My son, if you have the means, treat yourself well, and enjoy life as best you can. 12 Remember that death does not delay, and you have not been told the grave’s appointed time. 13 Before you die, be good to your friends; give them a share in what you possess. 14 Do not deprive yourself of good things now or let a choice portion escape you. 15 Will you not leave your riches to others, and your earnings to be divided by lot? 16 Give and take, treat yourself well, for in Sheol there are no joys to seek. 17 All flesh grows old like a garment; the age-old law is: everyone must die. 18 As with the leaves growing on a luxuriant tree—one falls off and another sprouts—So with the generations of flesh and blood: one dies and another flourishes. 19 All human deeds surely perish; the works they do follow after them.
In this passage, Ben Sira reflects on enjoying life’s blessings while being cognizant of the inevitability of death. One should not deprive oneself of life’s good things especially when one has the means to enjoy them. Life is a gift from God to be embraced. However, enjoyment of material blessings should be balanced and done in a spirit of gratitude, avoiding both greed and self-denial. Death comes without delay, and no one knows the exact moment it will occur. The broader wisdom literature’s theme of memento mori – remember death – reminds the reader to live wisely. One should be kind and generous towards others while still alive and share material wealth with friends and loved ones rather than hoarding it or waiting until after death. Ben Sira advises against self-deprivation when it comes to enjoying good things in life. One should not pass up the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of one's labor.
Wealth and material possessions are temporary, and after death, they are left to others, often without much control over who receives them. Wealth should not be the ultimate goal in life as it cannot prevent death or secure eternal life. One should enjoy life but also be generous with what one has. The grave is a place where there is no enjoyment. In Jewish thought, “Sheol” refers to the realm of the dead where there is no joy or activity. Ben Sira uses the imagery of a garment growing old to describe the natural decay of the human body. All living things age and wear out and death is inevitable. The “age-old law” refers to the universal truth of death. He employs the image of a tree shedding old leaves and growing new ones to illustrate the cyclical nature of life and death.
Ben Sira’s emphasis on living with humility in the face of death serves as a reminder that no one is exempt from this law. While earthly deeds are temporary, the spiritual fruit of a life lived in accordance with God’s will endures into eternity.
Heavenly Father, Your gift of life is precious. Teach us to enjoy the blessings You provide for us while always being mindful of our mortality. Grant us the wisdom to be generous with what we have, share with others, and live each day in gratitude and humility. Help us to trust in Your eternal promises and to focus on what truly endures beyond this life. This we pray through Christ our Lord Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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