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Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

The Prologue to the Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach.
Whereas 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.