151 passages in Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha
Individual passages from Ben Sira, shown in source order. Page 2 of 4.
"For the pool of passion is sin, and its spring will pour out filth." Ouch. It's not subtle, is it? Ben Sira uses the metaphor of a pool fed by a polluted spring to illustrate how ...
It might not be what you think. "Pride is not becoming of humans, nor impudence & anger to those born of women," Ben Sira tells us right off the bat. It's a powerful opening, conne...
He starts with a seemingly straightforward observation: "A noble, ruler, judge shall be glorified, but nothing is greater than fearing the Lord." Acknowledge those in power, sure, ...
The ancient sage Ben Sira, writing over two thousand years ago, wrestled with these very same questions. He saw the world around him, and he wasn't always thrilled with what he saw...
We all do it. But what if that cover is completely misleading? What if the real treasure lies hidden, masked by appearances? He starts bluntly: “Do not praise a man for his appeara...
We've all been there. But what if I told you an ancient text, attributed to Ben Sira, offers some pretty timeless advice on how to avoid those pitfalls? It's not about rigid rules,...
Because, according to this ancient text, even in those moments of deepest despair, something extraordinary can happen. "The eyes of the Lord looked upon him for good, and shook off...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, dives into this very conundrum. "There exists one who becomes rich from his suffering, and this obligates this reward." It's a powerful image, isn't it? So...
The wisdom of Ben Sira, a sage writing over two thousand years ago, has some sharp, insightful words for us about these very human tendencies. He cuts right to the chase: “Do not s...
Ben Sira, in chapter 11, paints a stark picture using merchants as an example. Imagine these traveling salesmen, journeying from town to town, their wares glittering – perhaps jewe...
Chapter 11 is a stark warning about the company we keep, the words we speak, and the consequences of succumbing to negativity. "What’s gained by violent sinners, like a dog they co...
Ben Sira, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is a book of wisdom literature from around the 2nd century BCE – a time of huge cultural shifts and anxieties. It’s not part of the Hebrew B...
Ben Sira turns to Ben Sira's Warning About People Who Play You. It starts starkly: "For God also hateth them that are evil; And to the wicked he will repay vengeance." A pretty dir...
It offers some pretty direct, and frankly, unsettling advice about guarding yourself against those who might not have your best interests at heart. Ben Sira 12 dives right into the...
They're not exactly reassuring. Ben Sira, a book of wisdom literature from around the 2nd century BCE, dives deep into the complexities of human relationships. And Chapter 12? It's...
In Chapter 13 of the Book of Ben Sira, he observes the subtle ways people try to manipulate impressions. He notes, "He will shake his head, and wave his hand; And with much whisper...
The ancient wisdom of Ben Sira, also known as Ecclesiasticus, wrestles with these very imbalances. Ben Sira, in chapter 13, pulls no punches. He gets right to the heart of unequal ...
Ben Sira turns to When the Powerful Only Need You for Profit. He starts with a warning: "Hath he need of thee? Then he will toy with thee." for a second. If someone only seems inte...
Ben Sira turns to Ancient Proverb of Sira. Ben Sira cautions us: "Make not bold to be free (?) with him; And mistrust thou his much talk. For with his much talk maketh he trial of ...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, saw this dynamic playing out thousands of years ago. He uses sharp, almost brutal imagery to paint a picture of inequality. He starts with a stark question...
In his wisdom writings, preserved for us in the book we call Ben Sira, he observes the stark contrast in how society treats the rich and the poor. It's a timeless truth, isn't it? ...
It offers a surprisingly direct and honest assessment of the self-destructive tendencies we all wrestle with. "Happy is the man whose soul hath not reproached him; And whose expect...
It has some pretty strong words for those of us prone to envy. "In the eye of a fool," Ben Sira tells us, "his portion is small; but he that taketh his neighbour's portion wasteth ...
Surprisingly, it’s not all about deprivation. Ben Sira gets right to the point: "Do good to a friend before you die; and as your hand attains, give unto him." It’s a simple, powerf...
