Sirach 14:17-27: a reflection

17All flesh grows old like a garment, for the covenant from the beginning is, “You must die!” 18Like the leaves flourishing on a thick tree, some it sheds, and some grow, so also are the generations of flesh and blood: one comes to an end and another is born. 19Every work rots and falls away, and its builder will depart with it. 20Blessed is the man who meditates on wisdom, and who reasons by his understanding. 21He who considers her ways in his heart will also have knowledge of her secrets. 22Go after her like a hunter, and lie in wait in her paths. 23He who peers in at her windows will also listen at her doors. 24He who lodges close to her house will also fasten a nail in her walls. 25He will pitch his tent near at hand to her, and will lodge in a lodging where good things are. 26He will set his children under her shelter, and will rest under her branches. 27By her he will be covered from heat, and will lodge in her glory.

Sirach pictures the pursuit of wisdom in vivid, almost startling images of diligence. Go after her like a hunter, he says, and lie in wait in her paths. He who peers in at her windows will also listen at her doors. He who lodges close to her house will pitch his tent near at hand to her, and will rest under her branches. Wisdom is not gained by a casual, half-hearted interest; she is pursued diligently, sought out like game, drawn near to, lodged beside. The one who would be wise pursues wisdom with the diligence of a hunter, drawing near to her, lodging beside her, making her his constant company. Wisdom is gained by diligent, persistent pursuit.

Notice the diligence Sirach urges in pursuing wisdom: like a hunter, lodging near her, drawing close. He does not picture wisdom falling into our laps, or gained by a passing interest; he pictures a diligent, persistent pursuit, going after wisdom, watching for her, drawing near, lodging beside her house, resting under her branches. The one who would be wise pursues wisdom with real diligence, making her his constant company, drawing near and staying near. Wisdom is not gained casually but sought out, pursued, drawn close to. The diligent, persistent pursuit of wisdom, drawing near and lodging beside her, is how she is gained; a casual interest will not find her.

That is worth taking to heart, for wisdom is gained by diligent, persistent pursuit, not casual interest. We can wish for wisdom while pursuing it only casually, expecting it to come to us without real diligence; but Sirach urges us to pursue wisdom like a hunter, to draw near to her, to lodge beside her, to make her our constant company. Wisdom is gained by diligent, persistent pursuit, drawing near and staying near, not by a passing interest. Do not merely wish for wisdom while pursuing it casually; pursue it diligently, drawing near and lodging beside it, as Sirach urges. Pursue wisdom diligently and persistently, drawing near to it and lodging beside it as your constant company, as Sirach urges us to go after her like a hunter and pitch our tent near her; for wisdom is gained not by casual interest but by diligent, persistent pursuit, and the one who would be wise must draw near to wisdom and make her his constant company rather than merely wishing for her.

Lord, Sirach pictures the pursuit of wisdom in vivid, almost startling images of diligence. Go after her like a hunter, he says, and lie in wait in her paths. He who peers in at her windows will also listen at her doors. He who lodges close to her house will pitch his tent near at hand to her, and will rest under her branches. Wisdom is not gained by a casual, half-hearted interest; she is pursued diligently, drawn near to, lodged beside. Show me the diligence Sirach urges in pursuing wisdom: like a hunter, lodging near her, drawing close. He does not picture wisdom falling into our laps, or gained by a passing interest; he pictures a diligent, persistent pursuit, going after wisdom, drawing near, lodging beside her house. The one who would be wise pursues wisdom with real diligence, making her his constant company. Wisdom is not gained casually but sought out, pursued, drawn close to. Take that to my heart, for wisdom is gained by diligent, persistent pursuit, not casual interest. I can wish for wisdom while pursuing it only casually, expecting it to come to me without real diligence; but Sirach urges me to pursue wisdom like a hunter, to draw near to her, to lodge beside her. Wisdom is gained by diligent pursuit, not by a passing interest. Keep me from merely wishing for wisdom while pursuing it casually; help me pursue it diligently, Lord, drawing near and lodging beside it as my constant company, as Sirach urges us to go after her like a hunter and pitch our tent near her.