The Common English Bible is incredibly helpful to me when reading the Deuterocanonical Books. The fresh translation helps me with unfamiliar territory. This is the place where I understand more fully the need for “dynamic equivalent” translations for people unfamiliar with the biblical text. Smoother language draws us in. The beauty of the Common English Bible is that it is truly a translation. There are places I check from time to time with the NRSV and the wording is very similar. This translation continues to impress me.

Like the Proverbs, Sirach in the Apocrypha is a book that dispenses wisdom. There are things here that just make sense. Reading Sirach and reading Proverbs demonstrate great wisdom.

Here are some great nuggets:

¹ Don’t fight with powerful people, 
   or you might fall into their hands. 
² Don’t argue with rich people, 
   since they might outmatch 
   your resources; 
      for gold has destroyed many, 
      and it has turned aside 
      the hearts of kings. 
³ Don’t fight with talkative people, 
   adding fuel to their fire. (Sirach 8:1-3, CEB)

Just good common sense.

We don’t listen all the time, which is why we are often more frustrated with life than we need to be.

Take a look at these great nuggets of truth sometime. Common English Bible is available online at Biblegateway.