The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 of 51 (To update)

The Wisdom of Sirach

 Chapter  4

¹ My child, do not cheat the poor of their living, and do not keep needy eyes waiting.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 1)

Oh God my Father, I thank You for all the resources that You provide me with. Please help me to keep in mind that what You have given me is not for myself alone but even to help others who are in a greater need than myself Amen. I pray for the gift of generosity, and I thank You for my job for it is that of helping those who are really in need Amen.



² Do not grieve the hungry, or anger one in need.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 2)


Oh God, my Father this is a delicate area in my life. I am so weak that I am not always strong enough to give my lunch to others who have nothing and who are in a greater need than myself. However, I am sure that it was with Your help that there was a time when I did share part of my lunch. This was indeed a victory over my sinful nature Amen.


³ Do not add to the troubles of the desperate, or delay giving to the needy.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 3)


Oh God my Father many times I am compassionate and supportive however at other times simply giving is not the solution. At times people do not believe in themselves and empowering them helps them to experience the gifts that You have given them Amen.


⁴ Do not reject a suppliant in distress, or turn your face away from the poor.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 4)


Oh God my Father I pray for a soft generous and kind heart that never turns somebody away. I pray for resilience so that I can always be available for those in need Amen.


⁵ Do not avert your eye from the needy, and give no one reason to curse you; ⁶ for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you, their Creator will hear their prayer.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verses 5 to 6) 


Oh God my Father it has come to my knowledge that there is a person who is speaking bad of me, however, I am working on this relationship in order to heal any issues that could have strained the relationship in the first place Amen.


⁷ Endear yourself to the congregation; bow your head low to the great.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 7) 


For the millionth time oh God my Father, You are teaching me to be humble because by means of humility one can grow in relationship with others Amen.


⁸ Give a hearing to the poor, and return their greeting politely.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 8) 


Oh God my Father I thank You for giving me the line of work that brings me face to face with the poorest of the poor and most vulnerable people. I pray for each and every one of them. They are like family to me Amen.


⁹ Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 9) 


Oh God my Father, I thank You for giving me this role of advocating for the need of vulnerable people in order to see that justice is done Amen.


¹⁰ Be a father to orphans, and be like a husband to their mother; you will then be like a son of the Most High, and he will love you more than does your mother.



(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 10) 


Oh God, my Father this is why I love the work that You have given me, for when working with such vulnerable people it is like being a friend through the role of a Social Worker. I thank You for helping me be both at the appropriate times Amen.


¹¹ Wisdom teaches her children and gives help to those who seek her.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 11) 


Oh God my Father I pray for more and more of this gift so that I can continue to be of help and support to many others Amen.



¹² Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 12)


Oh God my Father, You are life, and whoever loves You also loves life, for all life finds its existence and meaning in You Amen.


¹³ Whoever holds her fast inherits glory, and the Lord blesses the place she enters.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 13)


Oh God my Father I pray for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and the gifts such as wisdom and holiness that You give us. I pray that You always dwell within me my God and Father for without You I cannot live Amen.


¹⁴ Those who serve her minister to the Holy One; the Lord loves those who love her.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 14)


Oh God, my Father those who are in a relationship with You speak a different language than those who are of the world, for their focus is totally on You. I pray that I am also totally focused on You and that Your Wisdom is also alive in me Amen.


¹⁵ Those who obey her will judge the nations and all who listen to her will live secure.



(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 15)


Amen oh God my Father may my life be directed and governed by Your wisdom Amen.


¹⁶ If they remain faithful, they will inherit her; their descendants will also obtain her.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 16)


Oh God my Father as a human being I cannot promise that I remain faithful for I am prone to sin, however, I thank You for always being faithful to me and for always being close to me Amen.


