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Injustice passes away but generosity endures
This wisdom passage contrasts what fades away with what lasts. It warns that bribery, injustice and the goods of the unjust do not endure, while good faith, kindness and almsgiving are pictured as lasting and fruitful.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In these verses from Sirach, the writer speaks in short sayings and images. The passage moves from bribery, injustice and lawbreaking to pictures from rivers, rocks, reeds and gardens. These comparisons help show the difference between what is unstable and what endures.
Sirach 40:12–17Main takeaway
This passage teaches that the goods of the unjust pass away, but good faith, kindness and almsgiving are described as enduring.
Look closely at the words
01What is wiped away and what remainsThe passage begins with a clear contrast. “Bribery and injustice” will be “blotted out”, so they are not permanent.
Explanation
The passage begins with a clear contrast. “Bribery and injustice” will be “blotted out”, so they are not permanent. In contrast, “good faith” will “stand forever”. The saying does not praise clever gain. It values faithful and trustworthy living as something that lasts.
02Unjust goods dry up, but open hands bring gladnessThe writer says that the “goods of the unjust” will dry up like a river and pass off with noise like thunder in rain.
Explanation
The writer says that the “goods of the unjust” will dry up like a river and pass off with noise like thunder in rain. What seems strong can quickly disappear. Then the focus changes. “In opening his hands, a man will be made glad”, while “lawbreakers will utterly fail.” Open hands suggest generosity rather than grasping.
03Ungodliness looks fragileNext come plant pictures. “The children of the ungodly” are compared to weak growth and “unhealthy roots on a sheer rock”.
Explanation
Next come plant pictures. “The children of the ungodly” are compared to weak growth and “unhealthy roots on a sheer rock”. Reeds by the water may seem well placed, yet they “will be plucked up before all grass”. These images stress weakness, exposure and lack of lasting security.
04Kindness is pictured as a gardenThe passage ends with a brighter image. “Kindness is like a garden of blessings.” A garden suggests life, growth and benefit.
Explanation
The passage ends with a brighter image. “Kindness is like a garden of blessings.” A garden suggests life, growth and benefit. Then the final line states plainly, “Almsgiving endures forever.” After the warnings about injustice, the ending highlights mercy and giving as things of lasting value.
Questions to explore
01What two things are directly contrasted in the first verse of this passage?
Notice that one pair is said to be “blotted out” and the other is said to “stand forever”.
02How do the images of a drying river and passing thunder help explain unjust wealth?
Look at what happens to the unjust person’s goods in the comparison and how quickly the sound passes.
03What pictures are used for kindness and almsgiving at the end, and what do they suggest?
The verse names a garden and says something specific about how long almsgiving lasts.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 40:12–17
12All bribery and injustice will be blotted out. Good faith will stand forever.
13The goods of the unjust will be dried up like a river, and like a great thunder in rain will go off in noise.
14In opening his hands, a man will be made glad; so lawbreakers will utterly fail.
15The children of the ungodly won’t grow many branches, and are as unhealthy roots on a sheer rock.
16The reeds by every water or river bank will be plucked up before all grass.
17Kindness is like a garden of blessings. Almsgiving endures forever.