Sirach 36

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Take pity on us, Master, Lord of the universe, look at us, spread fear of yourself throughout al othernations.	1 O God of all, take pity on us, and look with favor on us, and show us the light of your compassion.
2 Raise your hand against the foreign nations and let them see your might.	2 And send your fear upon the Gentiles, who have not sought you, so that they may acknowledge that there is no God except you, and so that they may declare your great deeds.
3 As, in their sight, you have proved yourself holy to us, so now, in our sight, prove yourself great to them.	3 Lift up your hand over unbelieving nations, so that they may see your power.
4 Let them acknowledge you, just as we have acknowledged that there is no God but you, Lord.	4 For just as, in their sight, you have been sanctified in us, so also, in our sight, you will be magnified in them.
5 Send new portents, do fresh wonders, win glory for your hand and your right arm.	5 So may they know you, as we also have known you. For there is no God apart from you, O Lord.
6 Rouse your fury, pour out your rage, destroy the opponent, annihilate the enemy.	6 Renew your signs, and work new wonders.
7 Hasten the day, remember the oath, and let people tell of your mighty deeds.	7 Glorify your hand and your right arm.
8 Let fiery wrath swal ow up the survivor, and destruction overtake those who oppress your people.	8 Stir up your fury, and pour out your wrath.
9 Crush the heads of hostile rulers who say, 'There is no one else but us!'	9 Take away our adversary, and afflict our enemy.
10 Gather together all the tribes of Jacob, restore them their heritage as at the beginning.	10 Hasten the time, and remember the end, so that they may declare your miracles.
11 Take pity, Lord, on the people cal ed by your name, on Israel whom you have made your first-born.	11 Let those who escape be devoured by the wrath of fire. And let those who harass your people find perdition.
12 Have compassion on your holy city, on Jerusalem, the place where you rest.	12 Crush the head of the leaders of the enemies, for they say: “There is no other beside us.”
13 Fil Zion with your praises and your sanctuary with your glory.	13 Gather together all the tribes of Jacob, so that they may acknowledge that there is no God except you, and so that they may declare your great deeds. And you will inherit them, as from the beginning.
14 Vindicate those whom you created first, fulfil what has been prophesied in your name.	14 Take pity on your people, over whom your name has been invoked, and on Israel, whom you have treated as your firstborn.
15 Give those who wait for you their reward, let your prophets be proved true.	15 Take pity on Jerusalem, the city of your sanctification, the city of your rest.
16 Grant, Lord, the prayer of your servants, in the terms of Aaron's blessing on your people,	16 Fill Zion with your ineffable words, and fill your people with your glory.
17 so that al the earth's inhabitants may acknowledge that you are the Lord, the everlasting God.	17 Give testimony to those who have been your creations from the beginning, and lift up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke in your name.
18 The stomach takes in all kinds of food, but some foods are better than others.	18 Give a reward to those who endure for you, so that your prophets may be found to be faithful. And heed the prayers of your servants,
19 As the palate discerns the flavour of game, so a shrewd listener detects lying words.	19 in accord with the blessing of Aaron over your people. And direct us in the way of justice, and let all who inhabit the earth know that you are God, the Beholder of all ages.
20 A perverse character causes depression in others; it needs experience to know how to repay such aone.	20 The belly can devour any food, yet one meal is better than another.
21 A woman wil accept any husband, but some daughters are better than others.	21 The palate tests the meat of wild animals, and the understanding heart tests false words.
22 A woman's beauty delights the beholder, a man likes nothing better.	22 A corrupt heart will cause grief, and a man of experience will resist it.
23 If her tongue is kind and gentle, her husband is the happiest of men.	23 A woman can receive any male, yet one daughter is better than another.
24 The man who takes a wife has the makings of a fortune, a helper to match himself, a pil ar of support.	24 The beauty of a wife cheers the face of her husband, and rises above his desire, above all the desires of man.
25 When property has no fence, it is open to plunder, when a man has no wife, he is aimless andquerulous.	25 If she offers healing words, then she both comforts and shows mercy; and so her husband is not like other men.
26 Wil anyone trust an armed thief who flits from town to town?	26 He who holds to a good wife establishes a possession. She is a helper in agreement with him, and she is a pillar of rest.
27 So it is with the man who has no nest, and lodges wherever night overtakes him.	27 Where there is no hedge, a possession will be trampled. And where there is no wife, he will mourn her absence.
	28 Who will trust one who has no nest, and who conceals himself wherever his course may take him, like a well-equipped robber passing from city to city?