Sirach 37:11 - Take not counsel with a woman about her rival; Neither with a coward about war; Nor with a merchant about exchange; Nor with a buyer about selling; Nor with an envious man about thankfulness; Nor with an unmerciful man about kindliness; Nor with a sluggard about any kind of work; Nor with a hireling in your house about finishing his work; Nor with an idle servant about much business: Give not heed to these in any matter of counsel.
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What does "Sirach 37:11" mean?
This verse from Sirach 37:11 is a series of warnings about seeking advice from people whose inherent biases or characteristics would prevent them from giving sound counsel. It highlights that objectivity and relevant experience are crucial for good advice. Let's break it down:
"Take not counsel with a woman about her rival;" This speaks to the potential for jealousy and bias to cloud a woman's judgment when it comes to someone she sees as a competitor or threat. Her advice might be driven by a desire to undermine the rival, not by objective truth.
"Neither with a coward about war;" A coward, by definition, is fearful of conflict and risk. They are unlikely to offer sound strategic advice related to war, as their instinct will be to avoid it at all costs, potentially leading to disadvantageous decisions.
"Nor with a merchant about exchange;" A merchant's primary focus is profit. They might encourage you to engage in deals that benefit them, even if they are not in your best interest. They're biased towards making a sale.
"Nor with a buyer about selling;" Similarly, a buyer wants the lowest possible price. Their advice on selling something would likely be aimed at undervaluing it, so they can buy it cheaply.
"Nor with an envious man about thankfulness;" An envious person is resentful of others' good fortune. They are unlikely to appreciate the value of gratitude, or advise you on how to express it sincerely, because they themselves are incapable of genuine thankfulness.
"Nor with an unmerciful man about kindliness;" An unmerciful person lacks compassion and is unlikely to understand or value kindness. Seeking their advice on matters of generosity or compassion would be futile.
"Nor with a sluggard about any kind of work;" A sluggard is lazy and dislikes work. They will probably discourage you from undertaking tasks or offer advice that leads to minimal effort and poor results.
"Nor with a hireling in your house about finishing his work;" A temporary worker (hireling) may not have the same level of dedication to completing a task well as someone with a long-term stake in the outcome. They might prioritize speed over quality or try to cut corners to finish quickly.
"Nor with an idle servant about much business:" An idle servant (one who doesn't like work) would be the wrong choice to consult about how to get a large amount of work done.
"Give not heed to these in any matter of counsel." This is the key takeaway: Be discerning about who you seek advice from. Consider their character, motivations, and relevant experience before trusting their counsel.
In essence, the verse warns against seeking advice from individuals who are inherently biased, lack the necessary experience, or have character flaws that would prevent them from offering objective and helpful guidance. It emphasizes the importance of seeking counsel from wise, trustworthy, and objective sources. It's about recognizing that the quality of advice is directly linked to the character and perspective of the advisor.
Sirach 37:11 - Take not counsel with a woman about her rival; Neither with a coward about war; Nor with a merchant about exchange; Nor with a buyer about selling; Nor with an envious man about thankfulness; Nor with an unmerciful man about kindliness; Nor with a sluggard about any kind of work; Nor with a hireling in your house about finishing his work; Nor with an idle servant about much business: Give not heed to these in any matter of counsel.
What does "Sirach 37:11" mean?
This verse from Sirach 37:11 is a series of warnings about seeking advice from people whose inherent biases or characteristics would prevent them from giving sound counsel. It highlights that objectivity and relevant experience are crucial for good advice. Let's break it down:
"Take not counsel with a woman about her rival;" This speaks to the potential for jealousy and bias to cloud a woman's judgment when it comes to someone she sees as a competitor or threat. Her advice might be driven by a desire to undermine the rival, not by objective truth.
"Neither with a coward about war;" A coward, by definition, is fearful of conflict and risk. They are unlikely to offer sound strategic advice related to war, as their instinct will be to avoid it at all costs, potentially leading to disadvantageous decisions.
"Nor with a merchant about exchange;" A merchant's primary focus is profit. They might encourage you to engage in deals that benefit them, even if they are not in your best interest. They're biased towards making a sale.
"Nor with a buyer about selling;" Similarly, a buyer wants the lowest possible price. Their advice on selling something would likely be aimed at undervaluing it, so they can buy it cheaply.
"Nor with an envious man about thankfulness;" An envious person is resentful of others' good fortune. They are unlikely to appreciate the value of gratitude, or advise you on how to express it sincerely, because they themselves are incapable of genuine thankfulness.
"Nor with an unmerciful man about kindliness;" An unmerciful person lacks compassion and is unlikely to understand or value kindness. Seeking their advice on matters of generosity or compassion would be futile.
"Nor with a sluggard about any kind of work;" A sluggard is lazy and dislikes work. They will probably discourage you from undertaking tasks or offer advice that leads to minimal effort and poor results.
"Nor with a hireling in your house about finishing his work;" A temporary worker (hireling) may not have the same level of dedication to completing a task well as someone with a long-term stake in the outcome. They might prioritize speed over quality or try to cut corners to finish quickly.
"Nor with an idle servant about much business:" An idle servant (one who doesn't like work) would be the wrong choice to consult about how to get a large amount of work done.
"Give not heed to these in any matter of counsel." This is the key takeaway: Be discerning about who you seek advice from. Consider their character, motivations, and relevant experience before trusting their counsel.
In essence, the verse warns against seeking advice from individuals who are inherently biased, lack the necessary experience, or have character flaws that would prevent them from offering objective and helpful guidance. It emphasizes the importance of seeking counsel from wise, trustworthy, and objective sources. It's about recognizing that the quality of advice is directly linked to the character and perspective of the advisor.