Sirach 2:14 - Woe to you that have lost your patience! And what will you⌃ do when the Lord shall visit you?

Generated Verse: Sirach 2:14

What does "Sirach 2:14" mean?


Sirach 2:14, "Woe to you that have lost your patience! And what will you do when the Lord shall visit you?" expresses a warning against impatience and highlights the consequences of lacking patience when faced with God's judgment or intervention. Let's break down the verse:

"Woe to you that have lost your patience!": "Woe" is a declaration of sorrow, distress, and impending misfortune. This phrase indicates that those who are impatient are in a bad situation. The verse directly condemns those who lack patience. It implies that patience is a virtue and its absence is a fault with potentially negative repercussions.

"And what will you do when the Lord shall visit you?": This part poses a challenging question. "Visit" in this context refers to a time when God intervenes in a person's life, either for judgment, testing, or correction. When God arrives to set things right, the verse questions how the impatient will react or cope. The implication is that their impatience will hinder them from responding appropriately to God's presence.

The verse suggests that impatient individuals are ill-prepared to face divine judgment or testing. Patience is viewed as a virtue that enables one to endure hardship, trust in God's timing, and respond appropriately to His will. The lack of patience, conversely, leads to poor judgment, rash decisions, and potentially resistance to God's plan.

In essence, the verse urges individuals to cultivate patience as a safeguard against the negative consequences that arise when God intervenes in their lives. It implies that patience is not merely a passive virtue but an active trust in God's plan and a willingness to endure hardship with faith and hope.

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