151 passagesc. 180 BCEHebrew / Aramaic / GreekCC-BY
Individual passages from Ben Sira, shown in source order. Page 1 of 4.
Take this seemingly straightforward statement: "Be the name of the Lord blessed henceforth and for ever." It’s a potent declaration, a turning point, a conscious choice to shift th...
Maybe, just maybe, the answer is simpler than we think. The Book of Ben Sira, a text brimming with practical advice and profound insights, starts with a bold claim. It cuts right t...
"The sands of the seas, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity, who can count them?" he asks. It's a rhetorical question, of course. The answer is: nobody. He doesn’t stop the...
" Now, who is this "her"? Interpretations vary, but many scholars see this as referring to Torah itself, the divine teachings. the Torah isn't just a set of rules, is it? It's a li...
It offers a perspective that might just change how you see everything. The very first verse sets the stage: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and it increases peace...
Who is this "she" that promises so much joy, so much fulfillment? Ben Sira, a sage writing around the 2nd century BCE, hints at the answer. He paints a picture of a figure so radia...
That tension is something the ancient wisdom tradition wrestled with, too. And it's something we find echoed in the Book of Ben Sira. This book, also known as Sirach or the Wisdom ...
The Book of Ben Sira, a treasure trove of wisdom literature, has something to say about that very human struggle. It's a book full of practical advice, ethical teachings, and a hea...
Sometimes, ancient wisdom is exactly what we need to steady ourselves.It's like getting a pep talk from a really wise old friend. "Prepare your heart and be strengthened," Ben Sira...
That moment of doubt, when faith feels… fragile. But what does our tradition teach us about those times? Ben Sira, a book of wisdom literature from around the 2nd century BCE, offe...
One that echoes through generations, forcing us to confront our own anxieties and shortcomings. It's not all doom and gloom. Ben Sira, also known as Yeshua ben Sirach, offers a pat...
Ben Sira begins with a blunt claim: God placed a father's honor and a mother's judgment over their children. Ben Sira then shifts into direct address, offering a heartfelt plea: "M...
Ben Sira, a sage whose wisdom echoes through the ages, certainly thought so. He dives straight into the heart of familial honor, and it's a message that still resonates powerfully ...
Ben Sira turns to Walking in Meekness Before the Most High. First, Ben Sira advises, "My son, in thy wealth walk in meekness; and thou shalt be more beloved than he that giveth gif...
Ben Sira knew the feeling. He tells us, "For many are the conceits of the sons of men; And the imaginations of thoughts that make them to err." It's a powerful image, isn't it? The...
We all do sometimes. But what if I told you there's a simple, ancient piece of wisdom that could help lighten that load? The Book of Ben Sira, a treasure trove of Jewish wisdom lit...
The first line hits hard: "Vex not the spirit of the soul that lacketh; And hide not thyself from one that is crushed in soul." It's a plea, really, not to further burden those alr...
Sometimes, the ancient wisdom whispers the loudest when we finally quiet down enough to listen. Let's tune into one of those whispers today, from the book of Ben Sira. Ben Sira, al...
Ben Sira turns to Ben Sira on Facing Divine Judgment. "Ministers of holiness are her ministers; And God loveth them that love her." So, right away, Those who dedicate themselves to...
We've all been there. Ben Sira, that ancient book of wisdom, dives right into that feeling, urging us to navigate the tricky terrain of shame and righteousness. "My son, observe se...
Ben Sira, a sage writing around the 2nd century BCE, offers us some timeless wisdom on how to do just that. His words, preserved in the book of Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus...
That moment where you think, "I've got this. I'm in control"? We all do. It's part of being human. But what happens when that feeling tips over into arrogance, into a belief that o...
It's precisely those moments that the wisdom of Ben Sira addresses with such piercing clarity. This ancient text, part of the Apocrypha, pulls no punches when it comes to self-dece...
He cuts right to the heart of things: "For mercy and anger are with him; And his displeasure shall rest upon the wicked." It's a powerful image, isn't it? This idea that divine pat...
