Ben Sira 38:1-8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 38
Sickness and Death
1 Make friends with the doctor, for he is essential to you;[a]
God has also established him in his profession.
2 From God the doctor has wisdom,
and from the king he receives sustenance.
3 Knowledge makes the doctor distinguished,
and gives access to those in authority.
4 God makes the earth yield healing herbs
which the prudent should not neglect;
5 Was not the water sweetened by a twig,
so that all might learn his power?(A)
6 He endows people with knowledge,
to glory in his mighty works,
7 Through which the doctor eases pain,
8 and the druggist prepares his medicines.
Thus God’s work continues without cease
in its efficacy on the surface of the earth.
Footnotes
- 38:1–15 The profession of medicine comes from God, who makes the earth yield healing herbs and gives the physician knowledge of their power (vv. 1–8). In illness the sick should cleanse their soul from sin and petition God for help through an offering of sacrifice; the physician, too, does well to invoke God that he may understand the illness and apply the proper remedy (vv. 9–14). The sinner, in contrast, defies both his Maker and the doctor (v. 15).
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