Sirach 8:1-19: a reflection

1Don’t contend with a mighty man, lest perhaps you fall into his hands. 2Don’t strive with a rich man, lest perhaps he overpower you; for gold has destroyed many, and turned away the hearts of kings. 3Don’t argue with a loudmouthed man. Don’t heap wood upon his fire. 4Don’t make fun of a rude man, lest your ancestors be dishonored. 5Don’t reproach a man when he turns from sin. Remember that we are all worthy of punishment. 6Don’t dishonor a man in his old age, for some of us are also growing old. 7Don’t rejoice over anyone’s death. Remember that we all die. 8Don’t neglect the discourse of the wise. Be conversant with their proverbs; for from them you will learn discipline and how to serve great men. 9Don’t miss the discourse of the aged, for they also learned from their parents, because from them you will learn understanding, and to give an answer in time of need. 10Don’t kindle the coals of a sinner, lest you be burned with the flame of his fire. 11Don’t rise up from the presence of an insolent man, lest he lie in wait as an ambush for your mouth. 12Don’t lend to a man who is stronger than you; and if you lend, count it as a loss. 13Don’t be surety beyond your means. If you give surety, think as one who will have to pay. 14Don’t go to law with a judge; for according to his honor they will give judgment for him. 15Don’t travel with a reckless man, lest he be burdensome to you; for he will do as he pleases, and you will perish with his folly. 16Don’t fight with a wrathful man. Don’t travel with him through the desert, for blood is as nothing in his sight. Where there is no help, he will overthrow you. 17Don’t consult with a fool, for he will not be able to keep a secret. 18Do no secret thing before a stranger, for you don’t know what it will cause. 19Don’t open your heart to every man. Don’t let him return you a favor.

Among Sirach's many counsels comes a gentle word about how to treat one who has turned from sin: Don't reproach a man when he turns from sin. Remember that we are all worthy of punishment. When someone has repented, turned from their wrong, Sirach counsels against throwing their past sin back at them, reproaching them for what they have left behind. And he gives the reason: we are all worthy of punishment, all in need of mercy ourselves. To reproach the one who has turned, when we ourselves stand in need of mercy, is to forget our own condition. The one who has turned from sin is to be received, not reproached, by those who themselves need mercy.

Notice the counsel and its reason: don't reproach the one who turns from sin, for we all need mercy. When someone repents and turns from their wrong, it is easy to throw their past in their face, to reproach them for what they have done, to hold it against them; but Sirach counsels otherwise. The one who has turned is not to be reproached but received. And the reason is our own condition: we are all worthy of punishment, all in need of mercy. To reproach the repentant is to forget that we ourselves need the very mercy we withhold. The one who has turned from sin deserves not our reproach but our welcome, for we stand in the same need of mercy that they do. Remembering our own need of mercy should keep us from reproaching those who turn.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are not to reproach those who turn from sin, remembering our own need of mercy. When someone repents and turns from their wrong, we can be tempted to reproach them, to throw their past in their face, to hold their sin against them even after they have turned; but Sirach counsels against it, reminding us that we ourselves need mercy. To reproach the repentant is to forget our own condition. Do not reproach those who have turned from sin, throwing their past in their face; receive them, remembering that you too need mercy. Refrain from reproaching those who turn from sin, throwing their past in their face, remembering that we are all in need of mercy ourselves, as Sirach counsels us not to reproach the one who turns from sin; for we all stand worthy of punishment and in need of mercy, and to reproach the repentant is to forget our own condition, so that we do well to receive them rather than reproach them.

Lord, among Sirach's many counsels comes a gentle word about how to treat one who has turned from sin: don't reproach a man when he turns from sin; remember that we are all worthy of punishment. When someone has repented, turned from their wrong, Sirach counsels against throwing their past sin back at them, reproaching them for what they have left behind. And he gives the reason: we are all worthy of punishment, all in need of mercy ourselves. To reproach the one who has turned, when we ourselves stand in need of mercy, is to forget our own condition. Show me the counsel and its reason: don't reproach the one who turns from sin, for we all need mercy. When someone repents and turns from their wrong, it is easy to throw their past in their face, to hold it against them; but Sirach counsels otherwise. The one who has turned is not to be reproached but received. And the reason is our own condition: we are all worthy of punishment, all in need of mercy. To reproach the repentant is to forget that we ourselves need the very mercy we withhold. Remembering our own need of mercy should keep us from reproaching those who turn. Take that to my heart, for I am not to reproach those who turn from sin, remembering my own need of mercy. When someone repents and turns from their wrong, I can be tempted to reproach them, to throw their past in their face, to hold their sin against them even after they have turned; but Sirach counsels against it, reminding me that I myself need mercy. Keep me from reproaching those who have turned from sin, throwing their past in their face; help me receive them, Lord, remembering that I too need mercy, for we all stand worthy of punishment and in need of mercy.