reward all according to their 
6069deserts (15.11-16.23). There is no intimation of a future life with God in 
6070the Hebrew text as one begins to find in some Jewish literature of the 
6071Hellenistic age (e.g., 2 Macc 7.9; Wis 5.15-16); rather, all go to Sheol, the 
6072traditional abode of the dead (14.12-19; 38.16-23). This is the usual view 
6073of the Hebrew Bible, where immortality is understood only in terms of 
6074one's progeny and good name (44.13-15). 
6075
6076The earlier biblical wisdom literature lacks reference to Israel's sacred 
6077history and covenantal traditions. Sirach, in contrast, reprises biblical 
6078history in the "Hymn in Honor of Our Ancestors" (chs 44-49), and 
6079clearly identifies the figure of Wisdom with the Torah or law (24.23). 
6080Unlike earlier wisdom writings, Sirach is immersed in the environment 
6081of Jerusalem Temple worship and sacrifice (35.1-12; 50.1-24). 
6082Nevertheless, the book belongs definitely to the genre of wisdom 
6083literature, with its stress on the lessons of experience and on the "fear 
6084of the Lord" (1.11-30; 25.10-11; 40.25-27). 
6085
6086Ben Sira describes his profession as a "scribe," or scholar of the sacred 
6087writings (39.1-11) and invites students to his school (51.23). The work's 
6088original addresses were young men preparing for leading adult roles in 
6089the Jewish community. This is evident in many aspects of the book, 
6090
6091139 
6092
6093
6094
6095SIRACH 140 
6096
6097SIRACH 140 
6098
6099Sirach's teachings are not arranged in a logical sequence. Reading 
6100straight through the book from beginning to end, therefore is not 
6101necessarily the best approach. Good places to start reading Sirach are 
6102the two pivotal poems on personified Wisdom (1.1-30; 24.1-34; each 
6103introduces a major collection of instructional material) and the hymn 
6104of praise to Israel's ancestors (44.1-49.16). 
6105
6106The book consists of three major blocks of teaching: 1.1-23.27; 24.1-42.14; 
6107and 42.15-50.24) In its current form these are preceded by the Prologue 
6108and followed by concluding comments and additions (50.25-51.30). 
6109Each of the first two collections begin with a poem of praise of 
6110Wisdom (1.1-30; 24.1-34); the third collection consists entirely of hymns 
6111of praise, of the creator (42.15-43.33), of Israel's ancestors (44.1-49.16), 
6112and of the high priest Simon (50.1-24). 
6113
6114Sirach 
6115
6116THE PROLOGUE 
6117
6118Many great teachings have been given to us through the Law and the 
6119Prophets and the others that followed them, and for these we should 
6120praise Israel for instruction and wisdom. Now, those who read the 
6121scriptures must not only themselves understand them, but must also as 
6122lovers of learning be able through the spoken and written word to 
6123help the outsiders. So my grandfather Jesus, who had devoted himself 
6124especially to the reading of the Law and the Prophets and the other 
6125books of our ancestors, and had acquired considerable proficiency in 
6126
6127140 
6128
6129
6130
6131SIRACH 141 
6132
6133SIRACH 141 
6134
6135You are invited therefore to read it with goodwill and attention, and 
6136to be indulgent in cases where, despite our diligent labor in 
6137translating, we may seem to have rendered some phrases imperfectly. 
6138For what was originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the 
6139same sense when translated into another language. Not only this book, 
6140but even the Law itself, the Prophecies, and the rest of the books differ 
6141not a little when read in the original. 
6142
6143When I came to Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of the reign of 
6144Euergetes and stayed for some time, I found opportunity for no little 
6145instruction. It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote 
6146some diligence and labor to the translation of this book. During that 
6147time I have applied my skill day and night to complete and publish the 
6148book for those living abroad who wished to gain learning and are 
6149disposed to live according to the law. 
6150
6151[Sirach 1] 
6152Wisdom, God's unfathomable gift 
6153
6154
61551 All wisdom is from the Lord, 
6156
6157and with him it remains forever. 
61582 The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, 
6159
6160and the days of eternity — who can count them? 
61613 The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, 
6162
6163the abyss, and wisdom — who can search them out? 
61644 Wisdom was created before all other things, 
6165
6166and prudent understanding from eternity. 
6167
61685 The source of wisdom is God's word in the highest heaven, 
6169and her ways are the eternal commandments. 
6170
61716 The root of wisdom — to whom has it been revealed? 
6172Her subtleties — who knows them? 
6173
6174141 
6175
6176
6177
6178SIRACH 142 
6179
6180
61817 The knowledge of wisdom — to whom was it manifested? 
6182And her abundant experience — who has understood it? 
6183
61848 There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared, 
6185seated upon his throne — the Lord. 
6186
61879 It is he who created her; 
6188he saw her and took her measure; 
6189he poured her out upon all his works, 
6190
619110 upon all the living according to his gift; 
6192he lavished her upon those who love him. 
6193Love of the Lord is glorious wisdom; to those whom he 
6194appears he apportions her, that they may see him. 
6195
6196Wisdom as fear of the Lord 
6197
619811 The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation, 
6199and gladness and a crown of rejoicing. 
6200
620112 The fear of the Lord delights the heart, 
6202and gives gladness and joy and long life. 
6203The fear of the Lord is a gift from the Lord; 
6204also for love he makes firm paths. 
6205
620613 Those who fear the Lord will have a happy end; 
6207on the day of their death they will be blessed. 
6208
620914 To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; 
6210she is created with the faithful in the womb. 
621115 She made among human beings an eternal foundation, 
6212and among their descendants she will abide faithfully. 
621316 To fear the Lord is fullness of wisdom; 
6214she inebriates mortals with her fruits; 
621517 she fills their whole house with desirable goods, 
6216and their storehouses with her produce. 
6217
621818 The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, 
6219making peace and perfect health to flourish. 
6220Both are gifts of God for peace; 
6221glory opens out for those who love him. 
6222He saw her and took her measure. 
6223
6224142 
6225
6226
6227
6228SIRACH 143 
6229
6230
623119 She rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension, 
6232and she heightened the glory of those who held her fast. 
