Sirach 43

¹ The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear firmament, the appearance of heaven in a spectacle of glory.

² The sun, when it appears, making proclamation as it goes forth, is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High.

³ At noon it parches the land; and who can withstand its burning heat?

⁴ A man tending a furnace works in burning heat, but the sun burns the mountains three times as much; it breathes out fiery vapors, and with bright beams it blinds the eyes.

⁵ Great is the Lord who made it; and at his command it hastens on its course.

⁶ He made the moon also, to serve in its season to make the times and to be an everlasting sign.

⁷ From the moon comes the sign for feast days, a light that wanes when it has reached the full.

⁸ The month is named for the moon, increasing marvelously in its phases, an instrument of the hosts on high shining forth in the firmament of heaven.

⁹ The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven, a gleaming array in the heights of the Lord.

¹⁰ At the command of the Holy One they stand as ordered, they never relax in their watches.

¹¹ Look upon the rainbow, and praise him who made it, exceedingly beautiful in its brightness.

¹² It encircles the heaven with its glorious arc; the hands of the Most High have stretched it out.

¹³ By his command he sends the driving snow and speeds the lightnings of his judgment.

¹⁴ Therefore the storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly forth like birds.

¹⁵ In his majesty he amasses the clouds, and the hailstones are broken in pieces.

¹⁶ At his appearing the mountains are shaken; at his will the south wind blows.

¹⁷ The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth; so do the tempest from the north and the whirlwind. He scatters the snow like birds flying down, and its descent is like locusts alighting.

¹⁸ The eye marvels at the beauty of its whiteness, and the mind is amazed at its falling.

¹⁹ He pours the hoarfrost upon the earth like salt, and when it freezes, it becomes pointed thorns.

²⁰ The cold north wind blows, and ice freezes over the water; it rests upon every pool of water, and the water puts it on like a breastplate.

²¹ He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness, and withers the tender grass like fire.

²² A mist quickly heals all things; when the dew appears, it refreshes from the heat.

²³ By his counsel he stilled the great deep and planted islands in it.

²⁴ Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, and we marvel at what we hear.

²⁵ for in it are strange and marvelous works, all kinds of living things, and huge creatures of the sea.

²⁶ Because of him his messenger finds the way, and by his word all things hold together.

²⁷ Though we speak much we cannot reach the end, and the sum of our words is: "He is the all."

²⁸ Where shall we find strength to praise him? For he is greater than all his works.

²⁹ Terrible is the Lord and very great, and marvelous is his power.

³⁰ When you praise the Lord, exalt him as much as you can; for he will surpass even that. When you exalt him, put forth all your strength, and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.

³¹ Who has seen him and can describe him? Or who can extol him as he is?

³² Many things greater than these lie hidden, for we have seen but few of his works.

³³ For the Lord has made all things, and to the godly he has granted wisdom.