Sirach 43

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The firmament on high is his beauty, the beauty of heaven with its glorious shew.	1 The firmament on high is his beauty; it is the beauty of heaven in a vision of glory.
2 The sun when he appeareth shewing forth at his rising, an admirable instrument, the work of the most High.	2 The sun, at its appearance, announces its journey; it is an instrument of wonder, a work of the Most High.
3 At noon he burneth the earth, and who can abide his burning heat? As one keeping a furnace in the works of heat:	3 At midday, it scorches the earth. And in the presence of its heat, who would be able to endure? It is like the custodian of a furnace in its works of heat.
4 The sun three times as much, burneth the mountains, breathing out fiery vapours, and shining with his beams, he blindeth the eyes.	4 In three ways, the sun acts: scorching the mountains, emitting fiery rays, and shining with its beams that can blind the eyes.
5 Great is the Lord that made him, and at his words he hath hastened his course.	5 Great is the Lord who made it, and at his word, it hurries on its journey.
6 And the moon in all in her season, is for a declaration of times and a sign of the world.	6 And the moon, in all its phases, serves to mark the seasons and to be a sign of the times.
7 From the moon is the sign of the festival day, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.	7 From the moon is the sign of a feast day; it is a light which diminishes at its consummation.
8 The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her perfection	8 A month is named according to its phases, increasing wonderfully at its culmination.
9 Being an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the Armament of heaven.	9 It is an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the firmament of heaven.
10 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord enlighteneth the world on high.	10 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord illuminates the world from on high.
11 By the words of the holy one they shall stand in judgment, and shall never fail in their watches.	11 At the words of the Holy One, they stand for judgment, and they will never fail in their vigilance.
12 Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is very beautiful in its brightness.	12 Consider the rainbow, and bless the One who made it; it is very beautiful in its splendor.
13 It encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its glory, the hands of the most High have displayed it.	13 It encompasses the heavens with the circle of its glory; the hands of the Most High made it appear.
14 By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth forth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.	14 By his order, he hastens the snow, and he spurs on the lightning to express his judgment.
15 Through this are the treasures opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.	15 In like manner, his storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.
16 By his greatness he hath fixed the clouds, and the hailstones are broken.	16 By his greatness, he has positioned the clouds, and the hailstones have been broken.
17 At his sight shall the mountains be shaken, and at his will the south wind shall blow.	17 At his glance, the mountains will be shaken, and by his will, the south wind will blow.
18 The noise of his thunder shall strike the earth, so doth the northern storm, and the whirlwind:	18 The voice of his thunder will reverberate through the earth, by a storm from the north, and by a gathering of the whirlwind.
19 And as the birds lighting upon the earth, he scattereth snow, and the falling thereof, is as the coming down of locusts.	19 And like the birds landing in a flock upon the earth, he sends down the snow; and its descent is like the arrival of a swarm of locusts.
20 The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the shower thereof.	20 The eye is in wonder at the beauty of its whiteness, and the heart is astonished at its falling.
21 He shall pour frost as salt upon the earth: and when it freezeth, it shall become like the tops of thistles.	21 He will pour out frost like salt upon the earth. And when it freezes, it will become like the tops of thistles.
22 The cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into crystal; upon every gathering together of waters it shall rest, and shall clothe the waters as a breastplate.	22 The cold north wind blows, and the water freezes into crystals; it will rest upon every gathering of water, and it will clothe the water like a breastplate.
23 And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and consume all that is green as with fire.	23 And it will devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and extinguish the greenery, like a fire.
24 A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud, and a dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall overpower it.	24 Relief for all is in the hurried arrival of a cloud. And the lowly dew will arrive to meet the heat and overpower it.
25 At his word the wind is still, and with his thought he appeaseth the deep, and the Lord hath planted islands therein.	25 At his word, the wind grows quiet, and by his thought, he appeases the abyss, for the Lord has planted islands in it.
26 Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and when we hear with our ears, we shall admire.	26 Let those who navigate the sea describe its perils. And when we have heard it with our ears, we will wonder.
27 There are great and wonderful works: a variety of beasts, and of all living things, and the monstrous creatures of whales.	27 There are illustrious and wondrous works: the various kinds of wild animals, and all manner of cattle, and the great creatures of the sea.
28 Through him is established the end of their journey, and by his word all things are regulated.	28 Through him, the end of their journey is confirmed, and by his word, all things fit together.
29 We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our words is, He is all.	29 We can say much, and yet still lack for words. But the consummation of our words is this: He is in all things.
30 What shall we be able to do to glorify him? for the Almighty himself is above all his works.	30 What would we be able to do to glorify him? For the Almighty himself is above all his own works.
31 ,31The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and his power is admirable.	31 The Lord is terrible, and exceedingly great, and his power is wonderful.
32 Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for he will yet far exceed, and his magnificence is wonderful.	32 Glorify the Lord as much as you are able, yet still he will far exceed this. For his magnificence is beyond wonder.
33 Blessing the Lord, exalt him as much as you can: for he is above all praise.	33 Bless the Lord and exalt him, as much as you are able. But he is beyond all praise.
34 When you exalt him put forth all your strength, and be not weary: for you can never go far enough.	34 When you exalt him, use all your ability, and do not cease in this labor. For you can never comprehend him.
35 Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall magnify him as he is from the beginning?	35 Who will see him and explain? And who will magnify him, as he is from the beginning?
36 There are many things hidden from us that are greater than these: for we have seen but a few of his works.	36 There are many things, hidden from us, which are greater than these things. For we have seen but a few of his works.
37 But the Lord hath made all things, and to the godly he hath given wisdom.	37 But the Lord has made all things, and he has given wisdom to those who act with piety.