The Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Today's Verse
And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
Verse Of The DayThe book repeatedly returns to the fear of the Lord as the foundation of true wisdom, a theme it shares with Job and the broader wisdom tradition.
