4,128 texts · Page 2 of 86
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? ...
"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...
Jewish tradition speaks of just such a thing, personified as the ultimate companion: Wisdom. The Book of Ben Sira, a treasure trove of practical and ethical teachings written in He...
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 ...
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...
Ben Sira, that wise sage of old, offers us a beautiful, simple sentiment in his writings (Ben Sira 26:1-2): "A valiant wife is satisfying to her husband; and he will spend the year...
It’s a question that’s echoed through generations, cultures, and faiths. And believe it or not, ancient Jewish wisdom has some pretty strong opinions on the matter. We’re diving 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...
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...
That’s exactly what the wisdom of Ben Sira is getting at in this passage. Ben Sira, also known as Sirach or the Wisdom of Yeshua ben Sira, is a book of wisdom literature, a treasur...
It’s a challenge as old as time, and the Book of Ben Sira, a treasure trove of wisdom literature, offers some incredibly relevant insights. So, what does it really mean to find tha...
Ben Sira, that wise sage whose words echo through the ages, offers us a powerful insight in his teachings. He tells us, "He that feareth the Lord shall discern judgement; And shall...
Ben Sira, that wise sage from centuries ago, had some thoughts on that very feeling. He says, "He that hateth the law shall not be wise; And he is moved as…tossed with tempest (?)....
It’s a cry, a yearning for divine intervention. "Shake thy hand over the strange people; And let them see thy mighty acts." It's a powerful image, isn't it? A call for God to revea...
That sense of, "Oof, maybe I shouldn't have had that third helping?" Turns out, ancient wisdom had something to say about that long, long ago. The Book of Ben Sira, a text from aro...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, offers a fascinating perspective. "From God a physician getteth wisdom," he tells us. It's a bold statement, isn't it? He’s not dismissing the hard work an...
Jewish tradition, with its profound wisdom, offers guidance even on how to mourn – and when to let go. The Book of Ben Sira, a work of wisdom literature from the Second Temple peri...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, gives us a glimpse into their lives. He reminds us that piety and significance aren't confined to kings and prophets. "He is busied with oxen, and leadeth ...
Chapter 44, a small but potent passage, is all about remembering those figures, those powerful personalities, who shaped the world we know. "Much honored portion of the Highest, an...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, offers a clue: "Their wisdom the community will repeat, and their praises the assembly will recount." It's through the act of remembering, of telling and r...
Ben Sira chapter 45 gives us a glimpse, a whisper of what it meant for Moses and Aaron to be elevated by God. "And God honored him, and strengthened him in the heights." It begins ...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, reminds us of the immense task Aaron undertook. He says, "And who, in his nobility, his heart, atoned for the children of Israel." Aaron atoned. Think abou...
Our story comes from the wisdom of Ben Sira, also known as Ecclesiasticus, a book of wisdom literature. It’s part of the Jewish writings of the Second Temple period, writings that ...
That’s the feeling I get when I read this small passage from the Book of Ben Sira. It's a book of wisdom literature, a mussar sefer if you will, offering ethical teachings from a s...
Let’s journey back to the time of King Solomon, or Shlomo in Hebrew, a figure so central to Jewish history and lore. The Book of Ben Sira, a work of wisdom literature from around t...
Ben Sira doesn't mince words, does he? He calls him "wide in stupidity and lacking in wisdom." Ouch! Reḥov'am, was the son of King Solomon, a hard act to follow to begin with. But ...
Incense fills the air, music swells, and then Simon the High Priest appears. He's just completed the sacred service, and the sight is so breathtaking, so imbued with holiness, that...
Ben Sira, that wise sage from centuries ago, knew the feeling. He even wrote about it. He mentions "the inhabitants of Seir and Philistia; And the foolish nation that dwelleth in S...
That feeling isn't new. It's been with us for millennia. And it shines through in the ancient wisdom of Ben Sira. This passage from Ben Sira 51 isn't just about acquiring knowledge...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, captures that feeling perfectly. He says, "My inward parts were hot as an oven for her, to behold her; Therefore I possessed her as a good possession." Wha...
That’s how I feel every time I delve into the Book of Ben Sira. This passage from Ben Sira 51 – it's like a whispered confession, a peek into the author's journey. "See with your e...
That’s the feeling I get when I read passages like this one from the Book of Jubilees. The Book of Jubilees, sometimes called Lesser Genesis, is an ancient Jewish religious work. I...
We tend to think of "nature" as this impersonal force, but Jewish tradition often sees things differently. It paints a picture of a vast, intricate cosmic bureaucracy, teeming with...
We're talking life-and-death serious. The Book of Jubilees, a text that offers a unique retelling of biblical history, really drives this home. It's not part of the Hebrew Bible ca...
We usually hear the highlights, the quick version. But what about the details glossed over? Some ancient texts give us a much richer, more nuanced picture. Take the Book of Jubilee...
Today, let's peek into the fourth chapter of Jubilees. It's a short passage, but packed with details that spark the imagination. The passage begins simply enough: "And in the sixth...
The Book of Jubilees, a text not included in the canonical Hebrew Bible but cherished by some, gives us glimpses into just that. It's like peeking behind the curtain of Genesis, of...
Jewish tradition grapples with this very idea, particularly when we consider the stories of the earliest generations. Take Adam, for example. The Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewis...
To a fascinating, if troubling, passage from the Book of Jubilees. Now, the Book of Jubilees isn't part of the standard Jewish biblical canon, the Tanakh. But it's a hugely importa...
The Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text that expands on the stories in Genesis, tells us that Eber had something important to write down. But, as it says, "he wrote it down an...
The Book of Jubilees, a text considered canonical by some but relegated to the Apocrypha by others, offers a fascinating, detailed account. It's like a divine property survey, layi...
In chapter 10, we find a fascinating little snippet about a character named Peleg. We're told that in the thirty-third jubilee – a jubilee being a period of 49 years – and specific...
We often think of it as a slow, gradual process. But what if I told you there's a story that credits Abraham with being the original agricultural innovator? It’s a fascinating idea...
