An Ideal Scribe

Ben Sira 39:1–11

ca. 180–132 BCE

¹He seeks out the wisdom of all the ancients,

and is concerned with prophecies;

²he preserves the sayings of the famous

and penetrates the subtleties of parables;

³he seeks out the hidden meanings of proverbs

and is at home with the obscurities of parables.

⁴He serves among the great

and appears before rulers;

he travels in foreign lands

and learns what is good and evil in the human lot.

⁵He sets his heart on rising early

to seek the Lord who made him,

and to petition the Most High;

he opens his mouth in prayer

and asks pardon for his sins.

⁶If the great Lord is willing,

he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;

he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own

and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.

⁷The Lord will direct his counsel and knowledge,

as he meditates on his mysteries.

⁸He will show the wisdom of what he has learned,

and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.

⁹Many will praise his understanding;

it will never be blotted out.

His memory will not disappear,

and his name will live through all generations.

¹⁰Nations will speak of his wisdom,

and the congregation will proclaim his praise.

¹¹If he lives long, he will leave a name greater than a thousand,

and if he goes to rest, it is enough for him.

Translation from the New Revised Standard Version.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.