Sirach

Wisdom · Deuterocanon · Jesus, son of Sirach (Ben Sira) · Early 2nd century BCE (c. 196-175 BCE)

Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is a comprehensive collection of ethical teachings, practical advice, and theological reflections on daily life, creation, and covenant history. Written in the style of biblical wisdom literature, it uniquely identifies personified wisdom with the Mosaic Law. The book concludes with a celebrated historical review praising the ancestors of Israel, culminating in the high priest Simon.

51 chapters

• 1Sirach 1This chapter describes the divine origin of wisdom and explains that the fear of the Lord is its beginning and crown.
• 2Sirach 2Readers are exhorted to endure trials with patience, trust in God's mercy, and remain faithful to His commandments during testing.
• 3Sirach 3This chapter highlights the duties of honoring parents, practicing deep humility, and performing acts of charity to atone for sins.
• 4Sirach 4This chapter admonishes readers to help the poor, describes Wisdom's discipline of her seekers, and urges speaking the truth.
• 5Sirach 5Warnings are given against relying on ill-gotten wealth, presuming upon God's mercy, delaying repentance, and speaking with a double tongue.
• 6Sirach 6This chapter contrasts true and false friendship and describes the discipline needed to pursue and obtain wisdom.
• 7Sirach 7The author advises against wrongdoing, offering guidance on prayer, family relationships, honoring priests, and helping the poor.
• 8Sirach 8This chapter counsels prudence and caution when interacting with powerful, wealthy, foolish, or untrustworthy individuals.
• 9Sirach 9Warnings against dangerous relationships with women are paired with advice on maintaining old friendships and navigating powerful rulers.
• 10Sirach 10This chapter discusses the qualities of good rulers, denounces pride and covetousness, and defines true honor as fearing God.
• 11Sirach 11Ben Sira advises humility, cautions against judging by appearances, warns of sudden reversals of fortune, and urges carefulness regarding strangers.
• 12Sirach 12Ben Sira advises selective charity to the righteous and warns against trusting enemies, who reveal their true malice during adversity.
• 13Sirach 13Ben Sira warns against associating with the rich and powerful, detailing how wealth inequality skews social relations and justice.
• 14Sirach 14This chapter condemns greed and envy, encourages enjoying one's resources and doing good before death, and praises the pursuit of Wisdom.
• 15Sirach 15Wisdom welcomes those who fear God, who has given humans free will to choose between life and death, good and evil.
• 16Sirach 16Ben Sira warns that wicked children are worthless, highlights God's historical judgments on sinners, and praises the order of creation.
• 17Sirach 17This chapter discusses God's creation of humanity, His covenant and law given to Israel, and a call to repentance.
• 18Sirach 18Ben Sira contrasts God's eternal mercy with human frailty, urging self-examination, thoughtful giving, and self-control.
• 19Sirach 19The text warns against dissipation and gossip, advises careful speech and constructive reproof, and contrasts true wisdom with clever wickedness.
• 20Sirach 20This chapter addresses the timing of speech and silence, the paradoxes of gifts, the shame of lying, and hidden wisdom.
• 21Sirach 21Ben Sira warns against sin and contrasts the speech, behavior, and character of wise individuals with those of fools.
• 22Sirach 22This chapter discusses laziness, foolish children, the difficulty of teaching fools, and the essential qualities of maintaining enduring friendships.
• 23Sirach 23Following a prayer for self-control, the author warns against oath-swearing, vulgar speech, fornication, and the severe consequences of adultery.
• 24Sirach 24Personified Wisdom praises her divine origin, her dwelling place in Israel, and her identification with the book of the covenant.
• 25Sirach 25The author lists various sources of joy and hatred, praises the fear of God, and warns against a wicked wife.
• 26Sirach 26This chapter contrasts the blessings of a virtuous wife with the dangers of a wicked woman, while warning against unchaste daughters.
• 27Sirach 27Ben Sira warns against dishonesty in commerce, stresses speech as a test of character, and warns against betraying friends' secrets.
• 28Sirach 28The author advises forgiving neighbors to receive divine mercy and extensively details the devastating, destructive power of a malicious tongue.
• 29Sirach 29This chapter provides guidelines on lending, the duties of borrowers, the risks of suretyship, and the wisdom of being self-sufficient.
• 30Sirach 30Ben Sira urges strict discipline in raising sons and emphasizes that physical health and a cheerful heart surpass great wealth.
• 31Sirach 31This chapter warns against the love of wealth and offers practical advice on table manners, moderation, and temperate drinking.
• 32Sirach 32The author counsels banquet hosts, encourages humility and listening among the young, and stresses obedience to God's law.
• 33Sirach 33Discussing divine sovereignty and human differences, this chapter also counsels maintaining personal independence and managing household servants.
• 34Sirach 34The text dismisses false dreams, praises those who fear God, and condemns offering sacrifices funded by exploiting the poor.
• 35Sirach 35True worship is defined as obeying the law, and God is described as a just judge who hears the oppressed.
• 36Sirach 36Ben Sira prays for Israel's restoration and the defeat of enemies, then praises the value of a good wife.
• 37Sirach 37Ben Sira counsels on distinguishing true friends from false ones, selecting wise advisors, and maintaining self-control in eating.
• 38Sirach 38This chapter advocates honoring physicians, outlines proper mourning practices, and contrasts the leisure of scribes with the labor of craftsmen.
• 39Sirach 39Ben Sira describes the ideal scribe who studies the law, followed by a hymn praising God's creation and sovereign purposes.
• 40Sirach 40Ben Sira describes the hardships of human life, evaluates various blessings, and warns against the misery of begging.
• 41Sirach 41Ben Sira discusses the reality of death, the legacy of the wicked, and the importance of healthy self-respect and proper shame.
• 42Sirach 42This chapter outlines proper boundaries for shame, counsels fathers on guarding daughters, and extols God's omniscience in the created order.
• 43Sirach 43Ben Sira praises God's majesty and power manifested through heavenly bodies, weather phenomena, and the mysteries of the natural world.
• 44Sirach 44The author begins a historical retrospective praising Israel's faithful ancestors, including Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• 45Sirach 45This chapter praises the legendary leadership of Moses, the detailed priestly glory of Aaron, and the zealous covenant of Phinehas.
• 46Sirach 46Praise of Joshua, Caleb, the Judges, and Samuel highlights their faithfulness, military victories, and righteous leadership in Israel's history.
• 47Sirach 47This chapter praises David's military success, Solomon's temple-building and wisdom, his subsequent moral decline, and the division of Israel.
• 48Sirach 48The text honors Elijah and Elisha for their miracles, and praises Hezekiah and Isaiah for defending Jerusalem against the Assyrian siege.
• 49Sirach 49Praise is offered to Josiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the Twelve Prophets, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, and several ancient righteous patriarchs.
• 50Sirach 50The author extols the high priest Simon, son of Onias, detailing his temple renovations, majestic liturgical service, and concluding blessings.
• 51Sirach 51Jesus son of Sirach praises God for deliverance, recounts his lifelong pursuit of Wisdom, and invites others to acquire instruction.