Ben Sira's Timeless Advice on the Struggle for Wisdom

Ben Sira 6:25

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

Rough is she to the fool; And he that is void of understanding cannot bear her.

As a burdensome weight shall she be upon him; And he will not tarry to cast her away.

For discipline is according to its (?) name; And to the more part she is not plain (or right).

A potter's vessel is for the furnace to bake (?); And like unto it, a man is according to his thought.

Upon the bough (?) of a tree will be its fruit; So the thought of a man is according to his mind (?).

Incline thy shoulder, and carry her; And loathe not her cords (?).

Themes

Wisdom Adam Eve Divine Justice War Humor

Continue Reading

Sifrei BamidbarPurifying Garments and Vessels Captured in WarThe verse in question is from Bamidbar 31:20: "and every garment and every vessel of skin." Now, The first reading, it seems straightforward. But the Rabbis of Exempla of the Rabbis (Gaster, 1924)Exempla of the Rabbis, Tale 179Rabbi Patra had a student who struggled to learn. Where other teachers might have given up after ten repetitions, or twenty, or even a hundred, Rabbi Patra taug Ben SiraAll Wisdom Comes From God AloneMaybe, just maybe, the answer is simpler than we think. The Book of Ben Sira, a text brimming with practical advice and profound insights, starts with a bold cl Ben SiraThe Woman Called Wisdom Who Brings JoyWho is this "she" that promises so much joy, so much fulfillment? Ben Sira, a sage writing around the 2nd century BCE, hints at the answer. He paints a picture Ben SiraWhen Silence Is the Wisest Course of ActionWe've all been there. But what if the wisest course of action was simply... silence? That's the dilemma posed in the ancient wisdom of Ben Sira, specifically in Ben SiraFair-Weather Friends Who Vanish in TroubleSomeone who's all smiles and good times when things are easy, but vanishes the moment trouble appears. He saw it, he lived it, and he captured it in his writing