Sirach 20:15 - He will give little, and upbraid much; And he will open his mouth like a crier: Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask it again: Such an one is a hateful man.
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What does "Sirach 20:15" mean?
Sirach 20:15, "He will give little, and upbraid much; And he will open his mouth like a crier: Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask it again: Such an one is a hateful man," describes someone who is ungenerous and unpleasant to deal with. Let's break it down:
"He will give little, and upbraid much": This means the person is stingy. When they do give something (even a small amount), they will constantly criticize or berate the recipient, making them feel guilty or indebted. They aren't giving out of genuine kindness.
"And he will open his mouth like a crier": This implies the person will make a loud and public display of their generosity (even though it's minimal). A "crier" was someone who made public announcements, so this person will loudly proclaim what they've done, seeking praise or recognition. It highlights the insincerity of their giving.
"Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask it again": This reinforces the lack of generosity. If they lend something, they're quick to demand it back, making the "loan" a burden rather than a help. It illustrates impatience and distrust, further emphasizing the lack of genuine kindness.
"Such an one is a hateful man": This is the conclusion. The combination of stinginess, constant criticism, boastfulness, and impatience makes this person unpleasant and worthy of dislike.
In essence, the verse condemns a person who pretends to be generous but is actually selfish, critical, and makes those they supposedly help feel worse. It warns against those who give with strings attached, seeking praise or control rather than genuinely wanting to assist. Their behavior undermines the spirit of charity and makes them repulsive to others.
Sirach 20:15 - He will give little, and upbraid much; And he will open his mouth like a crier: Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask it again: Such an one is a hateful man.
What does "Sirach 20:15" mean?
Sirach 20:15, "He will give little, and upbraid much; And he will open his mouth like a crier: Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask it again: Such an one is a hateful man," describes someone who is ungenerous and unpleasant to deal with. Let's break it down:
"He will give little, and upbraid much": This means the person is stingy. When they do give something (even a small amount), they will constantly criticize or berate the recipient, making them feel guilty or indebted. They aren't giving out of genuine kindness.
"And he will open his mouth like a crier": This implies the person will make a loud and public display of their generosity (even though it's minimal). A "crier" was someone who made public announcements, so this person will loudly proclaim what they've done, seeking praise or recognition. It highlights the insincerity of their giving.
"Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask it again": This reinforces the lack of generosity. If they lend something, they're quick to demand it back, making the "loan" a burden rather than a help. It illustrates impatience and distrust, further emphasizing the lack of genuine kindness.
"Such an one is a hateful man": This is the conclusion. The combination of stinginess, constant criticism, boastfulness, and impatience makes this person unpleasant and worthy of dislike.
In essence, the verse condemns a person who pretends to be generous but is actually selfish, critical, and makes those they supposedly help feel worse. It warns against those who give with strings attached, seeking praise or control rather than genuinely wanting to assist. Their behavior undermines the spirit of charity and makes them repulsive to others.