6233
623420 To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom, 
6235and her branches are long life. 
6236
623721 The fear of the Lord drives away sins; 
6238and where it abides, it will turn away all anger. 
6239
624022 Unjust anger cannot be justified, 
6241for anger tips the scale to one's ruin. 
624223 Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment, 
6243and then cheerfulness comes back to them. 
624424 They hold back their words until the right moment; 
6245then the lips of many tell of their good sense. 
6246
624725 In the treasuries of wisdom are wise sayings, 
6248but godliness is an abomination to a sinner. 
624926 If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, 
6250and the Lord will lavish her upon you. 
625127 For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline, 
6252fidelity and humility are his delight. 
6253
625428 Do not disobey the fear of the Lord; 
6255do not approach him with a divided mind. 
625629 Do not be a hypocrite before others, 
6257and keep watch over your lips. 
625830 Do not exalt yourself, or you may fall 
6259and bring dishonor upon yourself. 
6260The Lord will reveal your secrets 
6261and overthrow you before the whole congregation, 
6262because you did not come in the fear of the Lord, 
6263and your heart was full of deceit. 
6264
6265143 
6266
6267
6268
6269SIRACH 144 
6270
6271
6272[Sirach 2] 
6273Trust in God 
6274
62751 My child, when you come to serve the Lord, 
6276prepare yourself for testing. 
62772 Set your heart right and be steadfast, 
6278and do not be impetuous in time of calamity. 
62793 Cling to him and do not depart, 
6280so that your last days may be prosperous. 
62814 Accept whatever befalls you, 
6282and in times of humiliation be patient. 
6283
62845 For gold is tested in the fire, 
6285and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation. 
6286In sickness and poverty put your trust in him. 
6287
62886 Trust in him, and he will help you; 
6289make your ways straight, and hope in him. 
6290
62917 You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; 
6292do not stray, or else you may fall. 
62938 You who fear the Lord, trust in him, 
6294and your reward will not be lost. 
6295
62969 You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, 
6297for lasting joy and mercy. For his reward is 
6298an everlasting gift with joy. 
6299
630010 Consider the generations of old and see: 
6301has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed? 
6302
6303Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and 
6304been forsaken? 
6305Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected? 
6306
630711 For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; 
6308he forgives sins and saves in time of distress. 
6309
631012 Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands, 
6311and to the sinner who walks a double path! 
631213 Woe to the fainthearted who have no trust! 
6313Therefore they will have no shelter. 
631414 Woe to you who have lost your nerve! 
6315What will you do when the LORD's reckoning comes? 
6316
6317144 
6318
6319
6320
6321SIRACH 145 
6322
6323
632415 Those who fear the Lord do not disobey his words, 
6325and those who love him keep his ways. 
632616 Those who fear the Lord seek to please him, 
6327and those who love him are filled with his law. 
632817 Those who fear the Lord prepare their hearts, 
6329and humble themselves before him. 
633018 Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, 
6331but not into the hands of mortals; 
6332for equal to his majesty is his mercy, 
6333and equal to his name are his works. 
6334
6335[Sirach 3] 
6336Honor of parents 
6337
6338
63391 Listen to me your father, O children; 
6340act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety. 
63412 For the Lord honors a father above his children, 
6342
6343and he confirms a mother's right over her children. 
63443 Those who honor their father atone for sins, 
63454 and those who respect their mother are like those who lay 
6346
6347 up treasure. 
63485 Those who honor their father will have joy in their own children, 
6349and when they pray they will be heard. 
63506 Those who respect their father will have long life, 
6351and those who honor their mother obey the Lord; 
63527 Those who fear the Lord honor their father; 
6353they will serve their parents as their masters. 
63548 Honor your father by word and deed, 
6355that his blessing may come upon you. 
63569 For a father's blessing strengthens the houses of the children, 
6357but a mother's curse uproots their foundations. 
635810 Do not glorify yourself by dishonoring your father, 
6359for your father's dishonor is no glory to you. 
636011 The glory of one's father is one's own glory, 
6361and it is a disgrace for children not to respect their mother. 
6362
6363145 
6364
6365
6366
6367SIRACH 146 
6368
6369
637012 My child, help your father in his old age, 
6371and do not grieve him as long as he lives; 
637213 even if his mind fails, be patient with him; 
6373because you have all your faculties do not despise him. 
637414 For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, 
6375and will be credited to you against your sins; 
637615 in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favor; 
6377like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away. 
637816 Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer, 
6379and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord. 
6380
6381Humility 
6382
638317 My child, perform your tasks with humility; 
6384then you will be loved by those whom God accepts. 
638518 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; 
6386so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord. 
638719 Many are lofty and renowned, 
6388but to the humble he reveals his secrets. 
638920 For great is the might of the Lord; 
6390but by the humble he is glorified. 
639121 Neither seek what is too difficult for you, 
6392nor investigate what is beyond your power. 
6393
639422 Reflect upon what you have been commanded, 
6395for what is hidden is not your concern. 
639623 Do not meddle in matters that are beyond you, 
6397
6398
6399for more than you can understand has been shown you. 
640024 For their conceit has led many astray, 
6401and wrong opinion has impaired their judgment. 
6402
6403Stubbornness 
6404
640525 Without eyes there is no light; 
6406without knowledge there is no wisdom. 
640726 A stubborn mind will fare badly at the end, 
6408and whoever loves danger will perish in it. 
640927 A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles, 
6410and the sinner adds sin to sins. 
6411
6412146 
6413
6414
6415
6416SIRACH 147 
6417
6418
641928 When calamity befalls the proud, there is no healing, 
6420for an evil plant has taken root in him. 
642129 The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs, 
6422and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise. 
6423
6424Care for the Poor 
6425
642630 As water extinguishes a blazing fire, 
6427so almsgiving atones for sin. 
642831 Those who repay favors give thought to the future; 
6429when they fall they will find support. 
6430
6431[Sirach 4] 
6432
64331 My child, do not cheat the poor of their living, 
6434and do not keep needy eyes waiting. 
64352 Do not grieve the hungry, 
6436or anger one in need. 
64373 Do not add to the troubles of the desperate, 
6438or delay giving to the needy. 
