Sirach 24 Verse 24

[rweidn]

Lat night i was Youtubing Catholic apologetic stuff and watched a video about Mary as found in Scripture. The person speaking urged everyone to read Sirach 24 Verse 24 and then read it, a beautiful verse certainly seeming to reference Mary. I got out my NRSV Catholic Bible to read the entire chapter but that verse is not there and the verses in my Bible are radically different. I’m used to seeing different translations of scripture verses they are usually close to one another but this one was not close at all. Left me feeling a bit deflated that this beautiful passage is not in my Bible. I don’t know what translation the speaker was using but he did make reference to the DR. Why the huge difference though?

 

[dmar198]

Lat night i was Youtubing Catholic apologetic stuff and watched a video about Mary as found in Scripture. The person speaking urged everyone to read Sirach 24 Verse 24 and then read it, a beautiful verse certainly seeming to reference Mary. I got out my NRSV Catholic Bible to read the entire chapter but that verse is not there and the verses in my Bible are radically different. I’m used to seeing different translations of scripture verses they are usually close to one another but this one was not close at all. Left me feeling a bit deflated that this beautiful passage is not in my Bible. I don’t know what translation the speaker was using but he did make reference to the DR. Why the huge difference though?

The DR Bible has this for verses 24-28: “I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits. For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations.”

The RSV has a footnote on verse 17 that says: “Other authorities add 18 I am the mother of beautiful love, of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope; being eternal, I therefore am given to all my children, to those who are named by him.”

That seems to supply the missing verse 24, plus a little something extra.

I can’t find a parallel for the part about “all grace of the way” etc., not in the RSV footnotes or in the RSV main text. The part that says “Come to me, you who desire me,” out to the part about “honey and the honeycomb,” appears to be verses 19-20 in the RSV. I can’t find a parallel for the last part, about her memory lasting unto everlasting generations.

I think that unravels the mystery a little bit, but significant portions are still missing. Sounds like manuscript differences to me. I hope that helps.

 

[Gliggle]

curious too…

 

[Dorothy]

The DR Bible has this for verses 24-28: “I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits. For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations.”

The RSV has a footnote on verse 17 that says: “Other authorities add 18 I am the mother of beautiful love, of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope; being eternal, I therefore am given to all my children, to those who are named by him.”

That seems to supply the missing verse 24, plus a little something extra.

I can’t find a parallel for the part about “all grace of the way” etc., not in the RSV footnotes or in the RSV main text. The part that says “Come to me, you who desire me,” out to the part about “honey and the honeycomb,” appears to be verses 19-20 in the RSV. I can’t find a parallel for the last part, about her memory lasting unto everlasting generations.

I think that unravels the mystery a little bit, but significant portions are still missing. Sounds like manuscript differences to me. I hope that helps.

Thank you…that makes a lot of sense.