Sirach 39

DOUAI-RHEIMS	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 The wise men will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets.	1 But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.
2 He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal into the subtilties of parables.	2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.
3 He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be conversant in the secrets of parables.	3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.
4 He shall serve among great men, and: appear before the governor.	4 He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men.
5 He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and evil among men.	5 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.
6 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the most High.	6 When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer.
7 He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for his sins.	7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.
8 For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:	8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
9 And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in his prayer he will confess to the Lord.	9 Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation.
10 And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.	10 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.
11 He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.	11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.
12 Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten.	12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.
13 The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in request from generation to generation.	13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:
14 Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth his praise.	14 And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works.
15 If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if he rest, it shall be to his advantage.	15 Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner:
16 I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with a holy transport.	16 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.
17 By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.	17 And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters.
18 Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.	18 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.
19 Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.	19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.
20 Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in praising him, you shall say in this manner:	20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.
21 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.	21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.
22 At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters:	22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.
23 For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no diminishing of his salvation.	23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.
24 The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.	24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.
25 He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing wonderful before him.	25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.
26 There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all things shall be sought in their time.	26 The principal things for the whole use of man's life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.
27 His blessing hath overflowed like a river.	27 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.
28 And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit the nations, that have not sought after him:	28 There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them.
29 Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the earth was made dry: and his ways were made plain for their journey: so to sinners they are stumblingblocks in his wrath.	29 Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance;
30 Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for the wicked, good and evil things.	30 Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to destruction.
31 The principal things necessary for the life of men, are water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and honey, and the cluster of the grape, and oil, and clothing.	31 They shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not transgress his word.
32 All these things shall be for good to the holy, so to the sinners and the ungodly they shall be turned into evil.	32 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.
33 There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on grievous torments.	33 All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.
34 In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and they shall appease the wrath of him that made them.	34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.
35 Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance.	35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.
36 The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction.
37 In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be ready upon earth when need is, and when their time is come they shall not transgress his word.
38 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I have meditated, and thought on these things and left them in writing.
39 All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish every work in due time.
40 It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be well approved in their time.
41 Now therefore with the whole heart and mouth praise ye him, and bless the name of the Lord.