Read & explore together
The impartial Judge hears the wronged and humble
This wisdom passage says the Lord cannot be bribed or swayed by status. It highlights his care for people who are wronged, poor, fatherless, widowed, and humble, then ends by speaking of both righteous judgement and mercy.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
Sirach 35:12–20 is from the Catholic additional books and speaks as wisdom teaching, not a narrated event. These verses first reject gifts and unrighteous sacrifice as a way to influence the Lord, then describe him hearing the cries of the wronged and humble, and finally speak of his righteous judgement and mercy.
Sirach 35:12–20Main takeaway
This passage teaches that the Lord judges impartially, hears the wronged and humble, and brings both righteous judgement and mercy.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The Lord cannot be bribedThe opening warning says not to plan to bribe the Lord with gifts and not to rely on an unrighteous sacrifice.
Explanation
The opening warning says not to plan to bribe the Lord with gifts and not to rely on an unrighteous sacrifice. The reason is clear: the Lord is judge, and with him there is no respect of persons. His judgement is not controlled by payment, position, or outward show.
02He hears those with little powerThe passage then names people who are often vulnerable. The Lord will not favour someone against a poor man, and he listens to the prayer of the wronged.
Explanation
The passage then names people who are often vulnerable. The Lord will not favour someone against a poor man, and he listens to the prayer of the wronged. He does not despise the plea of the fatherless or the widow. Her tears and cry are treated as weighty before him.
03Humble prayer rises to himService offered according to God’s good pleasure is said to be accepted, and such supplication reaches to the clouds.
Explanation
Service offered according to God’s good pleasure is said to be accepted, and such supplication reaches to the clouds. The prayer of the humble is pictured as piercing the clouds. The verse then stresses persistence until the Most High visits and judges righteously and executes judgement.
04Judgement against the unmerciful, mercy for the afflictedThe final verses speak strongly about the Lord acting against the unmerciful, the arrogant, and the unrighteous.
Explanation
The final verses speak strongly about the Lord acting against the unmerciful, the arrogant, and the unrighteous. He renders to each person according to deeds and plans, judges the cause of his people, and makes them rejoice in his mercy. Mercy in affliction is compared to rain clouds in drought.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does this passage say gifts and sacrifice cannot sway the Lord?
The verse itself gives the reason: the Lord is judge, and with him there is no respect of persons.
02Which people are directly named as being heard by the Lord here?
Read the verses closely and list those named in the text: the poor, the wronged, the fatherless, and the widow.
03How does the last comparison help explain mercy in this passage?
The text compares mercy in affliction to clouds of rain in drought, showing it as deeply needed and welcome.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 35:12–20
12Don’t plan to bribe him with gifts, for he will not receive them. Don’t set your mind on an unrighteous sacrifice, For the Lord is the judge, and with him is no respect of persons.
13He won’t accept any person against a poor man. He will listen to the prayer of him who is wronged.
14He will in no way despise the supplication of the fatherless or the widow, when she pours out her tale.
15Don’t the tears of the widow run down her cheek? Isn’t her cry against him who has caused them to fall?
16He who serves God according to his good pleasure will be accepted. His supplication will reach to the clouds.
17The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds. until it comes near, he will not be comforted. He won’t depart until the Most High visits and he judges righteously and executes judgment.
18And the Lord will not be slack, neither will he be patient toward them, until he has crushed the loins of the unmerciful. He will repay vengeance to the heathen until he has taken away the multitude of the arrogant and broken in pieces the sceptres of the unrighteous,
19until he has rendered to every man according to his deeds, and repaid the works of men according to their plans, until he has judged the cause of his people, and he will make them rejoice in his mercy.
20Mercy is as welcome in the time of his affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.