We've all been there. But what if the wisest course of action was simply... silence? That's the dilemma posed in the ancient wisdom of Ben Sira, specifically in chapter 6. It's a s...
The Book of Ben Sira, a text brimming with ancient wisdom, tackles this very struggle head-on. It warns us, in no uncertain terms: "Fall not into the hand of thine appetite; That i...
Someone who's all smiles and good times when things are easy, but vanishes the moment trouble appears. He saw it, he lived it, and he captured it in his writings. This small passag...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, certainly did. He tells us, "A faithful friend is a firm friend; And he that findeth him hath found a treasure." A treasure! Not just a pleasant acquaintan...
We’ve all been there. And guess what? Thousands of years ago, Ben Sira, a sage whose wisdom is cherished in Jewish tradition, was wrestling with the same thing. He gives us a glimp...
He understood the persistent, sometimes frustrating, quest for wisdom. And in his book, he offers some surprisingly practical, and beautiful, advice. He urges us: "Search and exami...
Ben Sira is all about seeking wisdom actively, intentionally. It begins with a simple invitation: "If thou art wishful to hear (H); And incline thine ear (H), thou shalt be instruc...
We all do. But what if that little shortcut could lead to a whole heap of trouble? That's the kind of wisdom we find in the Book of Ben Sira, a treasure trove of practical and ethi...
We've all been there. But what if I told you that even those seemingly mundane moments hold profound spiritual significance? That's what we find when we explore the wisdom of Ben S...
Ben Sira, also known as Sirach or the Wisdom of Ben Sira, is a book of ethical teachings. It’s part of the Apocrypha, writings that are preserved outside the rabbinic canon. But ev...
It's packed with advice on everything from how to treat your servants to, yes, even your daughters. Some of it might sound a little… antiquated to our modern ears. But bear with me...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, reminds us of something fundamental: "If they were not, you would not have come to the world." Your parents, your ancestors... they paved the way. And what...
This ancient text, part of the Apocrypha and Deuterocanonical books, is packed with practical advice for navigating the ups and downs of daily life. It’s like having a really wise,...
His wisdom, preserved in the book of Ben Sira, a book considered part of the Apocrypha by some, but a treasure trove of practical ethics nonetheless, cuts right to the heart of thi...
A reader can get caught up in the now, in what’s shiny and new. But what about the wisdom that comes from years of living, years of observing, years of learning? Ben Sira, that sag...
Honestly, it’s advice that still rings true today. He starts with a stark warning: "Do not prosper in the estate of evil, lest thou be burnt with the flame of his fire." It's a viv...
He offers us some pretty direct advice on avoiding such pitfalls in his wisdom literature. He warns, “And so he will travel straight ahead [rashly], and by his folly you will peris...
Ben Sira turns to Ben Sira Says Not With All People Should You Rejoice. "Not with all men should one rejoice, and do not rinse from yourself their good.” The first part, "not with ...
Ben Sira turns to Jealousy and Desire in Ancient Jewish Wisdom. "Do not be jealous of the wife of your soul, lest she trample upon your sanctuary." Now, this isn't just about garde...
The ancient wisdom literature of Ben Sira, a book of practical and moral advice, has some seriously pointed things to say about that. It's like a friend pulling you aside and givin...
Ben Sira turns to Stay Far From Those Who Wield Power to Kill. He starts with a stark warning: "Keep far from a person who has authority to kill, and you will not be apprehensive o...
Ben Sira turns to When Rash Speech Sets a Town on Fire. Ben Sira doesn't stop there. He connects this incendiary speech to power dynamics. He continues, "a man of tongues and those...
The Book of Ben Sira, a treasure trove of wisdom literature, grapples with these very questions. "An wild king will destroy the city, and a city is settled by the intelligence of i...
Kingdoms rise and fall, fortunes change in the blink of an eye... It's enough to make you wonder what, if anything, lasts. In chapter 10, he gets right to the heart of it: "Dominio...
