Sirach 18:17-33: a reflection

17Behold, isn’t a word better than a gift? Both are with a gracious person. 18A fool is ungracious and abusive. The gift of a grudging person consumes the eyes. 19Learn before you speak. Take care of your health before you get sick. 20Before judgment, examine yourself, and in the hour of scrutiny you will find forgiveness. 21Humble yourself before you get sick. In the time of sins, repent. 22Let nothing hinder you to pay your vow in due time. Don’t wait until death to be released. 23Before you make a vow, prepare yourself. Don’t be like a man who tests the Lord. 24Think about the wrath coming in the days of the end, and the time of vengeance, when he turns away his face. 25In the days of fullness remember the time of hunger. Remember poverty and lack in the days of wealth. 26From morning until evening, the time changes. All things are speedy before the Lord. 27A wise man is cautious in everything. In days of sinning, he will beware of offense. 28Every man of understanding knows wisdom. He will give thanks to him who found her. 29They who were of understanding in sayings also became wise themselves, and poured out apt proverbs. 30Don’t go after your lusts. Restrain your appetites. 31If you give fully to your soul the delight of her desire, she will make you the laughing stock of your enemies. 32Don’t make merry in much luxury, and don’t be tied to its expense. 33Don’t be made a beggar by banqueting with borrowed money when you have nothing in your purse.

Among the counsels of Sirach comes a piece of prudent wisdom about prosperity: In the days of fullness remember the time of hunger. Remember poverty and lack in the days of wealth. When things are going well, when there is plenty, Sirach counsels remembering the leaner times, the times of want and hunger, so as to stay humble and prudent, not presuming that the plenty will last or squandering it as though it could not end. The days of fullness are the time to remember the days of hunger, to hold prosperity wisely rather than presuming on it.

Notice the wisdom: remember hunger in the days of plenty. It is easy, in times of plenty, to forget that leaner times exist, to presume the abundance will last, to squander it as though want could never come again. Sirach counsels the opposite: in the days of fullness, remember the time of hunger; let the memory of leaner times keep you humble and prudent in prosperity. Prosperity is not to be presumed upon or squandered, but held wisely, mindful that fullness does not always last. To remember hunger in plenty is to stay humble, grateful, and prudent, rather than presumptuous or wasteful. The days change, Sirach adds; nothing is guaranteed to last.

That is worth taking to heart, for in our own days of plenty, we do well to remember leaner times, staying humble and prudent. When we have plenty, it is easy to presume it will last, to grow careless or wasteful, to forget the leaner times; but Sirach counsels remembering hunger in the days of fullness, so as to hold prosperity wisely and humbly. Prosperity presumed upon and squandered can turn to want; held wisely, it is a blessing. Do not presume on your times of plenty or squander them, forgetting that leaner times exist; remember them, and hold your prosperity humbly and prudently. Hold your days of plenty humbly and prudently, remembering leaner times rather than presuming the abundance will last or squandering it, as Sirach counsels remembering hunger in the days of fullness; for prosperity is not guaranteed to last, and it is wisdom to hold it humbly and prudently, mindful of the leaner times, rather than presuming upon it.

Lord, among the counsels of Sirach comes a piece of prudent wisdom about prosperity: in the days of fullness remember the time of hunger; remember poverty and lack in the days of wealth. When things are going well, when there is plenty, Sirach counsels remembering the leaner times, so as to stay humble and prudent, not presuming that the plenty will last or squandering it as though it could not end. Show me the wisdom: remember hunger in the days of plenty. It is easy, in times of plenty, to forget that leaner times exist, to presume the abundance will last, to squander it as though want could never come again. Sirach counsels the opposite: in the days of fullness, remember the time of hunger; let the memory of leaner times keep me humble and prudent in prosperity. Prosperity is not to be presumed upon or squandered, but held wisely, mindful that fullness does not always last. The days change; nothing is guaranteed to last. Take that to my heart, for in my own days of plenty, I do well to remember leaner times, staying humble and prudent. When I have plenty, it is easy to presume it will last, to grow careless or wasteful, to forget the leaner times; but Sirach counsels remembering hunger in the days of fullness. Keep me from presuming on my times of plenty or squandering them, forgetting that leaner times exist; help me remember them, Lord, and hold my prosperity humbly and prudently.