Alphabet of Sirach () is an anonymous text of the Middle Ages inspired by the Book of Sirach, written in an Islamic country between 700 and 1000 AD. It is a compilation of two lists of proverbs, 22 in Jewish Babylonian Aramaic and 22 in Medieval Hebrew, both arranged as alphabetic acrostics. Each proverb is followed by an Aggadic commentary. Neubauer and Epstein argued for a satirical character, which reading was rejected by Ginzberg. It has been translated into Latin, Yiddish, Judaeo-Spanish, French and German. An English translation by Norman Bronznick appeared in Stern and Mirsky (1998). A critical edition under the title סיפורי בן סירא בימי הביניים was published by Eli Yassif in 1984. Aramaic proverbs The Aramaic proverbs are the older part of the book. Five of them can be traced to Talmudic-Midrashic literature. The Hebrew commentary, illustrating the proverbs with fables, is much younger. in the reading of Ginzberg: "Honor the physician before thou hast need of him", (Sirach 38:1) "If a son do not conduct himself like a son, let him float on the water." "Gnaw the bone that falls to thy lot whether it be good or bad." "Gold must be hammered, and the child must be beaten." "Be good and refuse not thy portion of good." "Woe to the wicked man and woe to his companions." "Cast thy bread upon the waters and upon the land, for thou shalt find it after many days" (Eccles. 11:1) "Hast thou seen a black ass? [Then] it was neither black nor white." "Bestow no good upon that which is evil, and no evil will befall thee." "Restrain not thy hand from doing good." "The bride enters the bridal chamber and, nevertheless, knows not what will befall her." "A nod to the wise is sufficient; the fool requires a blow." (Proverbs 22:15) "He who honors them that despise him is like an ass." "A fire, when it is kindled, burns many sheaves" (James 3:5) "An old woman in the house is a good omen in the house" "Even a good surety has to be applied to for a hundred morrows; a bad one for a hundred thousand." "Rise quickly from the table and thou wilt avoid disputes." "In thy business deal only with the upright." "If the goods are near at hand, the owner consumes them; but if they are at a distance, they consume him." "Do not