Read & explore together
Experience instructs and reverence gives protection
Sirach 34:9–17 connects learning from experience with trusting the Lord. The speaker values instruction, travel, and tested understanding, then describes the safety and support found by those who fear the Lord.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage is from Sirach, a wisdom book in the Catholic additional books. The speaker first gives sayings about instruction, experience, and travel, then adds personal testimony about danger. After that, the passage turns to those who fear the Lord and describes the Lord’s care with vivid images.
Sirach 34:9–17Main takeaway
This passage teaches that experience can increase understanding, and those who fear the Lord place their hope in him as their support and protection.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Experience teachesThe passage opens by linking instruction and experience with knowledge and understanding. A well-instructed person knows many things, and a person with much experience can speak with understanding.
Explanation
The passage opens by linking instruction and experience with knowledge and understanding. A well-instructed person knows many things, and a person with much experience can speak with understanding. It also says that someone without experience knows few things, while travel increases cleverness. The stress is on learning gained through instruction and lived experience.
02Personal testimony about dangerThe speaker then speaks personally. He says that in his travels he has seen many things, and that his understanding is greater than his words.
Explanation
The speaker then speaks personally. He says that in his travels he has seen many things, and that his understanding is greater than his words. He also says that he was often in danger, even close to death, and that he was preserved because of these experiences. His own life is presented as evidence that experience teaches.
03Those who fear the Lord have hopeThe passage then turns from travel and danger to reverence. Those who fear the Lord are said to live because their hope is in the one who saves them.
Explanation
The passage then turns from travel and danger to reverence. Those who fear the Lord are said to live because their hope is in the one who saves them. The text adds that whoever fears the Lord will not be afraid and will not be a coward, because the Lord himself is that person’s hope.
04The Lord’s care and supportThe final verses ask who supports the one who fears the Lord, then answer with rich pictures of the Lord’s care.
Explanation
The final verses ask who supports the one who fears the Lord, then answer with rich pictures of the Lord’s care. His eyes are on those who love him. He is protection, support, cover, shade, a guard from stumbling, and a help from falling. He also raises up the soul, enlightens the eyes, and gives health, life, and blessing.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does this passage say increases knowledge, understanding, or cleverness?
Notice each source of learning named in the passage: instruction, experience, and travel, and trace how each is connected with knowing or understanding.
02How does the speaker use his own life to support what he says about experience?
Look for the first-person lines about travel, seeing many things, danger, and being preserved because of these experiences.
03Which images show the Lord’s care for those who fear or love him?
List the pictures used for the Lord in the final verses and think about what each one adds to the overall description.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 34:9–17
9A well-instructed man knows many things. He who has much experience will declare understanding.
10He who has no experience knows few things. But he who has traveled increases cleverness.
11I have seen many things in my travels. My understanding is more than my words.
12I was often in danger even to death. I was preserved because of these experiences.
13The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, for their hope is in him who saves them.
14Whoever fears the Lord won’t be afraid, and won’t be a coward, for he is his hope.
15Blessed is the soul of him who fears the Lord. To whom does he give heed? Who is his support?
16The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him, a mighty protection and strong support, a cover from the hot blast, a shade from the noonday sun, a guard from stumbling, and a help from falling.
17He raises up the soul, and enlightens the eyes. He gives health, life, and blessing.