Scrutatio

Venerdi, 29 marzo 2024 - Santi Simplicio e Costantino ( Letture di oggi)

Sirach 39


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1How different the man who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High! He explores the wisdom of the men of old and occupies himself with the prophecies;2He treasures the discourses of famous men, and goes to the heart of involved sayings;3He studies obscure parables, and is busied with the hidden meanings of the sages.4He is in attendance on the great, and has entrance to the ruler.5He travels among the peoples of foreign lands to learn what is good and evil among men.6His care is to seek the LORD, his Maker, to petition the Most High, To open his lips in prayer, to ask pardon for his sins. Then, if it pleases the LORD Almighty, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; He will pour forth his words of wisdom and in prayer give thanks to the LORD,7Who will direct his knowledge and his counsel, as he meditates upon his mysteries.8He will show the wisdom of what he has learned and glory in the law of the LORD'S covenant.9Many will praise his understanding; his fame can never be effaced; Unfading will be his memory, through all generations his name will live;10Peoples will speak of his wisdom, and in assembly sing his praises.11While he lives he is one out of a thousand, and when he dies his renown will not cease.12Once more I will set forth my theme to shine like the moon in its fullness!13Listen, my faithful children: open up your petals, like roses planted near running waters;14Send up the sweet odor of incense, break forth in blossoms like the lily. Send up the sweet odor of your hymn of praise; bless the LORD for all he has done!15Proclaim the greatness of his name, loudly sing his praises, With music on the harp and all stringed instruments; sing out with joy as you proclaim:16The works of God are all of them good; in its own time every need is supplied.17At his word the waters become still as in a flask; he had but to speak and the reservoirs were made.18He has but to command and his will is done; nothing can limit his achievement.19The works of all mankind are present to him; not a thing escapes his eye.20His gaze spans all the ages; to him there is nothing unexpected.21No cause then to say: "What is the purpose of this?" Everything is chosen to satisfy a need.22His blessing overflows like the Nile; like the Euphrates it enriches the surface of the earth.23Again, his wrath expels the nations and turns fertile land into a salt marsh.24For the virtuous his paths are level, to the haughty they are steep;25Good things for the good he provided from the beginning, but for the wicked good things and bad.26Chief of all needs for human life are water and fire, iron and salt, The heart of the wheat, milk and honey, the blood of the grape, and oil, and cloth;27For the good all these are good, but for the wicked they turn out evil.28There are storm winds created to punish, which in their fury can dislodge mountains; When destruction must be, they hurl all their force and appease the anger of their Maker.29In his treasury also, kept for the proper time, are fire and hail, famine, disease,30Ravenous beasts, scorpions, vipers, and the avenging sword to exterminate the wicked;31In doing his bidding they rejoice, in their assignments they disobey not his command.32So from the first I took my stand, and wrote down as my theme:33The works of God are all of them good; every need when it comes he fills.34No cause then to say: "This is not as good as that"; for each shows its worth at the proper time.35So now with full joy of heart proclaim and bless the name of the Holy One.