The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 26: Ecclesiasticus

ECCLESIASTICUS

This Book is so called from a Greek word that signifies a preacher:
because, like an excellent preacher, it gives admirable lessons of all
virtues. The author was Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem, who
flourished about two hundred years before Christ. As it was written
after the time of Esdras, it is not in the Jewish canon; but is received
as canonical and divine by the Catholic Church, instructed by
apostolical tradition, and directed by the spirit of God. It was first
written in the Hebrew, but afterwards translated into Greek, by another
Jesus, the grandson of the author, whose prologue to this book is the
following:

THE PROLOGUE

The knowledge of many and great things hath been shewn us by the law,
and the prophets, and others that have followed them: for which things
Israel is to be commended for doctrine and wisdom, because not only they
that speak must needs be skilful, but strangers also, both speaking and
writing, may by their means become most learned. My grandfather Jesus,
after he had much given himself to a diligent reading of the law, and
the prophets, and other books, that were delivered to us from our
fathers, had a mind also to write something himself, pertaining to
doctrine and wisdom; that such as are desirous to learn, and are made
knowing in these things, may be more and more attentive in mind, and be
strengthened to live according to the law. I entreat you therefore to
come with benevolence, and to read with attention, and to pardon us for
those things wherein we may seem, while we follow the image of wisdom,
to come short in the composition of words; for the Hebrew words have not
the same force in them when translated into another tongue. And not only
these, but the law also itself, and the prophets, and the rest of the
books, have no small difference, when they are spoken in their own
language. For in the eight and thirtieth year coming into Egypt, when
Ptolemy Evergetes was king, and continuing there a long time, I found
there books left, of no small nor contemptible learning. Therefore I
thought it good, and necessary for me to bestow some diligence and
labour to interpret this book; and with much watching and study in some
space of time, I brought the book to an end, and set it forth for the
service of them that are willing to apply their mind, and to learn how
they ought to conduct themselves, who purpose to lead their life
according to the law of the Lord.