Sirach 39

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The wise men will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets.	1 Not so with one who concentrates his mind and his meditation on the Law of the Most High. Heresearches into the wisdom of al the Ancients, he occupies his time with the prophecies.
2 He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal into the subtilties of parables.	2 He preserves the discourses of famous men, he is at home with the niceties of parables.
3 He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be conversant in the secrets of parables.	3 He researches into the hidden sense of proverbs, he ponders the obscurities of parables.
4 He shall serve among great men, and: appear before the governor.	4 He enters the service of princes, he is seen in the presence of rulers. He travels in foreign countries, hehas experienced human good and human evil.
5 He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and evil among men.	5 At dawn and with al his heart he turns to the Lord his Creator; he pleads in the presence of the MostHigh, he opens his mouth in prayer and makes entreaty 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 If such be the wil of the great Lord, he wil be filled with the spirit of intel igence, he wil shower forthwords of wisdom, and in prayer give thanks to the Lord.
7 He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for his sins.	7 He will grow upright in purpose and learning, he will ponder the Lord's hidden mysteries.
8 For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:	8 He will display the instruction he has received, taking his pride in the Law of the Lord's covenant.
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 wil praise his intel igence and it wil never be forgotten. His memory will not disappear,generation after generation his name will live.
10 And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.	10 Nations wil proclaim his wisdom, the assembly will celebrate his praises.
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 lives long, his name will be more glorious than a thousand others, and if he dies, that wil satisfyhim just as wel .
12 Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten.	12 And here are some more of my reflections: yes, I am as ful as the moon at the ful !
13 The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in request from generation to generation.	13 Listen to me, devout children, and blossom like the rose that grows on the bank of a watercourse.
14 Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth his praise.	14 Give off a sweet smel like incense, flower like the lily, spread your fragrance abroad, sing a song ofpraise blessing the Lord for 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 Declare the greatness of his name, proclaim his praise with song and with lyre, and this is how youmust sing his praises:
16 I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with a holy transport.	16 'How wonderful, the actions of the Lord! Whatever he orders is done at the proper time!' You must notsay, 'What is this? Why is that?' There is a proper time for every question.
17 By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.	17 At his word, the water stops and piles up high, at his voice, the watery reservoirs take shape,
18 Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.	18 at his command, whatever he wants is done, no one can stop him, if he intends to 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 He can see whatever human beings are doing, nothing can be hidden from his eye;
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 his gaze stretches from eternity to eternity, and nothing can astonish him.
21 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.	21 You must not say, 'What is this? Why is that?' for everything has been made for a purpose.
22 At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters:	22 As his blessing covers the dry land like a river and soaks it like a flood,
23 For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no diminishing of his salvation.	23 so retribution is his legacy to the nations, just as he has turned fresh waters to salt.
24 The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.	24 His ways are as smooth for the devout, as they are ful of obstacles for the wicked.
25 He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing wonderful before him.	25 Good things were created from the beginning for good people, as bad ones were 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 prime needs of human beings for living are water and fire, iron and salt, wheat-flour, milk andhoney, the juice of the grape, oil and clothing.
27 His blessing hath overflowed like a river.	27 Al these are good for those who are good, but turn out bad for sinners.
28 And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit the nations, that have not sought after him:	28 Some winds have been created for punishing, in his fury, he uses them as scourges; on the day ofdoom, they unleash their violence and appease the wrath of their Creator.
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, famine and death, have al been created for punishing.
30 Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for the wicked, good and evil things.	30 Wild animals' fangs, scorpions, vipers, the avenging sword for the ruin of the godless:
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 all of them exult in discharging his orders, ready on earth whenever the need arises and, when theirtime comes, not fal ing short of 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 That is why I was determined from the outset, why I have pondered and why I have written,
33 There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on grievous torments.	33 'The works of the Lord are all good, when the time is right, he gives whatever is needed.
34 In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and they shall appease the wrath of him that made them.	34 You must not say, "This is worse than that," for, sooner or later, everything proves its worth.
35 Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance.	35 So now, sing with al your heart and voice, 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.