“The wise person
Advances himself
By his words.
Whoever is sensible
Will please the great men.
Whoever cultivates the soil
Will heap up their harvest.
Whoever pleases the great men
Will atone for injustice.
Favors blind the eyes of the wise.
Gifts blind the eyes of the wise.
Like a muzzle on the mouth,
They stop reproofs.
What is the value
Of hidden wisdom?
What is the value
Of an unseen treasure?
What value is either of them?
Better are those
Who hide their folly
Than those
Who hide their wisdom.”
Sirach gives us some indications about the wise people. They advance themselves by their words. They are sensible and thus please great men. They know how to cultivate the soil to get a great harvest. They atone for injustice. However, there is a down side. They should not be blinded by gifts and favors. Thus they might end up putting a muzzle on so that they stop criticizing the people who are giving these presents and favors. There is no value to hidden wisdom or unseen treasure. The foolish should hide their foolishness rather than the wise hide their wisdom.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 