64394 Do not reject a suppliant in distress, 
6440or turn your face away from the poor. 
64415 Do not avert your eye from the needy, 
6442and give no one reason to curse you; 
64436 for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you, 
6444their Creator will hear their prayer. 
6445
64467 Endear yourself to the congregation; 
6447bow your head low to the great. 
64488 Give a hearing to the poor, 
6449and return their greeting politely. 
64509 Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor; 
6451and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict. 
645210 Be a father to orphans, 
6453and be like a husband to their mother; 
6454you will then be like a son of the Most High, 
6455and he will love you more than does your mother. 
6456
6457147 
6458
6459
6460
6461SIRACH 148 
6462
6463
6464Wisdom's rewards and trials 
6465
646611 Wisdom teaches her children 
6467and gives help to those who seek her. 
646812 Whoever loves her loves life, 
6469and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy. 
647013 Whoever holds her fast inherits glory, 
6471and the Lord blesses the place she enters. 
647214 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One; 
6473the Lord loves those who love her. 
647415 Those who obey her will judge the nations, 
6475and all who listen to her will live secure. 
647616 If they remain faithful, they will inherit her; 
6477their descendants will also obtain her. 
647817 For at first she will walk with them on tortuous paths; 
6479she will bring fear and dread upon them, 
6480
6481and will torment them by her discipline 
6482until she trusts them, 
6483and she will test them with her ordinances. 
6484
6485
648618 Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them, 
6487and will reveal her secrets to them. 
648819 If they go astray she will forsake them, 
6489and hand them over to their ruin. 
6490
6491On reticence, true and false 
6492
649320 Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil, 
6494and do not be ashamed to be yourself. 
649521 For there is a shame that leads to sin, 
6496and there is a shame that is glory and favor. 
649722 Do not show partiality, to your own harm, 
6498or deference, to your downfall. 
649923 Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment, 
6500and do not hide your wisdom. 
650124 For wisdom becomes known through speech, 
6502and education through the words of the tongue. 
650325 Never speak against the truth, 
6504but be ashamed of your ignorance. 
6505
6506148 
6507
6508
6509
6510SIRACH 149 
6511
6512
651326 Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, 
6514and do not try to stop the current of a river. 
651527 Do not subject yourself to a fool, 
6516or show partiality to a ruler. 
651728 Fight to the death for truth, 
6518and the Lord God will fight for you. 
6519
652029 Do not be reckless in your speech, 
6521or sluggish and remiss in your deeds. 
652230 Do not be like a lion in your home, 
6523or suspicious of your servants. 
652431 Do not let your hand be stretched out to receive 
6525and closed when it is time to give. 
6526
6527[Sirach 5] 
6528Against presumption; false reliance on wealth 
6529
6530
65311 Do not rely on your wealth, 
6532or say, "I have enough." 
65332 Do not follow your inclination and strength 
6534in pursuing the desires of your heart. 
65353 Do not say, "Who can have power over me?" 
6536for the Lord will surely punish you. 
6537
65384 Do not say, "I sinned, yet what has happened to me?" 
6539for the Lord is slow to anger. 
65405 Do not be so confident of forgiveness 
6541that you add sin to sin. 
65426 Do not say, "His mercy is great, 
6543he will forgive the multitude of my sins," 
6544for both mercy and wrath are with him, 
6545and his anger will rest on sinners. 
65467 Do not delay to turn back to the Lord, 
6547and do not postpone it from day to day; 
6548for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come upon you, 
6549and at the time of punishment you will perish. 
65508 Do not depend on dishonest wealth, 
6551for it will not benefit you on the day of calamity. 
6552
6553149 
6554
6555
6556
6557SIRACH 150 
6558
6559
6560Honesty and self-control 
6561
65629 Do not winnow in every wind, 
6563or follow every path, so it is with the double-tongued sinner. 
656410 Stand firm for what you know, 
6565and let your speech be consistent. 
656611 Be quick to hear, 
6567but deliberate in answering. 
656812 If you know what to say, answer your neighbor; 
6569but if not, put your hand over your mouth. 
6570
657113 Honor and dishonor come from speaking, 
6572and the tongue of mortals may be their downfall. 
657314 Do not be called double-tongued 
6574and do not lay traps with your tongue; 
6575for shame comes to the thief, 
6576and severe condemnation to the double-tongued. 
657715 In great and small matters cause no harm, 
6578
6579[Sirach 6] 
6580
65811 and do not become an enemy instead of a friend; 
6582for a bad name incurs shame and reproach; 
6583so it is with the double-tongued sinner. 
6584
65852 Do not fall into the grip of passion, 
6586or you may be torn apart as by a bull. 
65873 Your leaves will be devoured and your fruit destroyed, 
6588and you will be left like a withered tree. 
65894 Evil passion destroys those who have it, 
6590and makes them the laughingstock of their enemies. 
6591
6592True and false friendship 
6593
65945 Pleasant speech multiplies friends, 
6595and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies. 
65966 Let those who are friendly with you be many, 
6597but let your advisers be one in a thousand. 
6598
6599150 
6600
6601
6602
6603SIRACH 151 
6604
6605
66067 When you gain friends, gain them through testing, 
6607and do not trust them hastily. 
66088 For there are friends who are such when it suits them, 
6609but they will not stand by you in time of trouble. 
66109 And there are friends who change into enemies, 
6611and tell of the quarrel to your disgrace. 
661210 And there are friends who sit at your table, 
6613but they will not stand by you in time of trouble. 
661411 When you are prosperous, they become your second self, 
6615and lord it over your servants; 
661612 but if you are brought low, they turn against you, 
6617and hide themselves from you. 
661813 Keep away from your enemies, 
6619and be on guard with your friends. 
6620
662114 Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: 
6622whoever finds one has found a treasure. 
662315 Faithful friends are beyond price; 
6624no amount can balance their worth. 
662516 Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; 
6626and those who fear the Lord will find them. 
662717 Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright, 
6628for as they are, so are their neighbors also. 
6629
6630Wisdom's discipline 
6631
663218 My child, from your youth choose discipline, 
6633and when you have gray hair you will still find wisdom. 
663419 Come to her like one who plows and sows, 
6635and wait for her good harvest. 
