[This Book is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] The Book of Sirach was written by a Jewish scribe named Jesus son of Eleazar, son of Sirach, about the Temple.

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology

The Book of Sirach is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches

SUMMARY

Title

The Book of Sirach is named for its author: Jesus son of Eleazar, son of Sirach.

In rabbinic tradition through the eleventh century, the Book was frequently referred to as “The Book (or Instruction) of Ben Sira.”

In Christian tradition the book has mainly been referred to with these two titles:

The Wisdom (or Book) of Jesus Son of Sirach. This title is in most Greek and Old Latin manuscripts

Ecclesiasticus. This title is in many Latin Vulgate manuscripts. It means “churchly” or “belonging to the church.”

That title is deeply ironic, given that the Book of Sirach is a Jewish book. It was written by a Jewish man for Jewish readers, in support of the Jewish temple.

Author

The author of the Book of Sirach is Jesus son of Eleazar, son of Sirach.

The name Jesus, a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Yeshu‘a, is mentioned in the prologue.

Date

Historical timeframe: unclear. However, it is a collection of ethical teachings. So the historical timeframe is probably the same as when written.

Written: between 200 and 175 BC

See our study of The Chronology of the Deuterocanonical Books.

Purpose

The author writes to support the Second Temple system of governance, with its priestly codes of law and sacrifice.

The term he uses to combine the wisdom of Proverbs with the law of Moses is the “fear of the Lord,” a term appropriate to the culture of Second Temple Judaism.

OUTLINE

MEMORIZE

Here are some great verses to memorize:

Sirach 4:7a. Endear yourself to the assembly. (NAB translation)

Sirach 11:12. Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little strength and great misery—Yet the eyes of the Lord look favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust. (NAB translation)

Sirach 20:27. A wise man advances himself by his words, a prudent man pleases the great. (NAB translation)

Sirach 33:4. Prepare your words and you will be listened to; draw upon your training, and then give your answer. (NAB translation)

Sirach 33:17. I would inform you that not for myself only have I toiled, but for every seeker after wisdom.

Sirach 34:11. I have learned much in my travels, learned more than ever I could say. (NAB translation)

Sirach 34:12. Often I was in danger of death, but by these attainments I was saved. (NAB translation)

Sirach 39:1. How different the man who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High! He explores the wisdom of the men of old and occupies himself with the prophecies. (NAB translation)

Sirach 43:1. The pride of the height is the firmament in its clearness, The appearance of heaven, in the spectacle of its glory.

Sirach 43:2. The sun when he appears, bringing tidings as he goes forth, Is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High:

Sirach 43:3. At his noon he dries up the country, And who shall stand against his burning heat?

Sirach 43:4. A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, But the sun three times more, burning up the mountains: Breathing out fiery vapours, And sending forth bright beams, he dims the eyes.

Sirach 43:5. Great is the Lord that made him; And at his word he hastens his course.

Sirach 43:6. The moon also is in all things for her season, For a declaration of times, and a sign of the world.

Sirach 43:7. From the moon is the sign of the feast day; A light that wanes when she is come to the full.

Sirach 43:8. The month is called after her name, Increasing wonderfully in her changing; An instrument of the army on high, Shining forth in the firmament of heaven;

Sirach 43:9. The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, An ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord.

Sirach 43:10. At the word of the Holy One they will stand in due order, And they will not faint in their watches.

Sirach 43:11. Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; Exceeding beautiful in the brightness thereof.

Sirach 43:12. It encircles the heaven round about with a circle of glory; The hands of the Most High have stretched it.

Sirach 43:13. By his commandment he makes the snow to fall apace, And sends swiftly the lightnings of his judgement.

Sirach 43:14. By reason thereof the treasure-houses are opened; And clouds fly forth as fowls.

Sirach 43:15. By his mighty power he makes strong the clouds, And the hailstones are broken small:

Sirach 43:16. And at his appearing the mountains will be shaken, And at his will the south wind will blow.

Sirach 43:17. The voice of his thunder makes the earth to travail; So does the northern storm and the whirlwind: As birds flying down he sprinkles the snow; And as the lighting of the locust is the falling down thereof:

Sirach 43:18. The eye will marvel at the beauty of its whiteness, And the heart will be astonished at the raining of it.

Sirach 43:19. The hoar frost also he pours on the earth as salt; And when it is congealed, it is as points of thorns.

Sirach 43:20. The cold north wind shall blow, And the ice shall be congealed on the water: It shall lodge upon every gathering together of water, And the water shall put on as it were a breastplate.

Sirach 43:21. It shall devour the mountains, and burn up the wilderness, And consume the green herb as fire.

Sirach 43:22. A mist coming speedily is the healing of all things; A dew coming after heat shall bring cheerfulness.

Sirach 43:23. By his counsel he has stilled the deep, And planted islands therein.

Sirach 43:24. They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; And when we hear it with our ears, we marvel.

Sirach 43:25. Therein be also those strange and wondrous works, Variety of all that has life, the race of sea-monsters.

Sirach 43:26. By reason of him his end has success, And by his word all things consist.

Sirach 43:27. We may say many things, yet shall we not attain; And the sum of our words is, He is all.

Sirach 43:28. How shall we have strength to glorify him? For he is himself the great one above all his works.

Sirach 43:29. The Lord is terrible and exceedingly great; And marvelous is his power.

Sirach 43:30. When you glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as you can;For even yet he will exceed: And when you exalt him, put forth your full strength: Be not weary; for you will never attain.

Sirach 43:31. Who has seen him, that he may declare him? And who shall magnify him as he is?

Sirach 43:32. Many things are hidden greater than these; For we have seen but a few of his works.

Sirach 43:33. For the Lord made all things; And to the godly gave he wisdom.

Sirach 48:12b. During his lifetime, [Elisha] feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will. (NAB translation)

SIRACH

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.

Sirach

SUMMARY

Title

Author

Date

Purpose

OUTLINE

IN PRAISE OF WISDOM

LIVING WISELY

HEROES OF THE FAITH

CONCLUSION

MEMORIZE

SIRACH

EXPLORE THE FAITH

GET INVOLVED