Sirach 36

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Have mercy upon us, O God of all, and behold us, and shew us the light of thy mercies:	1 Come to our aid, O God of the universe, and put all the nations in dread of you!
2 And send thy fear upon the nations, that have not sought after thee: that they may know that there is no God beside thee, and that they may shew forth thy wonders.	2 Raise your hand against the heathen, that they may realize your power.
3 Lift up thy hand over the strange nations, that they may see thy power.	3 As you have used us to show them your holiness, so now use them to show us your glory.
4 For as thou hast been sanctified in us in their sight, so thou shalt be magnified among them in our presence,	4 Thus they will know, as we know, that there is no God but you.
5 That they may know thee, as we also have known thee, that there is no God beside thee, O Lord.	5 Give new signs and work new wonders; show forth the splendor of your right hand and arm;
6 Renew thy signs, and work new miracles.	6 Rouse your anger, pour out wrath, humble the enemy, scatter the foe.
7 Glorify thy hand, and thy right arm.	7 Hasten the day, bring on the time;
8 Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath.	8 Let raging fire consume the fugitive, and your people's oppressors meet destruction.
9 Take away the adversary, and crush the enemy.	9 crush the heads of the hostile rulers.
10 Hasten the time, and remember the end, that they may declare thy wonderful works.	10 Gather all the tribes of Jacob, that they may inherit the land as of old,
11 ,11Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire: and let them perish that oppress thy people.	11 Show mercy to the people called by your name; Israel, whom you named your first-born.
12 Crush the head of the princes of the enemies that say: There is no other beside us.	12 Take pity on your holy city, Jerusalem, your dwelling place.
13 Gather together all the tribes of Jacob: that they may know that there is no God besides thee, and may declare thy great works: and thou shalt inherit them as from the beginning.	13 Fill Zion with your majesty, your temple with your glory.
14 Have mercy on thy people, upon whom thy name is invoked: and upon Israel, m whom thou hast raised up to be thy firstborn.	14 Give evidence of your deeds of old; fulfill the prophecies spoken in your name,
15 Have mercy on Jerusalem, the city which thou hast sanctified, the city of thy rest.	15 Reward those who have hoped in you, and let your prophets be proved true.
16 Fill Sion with thy unspeakable words, and thy people with thy glory.	16 Hear the prayer of your servants, for you are ever gracious to your people;
17 Give testimony to them that are thy creatures from the beginning, and raise up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke in thy name.	17 Thus it will be known to the very ends of the earth that you are the eternal God.
18 Reward them that patiently wait for thee, that thy prophets may be found faithful: and hear the prayers of thy servants,	18 The throat can swallow any food, yet some foods are more agreeable than others;
19 According to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, and direct us into the way of justice, and let all know that dwell upon the earth, that thou art God the beholder of all ages.	19 As the palate tests meat by its savor, so does a keen mind insincere words.
20 The belly will devour all meat, yet one is better than another.	20 A deceitful character causes grief, but an experienced man can turn the tables on him.
21 ,21The palate tasteth venison and the wise heart false speeches.	21 Though any man may be accepted as a husband, yet one girl will be more suitable than another:
22 A perverse heart will cause grief, and a man of experience will resist it.	22 A woman's beauty makes her husband's face light up, for it surpasses all else that charms the eye;
23 A woman will receive every man: yet one daughter is better than another.	23 And if, besides, her speech is kindly, his lot is beyond that of mortal men.
24 The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance of her husband, and a man desireth nothing more.	24 A wife is her husband's richest treasure, a helpmate, a steadying column.
25 If she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate and shew mercy: her husband is not like other men.	25 A vineyard with no hedge will be overrun; a man with no wife becomes a homeless wanderer.
26 He that possesseth a good wife, beginneth a possession: she is a help like to himself, and a pillar of rest.	26 Who will trust an armed band that shifts from city to city?
27 Where there is no hedge, the possession shall be spoiled: and where there is no wife, he mourneth that is in want.	27 Or a man who has no nest, but lodges where night overtakes him?
28 Who will trust him that hath no rest, and that lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh him, as a robber well appointed, that skippeth from city to city.