6636For when you cultivate her you will toil but little, 
6637and soon you will eat of her produce. 
663820 She seems very harsh to the undisciplined; 
6639fools cannot remain with her. 
664021 She will be like a heavy stone to test them, 
6641and they will not delay in casting her aside. 
664222 For wisdom is like her name; 
6643she is not readily perceived by many. 
6644
6645151 
6646
6647
6648
6649SIRACH 152 
6650
6651
665223 Listen, my child, and accept my judgment; 
6653do not reject my counsel. 
665424 Put your feet into her fetters, 
6655and your neck into her collar. 
665625 Bend your shoulders and carry her, 
6657and do not fret under her bonds. 
665826 Come to her with all your soul, 
6659and keep her ways with all your might. 
666027 Search out and seek, and she will become known to you; 
6661and when you get hold of her, do not let her go. 
666228 For at last you will find the rest she gives, 
6663and she will be changed into joy for you. 
666429 Then her fetters will become for you a strong defense, 
6665and her collar a glorious robe. 
666630 Her yoke is a golden ornament, 
6667and her bonds a purple cord. 
666831 You will wear her like a glorious robe, 
6669and put her on like a splendid crown. 
6670
667132 If you are willing, my child, you can be disciplined, 
6672and if you apply yourself you will become clever. 
667333 If you love to listen you will gain knowledge, 
6674and if you pay attention you will become wise. 
667534 Stand in the company of the elders. 
6676Who is wise? Attach yourself to such a one. 
667735 Be ready to listen to every godly discourse, 
6678and let no wise proverbs escape you. 
667936 If you see an intelligent person, rise early to visit him; 
6680let your foot wear out his doorstep. 
668137 Reflect on the statutes of the Lord, 
6682and meditate at all times on his commandments. 
6683It is he who will give insight to your mind, 
6684and your desire for wisdom will be granted. 
6685
6686152 
6687
6688
6689
6690SIRACH 153 
6691
6692
6693[Sirach 7] 
6694Ethical conduct 
6695
66961 Do no evil, and evil will never overtake you. 
66972 Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away from you. 
66983 Do not sow in the furrows of injustice, 
6699
6700and you will not reap a sevenfold crop. 
6701
67024 Do not seek from the Lord high office, 
6703or the seat of honor from the king. 
67045 Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord, 
6705or display your wisdom before the king. 
67066 Do not seek to become a judge, 
6707or you may be unable to root out injustice; 
6708you may be partial to the powerful, 
6709and so mar your integrity. 
67107 Commit no offense against the public, 
6711and do not disgrace yourself among the people. 
6712
67138 Do not commit a sin twice; 
6714not even for one will you go unpunished. 
6715
67169 Do not say, "He will consider the great number of my gifts, 
6717and when I make an offering to the Most High God, he will 
6718accept it." 
6719
672010 Do not grow weary when you pray; 
6721do not neglect to give alms. 
672211 Do not ridicule a person who is embittered in spirit, 
6723for there is One who humbles and exalts. 
672412 Do not devise a lie against your brother, 
6725or do the same to a friend. 
672613 Refuse to utter any lie, 
6727for it is a habit that results in no good. 
672814 Do not babble in the assembly of the elders, 
6729and do not repeat yourself when you pray. 
6730
673115 Do not hate hard labor 
6732or farm work, which was created by the Most High. 
6733
6734153 
6735
6736
6737
6738SIRACH 154 
6739
6740
674116 Do not enroll in the ranks of sinners; 
6742remember that retribution does not delay. 
674317 Humble yourself to the utmost, 
6744for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms. 
6745
6746Authority in the household 
6747
674818 Do not exchange a friend for money, 
6749or a real brother for the gold of Ophir. 
675019 Do not dismiss a wise and good wife, 
6751for her charm is worth more than gold. 
675220 Do not abuse slaves who work faithfully, 
6753or hired laborers who devote themselves to their task. 
675421 Let your soul love intelligent slaves; 
6755do not withhold from them their freedom. 
6756
675722 Do you have cattle? Look after them; 
6758if they are profitable to you, keep them. 
675923 Do you have children? Discipline them, 
6760and make them obedient from their youth. 
676124 Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity, 
6762and do not show yourself too indulgent with them. 
676325 Give a daughter in marriage, and you complete a great task; 
6764but give her to a sensible man. 
676526 Do you have a wife who pleases you? Do not divorce her; 
6766but do not trust yourself to one whom you detest. 
6767
676827 With all your heart honor your father, 
6769and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother. 
677028 Remember that it was of your parents you were born; 
6771how can you repay what they have given to you? 
6772
6773Obligations to priests and to the poor 
6774
677529 With all your soul fear the Lord, 
6776and revere his priests. 
677730 With all your might love your Maker, 
6778and do not neglect his ministers. 
6779
6780154 
6781
6782
6783
6784SIRACH 155 
6785
6786
678731 Fear the Lord and honor the priest, 
6788and give him his portion, as you have been commanded: 
6789
6790 the first fruits, the guilt offering, the gift of the shoulders, 
6791the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of the 
6792holy things. 
6793
679432 Stretch out your hand to the poor, 
6795so that your blessing may be complete. 
679633 Give graciously to all the living; 
6797do not withhold kindness even from the dead. 
679834 Do not avoid those who weep, 
6799but mourn with those who mourn. 
680035 Do not hesitate to visit the sick, 
6801because for such deeds you will be loved. 
680236 In all you do, remember the end of your life, 
6803and then you will never sin. 
6804
6805[Sirach 8] 
6806Caution in relationships 
6807
6808
68091 Do not contend with the powerful, 
6810or you may fall into their hands. 
68112 Do not quarrel with the rich, 
6812in case their resources outweigh yours; 
6813for gold has ruined many, 
6814and has perverted the minds of kings. 
68153 Do not argue with the loud of mouth, 
6816and do not heap wood on their fire. 
68174 Do not make fun of one who is ill-bred, 
6818or your ancestors may be insulted. 
68195 Do not reproach one who is turning away from sin; 
6820remember that we all deserve punishment. 
68216 Do not disdain one who is old, 
6822for some of us are also growing old. 
68237 Do not rejoice over anyone's death; 
6824remember that we must all die. 
