Sirach 24

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Wisdom sings her own praises, before her own people she proclaims her glory;	1 Wisdom speaks her own praises, in the midst of her people she glories in herself.
2 In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth, in the presence of his hosts she declares her worth:	2 She opens her mouth in the assembly of the Most High, she glories in herself in the presence of theMighty One:
3 "From the mouth of the Most High I came forth, and mistlike covered the earth.	3 'I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and I covered the earth like mist.
4 In the highest heavens did I dwell, my throne on a pillar of cloud.	4 I had my tent in the heights, and my throne was a pillar of cloud.
5 The vault of heaven I compassed alone, through the deep abyss I wandered.	5 Alone, I have made the circuit of the heavens and walked through the depths of the abyss.
6 Over waves of the sea, over all the land, over every people and nation I held sway.	6 Over the waves of the sea and over the whole earth, and over every people and nation I have heldsway.
7 Among all these I sought a resting place; in whose inheritance should I abide?	7 Among all these I searched for rest, and looked to see in whose territory I might pitch camp.
8 "Then the Creator of all gave me his command, and he who formed me chose the spot for my tent, Saying, 'In Jacob make your dwelling, in Israel your inheritance.'	8 Then the Creator of all things instructed me and he who created me fixed a place for my tent. He said,"Pitch your tent in Jacob, make Israel your inheritance."
9 Before all ages, in the beginning, he created me, and through all ages I shall not cease to be.	9 From eternity, in the beginning, he created me, and for eternity I shal remain.
10 In the holy tent I ministered before him, and in Zion I fixed my abode.	10 In the holy tent I ministered before him and thus became established in Zion.
11 Thus in the chosen city he has given me rest, in Jerusalem is my domain.	11 In the beloved city he has given me rest, and in Jerusalem I wield my authority.
12 I have struck root among the glorious people, in the portion of the LORD, his heritage.	12 I have taken root in a privileged people, in the Lord's property, in his inheritance.
13 "Like a cedar on Lebanon I am raised aloft, like a cypress on Mount Hermon,	13 I have grown tall as a cedar on Lebanon, as a cypress on Mount Hermon;
14 Like a palm tree in En-gedi, like a rosebush in Jericho, Like a fair olive tree in the field, like a plane tree growing beside the water.	14 I have grown tall as a palm in En-Gedi, as the rose bushes of Jericho; as a fine olive in the plain, as aplane tree, I have grown tal .
15 Like cinnamon, or fragrant balm, or precious myrrh, I give forth perfume; Like galbanum and onycha and sweet spices, like the odor of incense in the holy place.	15 Like cinnamon and acanthus, I have yielded a perfume, like choice myrrh, have breathed out a scent,like galbanum, onycha, labdanum, like the smoke of incense in the tent.
16 I spread out my branches like a terebinth, my branches so bright and so graceful.	16 I have spread my branches like a terebinth, and my branches are glorious and graceful.
17 I bud forth delights like the vine, my blossoms become fruit fair and rich.	17 I am like a vine putting out graceful shoots, my blossoms bear the fruit of glory and wealth.
18 Come to me, all you that yearn for me, and be filled with my fruits;	18
19 You will remember me as sweeter than honey, better to have than the honeycomb.	19 Approach me, you who desire me, and take your fil of my fruits,
20 He who eats of me will hunger still, he who drinks of me will thirst for more;	20 for memories of me are sweeter than honey, inheriting me is sweeter than the honeycomb.
21 He who obeys me will not be put to shame, he who serves me will never fail."	21 They who eat me wil hunger for more, they who drink me will thirst for more.
22 All this is true of the book of the Most High's covenant, the law which Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the community of Jacob.	22 No one who obeys me wil ever have to blush, no one who acts as I dictate wil ever sin.'
23 It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom-- like the Tigris in the days of the new fruits.	23 Al this is no other than the Book of the Covenant of the Most High God, the Law that Moses enjoinedon us, an inheritance for the communities of Jacob.
24 It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding, like the Jordan at harvest time.	24
25 It sparkles like the Nile with knowledge, like the Gihon at vintage time.	25 This is what makes wisdom brim over like the Pishon, like the Tigris in the season of fruit,
26 The first man never finished comprehending wisdom, nor will the last succeed in fathoming her.	26 what makes intel igence overflow like the Euphrates, like the Jordan at harvest time;
27 For deeper than the sea are her thoughts; her counsels, than the great abyss.	27 and makes discipline flow like the Nile, like the Gihon when the grapes are harvested.
28 Now I, like a rivulet from her stream, channeling the waters into a garden,	28 The first man did not finish discovering about her, nor has the most recent tracked her down;
29 Said to myself, "I will water my plants, my flower bed I will drench"; And suddenly this rivulet of mine became a river, then this stream of mine, a sea.	29 for her thoughts are wider than the sea, and her designs more profound than the abyss.
30 Thus do I send my teachings forth shining like the dawn, to become known afar off.	30 And I, like a conduit from a river, like a watercourse running into a garden,
31 Thus do I pour out instruction like prophecy and bestow it on generations to come.	31 I said, 'I am going to water my orchard, I intend to irrigate my flower beds.' And see, my conduit hasgrown into a river, and my river has grown into a sea.
	32 Making discipline shine forth from daybreak, I shal send its light far and wide.
	33 I shal pour out teaching like prophecy, as a legacy to al future generations.
	34 And note, I have been working not merely for myself, but for al who are seeking wisdom.