Sirach 43

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Pride of the heights, a clear vault of the sky -- such is the beauty of the heavens, a glorious sight.	1 The firmament on high is his beauty; it is the beauty of heaven in 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 sun, at its appearance, announces its journey; it is an instrument of wonder, a work of the Most High.
3 At his zenith, he parches the ground, who can withstand his blaze?	3 At midday, it scorches the earth. And in the presence of its heat, who would be able to endure? It is like the custodian of a furnace in its works of 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 In three ways, the sun acts: scorching the mountains, emitting fiery rays, and shining with its beams that can blind the eyes.
5 Great is the Lord who created him and whose word speeds him on his course.	5 Great is the Lord who made it, and at his word, it hurries on its journey.
6 And then the moon, ever punctual to mark the times, an everlasting sign:	6 And the moon, in all its phases, serves to mark the seasons and to be a sign of the times.
7 It is the moon that signals the feasts, a luminary that wanes after being ful .	7 From the moon is the sign of a feast day; it is a light which diminishes at its consummation.
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 A month is named according to its phases, increasing wonderfully at its culmination.
9 The glory of the stars makes the beauty of the sky, a brilliant adornment of the Lord on High.	9 It is an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the firmament of heaven.
10 At the words of the Holy One they stand as he decrees, and never grow slack at their watch.	10 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord illuminates the world from on high.
11 See the rainbow and praise its Maker, so superbly beautiful in its splendour.	11 At the words of the Holy One, they stand for judgment, and they will never fail in their vigilance.
12 Across the sky it forms a glorious arc drawn by the hands of the Most High.	12 Consider the rainbow, and bless the One who made it; it is very beautiful in its splendor.
13 By his command he sends the snow, he speeds the lightning by his command.	13 It encompasses the heavens with the circle of its glory; the hands of the Most High made it appear.
14 In the same way, his treasuries open and the clouds fly out like birds.	14 By his order, he hastens the snow, and he spurs on the lightning to express his judgment.
15 His great power solidifies the clouds, then pulverises them into hail.	15 In like manner, his storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.
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 By his greatness, he has positioned the clouds, and the hailstones have been broken.
17 At the roar of his thunder, the earth writhes in labour,	17 At his glance, the mountains will be shaken, and by his will, the south wind will blow.
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 The voice of his thunder will reverberate through the earth, by a storm from the north, and by a gathering of the whirlwind.
19 Over the earth, like salt, he also pours hoarfrost, which, when it freezes, bristles like thorns.	19 And like the birds landing in a flock upon the earth, he sends down the snow; and its descent is like the arrival of a swarm of locusts.
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 The eye is in wonder at the beauty of its whiteness, and the heart is astonished at its falling.
21 The wind swal ows up the mountains and scorches the desert, like a fire it consumes the vegetation.	21 He will pour out frost like salt upon the earth. And when it freezes, it will become like the tops of thistles.
22 But cloud brings swift healing, and dew brings joy after the heat.	22 The cold north wind blows, and the water freezes into crystals; it will rest upon every gathering of water, and it will clothe the water like a breastplate.
23 By his own resourcefulness he has tamed the abyss, and planted it with islands.	23 And it will devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and extinguish the greenery, like a fire.
24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, their accounts fill our ears with amazement:	24 Relief for all is in the hurried arrival of a cloud. And the lowly dew will arrive to meet the heat and overpower it.
25 for there too exist strange and wonderful works, animals of every kind and huge sea creatures.	25 At his word, the wind grows quiet, and by his thought, he appeases the abyss, for the Lord has planted islands in it.
26 Thanks to God, his messenger reaches port, everything works out according to his word.	26 Let those who navigate the sea describe its perils. And when we have heard it with our ears, we will wonder.
27 We could say much more and stil fal short; to put it concisely, 'He is al .'	27 There are illustrious and wondrous works: the various kinds of wild animals, and all manner of cattle, and the great creatures of the sea.
28 Where shall we find sufficient power to glorify him, since he is the Great One, above al his works,	28 Through him, the end of their journey is confirmed, and by his word, all things fit together.
29 the awe-inspiring Lord, stupendously great, and wonderful in his power?	29 We can say much, and yet still lack for words. But the consummation of our words is this: He is in all things.
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 What would we be able to do to glorify him? For the Almighty himself is above all his own works.
31 Who has ever seen him to describe him? Who can glorify him as he deserves?	31 The Lord is terrible, and exceedingly great, and his power is wonderful.
32 Many mysteries remain even greater than these, for we have seen only a few of his works,	32 Glorify the Lord as much as you are able, yet still he will far exceed this. For his magnificence is beyond wonder.
33 the Lord himself having created al things and given wisdom to those who are devout.	33 Bless the Lord and exalt him, as much as you are able. But he is beyond all praise.
	34 When you exalt him, use all your ability, and do not cease in this labor. For you can never comprehend him.
	35 Who will see him and explain? And who will magnify him, as he is from the beginning?
	36 There are many things, hidden from us, which are greater than these things. For we have seen but a few of his works.
	37 But the Lord has made all things, and he has given wisdom to those who act with piety.