Read & explore together
Remain faithful and judge a life by its end
Sirach 11:20–28 teaches patient faithfulness and careful judgement. It warns against being impressed by present success, crushed by present weakness, or too confident in present comfort.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This wisdom passage in the Catholic additional books gives a series of commands and observations. It begins with covenant loyalty and labour, moves to trust in the Lord rather than envy, then warns against false speech in discouragement or comfort, and ends by pointing to death, deeds, and family reputation.
Sirach 11:20–28Main takeaway
This passage teaches that steady faithfulness matters more than present appearances, because a person’s life is shown more truly by its end than by a single moment.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Be steadfast and keep workingThe first instruction joins covenant faithfulness with perseverance. To be “steadfast in your covenant” is not a brief feeling, because the next command is to keep doing it.
Explanation
The first instruction joins covenant faithfulness with perseverance. To be “steadfast in your covenant” is not a brief feeling, because the next command is to keep doing it. “Grow old in your work” points to a long pattern of faithful labour rather than a quick start or a short season of effort.
02Do not admire a sinner’s successSirach tells the reader not to marvel at the works of a sinner, but to trust the Lord and remain in labour.
Explanation
Sirach tells the reader not to marvel at the works of a sinner, but to trust the Lord and remain in labour. The reason given is the Lord’s power to change circumstances quickly. A poor man may swiftly become rich, and the blessing given to the godly may flourish in a very short time.
03Reject both despair and false securityThe next sayings correct two opposite speeches. One voice says, “What use is there of me?”
Explanation
The next sayings correct two opposite speeches. One voice says, “What use is there of me?” and gives up hope. The other says, “I have enough,” and feels untouchable. Sirach adds that good days and bad days can each distort memory, so present feelings do not tell the whole truth about life.
04Look to the end before judging a lifeSirach says the Lord can reward a person in the day of death according to his ways, and that in the end a man’s deeds are revealed.
Explanation
Sirach says the Lord can reward a person in the day of death according to his ways, and that in the end a man’s deeds are revealed. Therefore no one should be called happy before death. The final line, “A man will be known in his children”, adds that a person’s life is also seen in what becomes visible through the next generation.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Sirach place alongside covenant faithfulness in the opening verse?
Look for the commands that connect steadfastness with continuing in work over a long time, not stopping quickly.
02What reasons does the passage give for not marvelling at a sinner’s works?
Notice how the text points to trusting the Lord because he can swiftly change circumstances and make blessing flourish.
03How does Sirach 11:28 deepen the warning not to call someone happy before death?
Read the whole verse with the lines before it: the end reveals deeds, and a person is also known by what is seen in his children.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 11:20–28
20Be steadfast in your covenant and be doing it, and grow old in your work.
21Don’t marvel at the works of a sinner, but trust the Lord and stay in your labor; for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord to swiftly and suddenly make a poor man rich.
22The Lord’s blessing is in the reward of the godly. He makes his blessing flourish in an hour that comes swiftly.
23Don’t say, “What use is there of me? What further good things can be mine?”
24Don’t say, “I have enough. What harm could happen to me now?”
25In the day of good things, bad things are forgotten. In the day of bad things, a man will not remember things that are good.
26For it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord to reward a man in the day of death according to his ways.
27The affliction of an hour causes delights to be forgotten. In the end, a man’s deeds are revealed.
28Call no man happy before his death. A man will be known in his children.