SIRACH

PROLOGUEA

Since many things and great have been delivered unto us through the Law and the Prophets and the others who followed after them—for which things’ sake we must give Israel the praise of instruction and wisdom—and as not only must the readers themselves become adept, but also the lovers of learning must be able to profit them which are without both by speaking and writing; 5 my grandfather Jesus, having given himself much to the reading of the Law and the Prophets and the other books of our fathers, and having acquired considerable familiarity therein, was induced also himself to take a part in writing somewhat pertaining to instruction and wisdom, in order that those who are lovers of learning and instructed inb these things cmight make so much the more progressc by a manner of life (lived) din accordance with the Lawd. Ye are entreated, therefore, 10 to make your perusal with favour and attention, and to be indulgent, if in any parts of what we have laboured to interpret we may seem to fail in some of the phrases. For things originally spoken in Hebrew have not the same force in them when they are translated into another tongue: and 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 form. Nowe, in the eight and thirtieth year under king Euergetes, 15 having come into Egypt and continued there, I found opportunityf for no small instruction. I, therefore, deemed it most necessary myself to devote some zeal and ‘love-labour’ to (the task of) interpreting this book; devoting, indeed, much sleepless care and skill in the interval in order, having broughtg the book to an end, to publish it for them also who in the land of their sojourning desire to be lovers of learning, 20 being already prepared in respect of their moral culture to live hby the Lawh.

(a) 1:1–10. The Origin of Wisdom

(= 4 + 4 distichs).