The interpretation timeline

Sir 3:17

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

Sir 3:17 · Douay-Rheims

“And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather.”

Patristic before A.D. 750

430

A.D.

Augustine of Hippo Patristic

A.D. 354–430

“The activity of a soul that aspires to rest in quietness must be humble and gentle, which is appropriate for the follower of Christ the Way. It also should not be lazy or less than fully committed but should instead be committed to running the race to its end. It is, in fact, written, "Do your work thoroughly in a spirit of meekness," where the admonition, "Do your work thoroughly" is aimed at preventing you from allowing your meekness to degenerate into laziness.”

Source

Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.