Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 39

¹ It is otherwise with the man who devotes his soul to reflecting on the Law of the Most High. He researches into the wisdom of all the Ancients, he occupies his time with the prophecies.

² He preserves the discourses of famous men, he is at home with the niceties of parables.

³ He researches into the hidden sense of proverbs, he ponders the obscurities of parables.

⁴ He enters the service of princes, he is seen in the presence of rulers. He travels in foreign countries, he has experienced human good and human evil.

⁵ At dawn and with all his heart he resorts to the Lord who made him; he pleads in the presence of the Most High, he opens his mouth in prayer and makes entreaty for his sins.

⁶ If it is the will of the great Lord, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding, he will shower forth words of wisdom, and in prayer give thanks to the Lord.

⁷ He will grow upright in purpose and learning, he will ponder the Lord’s hidden mysteries.

⁸ He will display the instruction he has received, taking his pride in the Law of the Lord’s covenant.

⁹ Many will praise his understanding, and it will never be forgotten. His memory will not disappear, generation after generation his name will live.

¹⁰ Nations will proclaim his wisdom, the assembly will celebrate his praises.

¹¹ If he lives long, his name will be more glorious than a thousand others, and if he dies, that will satisfy him just as well.

¹² I wish to develop my reflections further, they fill me as full as the moon at the full.

¹³ Listen to me, devout children, and blossom like the rose that grows on the bank of a watercourse.

¹⁴ Give off a sweet smell like incense, flower like the lily, spread your fragrance abroad, sing a song of praise blessing the Lord for all his works.

¹⁵ Declare the greatness of his name, proclaim his praise with song and with lyre, and this is how you must sing his praises:

¹⁶ how wonderful they are, all the works of the Lord! All that he orders is promptly carried out. You must not say, ‘What is this? Why is that?’ All will be studied in due time.

¹⁷ At his word water stops running and piles up, waters are stored at a word from his mouth.

¹⁸ At his bidding, all his pleasure is accomplished, no one can diminish his power to save.

¹⁹ The actions of every creature are before him, there is no hiding from his eyes;

²⁰ his gaze stretches from eternity to eternity, and nothing can astonish him.

²¹ You must not say, ‘What is this? Why is that?’ All things have been created for their proper functions.

²² As his blessing covers the dry land like a river and soaks it like a flood,

²³ so wrath is his legacy to the nations, just as he has turned fresh waters to salt.

²⁴ His ways are as smooth for devout men, as they are full of obstacles for the wicked.

²⁵ Good things were created from the beginning for good men, as evils were for sinners.

²⁶ The prime needs of mankind for living are water and fire, iron and salt, wheat-flour, milk and honey, the juice of the grape, oil and clothing.

²⁷ All these things are good for people who are good, just as they turn into bad for sinners.

²⁸ Some winds were created to punish; he has made them the scourge of his anger; on the day of doom they unleash their force, and appease the anger of him who made them.

²⁹ Fire and hail, famine and death, all these were created to punish.

³⁰ The teeth of savage animals, scorpions, adders, and the avenging sword to destroy the godless,

³¹ all these exult in obeying his orders, they are ready on earth when he requires, and when the time comes they will not disobey his order.

³² That is why I was determined from the outset, I have pondered and I have written it down,

³³ ‘All the works of the Lord are good, and he will supply every want in due time.

³⁴ You must not say, “This is worse than that”, for everything will prove its value in its time.

³⁵ So now, sing with all your heart and voice, and bless the name of the Lord!’