¹⁷ For at first she will walk with them on tortuous paths; she will bring fear and dread upon them, and will torment them by her discipline until she trusts them, and she will test them with her ordinances.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 17)


Oh God my Father throughout my journey with You we have passed from many tests both related to the area of work and in relation to my personal life, we have also faced tests in relation to a psychological level. Throughout every test You were with me and when I was lacking You gave me and are still giving me opportunities of a resit until I get the full marks from You my examiner Amen.


¹⁸ Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them, and will reveal her secrets to them.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 18)


After times of testing or examination, You will come back to us and refresh our souls and give us motivation and strength along with spiritual growth to move on in life Amen. Thanks, Jesus.


¹⁹ If they go astray she will forsake them, and hand them over to their ruin.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 19)


Oh God my Father loving You is far better than loving wisdom, for You never forsake me, but on the contrary, You are always ready to welcome me back into Your arms even though You know that I am weak and prone to sin Amen.

²⁰ Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil. and do not be ashamed to be yourself.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 20)

Oh God my Father I thank You for all the support that You gave me today. I felt tense and anxious that the money I had were not enough to cover the expenditure of the maintenance carried out on my house. I thank you for providing me with good management skills of my resources in order to cope with the pending demands. I pray that You help me to time the next phase of the project Amen.

²¹ For there is a shame that leads to sin, and there is a shame that is glory and favor.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 21)

Oh God my Father I have the shame of being a sinful person, I am ashamed of my previous and present sins, however, on the other hand, I am consoled by Your forgiveness which turns my shame into graces and satisfaction Amen.

²² Do not show partiality, to your own harm, or defence, to your downfall.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 22)

Oh God my Father this is why I pray for Your wisdom, for the power of the Holy Spirit, so that my judgments and decisions will be free from personal bias and just Amen.

²³ Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment, and do not hide your wisdom.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 4 verse 23)

Oh God my Father I thank You for giving me the proper words at the proper time last week where I felt that an intervention was needed just at that time. I thank You for giving me a righteous spirit to talk both on behalf of myself and that of others Amen. I thank You for using me to stimulate others to raise their voices in favour of positive change Amen.

The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 of 51

The Wisdom of Sirach

 Chapter  3

¹ Listen to me your father, O children; act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 1)

Oh God my Father, if we listen to You and act according to Your will one, will always feel secure of being on the path of righteousness Amen.


² For the Lord honours a father above his children, and he confirms a mother's right over her children.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 2) 



Oh God my beloved Father, would You honour a father such as myself, who in order to safeguard his state of mind body and spirit had to separate from his family? You know oh God the form of life that I was living, it was a living hell dominated by stress that was making me feel totally depressed. I pray that You do not condemn me for what I did Amen.


³ Those who honour their father atone for sins, ⁴ and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up a treasure.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verses 3 to 4)  


Oh God, my Father, even though I am lacking in my relationship with my Father, with Your help I am investing in my relationship with my mother, even though at times we do not see eye to eye Amen. I pray that You keep her and protect her Amen. 


⁵ Those who honour their father will have joy in their own children, and when they pay they will be heard.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 5)  

Oh God my Father, this is one of my weak points that I do not honour my material father for reasons that You are aware of, however, I still thank him in Your name for having taught me how to drive and get my driving license. This was one of his strong areas and of what he had he passed on to me Amen. 

⁶ Those who respect their father will have long life, and those who honour their mother obey the Lord; ⁷ they will serve their parents as their masters.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verses 6 to 7)  

Oh God my beloved Father, as You know I have only my mother left to whom I can show love obedience and respect in this material world and I really and truly thank You for her Amen.

⁸ Honor your father by word and deed, that his blessing may come upon you.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 8) 

Oh God, my heavenly Father blessed and glorified be Your Name. You are my only father for my natural father I have no contact with. I pray that You keep on loving him and take care of him Amen.

⁹ For a father's blessing strengthens the houses of the children, but a mother's curse uproots their foundations. 

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 9)

Oh God, my beloved Father, I pray all sons and daughters that have been cursed by their parents or in-laws. Those of us who feel unwanted, unaccepted and moreover feel conditioned by a negative action or actions that they do not have control over. I pray that You heal such people from these negative forces and free them from its clutches Amen.


