Sophia Iesou uiou Seirach

"The Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach"

Most people don't know that Jesus wrote one of the books in the Bible. In many Bibles the title of his book is Ecclesiastes,, or the Wisdom of Sirach. St. Augustine attributed this book to Solomon, but later it has been understood that Jesus was the author, that is Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sirach, not Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. It is one of what we call the wisdom literature and is a wonderful book to read and study. Wisdom is Divine, for God is the source of all wisdom.

Here are a few of my favorite passages:

"All wisdom comes from the LORD and with him it remains forever.

The sand of the seashore, the drops of rain, the days of eternity: who can number these?

Heaven's height, earth's breadth, the depths of the abyss: who can explore these?

Before all things else wisdom was created; and prudent understanding, from eternity.

To whom has wisdom's root been revealed? Who knows her subtleties?

There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring, seated upon his throne:

It is the LORD; he created her, has seen her and taken note of her."

and: "The beginning of wisdom is fear of the LORD, which is formed with the faithful in the womb."


and: "My son, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.

Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.

For great is the power of God; by the humble he is glorified."

and:" Delay not your conversion to the LORD, put it not off from day to day"

and:

"A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.

A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.

A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds;

For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself."

and:

"With all your soul, fear God, revere his priests.

With all your strength, love your Creator, forsake not his ministers."

and:

"The beginning of pride is man's stubbornness in withdrawing his heart from his Maker;

For pride is the reservoir of sin, a source which runs over with vice; Because of it God sends unheard-of afflictions and brings men to utter ruin.

The thrones of the arrogant God overturns and establishes the lowly in their stead.

The roots of the proud God plucks up, to plant the humble in their place:

He breaks down their stem to the level of the ground, then digs their roots from the earth."

There are much more profound instructions that the modern would could learn just from this book.