“All these were honored
In their generations.
They were the pride
Of their times.
Some of them
Have left behind a name.
Thus others declare their praise.
But there is no memory
Of others.
They have perished
As though they had never existed.
They have become
As though they
And their children
Had never been born.”
Sirach notes that each one of these holy famous men was honored when they were alive. Their contemporaries took great pride in them. Some of these men have left behind a name or reputation, so that others can share in that pride. However, some of the others have left no memory. We do not know even who they were. They have died as if they never existed without any trace of them. Both they and their children are like they were never born. There was a great emphasis on a good name and being remembered, also a Latin and Greek ideal. Thus we do not have any memory about some good people.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 