¹⁰ Do not glorify yourself by dishonouring your father; for your father's dishonour is no glory to you.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 10)



Oh God, my blessed Father, You are right in what You say about the honour and dishonour of our fathers. I am not the type who honours my father, and this is not an act of love from my side. On the other hand, when speaking ill of him, I am also reflecting my own infirmities because I am the offspring of that same father. I ask for Your forgiveness for such moments my God and Father Amen.


¹¹ The glory of one's father is one's own glory and it is a disgrace for children not to respect their mother.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 11)



Oh God my Father, Your glory is my glory and in that, I appreciate even though I do not feel such glory at the time, however, in faith I know it is there. I thank You for my mother. She is my only human lifeline left on earth. I pray that You help me to keep on loving and respecting her Amen.


¹²ٰٰ My child, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him as long as he lives; ¹³ even if his mind fails, be patient with him; because you have all your faculties do not despise him.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verses 12 to 13)

Oh God my beloved Father, many times I have tried to have a relationship with my father however this was always a risky affair because through the relationship I was always risking ending up in some form of trouble. In the end, I gave up on trying. I do not hate him, but for my own good, I prefer to keep my distance from him Amen. Hope You understand me and my situation. However, I still believe that if You would like to change the situation You still can. Jesus, I trust in You on this one, especially in the given circumstances. Amen.



¹⁴ For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, and will be credited to you against your sins; ¹⁵ in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favour; like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verses 14 to 15)



Oh God my Father, as You know every time I tried to communicate with my human father I ended up in a lot of stress and discomfort, I cannot yet have a relationship with him, I cannot risk my fragile psychological self, for as You know I do not feel strong enough to face him without breaking down emotionally. Right now I am in a state of "handle with care" so I am keeping a healthy distance away from him. Thanks for understanding Amen.


¹⁶ Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer, and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 16)


Oh God, my Father I totally agree that we are to show love care and respect to our parents, however, in this area I need much support since both are not easy people to communicate with, the more I relate with my mother the more I realize how hurt she is. I pray for healing my God and Father Amen.


¹⁷ My child, perform your tasks with humility; then you will be loved by those whom God accepts.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 17) 


Oh God, my Father, the world accuses me of being disobedient, however what I do I do not for myself but for You. I only care about what You think of me. Amen. 



¹⁸ The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favour in the sight of the Lord.


 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 18) 



Oh brothers and sisters especially those who are in key position over others, do not think big of yourselves but be humble. Pray for those under your care or responsibility and do not abuse them in any way. Jesus our Father gave us a typical example in humility and obedience and we are to follow Him forever Amen. 


²⁰ For great is the might of the Lord; but by the humble he is glorified.


 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 20) 



Oh God, my Father on purpose or by accident verses 19 has been omitted and replaced by verse 20. However, the message is still loud and clear. Great are You oh God my Father. You are worthy to be praised. The proud seek their ways however we seek Your ways which are the only pathways leading to our salvation Amen.



²¹ Neither seek what is too difficult for you, nor investigate what is beyond your power.


 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 21)



Oh God my Father, many times we tend to try and rebuild what You have created and since we are not God we end up getting lost in our studies and exploration. I pray that before embarking on any research such people are to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit who is able to give us wisdom beyond all wisdom Amen.  



²² Reflect upon what you have been commanded, for what is hidden is not your concern. ²³ Do not meddle in matters that are beyond you, for more than you can understand has been shown you.


 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verses 22 to 23)



Oh God my Father if we were to pay heed to the teachings of verses 22 to 23, much trouble and issues of conflict could have been avoided. Today we are meddling in issues of creation that are beyond our knowledge and comprehension. All knowledge is in You and flows from You and not from the human intellect which You have given boundaries for our own good Amen.


