Lesson sequence
Sirach 40: Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden
Sirach 40:1–11; Sirach 40:12–17; Sirach 40:18–27; Sirach 40:28–30
Sirach 40:1–11 describes the weight many people feel in life. It speaks of burden, fear, broken rest, calamity, and death, and says these are not limited to one class of people. This lesson also brings together Injustice passes away but generosity endures, Good gifts are surpassed by wisdom, counsel, and reverence, The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence.
Before you teach
This passage is from Sirach, a wisdom book in the Catholic additional books. Here the writer reflects on the human condition in ordered sayings, moving from birth and burial, to fear and sleeplessness, to calamities, and finally to the return of earthly things to their place.
Explain the central teaching of Sirach 40: Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden, using two details from the reading. Sirach 40:1–11 teaches that trouble and death belong to the shared human condition, and it ends by reminding readers of human mortality. This passage teaches that the goods of the unjust pass away, but good faith, kindness and almsgiving are described as enduring. Sirach 40:18–27 teaches that many gifts are good, but wisdom, counsel, generosity, and above all the fear of the Lord are presented as better. This passage warns against a beggar’s life, dependence on another person’s table, and the painful outcome described in the final verse.
Your lesson sequence
Use the teaching outline below for each session, with these reading and activity choices.
Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden
Sirach 40:1–11
Sirach 40:1–11 teaches that trouble and death belong to the shared human condition, and it ends by reminding readers of human mortality.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for Sirach 40:1–11. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
Injustice passes away but generosity endures
Sirach 40:12–17
This passage teaches that the goods of the unjust pass away, but good faith, kindness and almsgiving are described as enduring.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for Sirach 40:12–17. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
Good gifts are surpassed by wisdom, counsel, and reverence
Sirach 40:18–27
Sirach 40:18–27 teaches that many gifts are good, but wisdom, counsel, generosity, and above all the fear of the Lord are presented as better.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for Sirach 40:18–27. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence
Sirach 40:28–30
This passage warns against a beggar’s life, dependence on another person’s table, and the painful outcome described in the final verse.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for Sirach 40:28–30. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
Welcome: Sirach 40: Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden
5 minIntroduce “Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden”, “Injustice passes away but generosity endures”, “Good gifts are surpassed by wisdom, counsel, and reverence”, “The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence” and locate Sirach 40:1–11; Sirach 40:12–17; Sirach 40:18–27; Sirach 40:28–30. Sirach 40:1–11 teaches that trouble and death belong to the shared human condition, and it ends by reminding readers of human mortality. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for. Choose the reading for today’s session from the sequence above.
Sirach 40:1, Sirach 40:6, Sirach 40:11
Read and explain the passage
12 minAnxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden (Sirach 40:1–11): The passage opens by saying great travail is created for every person. A heavy yoke pictures a load carried through life. Sirach marks the whole span, from coming from the womb to burial, calling the grave "the mother of all things" in the text’s own poetic language.
Injustice passes away but generosity endures (Sirach 40:12–17): 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.
Good gifts are surpassed by wisdom, counsel, and reverence (Sirach 40:18–27): The passage opens with two linked ideas: a person who labours and is content has a sweet life, and then a person who finds treasure is said to be better than both. Sirach begins by training the reader to compare blessings carefully, not to deny one good gift, but to weigh it beside another.
The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence (Sirach 40:28–30): 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.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden”, “Injustice passes away but generosity endures”, “Good gifts are surpassed by wisdom, counsel, and reverence”, “The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Sirach 40:1, Sirach 40:12, Sirach 40:18, Sirach 40:28
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “How does Sirach show that human trouble affects both the powerful and the lowly?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage warns against a beggar’s life, dependence on another person’s table, and the painful outcome described in the final verse. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Sirach 40:3, Sirach 40:4, Sirach 40:26, Sirach 40:27, Sirach 40:28
Make and respond: Wisdom comparison cards
12 minWork on “Sirach 40: Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden: Wisdom comparison cards”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden”, “Injustice passes away but generosity endures”, “Good gifts are surpassed by wisdom, counsel, and reverence”, “The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Sirach 40:1, Sirach 40:16, Sirach 40:30
Closing: return to The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence
3 minRevisit Sirach 40:28–30. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Sirach 40:28, Sirach 40:29, Sirach 40:30
Questions to explore
How does Sirach show that human trouble affects both the powerful and the lowly?
