The doctor
1 Give due honor to the doc tor, for you need him and God himself
established him.
2 Healing, in fact, comes from the Most High; the gift of healing comes from
the Sovereign.
3 The doctor¡¯s expertise gives him prestige and wins for him the admiration
of the powerful.
4 The Lord created the medicinal herbs which grow on the earth, and these a
sensible person will not de spise.
5 Remember that he used a sim ple wooden rod to purify water and so make
known his power to everyone.
6 It is he who gives knowledge to humans so that his power be glorified;
7 the doctor uses it to heal and comfort, the chemist to make his mix tures.
8 In that way the Lord¡¯s work never ceases and well-being prevails on the
earth.
9 My son, when you are sick do not be anxious; pray to the Lord to heal you.
10 Give up bad habits, keep your hands unsoiled, and purify your heart from
all sin.
11 Offer incense and a memorial gift of fine flour and rich offerings ac
cord ing to your means.
12 Then consult the doctor; remember that he was established by the Lord, so
do not dis regard him ¨C you need him.
13 There are cases when good health depends on doctors.
14 They, too, will pray to the Most High to grant them success in healing in
order to save life.
15 May he who sins before his Maker, fall into the hands of the doctor!
Grieving
16 My son, weep for the dead, lament to express your sorrow and bury the
dead with fitting ceremony, and do not fail to honor his tomb.
17 Weep bitterly, cry out with full voice, and observe the period of
mourning in accordance with the merits of the de ceased. Let it be for one
or two days, and so avoid criticism, and then be consoled in your grief.
18 For sorrow may lead to death and a dejected heart loses its vitality.
19 Let your affliction cease with the funeral; a life of sorrow is
intolerable.
20 Do not let your heart give way to grief; bear up and think of your own
end.
21 Remember! There is no coming back, you do the dead no good, but rather
harm yourself.
22 Keep in mind my sentence which will be yours as well: mine yesterday,
yours today!
23 When the dead person is at rest, let his memory be one of peace; be
comforted on his account once his spirit has departed.
Craftsmen and wise men
24 A law student acquires wisdom during his leisure hours; free from
business he is capable of becoming wise.
25 How can the man who guides a plow be come wise, he whose pride lies in
snapping a whip and driving a bullock, who works continually and talks of
nothing but cattle?
26 His heart is set on plowing furrows and all his attention is given to
fattening heifers.
27 It is the same for all craftsmen and skilled workers who toil day and
night, professional engravers and de signers of seals. All are intent on
creating different designs and reproducing the model, and they work even at
night in order to succeed.
28 So, too, is the smith standing beside the anvil intent on forging iron;
his face is scorched by flames from the fire and he struggles in the heat of
the furnace; the clang of the hammer is deafening; his eyes are fixed on the
model to be copied, he makes every effort to work well and spends time at
night in bring ing his task to perfection.
29 It is the same for the potter seated at his work, his foot turning the
wheel, always concentrating on what he is molding, every movement
purposefully controlled.
30 His arm kneads the clay, his feet make it pliable. All his attention is
needed in applying the glaze and at night he sees to the cleaning of the
furnace.
31 All these craftsmen depend on their hands for gaining skill in their
different crafts.
32 Without them a city could not be built; no settlers or travelers would
come to it.
33 But they are not to be found in the councils of people, nor do their
words carry weight in an assembly. They do not occupy the judge¡¯s seat and
they are not familiar with the Law.
34 They are not cultured people or skilled in judgment and they are not
found among authors of proverbs.
They uphold creation and civilization, and their prayer is in their life¡¯s
work.
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Comments Sirach, Chapter 38
• 38.1 We must pray to be healed of a disease, but without neglecting the
help of doctors as some people do. This is clearly stated in the Bible.