²⁴ For their conceit has led many astray, and wrong opinion has impaired their judgment.


 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 24)


Oh God, my Father it is good to be wise and intelligent and to know many things however we need to control our sense of enquiry because it can result in spiritual harm. Many who have invested in philosophy have ended up not believing in God while others have found more reason on which to affirm it with more depth. I am happy with all that You permit me to learn my God and Father Amen.


²⁵ Without eyes there is no light; without knowledge there is no wisdom.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 25)


Oh God my Father many times I have eyes to see and acquire knowledge that leads to psychosocial and spiritual growth, however, I experience blockages and dilemmas such as lack of trust in myself and at times shamefully I say even in You. I pray that You teach me to trust more in You and to learn how to give You all the situations of my life and really let go Amen! 


²⁶ A stubborn mind will fare badly at the end, and whoever loves danger will perish in it.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 26)


Oh God, my Father there was a time when I was ignorant and stubborn when I stuck to my own thoughts opinions and ways, however today You are showing me how wrong I was. Thanks, Jesus.


²⁷ A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles, and the sinner adds sin to sins.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 27)


Oh, brothers and sisters stress is the product of many sins and in turn, sin creates more stress. I pray that we offer both our stress and our sins to You my Father and You will lighten our burdens Amen.


²⁸ When calamity befalls the proud, there is no healing, for an evil plant has taken root in him.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 28)


Oh God, my Father I have been given contravention fines which are unjust, and even though I am not a proud person I felt myself change negatively. I pray for healing and more humility my God and Father Amen.


²⁹ The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verse 29)


Oh God, I pray for a personal transformation. I pray that I start living according to Your Word and basing my life on it. I am in need of self-control and self-discipline in order to tame and educate my sinful-self Amen.

³⁰ As water extinguishes a blazing fire, so almsgiving atones for sin. ³¹ Those who repay favours give thought to the future; when they fall they will find support.


(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 3 verses 30 to 31)


Oh God my Father, this is why I love my work, since it is helping others who in no way can ever pay back the good deed done with them Amen.


I would like to end this reflection on the third chapter of the book of Wisdom of Sirach with the following prayer:-

I pray for the gift of humility my God and Father. Undress us from our natural pride, so that we can be more like You Amen.

Thank You, Jesus.

 

The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2

 

 

The Wisdom of Sirach

 Chapter  2

 

 

¹ My child, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing."

 

 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 1)

 

Oh God my beloved Father ever since the first day of Your relationship with me, to this very day testing has never stopped. However I believe that during these tests You are always with me. There are times when I pased the tests, however there are issues on which I failed and which You are still testing me by them to this very day until I merit a pass mark according to Your criteria. You are the best examiner and teacher my God and Father. I thank You for being on the examination board Amen.

 

  ² Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be impetuous in time of calamity.

 

 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 2)

 

Oh God my Father being to impetous and rushing things is indeed one of my weaknesses, throughout my life I made many mistakes and am still paying the price for such rushed decisions. I pray that I soften my heart and open it to You so that You can guide me in the course of my life Amen.



³ Cling to him and do not depart, so that your last days may be prosperous.

 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 3)

 

Oh God, you are my only hope and protection. In my situation, I totally depend on you because everyone is turning against me. As You know even the family therapist did not believe me and is going to act against me. I pray that You stop this conspiracy against me before the situation becomes more complicated Amen. Thank You, Jesus.



⁴ Accept whatever befalls you, and in times of humiliation be patient. ⁵ For gold is tested in the fire, and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation. ⁶ Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight, and hope in him.

 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verses 4 to 6)

 

Oh God many times I manage to accept what happens to me as being according to Your will but at times I become really stressed out. I pray that You foster in me a strong feeling of trust so that I can totally let go and place my total trust in You Amen. 

⁷ You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; do not stray, or else you may fall.

