Sirach

Introduction ECCLESIASTICUS - Introduction ECCLESIASTICUS. INTRODUCTION. This book is so called from the Greek word that signifies a preacher: because, like an excellent preacher, it gives admirable lessons of all virtues. The author was Jesus, the son of Sirach, of Jerusalem, who flourished about two hundred years before Christ. As it was written after the time of Esdras, it is not in the Jewish canon; but is received as canonical and divine by the Catholic Church, instructed by apostolical tradition, and directed by the Spirit of God. It was first written in Hebrew, but afterwards translated into Greek by another Jesus, the grandson of the author, whose prologue to this book is the following: (Challoner) THE PROLOGUE. The knowledge of many and great things hath been shewn us by the law, and the prophets, and others that have followed them: for which things Israel is to be commended for doctrine and wisdom: because not only they that speak must needs be skilful, but strangers also both speaking and writing, may by their means become most learned.…

• Sir 3:30 — Almsgiving atones.
• Sir 7:27 — Honor parents.
• Sir 15:14 — Free will.
• Sir 24:8 — Wisdom pitches her tent.
• Sir 24:19 — Come to me.

• Brant Pitre & John Bergsma, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament
• Scott Hahn & Curtis Mitch, Ignatius Catholic Study Bible
• Second Vatican Council, Dei Verbum
• Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church (1993)
• University of Navarre, The Navarre Bible
• St. Jerome, Vulgate and biblical prefaces