Sirach - Vulgata - Stuttgart 1969
The Book of Sirach derives its name from the author, Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sirach (Sirach 50:27). Its earliest title seems to have been "Wisdom of the Son of Sirach." The designation "Liber Ecclesiasticus," meaning "Church Book," appended to some Greek and Latin manuscripts was due to the extensive use which the church made of this book in presenting moral teaching to catechumens and to the faithful. - The author, a sage who lived in Jerusalem, was thoroughly imbued with love for the law, the priesthood, the temple, and divine worship. As a wise and experienced observer of life he addressed himself to his contemporaries with the motive of helping them to maintain religious faith and integrity through study of the holy books, and through tradition. - The book contains numerous maxims formulated with care, grouped by affinity, and dealing with a variety of subjects such as the individual, the family, and the community in their relations with one another and with God. It treats of friendship, education, poverty and wealth, the law, religious worship, and many other matters which reflect the religious and social customs of the time. - Written in Hebrew between 200 and 175 B.C., the text was translated into Greek sometime after 132 B.C. by the author's grandson, who also wrote a Foreword which contains information about the book, the author, and the translator himself. Until the close of the nineteenth century Sirach was known only in translations, of which this Greek rendering was the most important. From it the Latin version was made. Between 1896 and 1900, again in 1931, and several times since 1956, manuscripts were discovered containing in all about two thirds of the Hebrew text, which agrees substantially with the Greek. One such text, from Masada, is pre-Christian in date. - Though not included in the Hebrew Bible after the first century A.D., nor accepted by Protestants, the Book of Sirach has always been recognized by the Catholic Church as divinely inspired and canonical. The Foreword, though not inspired, is placed in the Bible because of its antiquity and importance. - The contents of Sirach are of a discursive nature, not easily divided into separate parts. Sir 1-43 deal largely with moral instruction; Sirach 44:1-50:24 contain a eulogy of the heroes of Israel and some of the patriarchs. There are two appendices in which the author expresses his gratitude to God, and appeals to the unlearned to acquire true wisdom.
- The Church uses the Book of Sirach extensively in her liturgy. - (NAB)

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  • Headings


    ECCLESIASTICUS (VUL)


    1 Capitulum 1
    2 Capitulum 2
    3 Capitulum 3
    4 Capitulum 4
    5 Capitulum 5
    6 Capitulum 6
    7 Capitulum 7
    8 Capitulum 8
    9 Capitulum 9
    10 Capitulum 10
    11 Capitulum 11
    12 Capitulum 12
    13 Capitulum 13
    14 Capitulum 14
    15 Capitulum 15
    16 Capitulum 16
    17 Capitulum 17
    18 Capitulum 18
    19 Capitulum 19
    20 Capitulum 20
    21 Capitulum 21
    22 Capitulum 22
    23 Capitulum 23
    24 Capitulum 24
    25 Capitulum 25
    26 Capitulum 26
    27 Capitulum 27
    28 Capitulum 28
    29 Capitulum 29
    30 Capitulum 30
    31 Capitulum 31
    32 Capitulum 32
    33 Capitulum 33
    34 Capitulum 34
    35 Capitulum 35
    36 Capitulum 36
    37 Capitulum 37
    38 Capitulum 38
    39 Capitulum 39
    40 Capitulum 40
    41 Capitulum 41
    42 Capitulum 42
    43 Capitulum 43
    44 Capitulum 44
    45 Capitulum 45
    46 Capitulum 46
    47 Capitulum 47
    48 Capitulum 48
    49 Capitulum 49
    50 Capitulum 50
    51 Capitulum 51
    52 Capitulum 52

    Version
    Revised Standard Version (1966) - English
    Nova Vulgata - Latin
    Biblia del Pueblo di Dio (BPD) - Spanish
    Bíblia Sagrada Ave-Maria (1957) - Portuguese
    La Sainte Bible (Crampon 1904) - French
    CEI (1974) - Italian
    EinheitsÜbersetzung der Heiligen Sc - German