 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 7)

 

Oh God, my Father many times I state that I believe in You and even place my trust in You, however when it comes to imitating Your mercy I find it a problem. I have been in a stressful relationship with my wife for 16 years. Now that she has been made aware of the mediation she has suddenly changed, however, although the change appears to be permanent I cannot trust her not to go back to her old ways.


⁸ You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will not be lost. ⁹ You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.

 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verses 8 to 9)

 

Amen oh God my Father, when I place my total trust in You and not in myself nothing is difficult to achieve, life becomes more positive because my hope and trust is based on You and not on the ways of the world Amen.


¹⁰ Consider the generations of old and see: has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed? Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and been forsaken? Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected?

 (The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 10)

Oh God my beloved Father, the modern cliche' is that the olden times is not a guarantee for the future, however, it is true that all who placed their trust in You were never disappointed. I am one of Your witnesses oh God my Father Amen


¹¹ For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of distress.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 11)

Oh God my blessed Father, this definition or proclamation of You is a perfect truth, for it describes You as a whole. I can testify to this for even though I was up to my neck in stress and woe You always delivered me Amen. I thank You for being so kind, loving and merciful Amen.


¹² Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands, and to the sinner who walks a double path!

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 12)

Oh God my beloved Father, how I wish to walk according to Your will every single day of my life. This is one of my greatest wishes, that of overcoming my self and to live the life that You want us to live Amen.

¹³ Woe to the fainthearted who have no trust! Therefore they will have no shelter.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 13)

Oh God my beloved Father it is indeed a great woe to live my life based solely on my own means, or under the impression that one can possibly live without You. For me it is impossible to live without trusting You my God and Father, for my life would become totally insecure. I pray that the flame of faith in You will always keep on burning in me Amen.



¹⁴ Woe to you who have lost your nerve! What will you do when the Lord's reckoning comes?

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 14)

Woe to me my Lord and God for I am one of those who have lost their nerve, and the price that I am paying is very harsh. All the harsh words that I said during mediation have been used against me, and I have been accused by the judgment of the world as being unfit to be present in my daughter's presence unsupervised. Oh God, I am happy to receive my penalty in this world, with the hope and faith that my end will be more positive when I appear in Your presence Amen.


¹⁵ Those who fear the Lord do not disobey his words, and those who love him keep his ways. ¹⁶ Those who fear the Lord seek to please him, and those who love him are filled with his law.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 15)

Oh God, my Father verse 15 makes me realize that I am still far away from loving You even though I say I do because I do not always obey Your ways. Teach me to love You more my God and Father Amen.


¹⁶ Those who fear the Lord seek to please him, and those who love him are filled with his law.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 16)

Oh God my Father those who love You make Your law the way of their life, and live according to its teachings, this does not mean that they do not sin or make mistakes because we still have our human side, however as humans we will be humble enough to say sorry and confess our sins Amen.

¹⁷ Those who fear the LORD prepare their hearts, and humble themselves before him. ¹⁸ Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, but not into the hands of mortals; for equal to his majesty is his mercy, and equal to his name are his works.

(The Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 2 verse 17)

Oh God, my beloved Father, I pray that I am totally open to You, that I give You all my pleasures and even all my anxieties and stressors. I know that whenever I trusted in You I was never disappointed Amen.

I would like to end the second chapter of the book of Wisdom according to Sirach with the following prayer:

My God and My Father, every time I have shown my trust in You and I have never been disappointed. I pray that I learn to be more dependent on You regarding every issue of my life, because when I do so You will always give me an answer in Your own good and Godly time Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1

The Wisdom of Sirach

 Chapter 1

Prologue:

Many great teachings have been given to us through the Law and the Prophets and the others that followed them, and for these we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom. Now, those who read the scriptures must not only themselves understand them, but must also as lovers of learning be able through the spoken and written word to help the outsiders.