6825
6826155 
6827
6828
6829
6830SIRACH 156 
6831
6832
68338 Do not slight the discourse of the sages, 
6834but busy yourself with their maxims; 
6835because from them you will learn discipline 
6836and how to serve princes. 
68379 Do not ignore the discourse of the aged, 
6838for they themselves learned from their parents; 
6839from them you learn how to understand 
6840and to give an answer when the need arises. 
6841
684210 Do not kindle the coals of sinners, 
6843or you may be burned in their flaming fire. 
684411 Do not let the insolent bring you to your feet, 
6845or they may lie in ambush against your words. 
684612 Do not lend to one who is stronger than you; 
6847but if you do lend anything, count it as a loss. 
684813 Do not give surety beyond your means; 
6849but if you give surety, be prepared to pay. 
6850
685114 Do not go to law against a judge, 
6852for the decision will favor him because of his standing. 
685315 Do not go traveling with the reckless, 
6854or they will be burdensome to you; 
6855for they will act as they please, 
6856and through their folly you will perish with them. 
685716 Do not pick a fight with the quick-tempered, 
6858and do not journey with them through lonely country, 
6859because bloodshed means nothing to them, 
6860and where no help is at hand, they will strike you down. 
686117 Do not consult with fools, 
6862for they cannot keep a secret. 
686318 In the presence of strangers do nothing that is to be kept secret, 
6864for you do not know what they will divulge. 
686519 Do not reveal your thoughts to anyone, 
6866or you may drive away your happiness. 
6867
6868156 
6869
6870
6871
6872SIRACH 157 
6873
6874
6875[Sirach 9] 
6876Warnings about women 
6877
6878
68791 Do not be jealous of the wife of your bosom, 
6880or you will teach her an evil lesson to your own hurt. 
68812 Do not give yourself to a woman 
6882and let her trample down your strength. 
68833 Do not go near a loose woman, 
6884or you will fall into her snares. 
68854 Do not dally with a singing girl, 
6886or you will be caught by her tricks. 
68875 Do not look intently at a virgin, 
6888or you may stumble and incur penalties for her. 
68896 Do not give yourself to prostitutes, 
6890or you may lose your inheritance. 
68917 Do not look around in the streets of a city, 
6892or wander about in its deserted sections. 
68938 Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman, 
6894and do not gaze at beauty belonging to another; 
6895many have been seduced by a woman's beauty, 
6896and by it passion is kindled like a fire. 
68979 Never dine with another man's wife, 
6898or revel with her at wine; 
6899or your heart may turn aside to her, 
6900and in blood you may be plunged into destruction. 
6901
6902Friends and associates 
6903
690410 Do not abandon old friends, 
6905for new ones cannot equal them. 
6906A new friend is like new wine; 
6907when it has aged, you can drink it with pleasure. 
6908
690911 Do not envy the success of sinners, 
6910for you do not know what their end will be like. 
691112 Do not delight in what pleases the ungodly; 
6912remember that they will not be held guiltless all their lives. 
6913
6914157 
6915
6916
6917
6918SIRACH 158 
6919
6920
692113 Keep far from those who have power to kill, 
6922and you will not be haunted by the fear of death. 
6923But if you approach them, make no misstep, 
6924or they may rob you of your life. 
6925Know that you are stepping among snares, 
6926and that you are walking on the city battlements. 
6927
692814 As much as you can, aim to know your neighbors, 
6929
6930and consult with the wise. 
693115 Let your conversation be with intelligent people, 
6932
6933and let all your discussion be about the law of the Most High. 
693416 Let the righteous be your dinner companions, 
6935
6936and let your glory be in the fear of the Lord. 
6937
6938Concerning Rulers 
6939
694017 A work is praised for the skill of the artisan; 
6941
6942so a people's leader is proved wise by his words. 
694318 The loud of mouth are feared in their city, 
6944
6945and the one who is reckless in speech is hated. 
6946
6947[Sirach 10] 
6948
69491 A wise magistrate educates his people, 
6950
6951and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered. 
69522 As the people's judge is, so are his officials; 
6953
6954as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants. 
69553 An undisciplined king ruins his people, 
6956
6957but a city becomes fit to live in through the understanding 
6958
6959of its rulers. 
69604 The government of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, 
6961
6962and over it he will raise up the right leader for the time. 
69635 Human success is in the hand of the Lord, 
6964
6965and it is he who confers honor upon the lawgiver. 
6966
6967158 
6968
6969
6970
6971SIRACH 159 
6972
6973
6974Concerning arrogance and pride 
6975
69766 Do not get angry with your neighbor for every injury, 
6977and do not resort to acts of insolence. 
69787 Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals, 
6979and injustice is outrageous to both. 
69808 Sovereignty passes from nation to nation 
6981on account of injustice and insolence and wealth. 
69829 How can dust and ashes be proud? 
6983Even in life the human body decays. 
6984Nothing is more wicked than one who loves money, 
6985for such a person puts his own soul up for sale. 
698610 A long illness baffles the physician; 
6987the king of today will die tomorrow. 
698811 For when one is dead 
6989he inherits maggots and vermin and worms. 
699012 The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord; 
6991the heart has withdrawn from its Maker. 
699213 For the beginning of pride is sin, 
6993and the one who clings to it pours out abominations. 
6994Therefore the Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities, 
6995and destroys them completely. 
699614 The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers, 
6997and enthrones the lowly in their place. 
699815 The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations, 
6999and plants the humble in their place. 
700016 The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations, 
7001and destroys them to the foundations of the earth. 
700217 He removes some of them and destroys them, 
7003and erases the memory of them from the earth. 
700418 Pride was not created for human beings, 
7005or violent anger for those born of women. 
7006
7007159 
7008
7009
7010
7011SIRACH 160 
7012
7013
7014True honor is compatible with humility 
7015
701619 Whose offspring are worthy of honor? 
7017Human offspring. 
7018Whose offspring are worthy of honor? 
7019Those who fear the Lord. 
7020Whose offspring are unworthy of honor? 
7021Human offspring. 
7022Whose offspring are unworthy of honor? 
7023Those who break the commandments. 
702420 Among family members their leader is worthy of honor, 
7025but those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes. 
