Sirach – Chapter 32

Old Testament28 Verses

Chapter Summary

"Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them." — so begins Sirach 32. Across its 28 verses, two threads run through the text: wisdom for daily living and faith and trust in God. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.

2Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place:

3That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

4Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,

5To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not music.

6Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted up out of season with thy wisdom.

7A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.

8As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.

9Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

10Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.

11If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.

12In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.

13In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.

14Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

15And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.

16And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.

17And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.

18He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.

19He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.

20They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.

21A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.

22A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:

23Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.

24My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.

25Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.

26And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.

27In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.

28He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.

Important Verses in Sirach 32

That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.

Sirach 32:3

Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.

Sirach 32:14

They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.

Sirach 32:20

In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.

Sirach 32:27

Historical Context

Sirach belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for students of wisdom seeking to live the Law with practical prudence. Chapter 32 of 51 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a wisdom instruction on how to live before God in ordinary circumstances with 28 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. It opens with the line: "Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them." The final verse reads: "He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse. " The wider setting of Sirach is this: Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) is the longest wisdom book of the Bible, written by a Jerusalem sage who ran a school for young men. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Sirach around About 180 BC in Hebrew; Greek translation about 132 BC.

Who Wrote It

Jesus ben Sira of Jerusalem; translated into Greek by his grandson

When It Was Written

About 180 BC in Hebrew; Greek translation about 132 BC

Catholic Commentary

This chapter offers practical instruction on how to live wisely before God in daily life. A pivotal line is verse 3: "That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution." The passage repeatedly touches on wisdom for daily living.

Catholic exegesis reads Sirach 32 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. this deuterocanonical book provides guidance for daily life (CIC 1806). St. Basil the Great and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 436).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and is a gift of the Holy Spirit.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
  • Faith is a gift and a decision: entrusting ourselves entirely to God and to His promises.
  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.

Reflection for Today

When the Church proclaims Sirach Chapter 32 at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours, she treats this text as the living voice of God.

In the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—the Church finds rich meaning in Sirach Chapter 32. At the moral level, discernment and obedience to God challenges us to examine conscience and amend our lives (CIC 1502).

If this passage raises questions, seek the Church's teaching through the Catechism, a faithful priest, or sound Catholic commentaries. Private interpretation must remain in harmony with the Magisterium (CIC 1965).

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sirach Chapter 32 about?

Sirach 32 contains 28 verses. It opens with "Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them." and closes with "He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse. ". The book as a whole is wisdom instruction (deuterocanonical).

What is a key verse in Sirach 32?

One of the most significant verses is verse 3: "That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Sirach and when?

Jesus ben Sira of Jerusalem; translated into Greek by his grandson. About 180 BC in Hebrew; Greek translation about 132 BC.

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