Oh God my Father I thank You for sharing with me each day this bounty of insights and instructions, I also thank You for giving me the opportunity to share this bounty of divine providence with others who are willing to listen, and apply the teachings that You have given us, throughout every verse and page of the Bible. I pray that You give me the opportunity to bring this end to an end before I die, so that I will then start broadcasting these sessions on Youtube in order to be of more help to others.




 So my grandfather Jesus, who had devoted himself especially to the reading of the Law and the Prophets and the other books of our ancestors, and had acquired considerable proficiency in them, was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, so that by becoming familiar also with his book those who love learning might make even greater progress in living according to the law.




Oh God my Father this morning by means of these verses You are showing me that You have given me something in common with Sirach. You gave me the motivation to share my daily prayers online and in doing so, You have given me the opportunity to progress in my relationship with You. Furthermore this in practice can be applied in my everyday life and others may also benefit from such wise instruction that You are giving me by means of the instructions that are found in this book Amen.




You are invited therefore to read it with goodwill and attention, and to be indulgent in cases where, despite our diligent labor in translating, we may seem to have rendered some phrases imperfectly.




Oh God my Father, I pray that we may look upon Your 'Bible' not with a critical eye in order to seek discrepancies but with a motivation to let the same Word reflect our darkness so that we can grow in our relationship with You and with others. May it be oh God my Father, that our attitude becomes so humble that we permit Your Word to judge us instead of judging it ourselves Amen.




For what was originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same sense when translated into another language. Not only this book, but even the Law itself, the Prophecies, and the rest of the books differ not a little when read in the original.


Oh God my Father I thank You for making me aware of this discrepancy between the original text and the copy or translation, however this disparity does not make the copy as being totally false in interpretation but slightly different. Amen I pray that such discrepancy may not hinder the faith of that who will be like myself meditating on Your Good News Amen.




When I came to Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of the  of the reign of Euergetes and stayed for some time, I found opportunity  for no little instruction. It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote some diligence and labor to the translation of this book. During that time I have applied my skill day and night to complete and publish the book for those living abroad who wished to gain learning and are disposed to live according to the law.




Oh God my Father I can understand the feeling of Sirach, for I also felt the same feeling that of praying on the Bible and sharing it to all who are willing to live and base their lives according to the instructions found in the Bible Amen. However I pray that my life will be of an example to many others, even though I am still a sinner, but the Spirit in me consumes me and motivates me to keep on sharing one post after another. The latest update that the Spirit of God has prompted me to do is to add an 'audio version or a movie' along with the chapter itself. I thank You oh Jesus for this energy, faith and motivation. Day and night I reflect on the messages that You give me by means of Your powerful Word, which comforts, makes me aware of my sins and where necessary rebukes me in order to make the necessary changes in my life Amen. 



¹ All wisdom is from the Lord, and with him it remains forever.



( Book of Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verse 1)




If only I could oh God my Father I would engrave this verse in pure gold and place it in all universities and schools, so that we will never forget it. Many people tend to believe more in science that functions on testable hypotheses and theories than on faith. In schools, students are being indoctrinated to believe in anything that is backed up by scientific evidence or enquiry. As a consequence a wave of atheism is spreading that is making the world more pagan in its belief and ways.




². The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity-who can count them? ³. The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom-who can search them out?




(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verses 2 to 3)


Oh God my Father even though humans may invent powerful instruments such as Hubble and many others, the universe still is and always will be a black hole and no man's land to humanity, for our knowledge is always and will always be limited when compared to You my God and Father.



⁴ Wisdom was created before all other things, and prudent understanding from eternity. ⁶ The root of wisdom-to whom has it been revealed? Her subtleties - who knows them? ⁸ There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared, seated upon his throne-the Lord.



(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verses 4 to 8)



Oh God my Father in truth you know that I am no theologian or priest, or street preacher, and that all that is found in this blog is the fruit of a relationship of prayer love and care that has been going on even before You created me. Even though I have been accused of being a hypocrite and unbeliever about my faith in You, I never declared that I was an authority either publicly or privately. My only wish is that of sharing my prayers with others, that all may receive the word of God as I am doing, All merit and praise is due to You my God the fountain of wisdom love and care and not to myself Amen.



