NOTES for Sir 17:1-15
Here we have another interesting formulation. It is clear that much here can be blamed on the imperfection of the translation... but it is better to think about what this means. "He gave them meaning, tongue and eyes, and ears and a heart for reasoning; He filled them with discernment of mind and showed them good and evil." A heart for reasoning? How does that work? We usually think with the head. Most of all, this is not about reflections of a purely intellectual character, but about the ability to discern good and evil, truth and falsehood. This ability is not limited to the realm of the intellect. Here it is not enough simply to think and analyze; here one must feel. And it is important to remember that the Lord did not give us a heart for nothing, and not to reduce everything to purely intellectual analysis.