The Deuterocanon
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
A grandfather's proverbs, the longest wisdom book outside Proverbs, beloved across traditions.
Also called Ecclesiasticus, and the longest of the deuterocanonical books. A Jerusalem teacher named Jesus ben Sira wrote it around 180 BC, and his grandson translated it into Greek and added a preface apologising for the difficulty of translation, which is one of the earliest discussions of that problem we possess. The content is practical wisdom in the manner of Proverbs, on friendship, money, table manners, doctors, and the raising of children, some of it uncomfortably patriarchal to modern ears. It closes with a long hymn in praise of famous men that runs from Enoch to the high priest of the author's own day. Scripture for Catholics and Orthodox, Apocrypha for Protestants, and quoted respectfully in Jewish sources long after it was excluded.
If you remember one thing
The longest wisdom book outside Proverbs, and one of the few ancient texts whose translator tells you in a preface how hard translation is.
Who, when, and why
- Written
- Yeshua ben Sira, in Jerusalem around 180 BC, translated into Greek by his grandson, who explains the difficulty in a preface.
- First readers
- Young men being trained in wisdom.
- Why it was written
- A teacher's collected instruction.
How it is shaped
- PrologueThe grandson's preface
- 1 to 43Practical wisdom for daily life
- 44 to 50Praise of famous men
- 51Closing prayer
What it keeps coming back to
A verse to carry
“My child, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing.”
Sirach 2:1
Passages that trouble readers
Sirach 25:24
From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die. Quoted in later arguments about women, and worth naming rather than passing over.
Sirach 30:1-13
Advice on beating a son, which is of its time and is not softened by saying so.
Named here rather than skipped. Where Christians read a passage differently, we say so instead of choosing for you.
Who receives this book
Scripture for Catholic and Orthodox churches; among the Apocrypha in Protestant traditions.
No one from this book has a write-up yet. The hall is still filling.
A quiz for Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) is on the workbench. In the meantime, the games for the judges, the kings, and the prophets are open.