18:15-18 With the fatherly address, My son, Ben
Sira opens a new section. Having reflected on God’s mercy, he now encourages
the reader to imitate the Lord by giving graciously: do not mix reproach
with your good deeds by casting blame or accusations, nor cause grief
by adding uncharitable words of criticism when you present a gift
with the wrong intention or attitude. As the dew provides relief from the
scorching heat (43:22), so a kind word is better than a gift, for it
brings joy and encouragement to its recipient. Both are found in a gracious
man. In the Gospel of Luke, the same Greek term for “gracious” (kecharitomenos)
is used when the angel Gabriel calls Mary “full of grace” (Luke 1:28). Ancient
Jewish tradition confirms these principles on gracious giving: “Any one who
gives a penny to the poor is blessed with six blessings, and anyone who speaks
to him in a comforting manner is blessed with eleven.” (Babylonian Talmud, Baba
Bathra 9b) But unlike the wise man who gives cheerfully (2 Cor 9:7) in
imitation of God (James 1:5), a fool is ungracious and abusive, giving
grudgingly and with reproach (Sir 20:14-15). His gift makes the eyes dim
or “waste away” (ESV-CE)—perhaps the receiver is humiliated by his cruel words.
The expression may also refer to the eyes of the grudging giver, drawing on the
Hebraism “to have a bad eye,” which means to be selfish and stingy (Matt
6:22-23). (André Villeneuve, Sirach [Catholic Commentary on Sacred
Scripture; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2025], 160-61)