Look at the paired contrasts of throne and ashes, and purple and burlap.
Sirach 40:3, Sirach 40:4
How does the ending describe the fear of the Lord?
Use the passage’s own descriptions about lacking nothing, not needing help, and being like a garden of blessing.
Sirach 40:26, Sirach 40:27
How 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.
Sirach 40:28
Make, think or respond
Sirach 40: Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden: Wisdom comparison cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage commends”, “What it warns against”, “The reason or outcome stated”.
- Read Sirach 40:1–11; Sirach 40:12–17; Sirach 40:18–27; Sirach 40:28–30. Use “Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden”, “Injustice passes away but generosity endures”, “Good gifts are surpassed by wisdom, counsel, and reverence”, “The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write a proposed everyday example beside one teaching. Label it as your example and explain which words in the text guided it.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Sirach 40: Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Anxiety, toil, and death are a common human burden”, “Injustice passes away but generosity endures”, “Good gifts are surpassed by wisdom, counsel, and reverence”, “The teacher rejects a life of humiliating dependence” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Sirach 40:1–11; Sirach 40:12–17; Sirach 40:18–27; Sirach 40:28–30. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Sirach 40:1–11; Sirach 40:12–17; Sirach 40:18–27; Sirach 40:28–30. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Sirach 40
1 Great travail is created for every man. A heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their coming forth from their mother’s womb, until the day for their burial in the mother of all things.
2 The expectation of things to come, and the day of death, trouble their thoughts, and cause fear in their hearts.
3 From him who sits on a throne of glory, even to him who is humbled in earth and ashes,
4 from him who wears purple and a crown, even to him who is clothed in burlap,
5 there is wrath, jealousy, trouble, unrest, fear of death, anger, and strife. In the time of rest upon his bed, his night sleep changes his knowledge.
6 He gets little or no rest, and afterward in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, he is troubled in the vision of his heart, as one who has escaped from the front of battle.
7 In the very time of his deliverance, he awakens, and marvels that the fear is nothing.
8 To all creatures, human and animal, and upon sinners sevenfold more,
9 come death, bloodshed, strife, sword, calamities, famine, suffering, and plague.
10 All these things were created for the wicked, and because of them the flood came.
11 All things that are of the earth turn to the earth again. All things that are of the waters return into the sea.
12 All bribery and injustice will be blotted out. Good faith will stand forever.
13 The goods of the unjust will be dried up like a river, and like a great thunder in rain will go off in noise.
14 In opening his hands, a man will be made glad; so lawbreakers will utterly fail.
15 The children of the ungodly won’t grow many branches, and are as unhealthy roots on a sheer rock.
16 The reeds by every water or river bank will be plucked up before all grass.
17 Kindness is like a garden of blessings. Almsgiving endures forever.
18 The life of one who labors and is content will be made sweet. He who finds a treasure is better than both.
19 Children and the building of a city establish a name. A blameless wife is better than both.
20 Wine and music rejoice the heart. The love of wisdom is better than both.
21 The pipe and the lute make pleasant melody. A pleasant tongue is better than both.
22 Your eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than both.
23 A friend and a companion is always welcome, and a wife with her husband is better than both.
24 Relatives and helpers are for a time of affliction, but almsgiving rescues better than both.
25 Gold and silver will make the foot stand sure, and counsel is esteemed better than both.
26 Riches and strength will lift up the heart. The fear of the Lord is better than both. There is nothing lacking in the fear of the Lord. In it, there is no need to seek help.
27 The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing and covers a man more than any glory.
28 My son, don’t lead a beggar’s life. It is better to die than to beg.
29 A 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.
30 Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the shameless, but it kindles a fire in his belly.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.