Jesus ben Sira

Sage of Sirach

2nd century BC

The Jerusalem sage who composed the Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), a treasury of practical wisdom.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” — Sirach 1:14

The story of Jesus ben Sira

Jesus ben Sira was a Jewish teacher and scribe in Jerusalem around 180 BC. He loved the Law, the Prophets and the other writings of Israel, and he gathered a lifetime of teaching into the book known as Sirach, also called Ecclesiasticus or the Wisdom of Ben Sira.

Years later his grandson took the book to Egypt and translated it from Hebrew into Greek, adding a prologue that explains why. It is one of the few books of its time whose author and translator are both known.

Sirach teaches that all wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. It gives practical advice about friendship, speech, money, work, family, generosity and humility, and it praises God's works in creation. It ends with a long hymn in honor of Israel's ancestors, from Enoch and Noah to the high priest Simon.

Key passages

Sirach 1:1–20
All wisdom comes from the Lord, and the fear of the Lord is its beginning.
Sirach 2:1–18
Staying faithful and trusting God when trials come.
Sirach 6:5–17
On true and false friends.
Sirach 24:1–22
Wisdom speaks in praise of herself and makes her home in Israel.
Sirach 44:1–15
The opening of the hymn in praise of Israel's ancestors.

Key books

Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

Questions you can ask

“What is the fear of the Lord?”
“Tell me about a true friend”
“What counsel do you give the young?”

Common questions

Is Sirach the same as Ecclesiastes?

No. Ecclesiastes is a different book in every Bible. Sirach is sometimes called Ecclesiasticus, which causes the mix-up.

Is Sirach in the Bible?

Yes, in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles. Protestant Bibles place it in the Apocrypha or leave it out, and it is not in the Hebrew Bible, though it was widely read by Jews.

What does Sirach teach?

That wisdom starts with reverence for God and shows up in everyday life: how we speak, treat friends and family, handle money, and care for the poor.