Sirach 40 – On Fear of Death: A “heavy yoke lies on the sons of Adam from the day they come out of their mother’s womb, till the day they return to the mother of them all. What fills them with brooding and their hearts with fear is dread of the day of death” (40:1-2).

Life is all “fury and jealousy, turmoil and unrest, fear of death, rivalry [and] strife” (40:4). Despite this pessimism, the writer believes in the end “all bribery and injustice will be blotted out”…

Sirach 38 – On the Balance of Faith in God and Faith in the Knowledge of Men: “The Lord has brought medicines into existence from the earth, and the sensible man will not despise them. . . He uses them to heal and to relieve pain” (38:4-6).

“My son, when you are ill, do not be depressed, but pray to the Lord and he will heal you . . . The let the doctor take over—the Lord created him too—and do not let him leave you, for you need him. Sometimes success is in their…

Sirach 37 – On False Friendships: “[S]ome friends are only friends in name. Is it not a deadly sorrow, when a comrade or a friend turns enemy?” (37:2)

On Advisers: “Any adviser will offer advice, but some are governed by self-interest” (37:7). You should always know what the interests of your advisers are, so you can properly judge their advice.

“Do not consult a woman about her rival, or a coward about war, a merchant about prices, or a buyer…

Sirach 36 – Jerusalem Bible note says the prayer here “reveals the sentiments of pious Jews about the year 190 just before the Maccabaean revolt” (1085). As a teacher of history, I find the Maccabaean revolt interesting to contemplate. In a way it was a revolt of very conservative religious leaders who were fed up with the dissolution of strict Jewish culture and practice. The young people of their day were fascinated by and drawn to the “worldly” values and universalism of the…

Sirach 34 – On Dreams: “As well clutch at shadows and chase the wind as put any faith in dreams. Mirror and dream are similar things: confronting a face, the reflection of that face” (34:2-3).

“[D]reams have led many astray, and those building their hopes on them have been disappointed” (34:7).

On the Happiness of Those Who Fear the Lord: “Happy the soul of the man who fears the Lord. On whom does he rely? Who supports him? The eyes of the Lord…

Sirach 33 – On God’s Creative Will: “Like clay in the hands of the potter to mould as it pleases him, so are men in the hands of their Maker to reward as he judges right. Opposite evil stands good, opposite death, life; so too, opposite the devout man stands the sinner” (33:13-14).

On Avoiding Dependency: “Neither to son nor wife, brother nor friend, give power over yourself during your own lifetime. . . . As long as you live and there is breath in your body, do…