Lessons from the Wisdom of Sirach

"The Wisdom of Sirach" or "The Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach" is one of the divinely inspired books of the Old Testament. This highly instructive and attractive book was written by Jesus, son of Sirach, a Jewish resident of Jerusalem, around 190 to 180 BC, during a time when Palestine was under the authority and political governance of the Ptolemies, successors of Alexander the Great. Jesus, son of Sirach, belonged to the class of educated and wealthy, yet pious, Jews. He had studied the Mosaic Law and the other divinely inspired books of the Old Testament, as well as the national traditions of his people. He also travelled, at a mature age, to various foreign countries and became acquainted with the customs, ways of life, and thoughts of people from many nations. Through this communication with pagan people, he was not only unaffected but, on the contrary, loved divine wisdom even more and appreciated the divine blessings more deeply. His heart was filled with immense gratitude towards the only true God of his fathers. In the last years of his life, the wise and experienced "Sirachide" settled permanently in Jerusalem and opened his own school to teach his compatriots the Holy Scriptures and to strengthen them in moral life. During this period, he wrote his book in the Hebrew language, with the aim and desire to protect the people of his nation from the delusion of idols and to strengthen them in the tribulations they were experiencing, and support everyone, especially the youth, in living according to the truths of God's Law. This book was translated into Greek in 132 BC by the grandson of the divinely inspired author Jesus, who was then in Egypt with many other Jews. In his preface, the translator provides significant information about both the personality of his grandfather and the conditions under which his compatriots lived in Egypt at that time, as well as the immediate danger of their assimilation with the pagan inhabitants. He emphasises that during the translation, he was vigilant and worked hard for the sake of his compatriots in the diaspora, who wanted to study the sacred books and were willing to conform their lives according to the Lord's Law. However, although the book of the wise Sirach was addressed to people of the pre-Christian era, it is also very instructive for Christians, as the wise sayings and inspired teachings on practical life issues correspond almost entirely to the needs and dispositions of Christian consciences. Some of the lessons from the Wisdom of Sirach, which we deemed useful and beneficial to convey and analyse in this book, are intended for the spiritual edification of its readers.