volume 12, issue 2, 2020, pages 179-197

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64438/sbsDFBD7111
Published online: 2020-12-01
Published in print: 2020-12-30

Abstract: Poetic and semantic analysis of the poem on ‘Disgrace of Begging and Concerning Death’ (40:28–41:4) in the Book of Ben Sira, as its two parts are entitled for example by NRSV, and similarly also by Slovak translations, reveals beautiful presentation of its two topics and also poetic mastery of the author. Ben Sira’s concept of ‘life from gift’ (חַיֵּי מַתָּן), against which he warns, points rather to a reckless way of life. On the other hand, life lived responsibly makes a person capable of not fearing death. A revised title of the poem could read: ‘On Responsible Life and Death’.