Sirach 39

KING JAMES BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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.	1 A wise man will seek the wisdom of all the ancients, and he will be occupied in the prophets.
2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.	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 secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.	3 He will search for the hidden meanings of proverbs, and he will become familiar with the mysteries of parables.
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.	4 He will minister in the midst of great men, and he will appear in the sight of the foremost leader.
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.	5 He will pass through the land of foreign nations. For he will test good and evil among men.
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.	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 shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.	7 He will open his mouth in prayer, and he will make supplication for his offenses.
8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.	8 For if the great Lord is willing, he will fill him with the Spirit of understanding.
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.	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 shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.	10 And he will direct his counsel and his discipline, and he will meditate on his mysteries.
11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.	11 He will make the discipline of his doctrine clear, and he will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.	12 Many persons will together praise his wisdom, and it will never be abolished, for all ages.
13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:	13 The memory of him will not fade away, and his name will be sought from generation to generation.
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.	14 The peoples will declare his wisdom, and the Church will announce his praise.
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:	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 the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.	16 I will meditate further, so that I may explain. For I have been filled with a passion.
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.	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 commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.	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 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before 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 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.	21 All the works of the Lord are very good.
22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as 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 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.	23 For it is made pleasing by his precept, and there is no decrease in his salvation.
24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.	24 The works of all flesh are in his sight, and there is nothing hidden from his eyes.
25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.	25 His gaze is from eternity to eternity, and nothing is a wonder in his sight.
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.	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 things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.	27 His blessing has overflowed like a river.
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.	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 death, all these were 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 Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to 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 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.	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 was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them 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 All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.	33 There are spirits that have been created for vengeance, and they strengthen their torments by their fury.
34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.	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 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, 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.