Sirach 39

NEW JERUSALEM	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Not so with one who concentrates his mind and his meditation on the Law of the Most High. Heresearches into the wisdom of al the Ancients, he occupies his time with the prophecies.	1 On the other hand he who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be concerned with prophecies;
2 He preserves the discourses of famous men, he is at home with the niceties of parables.	2 he will preserve the discourse of notable men and penetrate the subtleties of parables;
3 He researches into the hidden sense of proverbs, he ponders the obscurities of parables.	3 he will seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs and be at home with the obscurities of parables.
4 He enters the service of princes, he is seen in the presence of rulers. He travels in foreign countries, hehas experienced human good and human evil.	4 He will serve among great men and appear before rulers; he will travel through the lands of foreign nations, for he tests the good and the evil among men.
5 At dawn and with al his heart he turns to the Lord his Creator; he pleads in the presence of the MostHigh, he opens his mouth in prayer and makes entreaty for his sins.	5 He will set his heart to rise early to seek the Lord who made him, and will make supplication before the Most High; he will open his mouth in prayer and make supplication for his sins.
6 If such be the wil of the great Lord, he wil be filled with the spirit of intel igence, he wil shower forthwords of wisdom, and in prayer give thanks to the Lord.	6 If the great Lord is willing, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; he will pour forth words of wisdom and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.
7 He will grow upright in purpose and learning, he will ponder the Lord's hidden mysteries.	7 He will direct his counsel and knowledge aright, and meditate on his secrets.
8 He will display the instruction he has received, taking his pride in the Law of the Lord's covenant.	8 He will reveal instruction in his teaching, and will glory in the law of the Lord's covenant.
9 Many wil praise his intel igence and it wil never be forgotten. His memory will not disappear,generation after generation his name will live.	9 Many will praise his understanding, and it will never be blotted out; his memory will not disappear, and his name will live through all generations.
10 Nations wil proclaim his wisdom, the assembly will celebrate his praises.	10 Nations will declare his wisdom, and the congregation will proclaim his praise;
11 If he lives long, his name will be more glorious than a thousand others, and if he dies, that wil satisfyhim just as wel .	11 if he lives long, he will leave a name greater than a thousand, and if he goes to rest, it is enough for him.
12 And here are some more of my reflections: yes, I am as ful as the moon at the ful !	12 I have yet more to say, which I have thought upon, and I am filled, like the moon at the full.
13 Listen to me, devout children, and blossom like the rose that grows on the bank of a watercourse.	13 Listen to me, O you holy sons, and bud like a rose growing by a stream of water;
14 Give off a sweet smel like incense, flower like the lily, spread your fragrance abroad, sing a song ofpraise blessing the Lord for all his works.	14 send forth fragrance like frankincense, and put forth blossoms like a lily. Scatter the fragrance, and sing a hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all his works;
15 Declare the greatness of his name, proclaim his praise with song and with lyre, and this is how youmust sing his praises:	15 ascribe majesty to his name and give thanks to him with praise, with songs on your lips, and with lyres; and this you shall say in thanksgiving:
16 'How wonderful, the actions of the Lord! Whatever he orders is done at the proper time!' You must notsay, 'What is this? Why is that?' There is a proper time for every question.	16 "All things are the works of the Lord, for they are very good, and whatever he commands will be done in his time."
17 At his word, the water stops and piles up high, at his voice, the watery reservoirs take shape,	17 No one can say, "What is this?" "Why is that?" for in God's time all things will be sought after. At his word the waters stood in a heap, and the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth.
18 at his command, whatever he wants is done, no one can stop him, if he intends to save.	18 At his command whatever pleases him is done, and none can limit his saving power.
19 He can see whatever human beings are doing, nothing can be hidden from his eye;	19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.
20 his gaze stretches from eternity to eternity, and nothing can astonish him.	20 From everlasting to everlasting he beholds them, and nothing is marvelous to him.
21 You must not say, 'What is this? Why is that?' for everything has been made for a purpose.	21 No one can say, "What is this?" "Why is that?" for everything has been created for its use.
22 As his blessing covers the dry land like a river and soaks it like a flood,	22 His blessing covers the dry land like a river, and drenches it like a flood.
23 so retribution is his legacy to the nations, just as he has turned fresh waters to salt.	23 The nations will incur his wrath, just as he turns fresh water into salt.
24 His ways are as smooth for the devout, as they are ful of obstacles for the wicked.	24 To the holy his ways are straight, just as they are obstacles to the wicked.
25 Good things were created from the beginning for good people, as bad ones were for sinners.	25 From the beginning good things were created for good people, just as evil things for sinners.
26 The prime needs of human beings for living are water and fire, iron and salt, wheat-flour, milk andhoney, the juice of the grape, oil and clothing.	26 Basic to all the needs of man's life are water and fire and iron and salt and wheat flour and milk and honey, the blood of the grape, and oil and clothing.
27 Al these are good for those who are good, but turn out bad for sinners.	27 All these are for good to the godly, just as they turn into evils for sinners.
28 Some winds have been created for punishing, in his fury, he uses them as scourges; on the day ofdoom, they unleash their violence and appease the wrath of their Creator.	28 There are winds that have been created for vengeance, and in their anger they scourge heavily; in the time of consummation they will pour out their strength and calm the anger of their Maker.
29 Fire and hail, famine and death, have al been created for punishing.	29 Fire and hail and famine and pestilence, all these have been created for vengeance;
30 Wild animals' fangs, scorpions, vipers, the avenging sword for the ruin of the godless:	30 the teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions and vipers, and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction;
31 all of them exult in discharging his orders, ready on earth whenever the need arises and, when theirtime comes, not fal ing short of his word.	31 they will rejoice in his commands, and be made ready on earth for their service, and when their times come they will not transgress his word.
32 That is why I was determined from the outset, why I have pondered and why I have written,	32 Therefore from the beginning I have been convinced, and have thought this out and left it in writing:
33 'The works of the Lord are all good, when the time is right, he gives whatever is needed.	33 The works of the Lord are all good, and he will supply every need in its hour.
34 You must not say, "This is worse than that," for, sooner or later, everything proves its worth.	34 And no one can say, "This is worse than that," for all things will prove good in their season.
35 So now, sing with al your heart and voice, and bless the name of the Lord!'	35 So now sing praise with all your heart and voice, and bless the name of the Lord.