Sirach 39

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	KING JAMES BIBLE
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;	1 But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.
2 he will preserve the discourse of notable men and penetrate the subtleties of parables;	2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.
3 he will seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs and be at home with the obscurities of parables.	3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.
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.	4 He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men.
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.	5 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.
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.	6 When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer.
7 He will direct his counsel and knowledge aright, and meditate on his secrets.	7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.
8 He will reveal instruction in his teaching, and will glory in the law of the Lord's covenant.	8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
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.	9 Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation.
10 Nations will declare his wisdom, and the congregation will proclaim his praise;	10 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.
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.	11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.
12 I have yet more to say, which I have thought upon, and I am filled, like the moon at the full.	12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.
13 Listen to me, O you holy sons, and bud like a rose growing by a stream of water;	13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:
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;	14 And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works.
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:	15 Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner:
16 "All things are the works of the Lord, for they are very good, and whatever he commands will be done in his time."	16 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.
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.	17 And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters.
18 At his command whatever pleases him is done, and none can limit his saving power.	18 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.
19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.	19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.
20 From everlasting to everlasting he beholds them, and nothing is marvelous to him.	20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.
21 No one can say, "What is this?" "Why is that?" for everything has been created for its use.	21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.
22 His blessing covers the dry land like a river, and drenches it like a flood.	22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.
23 The nations will incur his wrath, just as he turns fresh water into salt.	23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.
24 To the holy his ways are straight, just as they are obstacles to the wicked.	24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.
25 From the beginning good things were created for good people, just as evil things for sinners.	25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.
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.	26 The principal things for the whole use of man's life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.
27 All these are for good to the godly, just as they turn into evils for sinners.	27 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.
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.	28 There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them.
29 Fire and hail and famine and pestilence, all these have been created for vengeance;	29 Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance;
30 the teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions and vipers, and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction;	30 Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to destruction.
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.	31 They shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not transgress his word.
32 Therefore from the beginning I have been convinced, and have thought this out and left it in writing:	32 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.
33 The works of the Lord are all good, and he will supply every need in its hour.	33 All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.
34 And no one can say, "This is worse than that," for all things will prove good in their season.	34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.
35 So now sing praise with all your heart and voice, and bless the name of the Lord.	35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.