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Concord and experienced wisdom adorn human life
Sirach 25:1–6 presents a short set of wise sayings about harmony, character and ageing. The passage praises relationships marked by agreement and honours the kind of wisdom that should grow with years.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In this part of Sirach, the speaker names things he finds beautiful and things he hates, then turns to the value of wisdom in later life. The passage stays in the style of wisdom teaching, using short observations to commend good character and experienced counsel.
Sirach 25:1–6Main takeaway
This passage teaches that peaceful relationships, truthful character and the fear of the Lord are beautiful marks of a well-lived life.
Look closely at the words
01What is called beautifulThe speaker begins with three beautiful things: agreement within a family, friendship between neighbours, and a wife and husband walking together in agreement.
Explanation
The speaker begins with three beautiful things: agreement within a family, friendship between neighbours, and a wife and husband walking together in agreement. The repeated idea is harmony. These relationships are not praised for wealth or status, but for people living in peace with one another before the Lord and other people.
02What is rejectedThe next saying lists three kinds of people the speaker hates: a poor person who is arrogant, a rich person who lies, and an old fool who commits adultery.
Explanation
The next saying lists three kinds of people the speaker hates: a poor person who is arrogant, a rich person who lies, and an old fool who commits adultery. The point is not that poverty, wealth or age are the problem. The passage condemns arrogance, falsehood and unfaithfulness.
03Preparing early for later yearsSirach then asks a question about youth and old age. If someone gathers nothing in youth, what will be found in old age?
Explanation
Sirach then asks a question about youth and old age. If someone gathers nothing in youth, what will be found in old age? In this wisdom setting, the saying urges readiness and growth before later years arrive. It suggests that old age should rest on what has been learned and gathered earlier.
04The beauty of wise eldersThe final verses praise what suits the aged: judgment, good counsel, wisdom, understanding and experience.
Explanation
The final verses praise what suits the aged: judgment, good counsel, wisdom, understanding and experience. Gray hair is linked with the ability to discern well and advise others. Yet the highest glory named here is not simply age itself. It is the fear of the Lord, which crowns the aged life with honour.
Questions to explore
01What three relationships are called beautiful in this passage?
Look for the repeated pattern in Sirach 25:1 and notice that each example centres on people living in agreement.
02Why does Sirach 25:2 challenge us to read carefully about poverty, wealth and age?
The verse does not condemn being poor, rich or old by itself, but names specific sins joined to those conditions.
03According to the last verses, what qualities especially honour older people?
List the words attached to the gray-haired and the aged, then note the final phrase that gives their glory.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 25:1–6
1I enjoy three things, and they are beautiful before the Lord and men: the agreement of kindred, the friendship of neighbors, and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement.
2But my soul hates three sorts of people, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man who is arrogant, a rich man who is a liar, and an old fool who is an adulterer.
3If you gathered nothing in your youth, how could you find anything in your old age?
4How beautiful a thing is judgment in the gray-haired, and for elders to know good counsel!
5How beautiful is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men who are in honor!
6Much experience is the crown of the aged. Their glory is the fear of the Lord.