This eBook was produced by David Widger
from etext #1581 prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgiaand Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome.
Translated from the Latin Vulgate
Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek,and Other Editions in Divers Languages
THE OLD TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Douay
A.D. 1609 & 1610
and
THE NEW TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Rheims
A.D. 1582
With Annotations
The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared withthe Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard ChallonerA.D. 1749-1752
This Book is so called from a Greek word that signifies a preacher:because, like an excellent preacher, it gives admirable lessons of allvirtues. The author was Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem, whoflourished about two hundred years before Christ. As it was writtenafter the time of Esdras, it is not in the Jewish canon; but is receivedas canonical and divine by the Catholic Church, instructed byapostolical tradition, and directed by the spirit of God. It was firstwritten in the Hebrew, but afterwards translated into Greek, by anotherJesus, the grandson of the author, whose prologue to this book is thefollowing:
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 thingsIsrael is to be commended for doctrine and wisdom, because not only theythat speak must needs be skilful, but strangers also, both speaking andwriting, may by their means become most learned. My grandfather Jesus,after he had much given himself to a diligent reading of the law, andthe prophets, and other books, that were delivered to us from ourfathers, had a mind also to write something himself, pertaining todoctrine and wisdom; that such as are desirous to learn, and are madeknowing in these things, may be more and more attentive in mind, and bestrengthened to live according to the law. I entreat you therefore tocome with benevolence, and to read with attention, and to pardon us forthose 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 notthe same force in them when translated into another tongue. And not onlythese, but the law also itself, and the prophets, and the rest of thebooks, have no small difference, when they are spoken in their ownlanguage. For in the eight and thirtieth year coming into Egypt, whenPtolemy Evergetes was king, and continuing there a long time, I foundthere books left, of no small nor contemptible learning. Therefore Ithought it good, and necessary for me to bestow some diligence andlabour to interpret this book; and with much watching and study in somespace of time, I brought the book to an end, and set it forth for theservice of them that are willing to apply their mind, and to learn howthey ought to conduct themselves, who purpose to lead their lifeaccording to the law of the Lord.
Ecclesiasticus Chapter 1
All wisdom is from God, and is given to them that fear and love God.
1:1. All wisdom is from the Lord God, and hath been always with him, andis before all time.
1:2. Who hath numbered the sand of the sea,