Sirach 43

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear firmament, the appearance of heaven in a spectacle of glory.	1 Pride of the heights, a clear vault of the sky -- such is the beauty of the heavens, a glorious sight.
2 The sun, when it appears, making proclamation as it goes forth, is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High.	2 The sun, as he emerges, proclaims at his rising, 'How wonderful a thing, the work of the Most High!'
3 At noon it parches the land; and who can withstand its burning heat?	3 At his zenith, he parches the ground, who can withstand his blaze?
4 A man tending a furnace works in burning heat, but the sun burns the mountains three times as much; it breathes out fiery vapors, and with bright beams it blinds the eyes.	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.
5 Great is the Lord who made it; and at his command it hastens on its course.	5 Great is the Lord who created him and whose word speeds him on his course.
6 He made the moon also, to serve in its season to make the times and to be an everlasting sign.	6 And then the moon, ever punctual to mark the times, an everlasting sign:
7 From the moon comes the sign for feast days, a light that wanes when it has reached the full.	7 It is the moon that signals the feasts, a luminary that wanes after being ful .
8 The month is named for the moon, increasing marvelously in its phases, an instrument of the hosts on high shining forth in the firmament of heaven.	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.
9 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven, a gleaming array in the heights of the Lord.	9 The glory of the stars makes the beauty of the sky, a brilliant adornment of the Lord on High.
10 At the command of the Holy One they stand as ordered, they never relax in their watches.	10 At the words of the Holy One they stand as he decrees, and never grow slack at their watch.
11 Look upon the rainbow, and praise him who made it, exceedingly beautiful in its brightness.	11 See the rainbow and praise its Maker, so superbly beautiful in its splendour.
12 It encircles the heaven with its glorious arc; the hands of the Most High have stretched it out.	12 Across the sky it forms a glorious arc drawn by the hands of the Most High.
13 By his command he sends the driving snow and speeds the lightnings of his judgment.	13 By his command he sends the snow, he speeds the lightning by his command.
14 Therefore the storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly forth like birds.	14 In the same way, his treasuries open and the clouds fly out like birds.
15 In his majesty he amasses the clouds, and the hailstones are broken in pieces.	15 His great power solidifies the clouds, then pulverises them into hail.
16 At his appearing the mountains are shaken; at his will the south wind blows.	16 at the sight of him, the mountains quake. At his wil the south wind blows,or the storm from the northand the whirlwind.
17 The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth; so do the tempest from the north and the whirlwind. He scatters the snow like birds flying down, and its descent is like locusts alighting.	17 At the roar of his thunder, the earth writhes in labour,
18 The eye marvels at the beauty of its whiteness, and the mind is amazed at its falling.	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.
19 He pours the hoarfrost upon the earth like salt, and when it freezes, it becomes pointed thorns.	19 Over the earth, like salt, he also pours hoarfrost, which, when it freezes, bristles like thorns.
20 The cold north wind blows, and ice freezes over the water; it rests upon every pool of water, and the water puts it on like a breastplate.	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.
21 He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness, and withers the tender grass like fire.	21 The wind swal ows up the mountains and scorches the desert, like a fire it consumes the vegetation.
22 A mist quickly heals all things; when the dew appears, it refreshes from the heat.	22 But cloud brings swift healing, and dew brings joy after the heat.
23 By his counsel he stilled the great deep and planted islands in it.	23 By his own resourcefulness he has tamed the abyss, and planted it with islands.
24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, and we marvel at what we hear.	24 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, their accounts fill our ears with amazement:
25 for in it are strange and marvelous works, all kinds of living things, and huge creatures of the sea.	25 for there too exist strange and wonderful works, animals of every kind and huge sea creatures.
26 Because of him his messenger finds the way, and by his word all things hold together.	26 Thanks to God, his messenger reaches port, everything works out according to his word.
27 Though we speak much we cannot reach the end, and the sum of our words is: "He is the all."	27 We could say much more and stil fal short; to put it concisely, 'He is al .'
28 Where shall we find strength to praise him? For he is greater than all his works.	28 Where shall we find sufficient power to glorify him, since he is the Great One, above al his works,
29 Terrible is the Lord and very great, and marvelous is his power.	29 the awe-inspiring Lord, stupendously great, and wonderful in his power?
30 When you praise the Lord, exalt him as much as you can; for he will surpass even that. When you exalt him, put forth all your strength, and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.	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.
31 Who has seen him and can describe him? Or who can extol him as he is?	31 Who has ever seen him to describe him? Who can glorify him as he deserves?
32 Many things greater than these lie hidden, for we have seen but few of his works.	32 Many mysteries remain even greater than these, for we have seen only a few of his works,
33 For the Lord has made all things, and to the godly he has granted wisdom.	33 the Lord himself having created al things and given wisdom to those who are devout.