Scripture Daily

Context No. 154 of 4322 · Sirach

Context · Reflection

Sirach 44:1-16: in context

1Let us now praise famous men, our ancestors in their generations. 2The Lord created great glory in them— his mighty power from the beginning. 3Some ruled in their kingdoms and were men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding. Some have spoken in prophecies, 4leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their understanding, giving instruction for the people. Their words in their instruction were wise. 5Some composed musical tunes, and set forth verses in writing, 6rich men endowed with ability, living peaceably in their homes. 7All these were honored in their generations, and were outstanding in their days. 8Some of them have left a name behind them, so that others declare their praises. 9But of others, there is no memory. They perished as though they had not been. They become as though they had not been born, they and their children after them. 10But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten. 11A good inheritance remains with their offspring. Their children are within the covenant. 12Their offspring stand fast, with their children, for their sakes. 13Their offspring will remain forever. Their glory won’t be blotted out. 14Their bodies were buried in peace. Their name lives to all generations. 15People will declare their wisdom. The congregation proclaims their praise. 16Enoch pleased the Lord, and was taken up, an example of repentance to all generations.

Ben Sira closes his book with a long roll of Israel's ancestors, running from Enoch to the high priest of his own day. This passage is the opening of it, and its first line has been read at funerals and memorials for centuries: let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations.

The list of kinds is generous and specific. Rulers, counselors, prophets, leaders, those who composed music and set verses in writing, those rich and at peace in their homes. All of these were honored in their generations and were the glory of their times, he says, and there are those who left a name behind so that people declare their praise.

Then the turn, and it is why the passage matters. And there are some who have no memorial, who perished as though they had never existed, and became as though they had never been born, and their children after them. He does not fix it. He does not claim they are secretly remembered. He says plainly that some are gone without trace, and then, in the same breath, that these were merciful men whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten, and that their bodies were buried in peace and their name lives to all generations. Whose name would vanish if I stopped saying it, and when did I last say it out loud?

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