Sirach 24

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Wisdom will praise herself, and will glory in the midst of her people.	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.
2 In the assembly of the Most High she will open her mouth, and in the presence of his host she will glory:	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.
3 "I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth like a mist.	3 And in the midst of her own people, she will be exalted. And she will be admired by the holy assembly.
4 I dwelt in high places, and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.	4 And she will have praise within the multitude of the elect. And she will be blessed among the blessed. And she will say:
5 Alone I have made the circuit of the vault of heaven and have walked in the depths of the abyss.	5 “I went forth from the mouth of the Most High, as the first-born before all creatures.
6 In the waves of the sea, in the whole earth, and in every people and nation I have gotten a possession.	6 I caused an unfailing light to arise in the heavens. And I covered all the earth like a cloud.
7 Among all these I sought a resting place; I sought in whose territory I might lodge.	7 I lived in the highest places, and my throne is in the pillar of a cloud.
8 Then the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and the one who created me assigned a place for my tent. And he said, 'Make your dwelling in Jacob, and in Israel receive your inheritance.'	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,
9 From eternity, in the beginning, he created me, and for eternity I shall not cease to exist.	9 and have stood upon the whole earth. And among every people,
10 In the holy tabernacle I ministered before him, and so I was established in Zion.	10 and in every nation, I have held primacy.
11 In the beloved city likewise he gave me a resting place, and in Jerusalem was my dominion.	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.
12 So I took root in an honored people, in the portion of the Lord, who is their inheritance.	12 Then the Creator of all things instructed and spoke with me. And the One who created me rested in my tabernacle.
13 I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon, and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.	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.’
14 I grew tall like a palm tree in En-ge'di, and like rose plants in Jericho; like a beautiful olive tree in the field, and like a plane tree I grew tall.	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.
15 Like cassia and camel's thorn I gave forth the aroma of spices, and like choice myrrh I spread a pleasant odor, like galbanum, onycha, and stacte, and like the fragrance of frankincense in the tabernacle.	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.
16 Like a terebinth I spread out my branches, and my branches are glorious and graceful.	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.
17 Like a vine I caused loveliness to bud, and my blossoms became glorious and abundant fruit.	17 I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon and like a cypress on Mount Zion.
18 .	18 I was exalted like a palm tree in Kadesh and like a rose bush in Jericho.
19 "Come to me, you who desire me, and eat your fill of my produce.	19 I was exalted like a beautiful olive tree in the plains, and like a sycamore tree beside the waters along a wide road.
20 For the remembrance of me is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance sweeter than the honeycomb.	20 I gave off an aromatic fragrance like cinnamon or balsam. I produced a sweet odor like the best myrrh.
21 Those who eat me will hunger for more, and those who drink me will thirst for more.	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.
22 Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with my help will not sin."	22 I have extended my branches like a terebinth tree, and my branches are of honor and grace.
23 All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.	23 Like the vine, I have born the fruit of a sweet fragrance. And my flowers are the fruit of honor and integrity.
24 .	24 I am the mother of the beauty of love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.
25 It fills men with wisdom, like the Pishon, and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits.	25 All grace of the way and of the truth is in me. All hope of life and of virtue is in me.
26 It makes them full of understanding, like the Euphrates, and like the Jordan at harvest time.	26 Journey toward me, all you who desire me, and be filled by my harvest.
27 It makes instruction shine forth like light, like the Gihon at the time of vintage.	27 For my spirit is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance is better than honey and the honeycomb.
28 Just as the first man did not know her perfectly, the last one has not fathomed her;	28 My memory is for the generations of all ages.
29 for her thought is more abundant than the sea, and her counsel deeper than the great abyss.	29 Whoever consumes me will hunger still. And whoever drinks me will thirst still.
30 I went forth like a canal from a river and like a water channel into a garden.	30 Whoever listens to me will not be confounded. And whoever acts in me will not sin.
31 I said, "I will water my orchard and drench my garden plot"; and lo, my canal became a river, and my river became a sea.	31 Whoever elucidates me will have eternal life.”
32 I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn, and I will make it shine afar;	32 All this is a book of life, and a covenant of the Most High, and an acknowledgement of truth.
33 I will again pour out teaching like prophecy, and leave it to all future generations.	33 Moses commanded the law by the precepts of justice, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel.
34 Observe that I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who seek instruction.	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.
	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!”