Book of Sirach

Sirach (also called Ben Sirach or Ecclesiasticus), book written (circa 180 BCE) in Hebrew by a Jew living in Egypt, Jesus ben Sirach, and translated into Greek by his grandson.

The Greek translation contains a preface written by Ben Sirach's grandson. It was called Ecclesiasticus because it was frequently read in churches, and was thus called liber ecclesiasticus (Latin for 'clergy book'). Today it is more frequently known as Ben Sirach or simply Sirach.

Although it was not accepted into the Jewish canon, Sirach is quoted infrequently in the Talmud, giving it some semi-canonical status. It is included in the Septuagint and is accepted as part of the biblical canon by Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, but not by Protestants.

Only the Greek translation survives in full, although fragments of the original Hebrew text have been discovered.