“If a person is wise
To his own advantage, T
he fruits of his good sense
Will be praiseworthy.
They will be trustworthy.
A wise person
Instructs his own people.
The fruits of his good sense
Will endure.
A wise person
Will have praise heaped upon him.
All those who see him
Will call him happy.
The days of a person’s life
Are numbered.
But the days of Israel
Are without number.
Whoever is wise
Among his people
Will inherit honor.
His name will live forever.”
Sirach now points out who the truly wise person is. The wise ones work to their own advantage. They have good sense that is praiseworthy, trustworthy, and honored. The truly wise ones instruct their own people. The fruits of these happy wise people will endure with praise. Although the days of everyone are numbered and limited, that is not true about Israel since its days are not numbered. So too, the honorable wise person will have his name last forever. This hyperbolic use of forever indicates a long time, rather than eternity.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 