The Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
Practical wisdom from Jesus ben Sirach on daily life and devotion to God.
Sirach, also called Ecclesiasticus, was composed in Hebrew around 180 BC by Jesus ben Sirach of Jerusalem and later translated into Greek by his grandson. One of the longest wisdom books in the Bible, it offers extensive practical guidance on friendship, family duty, business ethics, and worship, much like Proverbs but at far greater length. Begin at Sirach chapter 1 to read Ben Sirach's opening praise of wisdom itself.
About Sirach
Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is one of the Deuterocanonical books accepted by the Catholic Church as part of the Old Testament canon. Composed in Hebrew around 180 BC by Jesus ben Sirach of Jerusalem and later translated into Greek by his grandson, it is one of the longest wisdom books in the Bible, offering extensive practical and moral instruction covering friendship, family duty, business ethics, worship, humility, and the fear of the Lord as the foundation of wisdom. Read Sirach online here, verse by verse.