Sirach 24

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Wisdom speaks her own praises, in the midst of her people she glories in herself.	1 Wisdom will praise her own mind, and she will be honored by God, and she will be glorified in the midst of her people.
2 She opens her mouth in the assembly of the Most High, she glories in herself in the presence of theMighty One:	2 And she will open her mouth in the churches of the Most High, and she will be glorified in the sight of his virtue.
3 'I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and I covered the earth like mist.	3 And in the midst of her own people, she will be exalted. And she will be admired by the holy assembly.
4 I had my tent in the heights, and my throne was a pillar of cloud.	4 And she will have praise within the multitude of the elect. And she will be blessed among the blessed. And she will say:
5 Alone, I have made the circuit of the heavens and walked through the depths of the abyss.	5 “I went forth from the mouth of the Most High, as the first-born before all creatures.
6 Over the waves of the sea and over the whole earth, and over every people and nation I have heldsway.	6 I caused an unfailing light to arise in the heavens. And I covered all the earth like a cloud.
7 Among all these I searched for rest, and looked to see in whose territory I might pitch camp.	7 I lived in the highest places, and my throne is in the pillar of a cloud.
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."	8 I alone have encompassed the circuit of heaven, and have penetrated to the depths of the abyss, and have walked upon the waves of the sea,
9 From eternity, in the beginning, he created me, and for eternity I shal remain.	9 and have stood upon the whole earth. And among every people,
10 In the holy tent I ministered before him and thus became established in Zion.	10 and in every nation, I have held primacy.
11 In the beloved city he has given me rest, and in Jerusalem I wield my authority.	11 And by virtue, I have tread upon the hearts of all, the great and the lowly. And I have sought my rest in all of them. And I will continue, as the inheritance of the Lord.
12 I have taken root in a privileged people, in the Lord's property, in his inheritance.	12 Then the Creator of all things instructed and spoke with me. And the One who created me rested in my tabernacle.
13 I have grown tall as a cedar on Lebanon, as a cypress on Mount Hermon;	13 And he said to me: ‘Let your dwelling place be with Jacob, and let your inheritance be in Israel, for you shall take root among my elect.’
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 .	14 From the beginning, and before the world, I was created. And even unto the future world, I will not cease to exist. For I have ministered before him in the holy habitation.
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.	15 And in this way, I was established in Zion. And likewise, in the holy city, I found rest. And my authority was in Jerusalem.
16 I have spread my branches like a terebinth, and my branches are glorious and graceful.	16 And I took root among an honorable people, within the portion of my God, within his inheritance. And so my abode is in the full assembly of the saints.
17 I am like a vine putting out graceful shoots, my blossoms bear the fruit of glory and wealth.	17 I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon and like a cypress on Mount Zion.
18	18 I was exalted like a palm tree in Kadesh and like a rose bush in Jericho.
19 Approach me, you who desire me, and take your fil of my fruits,	19 I was exalted like a beautiful olive tree in the plains, and like a sycamore tree beside the waters along a wide road.
20 for memories of me are sweeter than honey, inheriting me is sweeter than the honeycomb.	20 I gave off an aromatic fragrance like cinnamon or balsam. I produced a sweet odor like the best myrrh.
21 They who eat me wil hunger for more, they who drink me will thirst for more.	21 And I perfumed my dwelling place with sweet gum, and aromatic resin, and flower petals, and aloe, as well as the finest cedar from Lebanon. And my fragrance is like undiluted balsam.
22 No one who obeys me wil ever have to blush, no one who acts as I dictate wil ever sin.'	22 I have extended my branches like a terebinth tree, and my branches are of honor and grace.
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.	23 Like the vine, I have born the fruit of a sweet fragrance. And my flowers are the fruit of honor and integrity.
24	24 I am the mother of the beauty of love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.
25 This is what makes wisdom brim over like the Pishon, like the Tigris in the season of fruit,	25 All grace of the way and of the truth is in me. All hope of life and of virtue is in me.
26 what makes intel igence overflow like the Euphrates, like the Jordan at harvest time;	26 Journey toward me, all you who desire me, and be filled by my harvest.
27 and makes discipline flow like the Nile, like the Gihon when the grapes are harvested.	27 For my spirit is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance is better than honey and the honeycomb.
28 The first man did not finish discovering about her, nor has the most recent tracked her down;	28 My memory is for the generations of all ages.
29 for her thoughts are wider than the sea, and her designs more profound than the abyss.	29 Whoever consumes me will hunger still. And whoever drinks me will thirst still.
30 And I, like a conduit from a river, like a watercourse running into a garden,	30 Whoever listens to me will not be confounded. And whoever acts in me will not sin.
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.	31 Whoever elucidates me will have eternal life.”
32 Making discipline shine forth from daybreak, I shal send its light far and wide.	32 All this is a book of life, and a covenant of the Most High, and an acknowledgement of truth.
33 I shal pour out teaching like prophecy, as a legacy to al future generations.	33 Moses commanded the law by the precepts of justice, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel.
34 And note, I have been working not merely for myself, but for al who are seeking wisdom.	34 God appointed David as his servant, in order to raise up from him a most mighty King, who would sit upon the throne of honor forever.
	35 It is he who fulfills wisdom, like the Phison river and the Tigris river in the first days.
	36 It is he who fulfills understanding, like the river Euphrates. It is he who multiplies understanding, like the river Jordan in the time of the harvest.
	37 He sends forth discipline like the light, and he stands forth like the river Gehon in the time of the vintage.
	38 He first had perfect knowledge of her, for a weaker one would not search for her.
	39 For her thoughts abound like the sea, and her counsels abound like the great abyss.
	40 “I, wisdom, have poured forth rivers.
	41 I am like a brook leading to a river of immense waters. I am like a channel flowing from a river. And I went forth from Paradise like an aqueduct.
	42 I said: I will irrigate my garden of plantings, and I will thoroughly water the fruits of my field.
	43 And behold, my brook became overflowing, and my river drew near to the sea.
	44 For I illuminate doctrine to all, like the first light. And I will announce doctrine, even to those who are far away.
	45 I will reach to all the lower parts of the earth, and I will gaze upon all who sleep, and I will illuminate all who hope in the Lord.
	46 Even now, I pour forth doctrine like prophecy. And even now, I bequeath doctrine to those who seek wisdom. And I will not cease from their progeny, even unto the holy time.
	47 See how I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who are seeking truth!”