Sirach

The Book of the All-Virtuous Wisdom of Joshua ben Sira/ˈsaɪræk/, commonly called the Wisdom of Sirach or simply Sirach, and also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus /ᵻˌkliːziˈæstɪkəs/ (abbreviated Ecclus.) or Ben Sira, is a work of ethical teachings from approximately 200 to 175 BCE written by the Jewish scribe Shimon ben Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua Ben Eliezer Ben Sira.

In Egypt, it was translated into Greek by the author's (unnamed) grandson, who added a prologue. This prologue is generally considered the earliest witness to a canon of the books of the prophets, and thus the date of the text as we have it is the subject of intense scrutiny. The book itself is the largest wisdom book to have been preserved from antiquity.

Canonical status