702621 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance; 
7027obduracy and pride are the beginning of rejection. 
702822 The rich, and the eminent, and the poor — 
7029their glory is the fear of the Lord. 
703023 It is not right to despise one who is intelligent but poor, 
7031and it is not proper to honor one who is sinful. 
703224 The prince and the judge and the ruler are honored, 
7033but none of them is greater than the one who fears the Lord. 
703425 Free citizens will serve a wise servant, 
7035and an intelligent person will not complain. 
7036
703726 Do not make a display of your wisdom when you do your work, 
7038and do not boast when you are in need. 
703927 Better is the worker who has goods in plenty 
7040than the boaster who lacks bread. 
7041
704228 My child, honor yourself with humility, 
7043and give yourself the esteem you deserve. 
704429 Who will acquit those who condemn themselves? 
7045And who will honor those who dishonor themselves? 
704630 The poor are honored for their knowledge, 
7047while the rich are honored for their wealth. 
704831 One who is honored in poverty, how much more in wealth! 
7049And one dishonored in wealth, how much more in poverty! 
7050
7051160 
7052
7053
7054
7055SIRACH 161 
7056
7057
7058[Sirach 11] 
7059
70601 The wisdom of the humble lifts their heads high, 
7061and seats them among the great. 
70622 Do not praise individuals for their good looks, 
7063or loathe anyone because of appearance alone. 
70643 The bee is small among flying creatures, 
7065but what it produces is the best of sweet things. 
70664 Do not boast about wearing fine clothes, 
7067and do not exalt yourself when you are honored; 
7068for the works of the Lord are wonderful, 
7069and his works are concealed from humankind. 
70705 Many kings have had to sit on the ground, 
7071but one who was never thought of has worn a crown. 
70726 Many rulers have been utterly disgraced, 
7073and the honored have been handed over to others. 
7074
7075Against hasty and rash actions 
7076
70777 Do not find fault before you investigate; 
7078examine first, and then criticize. 
70798 Do not answer before you listen, 
7080and do not interrupt when another is speaking. 
70819 Do not argue about a matter that does not concern you, 
7082and do not sit with sinners when they judge a case. 
7083
7084Do not strive for material security 
7085
708610 My child, do not busy yourself with many matters; 
7087if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless. 
7088If you pursue, you will not overtake, 
7089and by fleeing you will not escape. 
709011 There are those who work and struggle and hurry, 
7091but are so much the more in want. 
709212 There are others who are slow and need help, 
7093who lack strength and abound in poverty; 
7094but the eyes of the Lord look kindly upon them; 
7095he lifts them out of their lowly condition 
7096
7097161 
7098
7099
7100
7101SIRACH 162 
7102
7103
710413 and raises up their heads 
7105to the amazement of the many. 
7106
710714 Good things and bad, life and death, 
7108poverty and wealth, come from the Lord. 
710915 Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of the law come from the 
7110Lord; affection and the ways of good works come from him. 
711116 Error and darkness were created with sinners; 
7112evil grows old with those who take pride in malice. 
711317 The LORD's gift remains with the devout, 
7114and his favor brings lasting success. 
711518 One becomes rich through diligence and self-denial, 
7116and the reward allotted to him is this: 
711719 when he says, "I have found rest, 
7118and now I shall feast on my goods!" 
7119he does not know how long it will be 
7120until he leaves them to others and dies. 
7121
7122Retribution 
7123
712420 Stand by your agreement and attend to it, 
7125and grow old in your work. 
712621 Do not wonder at the works of a sinner, 
7127but trust in the Lord and keep at your job; 
7128for it is easy in the sight of the Lord 
7129to make the poor rich suddenly, in an instant. 
713022 The blessing of the Lord is the reward of the pious, 
7131and quickly God causes his blessing to flourish. 
713223 Do not say, "What do I need, 
7133and what further benefit can be mine?" 
713424 Do not say, "I have enough, 
7135and what harm can come to me now?" 
713625 In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten, 
7137and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered. 
713826 For it is easy for the Lord on the day of death 
7139to reward individuals according to their conduct. 
714027 An hour's misery makes one forget past delights, 
7141and at the close of one's life one's deeds are revealed. 
7142
7143162 
7144
7145
7146
7147SIRACH 163 
7148
7149
715028 Call no one happy before his death; 
7151by how he ends, a person becomes known. 
7152
7153Choosing companions 
7154
715529 Do not invite everyone into your home, 
7156for many are the tricks of the crafty. 
715730 Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the mind of the proud, 
7158and like spies they observe your weakness; 
715931 for they lie in wait, turning good into evil, 
7160and to worthy actions they attach blame. 
716132 From a spark many coals are kindled, 
7162and a sinner lies in wait to shed blood. 
716333 Beware of scoundrels, for they devise evil, 
7164and they may ruin your reputation forever. 
716534 Receive strangers into your home and they will stir up trouble 
7166for you, and will make you a stranger to your own family. 
7167
7168[Sirach 12] 
7169
71701 If you do good, know to whom you do it, 
7171and you will be thanked for your good deeds. 
71722 Do good to the devout, and you will be repaid — 
7173if not by them, certainly by the Most High. 
71743 No good comes to one who persists in evil 
7175
7176or to one who does not give alms. 
71774 Give to the devout, but do not help the sinner. 
71785 Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly; 
7179
7180hold back their bread, and do not give it to them, 
7181for by means of it they might subdue you; 
7182then you will receive twice as much evil 
7183for all the good you have done to them. 
7184
7185
71866 For the Most High also hates sinners 
7187and will inflict punishment on the ungodly, 
7188and he is keeping them for the day of their punishment. 
7189
71907 Give to the one who is good, but do not help the sinner. 
71918 A friend is not known in prosperity, 
7192nor is an enemy hidden in adversity. 
7193
7194163 
7195
7196
7197
7198SIRACH 164 
7199
7200
72019 One's enemies are friendly when one prospers, 
7202but in adversity even one's friend disappears. 
720310 Never trust your enemy, 
7204for like corrosion in copper, so is his wickedness. 
720511 Even if he humbles himself and walks bowed down, 
7206take care to be on your guard against him. 
7207Be to him like one who polishes a mirror, 
7208to be sure it does not become completely tarnished. 
