Sirach 43

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The firmament on high is his beauty; it is the beauty of heaven in a vision of glory.	1 Pride of the heights, a clear vault of the sky -- such is the beauty of the heavens, a glorious sight.
2 The sun, at its appearance, announces its journey; it is an instrument of wonder, a work of the Most High.	2 The sun, as he emerges, proclaims at his rising, 'How wonderful a thing, the work of the Most High!'
3 At midday, it scorches the earth. And in the presence of its heat, who would be able to endure? It is like the custodian of a furnace in its works of heat.	3 At his zenith, he parches the ground, who can withstand his blaze?
4 In three ways, the sun acts: scorching the mountains, emitting fiery rays, and shining with its beams that can blind the eyes.	4 We have to blow the furnace to produce any heat, the sun burns the mountains three times as much;breathing out blasts of fire, flashing his rays, he dazzles the eyes.
5 Great is the Lord who made it, and at his word, it hurries on its journey.	5 Great is the Lord who created him and whose word speeds him on his course.
6 And the moon, in all its phases, serves to mark the seasons and to be a sign of the times.	6 And then the moon, ever punctual to mark the times, an everlasting sign:
7 From the moon is the sign of a feast day; it is a light which diminishes at its consummation.	7 It is the moon that signals the feasts, a luminary that wanes after being ful .
8 A month is named according to its phases, increasing wonderfully at its culmination.	8 The month derives its name from hers, she waxes wonderful y in her phases, banner of the hosts onhigh, shining in the vault of heaven.
9 It is an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the firmament of heaven.	9 The glory of the stars makes the beauty of the sky, a brilliant adornment of the Lord on High.
10 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord illuminates the world from on high.	10 At the words of the Holy One they stand as he decrees, and never grow slack at their watch.
11 At the words of the Holy One, they stand for judgment, and they will never fail in their vigilance.	11 See the rainbow and praise its Maker, so superbly beautiful in its splendour.
12 Consider the rainbow, and bless the One who made it; it is very beautiful in its splendor.	12 Across the sky it forms a glorious arc drawn by the hands of the Most High.
13 It encompasses the heavens with the circle of its glory; the hands of the Most High made it appear.	13 By his command he sends the snow, he speeds the lightning by his command.
14 By his order, he hastens the snow, and he spurs on the lightning to express his judgment.	14 In the same way, his treasuries open and the clouds fly out like birds.
15 In like manner, his storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.	15 His great power solidifies the clouds, then pulverises them into hail.
16 By his greatness, he has positioned the clouds, and the hailstones have been broken.	16 at the sight of him, the mountains quake. At his wil the south wind blows,or the storm from the northand the whirlwind.
17 At his glance, the mountains will be shaken, and by his will, the south wind will blow.	17 At the roar of his thunder, the earth writhes in labour,
18 The voice of his thunder will reverberate through the earth, by a storm from the north, and by a gathering of the whirlwind.	18 He sprinkles snow like birds alighting, it comes down like locusts settling. The eye marvels at thebeauty of its whiteness, and the mind is amazed at its falling.
19 And like the birds landing in a flock upon the earth, he sends down the snow; and its descent is like the arrival of a swarm of locusts.	19 Over the earth, like salt, he also pours hoarfrost, which, when it freezes, bristles like thorns.
20 The eye is in wonder at the beauty of its whiteness, and the heart is astonished at its falling.	20 The cold wind blows from the north, and ice forms on the water; it forms on every piece of standingwater, covering it like a breastplate.
21 He will pour out frost like salt upon the earth. And when it freezes, it will become like the tops of thistles.	21 The wind swal ows up the mountains and scorches the desert, like a fire it consumes the vegetation.
22 The cold north wind blows, and the water freezes into crystals; it will rest upon every gathering of water, and it will clothe the water like a breastplate.	22 But cloud brings swift healing, and dew brings joy after the heat.
23 And it will devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and extinguish the greenery, like a fire.	23 By his own resourcefulness he has tamed the abyss, and planted it with islands.
24 Relief for all is in the hurried arrival of a cloud. And the lowly dew will arrive to meet the heat and overpower it.	24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, their accounts fill our ears with amazement:
25 At his word, the wind grows quiet, and by his thought, he appeases the abyss, for the Lord has planted islands in it.	25 for there too exist strange and wonderful works, animals of every kind and huge sea creatures.
26 Let those who navigate the sea describe its perils. And when we have heard it with our ears, we will wonder.	26 Thanks to God, his messenger reaches port, everything works out according to his word.
27 There are illustrious and wondrous works: the various kinds of wild animals, and all manner of cattle, and the great creatures of the sea.	27 We could say much more and stil fal short; to put it concisely, 'He is al .'
28 Through him, the end of their journey is confirmed, and by his word, all things fit together.	28 Where shall we find sufficient power to glorify him, since he is the Great One, above al his works,
29 We can say much, and yet still lack for words. But the consummation of our words is this: He is in all things.	29 the awe-inspiring Lord, stupendously great, and wonderful in his power?
30 What would we be able to do to glorify him? For the Almighty himself is above all his own works.	30 Exalt the Lord in your praises as high as you may -- stil he surpasses you. Exert al your strengthwhen you exalt him, do not grow tired -- you wil never come to the end.
31 The Lord is terrible, and exceedingly great, and his power is wonderful.	31 Who has ever seen him to describe him? Who can glorify him as he deserves?
32 Glorify the Lord as much as you are able, yet still he will far exceed this. For his magnificence is beyond wonder.	32 Many mysteries remain even greater than these, for we have seen only a few of his works,
33 Bless the Lord and exalt him, as much as you are able. But he is beyond all praise.	33 the Lord himself having created al things and given wisdom to those who are devout.
34 When you exalt him, use all your ability, and do not cease in this labor. For you can never comprehend him.
35 Who will see him and explain? And who will magnify him, as he is from the beginning?
36 There are many things, hidden from us, which are greater than these things. For we have seen but a few of his works.
37 But the Lord has made all things, and he has given wisdom to those who act with piety.