The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach,
also called Ecclesiasticus, is recognized as
Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Roman
Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox Churches.
The Prologue of the Wisdom of Jesus the
Son of Sirach.
WHEREAS many and great things have
been delivered to us by the law and the
prophets, and by the others that have followed in their steps, for which we must
give Israel the praise for instruction and
wisdom; and since not only the readers
need to become skillful themselves, but
also those who love learning must be able
to profit those who are outside, both by
speaking and writing; my grandfather Jesus, having much given himself to the
reading of the law, and the prophets, and
the other books of our fathers, and having
gained great familiarity with them, was
also drawn on himself to write somewhat
pertaining to instruction and wisdom, in
order that those who love learning, and
are devoted to these things, might make
progress much more by living according
to the law. You are entreated therefore
to read with favor and attention, and to
pardon us, if in any parts of what we have
labored to interpret, we may seem to fail in
some of the phrases. For things originally
spoken in Hebrew don’t have the same
force in them when they are translated
into another language. Not only these, but
the law itself, and the prophecies, and the
rest of the books, have no small difference,
when they are spoken in their original language. For having come into Egypt in the
thirty-eighth year of Energetes the king,
and having continued there some time, I
found a copy giving no small instruction.
I thought it therefore most necessary for
me to apply some diligence and travail to
translate this book, applying indeed much
watchfulness and skill in that space oftime
to bring the book to an end and publish for
them also, who in the land of their travels
are desiring to learn, preparing their character in advance, so as to live according to
the law.

1 All wisdom comes from the Lord,
and is with him forever.

2 Who can count the sand of the seas,
the drops of rain, and the days of eternity?

3 Who will search out the height of the sky,
the breadth of the earth, the deep, and wisdom?

4 Wisdom has been created before all
things, and the understanding of prudence
from everlasting.

6 To whom has the root of wisdom been
revealed? Who has known her shrewd counsels?

8 There is one wise, greatly to be feared,
sitting upon his throne: the Lord.

9 He created her. He saw and measured her.
He poured her out upon all his works.

10 She is with all flesh according to his gift.
He gave her freely to those who love him.