720912 Do not put him next to you, 
7210or he may overthrow you and take your place. 
7211Do not let him sit at your right hand, 
7212or else he may try to take your own seat, 
7213and at last you will realize the truth of my words, 
7214and be stung by what I have said. 
7215
721613 Who pities a snake charmer when he is bitten, 
7217or all those who go near wild animals? 
721814 So no one pities a person who associates with a sinner 
7219and becomes involved in the other's sins. 
722015 He stands by you for a while, 
7221but if you falter, he will not be there. 
722216 An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips, 
7223but in his heart he plans to throw you into a pit; 
7224
7225an enemy may have tears in his eyes, 
7226but if he finds an opportunity he will never have enough of 
7227your blood. 
7228
722917 If evil comes upon you, you will find him there ahead of you; 
7230pretending to help, he will trip you up. 
723118 Then he will shake his head, and clap his hands, 
7232and whisper much, and show his true face. 
7233
7234[Sirach 13] 
7235Warnings about associates 
7236
7237
72381 Whoever touches pitch gets dirty, 
7239and whoever associates with a proud person becomes like him. 
7240
7241164 
7242
7243
7244
7245SIRACH 165 
7246
7247
72482 Do not lift a weight too heavy for you, 
7249or associate with one mightier and richer than you. 
7250How can the clay pot associate with the iron kettle? 
7251The pot will strike against it and be smashed. 
72523 A rich person does wrong, and even adds insults; 
7253a poor person suffers wrong, and must add apologies. 
72544 A rich person will exploit you if you can be of use to him, 
7255but if you are in need he will abandon you. 
72565 If you own something, he will live with you; 
7257he will drain your resources without a qualm. 
7258
72596 When he needs you he will deceive you, 
7260and will smile at you and encourage you; 
7261he will speak to you kindly and say, "What do you need?" 
7262
72637 He will embarrass you with his delicacies, 
7264until he has drained you two or three times, 
7265and finally he will laugh at you. 
7266
7267 Should he see you afterwards, he will pass you by 
7268and shake his head at you. 
7269
7270
72718 Take care not to be led astray 
7272and humiliated when you are enjoying yourself. 
72739 When an influential person invites you, be reserved, 
7274and he will invite you more insistently. 
727510 Do not be forward, or you may be rebuffed; 
7276do not stand aloof, or you will be forgotten. 
727711 Do not try to treat him as an equal, 
7278or trust his lengthy conversations; 
7279for he will test you by prolonged talk, 
7280and while he smiles he will be examining you. 
728112 Cruel are those who do not keep your secrets; 
7282they will not spare you harm or imprisonment. 
7283
728413 Be on your guard and very careful, 
7285for you are walking about with your own downfall. 
7286
728714 When you hear these things in your sleep, wake up! 
7288During all your life love the Lord, and call on him for 
7289your salvation. 
7290
7291165 
7292
7293
7294
7295SIRACH 166 
7296
7297
7298Rich and poor 
7299
730015 Every creature loves its like, 
7301and every person the neighbor. 
730216 All living beings associate with their own kind, 
7303and people stick close to those like themselves. 
730417 What does a wolf have in common with a lamb? 
7305No more has a sinner with the devout. 
730618 What peace is there between a hyena and a dog? 
7307And what peace between the rich and the poor? 
730819 Wild asses in the wilderness are the prey of lions; 
7309likewise the poor are feeding grounds for the rich. 
731020 Humility is an abomination to the proud; 
7311likewise the poor are an abomination to the rich. 
7312
731321 When the rich person totters, he is supported by friends, 
7314but when the humble falls, he is pushed away even by friends. 
731522 If the rich person slips, many come to the rescue; 
7316he speaks unseemly words, but they justify him. 
7317If the humble person slips, they even criticize him; 
7318he talks sense, but is not given a hearing. 
731923 The rich person speaks and all are silent; 
7320they extol to the clouds what he says. 
7321The poor person speaks and they say, "Who is this fellow?" 
7322And should he stumble, they even push him down. 
7323
7324Wealth and conscience 
7325
732624 Riches are good if they are free from sin; 
7327poverty is evil only in the opinion of the ungodly. 
7328
732925 The heart changes the countenance, 
7330either for good or for evil, and a glad heart 
7331makes a cheerful countenance. 
7332
733326 The sign of a happy heart is a cheerful face, 
7334but to devise proverbs requires painful thinking. 
7335
7336166 
7337
7338
7339
7340SIRACH 167 
7341
7342
7343[Sirach 14] 
7344
73451 Happy are those who do not blunder with their lips, 
7346and need not suffer remorse for sin. 
73472 Happy are those whose hearts do not condemn them, 
7348and who have not given up their hope. 
7349
7350The proper use of wealth 
7351
73523 Riches are inappropriate for a small-minded person; 
7353and of what use is wealth to a miser? 
73544 What he denies himself he collects for others; 
7355and others will live in luxury on his goods. 
73565 If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be generous? 
7357He will not enjoy his own riches. 
73586 No one is worse than one who is grudging to himself; 
7359this is the punishment for his meanness. 
73607 If ever he does good, it is by mistake; 
7361and in the end he reveals his meanness. 
73628 The miser is an evil person; 
7363he turns away and disregards people. 
73649 The eye of the greedy person is not satisfied with his share; 
7365greedy injustice withers the soul. 
736610 A miser begrudges bread, 
7367and it is lacking at his table. 
7368
736911 My child, treat yourself well, according to your means, 
7370and present worthy offerings to the Lord. 
737112 Remember that death does not tarry, 
7372and the decree of Hades has not been shown to you. 
737313 Do good to friends before you die, 
7374and reach out and give to them as much as you can. 
737514 Do not deprive yourself of a day's enjoyment; 
7376do not let your share of desired good pass by you. 
737715 Will you not leave the fruit of your labors to another, 
7378and what you acquired by toil to be divided by lot? 
737916 Give, and take, and indulge yourself, 
7380because in Hades one cannot look for luxury. 
7381
7382167 
7383
7384
7385
7386SIRACH 168 
7387
7388
738917 All living beings become old like a garment, 
7390for the decree from of old is, "You must die!" 
