Sirach 43

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Pride of the heights, a clear vault of the sky -- such is the beauty of the heavens, a glorious sight.	1 The clear vault of the sky shines forth like heaven itself, a vision of glory.
2 The sun, as he emerges, proclaims at his rising, 'How wonderful a thing, the work of the Most High!'	2 The orb of the sun, resplendent at its rising: what a wonderful work of the Most High!
3 At his zenith, he parches the ground, who can withstand his blaze?	3 At noon it seethes the surface of the earth, and who can bear its fiery heat?
4 We have to blow the furnace to produce any heat, the sun burns the mountains three times as much;breathing out blasts of fire, flashing his rays, he dazzles the eyes.	4 Like a blazing furnace of solid metal, it sets the mountains aflame with its rays; By its fiery darts the land is consumed; the eyes are dazzled by its light.
5 Great is the Lord who created him and whose word speeds him on his course.	5 Great indeed is the LORD who made it, at whose orders it urges on its steeds.
6 And then the moon, ever punctual to mark the times, an everlasting sign:	6 The moon, too, that marks the changing times, governing the seasons, their lasting sign,
7 It is the moon that signals the feasts, a luminary that wanes after being ful .	7 By which we know the feast days and fixed dates, this light-giver which wanes in its course:
8 The month derives its name from hers, she waxes wonderful y in her phases, banner of the hosts onhigh, shining in the vault of heaven.	8 As its name says, each month it renews itself; how wondrous in this change!
9 The glory of the stars makes the beauty of the sky, a brilliant adornment of the Lord on High.	9 The beauty, the glory, of the heavens are the stars that adorn with their sparkling the heights of God,
10 At the words of the Holy One they stand as he decrees, and never grow slack at their watch.	10 At whose command they keep their place and never relax in their vigils. A weapon against the flood waters stored on high, lighting up the firmament by its brilliance,
11 See the rainbow and praise its Maker, so superbly beautiful in its splendour.	11 Behold the rainbow! Then bless its Maker, for majestic indeed is its splendor;
12 Across the sky it forms a glorious arc drawn by the hands of the Most High.	12 It spans the heavens with its glory, this bow bent by the mighty hand of God.
13 By his command he sends the snow, he speeds the lightning by his command.	13 His rebuke marks out the path for the lightning, and speeds the arrows of his judgment to their goal.
14 In the same way, his treasuries open and the clouds fly out like birds.	14 At it the storehouse is opened, and like vultures the clouds hurry forth.
15 His great power solidifies the clouds, then pulverises them into hail.	15 In his majesty he gives the storm its power and breaks off the hailstones.
16 at the sight of him, the mountains quake. At his wil the south wind blows,or the storm from the northand the whirlwind.	16 The thunder of his voice makes the earth writhe; before his might the mountains quake.
17 At the roar of his thunder, the earth writhes in labour,	17 A word from him drives on the south wind, the angry north wind, the hurricane and the storm.
18 He sprinkles snow like birds alighting, it comes down like locusts settling. The eye marvels at thebeauty of its whiteness, and the mind is amazed at its falling.	18 He sprinkles the snow like fluttering birds; it comes to settle like swarms of locusts.
19 Over the earth, like salt, he also pours hoarfrost, which, when it freezes, bristles like thorns.	19 Its shining whiteness blinds the eyes, the mind is baffled by its steady fall.
20 The cold wind blows from the north, and ice forms on the water; it forms on every piece of standingwater, covering it like a breastplate.	20 He scatters frost like so much salt; it shines like blossoms on the thornbush.
21 The wind swal ows up the mountains and scorches the desert, like a fire it consumes the vegetation.	21 Cold northern blasts he sends that turn the ponds to lumps of ice. He freezes over every body of water, and clothes each pool with a coat of mail.
22 But cloud brings swift healing, and dew brings joy after the heat.	22 When the mountain growth is scorched with heat, and the flowering plains as though by flames,
23 By his own resourcefulness he has tamed the abyss, and planted it with islands.	23 The dripping clouds restore them all, and the scattered dew enriches the parched land.
24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, their accounts fill our ears with amazement:	24 His is the plan that calms the deep, and plants the islands in the sea.
25 for there too exist strange and wonderful works, animals of every kind and huge sea creatures.	25 Those who go down to the sea tell part of its story, and when we hear them we are thunderstruck;
26 Thanks to God, his messenger reaches port, everything works out according to his word.	26 In it are his creatures, stupendous, amazing, all kinds of life, and the monsters of the deep.
27 We could say much more and stil fal short; to put it concisely, 'He is al .'	27 For him each messenger succeeds, and at his bidding accomplishes his will.
28 Where shall we find sufficient power to glorify him, since he is the Great One, above al his works,	28 More than this we need not add; let the last word be, he is all in all!
29 the awe-inspiring Lord, stupendously great, and wonderful in his power?	29 Let us praise him the more, since we cannot fathom him, for greater is he than all his works;
30 Exalt the Lord in your praises as high as you may -- stil he surpasses you. Exert al your strengthwhen you exalt him, do not grow tired -- you wil never come to the end.	30 Awful indeed is the LORD'S majesty, and wonderful is his power.
31 Who has ever seen him to describe him? Who can glorify him as he deserves?	31 Lift up your voices to glorify the LORD, though he is still beyond your power to praise;
32 Many mysteries remain even greater than these, for we have seen only a few of his works,	32 Extol him with renewed strength, and weary not, though you cannot reach the end:
33 the Lord himself having created al things and given wisdom to those who are devout.	33 For who can see him and describe him? or who can praise him as he is?
	34 Beyond these, many things lie hid; only a few of his works have we seen.
	35 It is the LORD who has made all things, and to those who fear him he gives wisdom.