Ecclesiasticus — Prologue

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

PrologueThis Jesus was the son of Sirach, and grandchild to Jesus of the same name with him: this man therefore lived in the latter times, after the people had been led away captive, and called home again, and almost after all the prophets. Now his grandfather Jesus, as he himself witnesseth, was a man of great diligence and wisdom among the Hebrews, who did not only gather the grave and short sentences of wise men, that had been before him, but himself also uttered some of his own, full of much understanding and wisdom. When as therefore the first Jesus died, leaving this book almost perfected, Sirach his son receiving it after him left it to his own son Jesus, who, having gotten it into his hands, compiled it all orderly into one volume, and called it Wisdom, intituling it both by his own name, his father’s name, and his grandfather’s; alluring the hearer by the very name of Wisdom to have a greater love to the study of this book. It containeth therefore wise sayings, dark sentences, and parables, and certain particular ancient godly stories of men that pleased God; also his prayer and song; moreover, what benefits God had vouchsafed his people, and what plagues he had heaped upon their enemies. This Jesus did imitate Solomon, and was no less famous for wisdom and learning, both being indeed a man of great learning, and so reputed also.

This Jesus was the son of Sirach, and grandson to Jesus of the same name: the later teacher, living after the captivity and the return, gathered the grave, short sentences of the wise before him and added his own, full of understanding; and the book, passed from grandfather to son to grandson and compiled orderly into one volume, was called Wisdom after their names — the teaching of divine Wisdom handed down through successive states of the soul, alluring the hearer by Wisdom's very name to love the study of it: wise sayings, dark sentences and parables — outer stories carrying inner truths — godly stories of men who pleased the Source, prayer and song, the benefits the Source gave His people and the plagues — the consequences — He heaped upon their enemies; its author imitating Solomon — Peace, Wisdom in its fullness — and no less famed for learning.

PrologueWhereas many and great things have been delivered unto us by the law and the prophets, and by others that have followed their steps, for the which things Israel ought to be commended for learning and wisdom; and whereof not only the readers must needs become skilful themselves, but also they that desire to learn be able to profit them which are without, both by speaking and writing: my grandfather Jesus, when he had much given himself to the reading of the law, and the prophets, and other books of our fathers, and had gotten therein good judgment, was drawn on also himself to write something pertaining to learning and wisdom; to the intent that those which are desirous to learn, and are addicted to these things, might profit much more in living according to the law. Wherefore let me intreat you to read it with favour and attention, and to pardon us, wherein we may seem to come short of some words, which we have laboured to interpret. For the same things uttered in Hebrew, and translated into another tongue, have not the same force in them: and not only these things, but the law 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 Euergetes was king, and continuing there some time, I found a book of no small learning: therefore I thought it most necessary for me to bestow some diligence and travail to interpret it; using great watchfulness and skill in that space to bring the book to an end, and set it forth for them also, which in a strange country are willing to learn, being prepared before in manners to live after the law.

Whereas many and great things have been delivered to us by the law — the written order of the divine life — and by the prophets — the forth-telling faculties — and by others who followed them, for which Israel — the spiritual man who has striven and prevailed — ought to be commended for learning and wisdom; and whereas readers must not only become skilful themselves but profit those who are without, by speaking and writing: my grandfather Jesus, having given himself to the reading of the law, the prophets, and the other books of our fathers, and gotten good judgment therein, was drawn to write something of learning and wisdom, that those desirous to learn might profit the more in living according to the law. Read it, therefore, with favour and attention, and pardon where the rendering seems to come short: for things uttered in Hebrew and translated into another tongue have not the same force, and even the law, the prophets, and the rest of the books differ when spoken in their own language. For in the eight and thirtieth year, coming into Egypt — the material sense-realm — when Euergetes was king, and finding there a book of no small learning, I thought it most necessary to bestow diligence and travail to interpret it, with great watchfulness and skill, and set it forth for those also in a strange country who are willing to learn, being prepared in manners to live after the law.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.