739118 Like abundant leaves on a spreading tree 
7392that sheds some and puts forth others, 
7393so are the generations of flesh and blood: 
7394one dies and another is born. 
739519 Every work decays and ceases to exist, 
7396and the one who made it will pass away with it. 
7397
7398The search for Wisdom and her blessings 
7399
740020 Happy is the person who meditates on wisdom 
7401and reasons intelligently, 
740221 who reflects in his heart on her ways 
7403and ponders her secrets, 
740422 pursuing her like a hunter, 
7405and lying in wait on her paths; 
740623 who peers through her windows 
7407and listens at her doors; 
740824 who camps near her house 
7409and fastens his tent peg to her walls; 
741025 who pitches his tent near her, 
7411and so occupies an excellent lodging place; 
741226 who places his children under her shelter, 
7413and lodges under her boughs; 
741427 who is sheltered by her from the heat, 
7415and dwells in the midst of her glory. 
7416
7417[Sirach 15] 
7418
74191 Whoever fears the Lord will do this, 
7420and whoever holds to the law will obtain wisdom. 
74212 She will come to meet him like a mother, 
7422and like a young bride she will welcome him. 
74233 She will feed him with the bread of learning, 
7424and give him the water of wisdom to drink. 
74254 He will lean on her and not fall, 
7426and he will rely on her and not be put to shame. 
7427
7428168 
7429
7430
7431
7432SIRACH 169 
7433
7434
74355 She will exalt him above his neighbors, 
7436and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly. 
74376 He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, 
7438and will inherit an everlasting name. 
74397 The foolish will not obtain her, 
7440and sinners will not see her. 
74418 She is far from arrogance, 
7442and liars will never think of her. 
74439 Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner, 
7444for it has not been sent from the Lord. 
744510 For in wisdom must praise be uttered, 
7446and the Lord will make it prosper. 
7447
7448Human responsibility 
7449
745011 Do not say, "It was the LORD's doing that I fell away"; 
7451for he does not do what he hates. 
745212 Do not say, "It was he who led me astray"; 
7453for he has no need of the sinful. 
745413 The Lord hates all abominations; 
7455such things are not loved by those who fear him. 
745614 It was he who created humankind in the beginning, 
7457and he left them in the power of their own free choice. 
745815 If you choose, you can keep the commandments, 
7459and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. 
746016 He has placed before you fire and water; 
7461stretch out your hand for whichever you choose. 
746217 Before each person are life and death, 
7463and whichever one chooses will be given. 
746418 For great is the wisdom of the Lord; 
7465he is mighty in power and sees everything; 
746619 his eyes are on those who fear him, 
7467and he knows every human action. 
746820 He has not commanded anyone to be wicked, 
7469and he has not given anyone permission to sin. 
7470
7471169 
7472
7473
7474
7475SIRACH 170 
7476
7477
7478[Sirach 16] 
7479The certainty of punishment for sin 
7480
7481
74821 Do not desire a multitude of worthless children, 
7483and do not rejoice in ungodly offspring. 
74842 If they multiply, do not rejoice in them, 
7485unless the fear of the Lord is in them. 
7486
74873 Do not trust in their survival, or rely on their numbers; 
7488for one can be better than a thousand, 
7489and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children. 
7490
7491For you will groan in untimely mourning, 
7492and will know of their sudden end. 
74934 For through one intelligent person a city can be filled with people, 
7494but through a clan of outlaws it becomes desolate. 
7495
74965 Many such things my eye has seen, 
7497and my ear has heard things more striking than these. 
74986 In an assembly of sinners a fire is kindled, 
7499and in a disobedient nation wrath blazes up. 
75007 He did not forgive the ancient giants 
7501who revolted in their might. 
75028 He did not spare the neighbors of Lot, 
7503whom he loathed on account of their arrogance. 
75049 He showed no pity on the doomed nation, 
7505on those dispossessed because of their sins 
7506(All these things he did to the hard-hearted nations, 
7507and by the multitude of his holy ones he was not appeased), 
7508
750910 or on the six hundred thousand foot soldiers 
7510who assembled in their stubbornness. Chastising, showing mercy, 
7511striking, healing, the Lord persisted in mercy and discipline. 
7512
751311 Even if there were only one stiff-necked person, 
7514it would be a wonder if he remained unpunished. 
7515For mercy and wrath are with the Lord; 
7516he is mighty to forgive — but he also pours out wrath. 
751712 Great as is his mercy, so also is his chastisement; 
7518he judges a person according to his or her deeds. 
751913 The sinner will not escape with plunder, 
7520and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated. 
7521
7522170 
7523
7524
7525
7526SIRACH 171 
7527
7528
752914 He makes room for every act of mercy; 
7530everyone receives in accordance with his or her deeds. 
7531
753215 The Lord hardened Pharaoh so that he did not recognize him, 
7533in order that his works might be known under heaven. 
753416 His mercy is manifest to the whole of creation, and he divided 
7535
7536
7537his light and darkness with a plumb line. 
7538
753917 Do not say, "I am hidden from the Lord, 
7540and who from on high has me in mind? 
7541Among so many people I am unknown, 
7542for what am I in a boundless creation? 
7543
754418 Lo, heaven and the highest heaven, 
7545the abyss and the earth, tremble at his visitation! 
7546The whole world past and present is in his will. 
7547
754819 The very mountains and the foundations of the earth 
7549quiver and quake when he looks upon them. 
755020 But no human mind can grasp this, 
7551and who can comprehend his ways? 
755221 Like a tempest that no one can see, 
7553so most of his works are concealed. 
755422 Who is to announce his acts of justice? 
7555Or who can await them? For his decree is far off." 
7556(If I sin, no eye can see me, and if I am disloyal all 
7557in secret, who is to know?) 
755823 Such are the thoughts of one devoid of understanding; 
7559a senseless and misguided person thinks foolishly. 
7560
7561God's own wisdom in creation 
7562
756324 Listen to me, my child, and acquire knowledge, 
7564and pay close attention to my words. 
756525 I will impart discipline precisely 
7566and declare knowledge accurately. 
756726 When the Lord created his works from the beginning, 
7568and, in making them, determined their boundaries, 
7569
7570171