The Wisdom of Jesus, the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus

Mary Wilder Tileston examines the Book of Sirach, otherwise known as Ecclesiasticus, faithfully interpreting and presenting its wisdom for the modern reader.

Written in the 2nd century B.C., the Book of Sirach remains to this day the lengthiest text of spiritual wisdom to survive from ancient times. Though Ecclesiasticus is only rarely included in printings of the Bible, it is formally accepted as part of the wider Biblical canon by the Catholic church, and several other Christian churches such as the Eastern Orthodox. Protestant denominations tend to consider the work a valuable example of spiritual and life wisdom, worthy of consultation by Christian believers.

Ben Sira wrote this text on the inspiration of his father, a man named Jesus, who was himself the son of Sirach. The wisdom displayed in the chapters may be considered the product of a family with an intense, multigenerational affinity for spiritual matters and the existing canon of the Jewish church. The book makes references to texts of the Old Testament, pairing the historical events of the Book of Genesis and elsewhere with advice and guidance on living a life of joy, through closeness to God and virtue.