What does Ecclesiasticus Chapter 5 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Wealth and mercy-presumption warnings urge prompt conversion. Meek listening and conditional answering preserve understanding’s role. Whispering warnings conclude with equal treatment of small and great.

Chapter breakdown

Ecclesiasticus 5 warns against reliance on unjust possessions as enough for life, since they will not help at vengeance and darkness. Do not follow heart desires in strength or boast of might immune from consequences; God will take revenge. Do not infer safety from sin without immediate harm: the Most High is patient. Maintain fear regarding forgiven sin, avoid adding offenses and presuming great mercy over accumulated sins. Mercy and wrath come quickly; do not delay conversion day by day because sudden wrath and destruction threaten. Unjustly gained goods do not profit in calamity.

Do not winnow with every wind or follow every way like a double-tongued sinner. Remain steadfast in the Lord's way, true judgment and knowledge, keeping peace and justice's word. Be meek in listening to understand and return a true wise answer. Answer with understanding; otherwise hand upon mouth avoids unskillful speech and shame. Wise speech bears honor and glory, foolish tongue ruin. Avoid whispering and being ensnared by tongue: thieves face confusion and repentance, double tongues disgrace, whisperers hatred, enmity and reproach. Justify small and great alike. Meek listening is not changed to swift listening; warnings do not report an already converted disciple or guarantee universal hatred and inescapable social condemnation.

The story inside

Opening: Wealth and mercy-presumption warnings urge prompt conversion. Development: Meek listening and conditional answering preserve understanding’s role. Conclusion: Whispering warnings conclude with equal treatment of small and great.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Wealth and mercy-presumption warnings urge prompt conversion.
2
Meek listening and conditional answering preserve understanding’s role.
3
Whispering warnings conclude with equal treatment of small and great.

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 73705–73706
5:4. Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the most High is a patient rewarder.
Lines 73716–73720
5:8. Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to day. 5:9. For his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of vengeance he will destroy thee.
Lines 73732–73733
5:13. Be meek to hear the word, that thou mayst understand: and return a true answer with wisdom.