The book of Sirach

[Amylisa]

Hello,
I have a question. Is the book of Sirach supposed to be kind of like Ecclesiastes? At first I read it like the book of Proverbs. But some of the words in it didn't sound like God's wisdom to me (such as, it is better to die than to live with a long-term illness....I can't see Jesus saying something like that).

I have always heard that Proverbs teaches us Godly wisdom. And that Ecclesiastes showed the difference between wisdom and the darkened thinking of man, being written by Solomon after he had fallen from grace. I hope I am explaining this clearly, it is hard to find words for this.

Can anyone help me out here?

 

[AnnieG]

Jesus Sirach is a bit like Ecclesiastes, that's why it is also called Ecclesiasticus ("the little preacher"), but it is also similar to the Proverbs. In some cases, Sirach is stricter than Proverbs, but I read that Egyptian wisdom literature is still stricter.
Especially concerning women, slaves etc. the Biblical book differs from our modern opinions.