Sirach 39

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 A wise man will seek the wisdom of all the ancients, and he will be occupied in the prophets.
2 he will preserve the discourse of notable men and penetrate the subtleties of parables;	2 He will preserve the words of renowned men, and he will enter with them into the subtleties of parables.
3 he will seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs and be at home with the obscurities of parables.	3 He will search for the hidden meanings of proverbs, and he will become familiar with the mysteries of 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 will minister in the midst of great men, and he will appear in the sight of the foremost leader.
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 pass through the land of foreign nations. For he will test good and evil among men.
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 At first light, he will offer his heart with watchfulness to the Lord who made him, and he will pray in the sight of the Most High.
7 He will direct his counsel and knowledge aright, and meditate on his secrets.	7 He will open his mouth in prayer, and he will make supplication for his offenses.
8 He will reveal instruction in his teaching, and will glory in the law of the Lord's covenant.	8 For if the great Lord is willing, he will fill him with the Spirit of understanding.
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 And he will send forth the eloquence of his wisdom like rain showers, and in his prayer, he will confess to the Lord.
10 Nations will declare his wisdom, and the congregation will proclaim his praise;	10 And he will direct his counsel and his discipline, and he will meditate on his mysteries.
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 He will make the discipline of his doctrine clear, and he will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
12 I have yet more to say, which I have thought upon, and I am filled, like the moon at the full.	12 Many persons will together praise his wisdom, and it will never be abolished, for all ages.
13 Listen to me, O you holy sons, and bud like a rose growing by a stream of water;	13 The memory of him will not fade away, and his name will be sought from generation to generation.
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 The peoples will declare his wisdom, and the Church will announce his praise.
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 While he remains, he leaves behind a name greater than a thousand, and when he will rest, it will be to his benefit.
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 I will meditate further, so that I may explain. For I have been filled with a passion.
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 In a voice, he says: Listen to me, divine fruits. You shall bear fruit, like roses planted beside streams of waters.
18 At his command whatever pleases him is done, and none can limit his saving power.	18 You shall have a sweet fragrance, like the cedars of Lebanon.
19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.	19 Blossom with flowers, like the lily, and diffuse a fragrance, and sprout leaves in grace, and give praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.
20 From everlasting to everlasting he beholds them, and nothing is marvelous to him.	20 Give magnificence to his name, and confess to him with the voice of your lips and with the canticles of your mouth and with stringed instruments. And in so praising him, you will confess:
21 No one can say, "What is this?" "Why is that?" for everything has been created for its use.	21 All the works of the Lord are very good.
22 His blessing covers the dry land like a river, and drenches it like a flood.	22 At his word, the waters stood still, as if piled together. And at the words of his mouth, the waters were contained, as if in basins of water.
23 The nations will incur his wrath, just as he turns fresh water into salt.	23 For it is made pleasing by his precept, and there is no decrease in his salvation.
24 To the holy his ways are straight, just as they are obstacles to the wicked.	24 The works of all flesh are in his sight, and there is nothing hidden from his eyes.
25 From the beginning good things were created for good people, just as evil things for sinners.	25 His gaze is from eternity to eternity, and nothing is a wonder in his sight.
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 Let it not be said: “What is this?” or, “What is that?” For all things will be sought in their time.
27 All these are for good to the godly, just as they turn into evils for sinners.	27 His blessing has overflowed like a river.
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 In the same way that a flood inundates the dry land, so also will his wrath inherit the peoples that have not sought him.
29 Fire and hail and famine and pestilence, all these have been created for vengeance;	29 In the same way that he turned the waters into dry land, and made the earth dry, and just as his ways have been directed for their journey, so also will sinners stumble before his wrath.
30 the teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions and vipers, and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction;	30 From the beginning, good things were created for those who are good, and similarly, good and evil things are for those who are wicked.
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 The principal things necessary for the life of men are: water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and flour for bread, and honey, and the grape cluster, and oil, and clothing.
32 Therefore from the beginning I have been convinced, and have thought this out and left it in writing:	32 All these things will be used for good by those who are holy, but they will be turned to evil use by the impious and by sinners.
33 The works of the Lord are all good, and he will supply every need in its hour.	33 There are spirits that have been created for vengeance, and they strengthen their torments by their fury.
34 And no one can say, "This is worse than that," for all things will prove good in their season.	34 In the time of the consummation, they will pour forth their strength. And they will appease the fury of the One who made them.
35 So now sing praise with all your heart and voice, and bless the name of the Lord.	35 Fire, hail, famine, and death: all these were created for vengeance.
	36 The teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the spear: all these take vengeance upon the impious, unto utter destruction.
	37 At his command, they will feast. And they will be prepared upon the earth until they are needed. And in their time, they will not ignore his word.
	38 For this reason, from the beginning, I was strengthened, and I have meditated, and I have considered, and I have put these things in writing.
	39 All the works of the Lord are good, and he will provide for each work in its own hour.
	40 Let it not be said: “This is worse than that.” For all things will be tested in their time.
	41 And now, with the whole heart and mouth, give praise to him, and bless the name of the Lord.