Ben Sira, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is a book of wisdom literature from around the 2nd century BCE – a time of huge cultural shifts and anxieties. It’s not part of the Hebrew Bible canon, but it’s highly valued in Jewish tradition. And in chapter 12, we find some pretty direct advice about who to trust, and how to navigate relationships with those outside our immediate circle.
"Attach thyself not to evil," it begins, "to twist your ways, your covenant overturn." Pretty straightforward, right? Don't get tangled up with bad company. Don't compromise your values or your commitments. It's a warning against letting negative influences lead you astray.
Then comes a particularly relevant line for our times: "From a foreign neighbor, heed your way; he may tear your tranquility, and become acquainted with your valuables." Now, "foreign neighbor" here doesn't necessarily mean someone from another country. It could simply refer to someone outside your immediate community, someone whose values or intentions you don't fully know. The message is clear: be cautious. Protect your peace and your resources.
But here's where it gets interesting. It's not all about suspicion and isolation. The text urges, "Do good to the righteous, and find recompense; If not from him, from the Lord." Do good, but be discerning. Invest in those who are already striving for righteousness. And even if they can't repay you directly, the universe, or God, will find a way to balance the scales.
The text continues, "No good cometh of bestowing upon (?) him that is wicked; And (?) that hath not done righteousness." It’s blunt. Giving to those who are consistently wicked, those who haven't shown any commitment to righteousness? It's unlikely to yield positive results.
And then comes the zinger: "A double portion of evil shalt thou obtain in time of need By all the good thou shalt have brought him." Ouch. It’s a stark warning about the potential consequences of misplaced generosity. All that good you poured out? It could come back to bite you, doubled, when you're most vulnerable.
Finally, Ben Sira gets very specific: "Weapons of war give not to him; Wherefore should he fight with them against thee?" This isn't just about literal weapons. It's about any kind of power or resource that could be used against you. Don't arm your potential enemies, whether literally or metaphorically.
So, what do we take away from all this? Is Ben Sira advocating for a cold, distrustful worldview? Not necessarily. It seems to be about wise discernment, the ability to distinguish between those who are worthy of our trust and generosity and those who might exploit it. It's a call to protect ourselves and our values while still striving to do good in the world. It's a delicate balance, one that requires constant vigilance and prayerful consideration.