⁹ It is he who created her; he saw her and took her measure; he poured her out upon all his works, ¹⁰ upon all the living according to his gift; he lavished upon those who love him.



(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verses 9 to 10)



Oh God my Father, thumbs up for those of us, who consider themselves as losers, lacking in the knowledge and skills of others and ready to live their lives as doormats in subjection to others who make good of this negative attitude and dig their heels in to them so much as to dominate them and makethem their slaves or inferiors.


God has given You all the knowledge You need! You need not feel inferior or depressed. He has given to all according to His gift. God knows which skills to give to you and which gifts to give to me and many others. He told us that if we ask for anything that is good for us, God will always listen to our prayers and give us more than we pray for, however if we pray for something negative to happen to others or to us, we cannot expect  from God, because God is all good without any taces of evil Amen. Therefore let us pray to God to show us the potential that He has given us, so that we can love Him more and value ourselves and even more the works that he has either done or can do by means of the knowledge and skills that He has given to us or will give us in the future amen according to His will.



¹¹ The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation, and gladness and a crown of rejoicing. ¹² The fear of the Lord delights the heart, and gives gladness and joy and long life. ¹³. Those who fear the Lord will have a happy end; on the day of their death they will be blessed.




(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verses 11 to 13)




Oh God my Father Your fear is different than that of the world in the sense that it is positive fear and not negative fear. It gives me the encouragement to move on day after day. Amen. I thank You for this fear oh God my Father.



¹⁴ To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; she is created with the faithful in the womb. ¹⁵. She made among human beings an eternal foundation, and among their descendants she will abide faithfully.


(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verses 14 to 15)


Oh God You are wisdom beyond all wisdom, in You wisdom finds its beginning and as the rightful owner You distribute Your bounty of wisdom wherever and whenever necessary. Those of us who are not haughty and proud are those who will accept Your wisdom however when we are already full of ourselves we may not have room to welcome and accept You and Your wisdom my God and Father. Amen. For the wisdom of the world is not disciplined and appears sweet and inviting, however, for those who have not accepted You, Your ways of obedience, faith and sacrifice is bitter. Amen



¹⁶. To fear the Lord is fullness of wisdom; she inebriates mortals with her fruits; ¹⁷. she fills their whole house with desirable goods, and their storehouses with her produce.



(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verses 16 to 17)



Oh God You are my goodness blessing and my salvation, there is none like You. You give me strength and wisdom, when and where it is lacking and You satisfy my soul Amen.

 

¹⁸ The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish.


(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verses 18)



As You are fully aware my God and Father, the human being is composed, of the physical, the psychological and even the spiritual elements. When all three are in harmony it may be said that the person is living a balanced life, however if the spiritual or any other part is not in order it will have consequences on the other parts, which places the person in a state of disharmony. I pray oh God my Father that especially throughout this new year 2017 we take You and our spiritual lives seriously so that we be persons who are whole and fully alive Amen.



¹⁹ She rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension, and she heightened the glory of those who held her fast.



(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verses 19)



Oh God my Father it is wiser of us to seek Your knowledge than that of the world, for what is of the world remains of the world, but what is Yours and of You is eternal. Moreover, those who have invested in You have never been disappointed Amen.



²⁰ To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom, and her branches are long life.


(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verse 20)



To fear You my God is not to be trembling all the time with teeth chattering. For if one is trying to live according to Your will, even though at times human nature gets the best of us, one does not need to be afraid or terrified. I am convinced that I have a Father who loves me, and I accept his rebuke, because as a parent, He knows what is good for me because my maturity is like that of a child compared to Yours my God and Father, for You see the big picture, my life plan and I only see a blurred image which in time You will continue to reveal and make clear to me. Amen. Thank You Jesus.



