BEN SIRACH

Also known as “Sirach” or “Ecclesiasticus,” this book is included in the Apocrypha. It is considered canonical by the Roman Catholic church and most Orthodox churches, but not by Protestants and Jews. It was written in the early second century BCE by a Jewish scribe named Shimon ben Yeshua ben Elazar ben Sira, and was translated into Greek by the author’s grandson. Ben Sirach is one of the Wisdom books of the Apocrypha.