{"product_id":"2940148923534","title":"The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 26: Ecclesiasticus","description":"ECCLESIASTICUS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Book is so called from a Greek word that signifies a preacher:\u003cbr\u003ebecause, like an excellent preacher, it gives admirable lessons of all\u003cbr\u003evirtues. The author was Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem, who\u003cbr\u003eflourished about two hundred years before Christ. As it was written\u003cbr\u003eafter the time of Esdras, it is not in the Jewish canon; but is received\u003cbr\u003eas canonical and divine by the Catholic Church, instructed by\u003cbr\u003eapostolical tradition, and directed by the spirit of God. It was first\u003cbr\u003ewritten in the Hebrew, but afterwards translated into Greek, by another\u003cbr\u003eJesus, the grandson of the author, whose prologue to this book is the\u003cbr\u003efollowing:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTHE PROLOGUE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe knowledge of many and great things hath been shewn us by the law,\u003cbr\u003eand the prophets, and others that have followed them: for which things\u003cbr\u003eIsrael is to be commended for doctrine and wisdom, because not only they\u003cbr\u003ethat speak must needs be skilful, but strangers also, both speaking and\u003cbr\u003ewriting, may by their means become most learned. My grandfather Jesus,\u003cbr\u003eafter he had much given himself to a diligent reading of the law, and\u003cbr\u003ethe prophets, and other books, that were delivered to us from our\u003cbr\u003efathers, had a mind also to write something himself, pertaining to\u003cbr\u003edoctrine and wisdom; that such as are desirous to learn, and are made\u003cbr\u003eknowing in these things, may be more and more attentive in mind, and be\u003cbr\u003estrengthened to live according to the law. I entreat you therefore to\u003cbr\u003ecome with benevolence, and to read with attention, and to pardon us for\u003cbr\u003ethose things wherein we may seem, while we follow the image of wisdom,\u003cbr\u003eto come short in the composition of words; for the Hebrew words have not\u003cbr\u003ethe same force in them when translated into another tongue. And not only\u003cbr\u003ethese, but the law also itself, and the prophets, and the rest of the\u003cbr\u003ebooks, have no small difference, when they are spoken in their own\u003cbr\u003elanguage. For in the eight and thirtieth year coming into Egypt, when\u003cbr\u003ePtolemy Evergetes was king, and continuing there a long time, I found\u003cbr\u003ethere books left, of no small nor contemptible learning. Therefore I\u003cbr\u003ethought it good, and necessary for me to bestow some diligence and\u003cbr\u003elabour to interpret this book; and with much watching and study in some\u003cbr\u003espace of time, I brought the book to an end, and set it forth for the\u003cbr\u003eservice of them that are willing to apply their mind, and to learn how\u003cbr\u003ethey ought to conduct themselves, who purpose to lead their life\u003cbr\u003eaccording to the law of the Lord.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Lost Leaf Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47111680458992,"sku":"2940148923534","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940148923534_p0.jpg?v=1763710629","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940148923534","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}