²². Unjust anger cannot be justified, for anger tips the scale to one's ruin.


(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verse 22)



For some reason, the New Testament Version omits verse 21 and moves on to verse 22 of the first chapter of the book of Wisdom of Sirach.


Oh God, my Father, this is one of my weakest points which You are helping me to deal with. When I lose control of myself and become highly emotional I move to lower level of being. My emotions take control and many times I do and say things that later on I regret that I had said or done. Oh God I am sorry for such moments because they are shameful that I pray that You deliver me from such moments. I pray that You help me in taming thus burst of negative energy that flows in me during such moments and change, it into moments of love and tranquillity, which helps to restore all my systems into their former order of tranquillity.



²³ Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment, and then cheerfulness comes back to them.


(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verse 23)



Oh God my Father I wish to be gifted with the gift of patience, for many times in my life I have rushed and when I did so I made one mistake after another. I pray that I have the humility to rely totally on You than on myself. Amen.


²⁴ They hold back their words until the right moment; then the lips of many tell of their good sense.

 
(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verse 24) 



Oh God I pray for control over both my mind and my tongue, for many times I speak that which could have been left unsaid until the right moment. I pray for Your prompting oh God my Father to say what is right, true, justifiable and valid at the right time, in the right situation Amen.



²⁵ In the treasuries of wisdom are wise sayings, but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.


(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verse 25)


Oh God my Father the Good News that is found in the Bible are words of wisdom, however for unbelievers it is not of value. For me it is a living testimony of how my life is to be. It is engraved in my heart and mind. I pray for Your loving grace and for the courage to go against my natural worldly self in order to live my life according to Your will. Amen.



²⁶ If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will lavish her upon you. 



(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verse 26)



Oh God You are the infinite source of wisdom, joy and love, and anyone who enters into a relationship with You or You chose to enter into a relationship with that person will benefit from such wisdom, not as the world offers it but as according to Your will which surpasses the wisdom of the world, both in quality and in quantity. Amen. Oh God if I live my life on Your Word and obtain the grace to live each verse that it contains both in the Old and in the New Testament this would be enough for me. Thank You Jesus.



²⁷ For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline, fidelity and humility are his delight. ²⁸Do not disobey the fear of the Lord; do not approach him with a divided mind. ²⁹ Do not be a hypocrite before others and keep watch over your lips. ³⁰ Do not exalt yourself, or you may fall and bring dishonor upon yourself. The Lord will reveal your secrets and overthrow you before the whole congregation, because you did not come in the fear of the Lord, and your heart was full of deceit.


(Wisdom of Sirach Chapter 1 verses 27 to 30) 



Oh God my beloved Father, by means of these verses You are highlighting my sins and that of many humans like myself. We are proud and disobedient, hypocrites in what we say and even do. In the presence of some people we behave differently from when we are in the presence of others. We cannot show our true and honest self. We dishonour our self, by exalting each other and at time even ourselves with grand titles that You do not like or approve of.



Oh God I long for that day when all that is in our broom cupboards will be brought to light and then and only then would we feel the guilt and shame of our actions and may I along with the rest of the world feel the great need to turn away from our sinful ways and follow You my God and Father. Even though I am fervent in my life of prayer, because You encourage me to do so, I am still a sinful person, who is struggling with my own self, in order to achieve mastery over myself, not with the intention of being proud but to restrain my sinful self from continuing to commit either the same sins or new ones. With Your help oh God my Father You are able to free me from the lures and temptations of this body of sin Amen.  


Oh God my beloved Father, I would like to end the first chapter of the book of Sirach with the following prayer:-


Oh God my beloved Father, may I embrace the wisdom found in the verses of the Bible and with great humility teach me to undress of this mortal and sinful body in order to put on one that is not sinful but holy. Only You my God can help me to reach this end, but I believe that if it is Your will it can be done. Fight me Oh God my Father until You overcome my sinful self and free me from myself so that I can be more like You Amen.