Read & explore together
Mourn and bury the dead, then accept consolation
Sirach 38:16–23 gives practical wisdom for times of grief. It says mourning and burial matter, yet it also warns against letting sorrow take over the heart and strength.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In this part of Sirach, the speaker addresses “My son” and gives instruction about responding to death. The passage stays focused on lament, burial, the strain of sorrow, and the need to accept comfort after the dead are at rest. This book belongs to the Catholic additional books.
Sirach 38:16–23Main takeaway
This passage teaches that grieving the dead with honour is fitting, but ongoing sorrow should not be allowed to destroy the living.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Grief should be expressed and the dead honouredThe passage begins with permission to weep. Tears, lamentation, and wailing are not rejected here.
Explanation
The passage begins with permission to weep. Tears, lamentation, and wailing are not rejected here. Burial is also treated as an act of honour, not something to neglect. The instruction joins emotion and duty together: sorrow may be shown openly, and the body should be treated with due respect.
02Mourning has a fitting place, but not without limitSirach says mourning should be “according to his merit” and then speaks of being comforted.
Explanation
Sirach says mourning should be “according to his merit” and then speaks of being comforted. The text does not deny grief, but it does place a boundary around it. Sorrow is real, yet comfort is also necessary, so mourning is not presented as endless.
03Sorrow can weaken the livingThe reason for this warning is stated plainly. Sorrow can lead toward death and sap a person’s strength.
Explanation
The reason for this warning is stated plainly. Sorrow can lead toward death and sap a person’s strength. In calamity, grief lingers, and hardship makes life heavy on the heart. The passage recognises that grief affects the whole person, not only feelings.
04Remember death and accept consolationThe final verses urge the listener not to give the heart over to sorrow. Death cannot be reversed, and endless grief does no good to the dead while harming the mourner.
Explanation
The final verses urge the listener not to give the heart over to sorrow. Death cannot be reversed, and endless grief does no good to the dead while harming the mourner. Remembering that the same end comes to all helps the reader accept comfort when the dead are at rest.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What actions in this passage show honour for the dead?
Look for the commands about tears, lamentation, wailing, and burial, and notice that these are presented as fitting responses.
02Why does Sirach warn against giving your heart to sorrow?
The text explains that sorrow weakens the living and does no good for the dead when grief becomes consuming.
03How does remembering “yesterday for him, and today for you” shape the teaching of the passage?
Use the verse about shared human mortality to connect honouring the dead with accepting comfort for the living.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 38:16–23
16My son, let your tears fall over the dead, and as one who suffers grievously, begin lamentation. Wind up his body with due honor. Don’t neglect his burial.
17Make bitter weeping and make passionate wailing. Let your mourning be according to his merit, for one day or two, lest you be spoken evil of; and so be comforted for your sorrow.
18For from sorrow comes death. Sorrow of heart saps one’s strength.
19In calamity, sorrow also remains. A poor man’s life is grievous to the heart.
20Don’t give your heart to sorrow. Put it away, remembering the end.
21Don’t forget it, for there is no returning again. You do him no good, and you would harm yourself.
22Remember his end, for so also will yours be: yesterday for him, and today for you.
23When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest. Be comforted for him when his spirit departs from him.