Sirach 24

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	BIBLES DES PEUPLES
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.	1 Voici que la Sagesse fait son propre éloge, et qu’elle se rend gloire au milieu de son peuple.
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.	2 Elle a pris la parole à l’Assemblée du Très-Haut, c’est devant le Tout-Puissant qu’elle se glorifie.
3 And in the midst of her own people, she will be exalted. And she will be admired by the holy assembly.	3 Je suis sortie, dit-elle, de la bouche du Très-Haut, et comme un brouillard j’ai recouvert la terre.
4 And she will have praise within the multitude of the elect. And she will be blessed among the blessed. And she will say:	4 Dans les hauteurs du ciel est ma demeure, mon trône est dans la colonne de nuée.
5 “I went forth from the mouth of the Most High, as the first-born before all creatures.	5 Moi seule ai fait le tour de la voûte du ciel et parcouru le fond des océans.
6 I caused an unfailing light to arise in the heavens. And I covered all the earth like a cloud.	6 J’ai pris possession des flots de la mer; à moi la terre, et tous les peuples et toutes les nations.
7 I lived in the highest places, and my throne is in the pillar of a cloud.	7 Chez eux tous j’ai cherché un lieu où m’arrêter: chez qui, en quel domaine aurai-je un abri?
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,	8 Et le Créateur de toutes choses m’a donné un ordre, celui qui m’a créée m’a indiqué où dresser ma tente. Il m’a dit: “Installe-toi en Jacob, qu’Israël soit ton domaine!”
9 and have stood upon the whole earth. And among every people,	9 Dès le commencement le Seigneur m’avait créée, avant que n’existe le temps, et je ne passe pas avec le temps.
10 and in every nation, I have held primacy.	10 Je célèbre en sa présence la liturgie de sa Sainte Demeure, et c’est pour cela même que je me suis fixée en Sion.
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.	11 Il m’a fait reposer dans la ville bien-aimée, c’est de Jérusalem que j’exerce mon pouvoir.
12 Then the Creator of all things instructed and spoke with me. And the One who created me rested in my tabernacle.	12 J’ai pris racines dans le peuple glorifié par le Seigneur, dans ce domaine qui est son héritage.
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.’	13 Je me suis élevée comme un cèdre du Liban, comme les cyprès sur les pentes de l’Hermon.
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.	14 J’ai grandi comme les palmiers d’Engaddi, comme les lauriers-roses de Jéricho, comme un bel olivier dans la plaine.
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.	15 Comme le cinnamome j’ai donné mon parfum, comme les plantes odoriférantes; comme les sèves aromatiques j’ai répandu ma senteur, comme le baume et la myrrhe de choix, comme les vapeurs de l’encens dans le sanctuaire.
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.	16 Comme le pin parasol j’ai étendu mes branches: elles s’appellent Gloire et Grâce.
17 I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon and like a cypress on Mount Zion.	17 Comme une vigne j’ai fleuri, avec des fleurs belles à voir qui ont donné des fruits de gloire et de richesse.
18 I was exalted like a palm tree in Kadesh and like a rose bush in Jericho.	18 NO TEXT
19 I was exalted like a beautiful olive tree in the plains, and like a sycamore tree beside the waters along a wide road.	19 Venez à moi, vous qui me désirez, et rassasiez-vous de mes fruits.
20 I gave off an aromatic fragrance like cinnamon or balsam. I produced a sweet odor like the best myrrh.	20 Le souvenir qu’on garde de moi est plus doux que le miel, me posséder est plus suave qu’un rayon de miel.
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.	21 Ceux qui me mangent auront encore faim, et ceux qui me boivent auront encore soif.
22 I have extended my branches like a terebinth tree, and my branches are of honor and grace.	22 Celui qui m’écoute ne s’en repentira pas, ceux qui me cultivent ne pécheront pas.
23 Like the vine, I have born the fruit of a sweet fragrance. And my flowers are the fruit of honor and integrity.	23 Tout cela n’est pas autre chose que le Livre de l’Alliance du Dieu Très-Haut, c’est la Loi que Moïse nous a prescrite et qui est le trésor des assemblées de Jacob.
24 I am the mother of the beauty of love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.	24 NO TEXT
25 All grace of the way and of the truth is in me. All hope of life and of virtue is in me.	25 De cette Loi jaillissent les eaux de la sagesse, semblables à celles du Pichon, ou à celles du Tigre au temps des fruits nouveaux.
26 Journey toward me, all you who desire me, and be filled by my harvest.	26 D’elle déborde le savoir comme une crue de l’Euphrate ou du Jourdain aux jours de la moisson,
27 For my spirit is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance is better than honey and the honeycomb.	27 d’elle s’échappent les eaux de l’instruction comme les flots du Nil, comme le Guihon aux jours de la vendange.
28 My memory is for the generations of all ages.	28 Le premier qui l’a trouvée n’en verra pas la fin, le dernier arrivé ne l’épuisera pas;
29 Whoever consumes me will hunger still. And whoever drinks me will thirst still.	29 car ses pensées sont plus vastes que la mer et ses projets embrassent plus que le grand océan.
30 Whoever listens to me will not be confounded. And whoever acts in me will not sin.	30 Pour ma part je n’étais qu’un petit chenal du fleuve, le ruisseau qu’on dérive vers un jardin.
31 Whoever elucidates me will have eternal life.”	31 Mais j’ai pensé: “Je vais irriguer mon jardin, je veux arroser mes parterres.” Et voici que mon ruisseau est devenu un fleuve, et mon fleuve, une mer!
32 All this is a book of life, and a covenant of the Most High, and an acknowledgement of truth.	32 Que ma doctrine brille comme l’aurore, et que s’étende au loin sa lumière!
33 Moses commanded the law by the precepts of justice, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel.	33 Que mes leçons se propagent comme paroles prophétiques: car je veux la laisser aux générations futures.
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.	34 Voyez: je n’ai pas peiné pour moi seul, mais pour tous ceux qui cherchent la sagesse.
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!”