Read & explore together
The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence
These verses from Sirach give blunt wisdom about begging, eating from another person’s table, and the painful outcome the teacher describes. The speaker addresses “My son” and urges a careful response to this way of life.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In this brief wisdom instruction, the speaker addresses “My son” and warns against “a beggar’s life”. The passage compares begging, looking to another person’s table, and two responses: the shameless person who finds it sweet, and the wise, well-instructed person who avoids it.
Sirach 40:28–30Main takeaway
This passage warns against a beggar’s life, dependence on another person’s table, and the painful outcome described in the final verse.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A severe warning against beggingThe teacher begins with a direct address, “My son”, which marks this as personal instruction.
Explanation
The teacher begins with a direct address, “My son”, which marks this as personal instruction. The command is plain: “don’t lead a beggar’s life.” The next line makes the warning sound very severe, saying, “It is better to die than to beg.” The verse speaks with strong urgency about this condition.
02Looking to another person’s tableThe next saying uses the image of “the table of another”. A person who looks there is described in striking terms: “his life is not to be considered a life.”
Explanation
The next saying uses the image of “the table of another”. A person who looks there is described in striking terms: “his life is not to be considered a life.” The verse keeps the focus on dependence on another person’s food and presents that state as a serious warning.
03A sharp expression and a wise responseSirach then says such a person “will pollute his soul with another person’s food”. This is a severe expression, and the text does not explain it further.
Explanation
Sirach then says such a person “will pollute his soul with another person’s food”. This is a severe expression, and the text does not explain it further. What it does add is a contrast: “a wise and well-instructed person will beware of that.” Wisdom here is shown by avoiding what the saying warns about.
04Sweet in the mouth, fire in the bellyThe final verse sets appearance against result. Begging is said to be “sweet in the mouth of the shameless”, so it can seem appealing to that person.
Explanation
The final verse sets appearance against result. Begging is said to be “sweet in the mouth of the shameless”, so it can seem appealing to that person. Yet the ending is painful: “it kindles a fire in his belly.” The passage closes with this vivid warning about the outcome.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does Sirach 40:28 show the seriousness of the teacher’s warning?
Notice both parts of the verse: the command not to lead a beggar’s life and the sharp comparison that follows.
02What picture does “the table of another” give in Sirach 40:29?
Stay with the image in the verse itself and the way it describes a person whose life depends on another person’s food.
03What contrast appears in Sirach 40:30?
Compare the first image, “sweet in the mouth”, with the second image, “kindles a fire in his belly”.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 40:28–30
28My son, don’t lead a beggar’s life. It is better to die than to beg.
29A man who looks to the table of another, his life is not to be considered a life. He will pollute his soul with another person’s food, but a wise and well-instructed person will beware of that.
30Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the shameless, but it kindles a fire in his belly.