"As leaves grow upon a green tree," he writes, "Whereof one withereth, and another springeth up; So of the generations of flesh and blood, One perisheth, and another ripeneth." (Be...
Ben Sira paints a picture of someone so deeply connected to wisdom that they "encamp about her house." What does that even mean? It's more than just visiting. It suggests a dedicat...
Wisdom becomes the ultimate companion. Wisdom. The Book of Ben Sira, a treasure trove of practical and ethical teachings written in Hebrew around the 2nd century BCE, offers a beau...
The ancient wisdom of Ben Sira, a text also known as Sirach or the Wisdom of Ben Sira, tackles this very human struggle. It's a book brimming with practical advice and profound ins...
Ben Sira, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is a book of wisdom literature, a collection of ethical teachings and practical advice. It's not part of the Hebrew Bible as defined by rabb...
The Book of Ben Sira, a treasure trove of wisdom literature (also known as Sirach or Ecclesiasticus), certainly thinks so. It tells us plainly: "The eyes of God see his works; And ...
He offers a bracing counterpoint to that idea. Ben Sira, in this passage (Ben Sira 16), challenges us to consider what truly matters. He suggests that simply having more – more chi...
The sage speaks directly about divine retribution – or the lack thereof. Ben Sira, a Jewish scholar from the Second Temple period, offers a stark reminder: "In the congregation of ...
What he offers us is both comforting and challenging. "According to the greatness of his mercy," Ben Sira tells us, "so is his correction; He will judge each according to his doing...
Ben Sira turns to Sira — First Days of Existence. It’s a powerful statement on feeling insignificant. Like one tiny wave in a massive ocean of souls. Ben Sira doesn't shy away from...
The Book of Ben Sira, also known as Sirach or the Wisdom of Ben Sira, wrestles with this very human impulse. It poses the question: If I sin in secret, who's to know? This ancient ...
This is one of the Jewish wisdom texts that, while not part of the Hebrew Bible canon, is still deeply influential. Ready? Here it is: “From a woman sin had its beginning, and beca...
Sometimes, the simplest wisdom is the most profound. And that brings us to a line from the Book of Ben Sira – a book of wisdom literature that, while not part of the standard Hebre...
A good wife is a good gift, given to the lap of those who revere God.” Isn't that lovely? It's not about grand gestures or fairytale perfection. It speaks to the deep contentment t...
Ben Sira turns to Health of Flesh Is Better Than Fine Gold. This is part of the Wisdom Literature, not found in the Hebrew Bible as Protestants know it, but preserved outside the r...
The ancient wisdom of Ben Sira, a Jewish sage writing over two thousand years ago, certainly thought so. He cuts straight to the heart of what truly matters, and honestly, it's a m...
He wrote, in a fragment that's both fascinating and a little bit broken, "So whoso hath wealth, And enjoyeth not of his substance..." The sentence trails off, leaving us to fill in...
The ancient wisdom literature gets it. It really does. We find this sentiment echoed powerfully in the Book of Ben Sira, a treasure trove of practical and spiritual advice. It obse...
The ancient wisdom of Ben Sira, a sage writing over two thousand years ago, knew all about it. He understood the anxieties and struggles we still face today. to one little slice of...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, speaks directly to that feeling. He warns us about the allure of riches, the way gold and rubies can become gilded cages. "Many are there that have been gi...
He paints a portrait, not of perfection, but of something far more compelling: the power to choose the right path, even when the wrong one beckons. "Who hath blessed it, and made h...
It offers guidance for practically every aspect of life. And chapter 32 gives us some timely advice on how to conduct ourselves at a banquet. "That thou mayest rejoice in their hon...
Ben Sira turns to Practical Ethics for Banquets and Daily Life. Ben Sira, also known as Sirach or the Wisdom of Yeshua ben Sira, is a book of wisdom literature, a treasure trove of...
Ben Sira turns to Finding the Balance Between Torah and Daily Life. Ben Sira, in chapter 32, dives right into it. He tells us to act "in thy heart, and do pleasure; In the fear of ...
