What does Ecclesiasticus Chapter 32 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Ruler care and elder speech precede musical comparisons. Youth restraint retains conditional twice-asked answer and favor/modesty ordering. Counsel, household vigilance and faith instructions retain separate conscience note.

Chapter breakdown

Ecclesiasticus 32 tells an appointed ruler not to rise in pride but remain one of the people, care for them and fulfill charge before taking place, rejoicing for them and receiving graceful crown and contribution-honor. Elders should speak first with careful knowledge without hindering music, but not pour words without hearing or exalt untimely wisdom. Concert in wine banquet resembles carbuncle set gold; melody with pleasant moderate wine emerald signet in gold. Hear silently for reverence's grace.

Young men should scarcely speak in their own cause, and if asked twice answer shortly. Be as ignorant in many things, listening and seeking, without presumption among great or excessive words before ancients. Lightning goes before storm and favor before shamefacedness, with grace through reverence; this ordering is retained without reversing it or adding rain. At rising do not delay but run home first, withdraw and take pastime, doing one's mind without sin or proud speech and blessing the creator's good gifts. No required family scene or universal prohibition on speaking unless questioned twice is added.

Divine fear receives discipline, early seeking blessing, law-seeking fullness, deceit a stumblingblock. Fear brings just judgment and kindles justice as light. Sinners evade reproof with willful excuses, counsel respects understanding and proud strangers lack fear; fear without counsel is controlled by one's own seeking. Do nothing without counsel and no later repentance is promised. Avoid ruinous and rugged paths against stones and soul's stumbling, beware children and household. Regard soul in faith in every work as commandment-keeping; the separate edition note explains sincere faith and conscience. Belief keeps commandments and divine trust fares no worse. These remain attributed counsels, not a guarantee of universal immunity or an unquenchable justice light.

The story inside

Opening: Ruler care and elder speech precede musical comparisons. Development: Youth restraint retains conditional twice-asked answer and favor/modesty ordering. Conclusion: Counsel, household vigilance and faith instructions retain separate conscience note.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Ruler care and elder speech precede musical comparisons.
2
Youth restraint retains conditional twice-asked answer and favor/modesty ordering.
3
Counsel, household vigilance and faith instructions retain separate conscience note.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 76479–76485
32:1. Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them. 32:2. Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place: 32:3. That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an
Lines 76496–76500
32:7. A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in gold. 32:8. As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.
Lines 76544–76545
32:24. My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.