|
| Ecclesiasticus | Ecclesiasticus |
|
| 1 |
Whereas many great teachings have been given to us through the law and the prophets | ECCLESIASTICUS. THE WISDOM OF JOSHUA, SON OF SIRACH. Forward. Sir.Intro.1-36 |
| 2 |
and the others that followed them, | |
| 3 |
on account of which we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom; | |
| 4 |
and since it is necessary not only that the readers themselves should acquire understanding | |
| 5 |
but also that those who love learning should be able to help the outsiders | |
| 6 |
by both speaking and writing, | |
| 7 |
my grandfather Jesus, after devoting himself | |
| 8 |
especially to the reading of the law | |
| 9 |
and the prophets | |
| 10 |
and the other books of our fathers, | |
| 11 |
and after acquiring considerable proficiency in them, | |
| 12 |
was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, | |
| 13 |
in order that, by becoming conversant with this also, | |
| 14 |
those who love learning should make even greater progress in living according to the law. | |
| 15 |
You are urged therefore | |
| 16 |
to read with good will and attention, | |
| 17 |
and to be indulgent in cases where, | |
| 18 |
despite our diligent labour | |
| 19 |
in translating, | |
| 20 |
we may seem to have rendered some phrases imperfectly. | |
| 21 |
For what was originally | |
| 22 |
expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same sense when translated into another language. | |
| 23 |
Not only this work, | |
| 24 |
but even the law itself, the prophecies, | |
| 25 |
and the rest of the books | |
| 26 |
differ not a little as originally expressed. | |
| 27 |
When I came to Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Euergetes | |
| 28 |
and stayed for some time, | |
| 29 |
I found opportunity for no little instruction. | |
| 30 |
It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote some pains and labour to the translation of the following book, | |
| 31 |
using in that period of time | |
| 32 |
great watchfulness and skill | |
| 33 |
in order to complete and publish the book | |
| 34 |
for those living abroad who wished to gain learning, | |
| 35 |
being prepared in character | |
| 36 |
to live according to the law. | |
| |
|
| Sir:0 | >> |
|