Sirach 43

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The firmament on high is his beauty, the beauty of heaven with its glorious shew.	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 he appeareth shewing forth at his rising, an admirable 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 he burneth the earth, and who can abide his burning heat? As one keeping a furnace in the works of heat:	3 At his zenith, he parches the ground, who can withstand his blaze?
4 The sun three times as much, burneth the mountains, breathing out fiery vapours, and shining with his beams, he blindeth 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 that made him, and at his words he hath hastened his course.	5 Great is the Lord who created him and whose word speeds him on his course.
6 And the moon in all in her season, is for a declaration of times and a sign of the world.	6 And then the moon, ever punctual to mark the times, an everlasting sign:
7 From the moon is the sign of the festival day, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.	7 It is the moon that signals the feasts, a luminary that wanes after being ful .
8 The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her perfection	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 Being an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the Armament of heaven.	9 The glory of the stars makes the beauty of the sky, a brilliant adornment of the Lord on High.
10 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord enlighteneth the world on high.	10 At the words of the Holy One they stand as he decrees, and never grow slack at their watch.
11 By the words of the holy one they shall stand in judgment, and shall never fail in their watches.	11 See the rainbow and praise its Maker, so superbly beautiful in its splendour.
12 Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is very beautiful in its brightness.	12 Across the sky it forms a glorious arc drawn by the hands of the Most High.
13 It encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its glory, the hands of the most High have displayed it.	13 By his command he sends the snow, he speeds the lightning by his command.
14 By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth forth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.	14 In the same way, his treasuries open and the clouds fly out like birds.
15 Through this are the treasures opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.	15 His great power solidifies the clouds, then pulverises them into hail.
16 By his greatness he hath fixed the clouds, and the hailstones are broken.	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 At his sight shall the mountains be shaken, and at his will the south wind shall blow.	17 At the roar of his thunder, the earth writhes in labour,
18 The noise of his thunder shall strike the earth, so doth the northern storm, and the whirlwind:	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 And as the birds lighting upon the earth, he scattereth snow, and the falling thereof, is as the coming down of locusts.	19 Over the earth, like salt, he also pours hoarfrost, which, when it freezes, bristles like thorns.
20 The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the shower thereof.	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 shall pour frost as salt upon the earth: and when it freezeth, it shall become like the tops of thistles.	21 The wind swal ows up the mountains and scorches the desert, like a fire it consumes the vegetation.
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 But cloud brings swift healing, and dew brings joy after the heat.
23 And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and consume all that is green as with fire.	23 By his own resourcefulness he has tamed the abyss, and planted it with islands.
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 Those who sail the sea tell of its dangers, their accounts fill our ears with amazement:
25 At his word the wind is still, and with his thought he appeaseth the deep, and the Lord hath planted islands therein.	25 for there too exist strange and wonderful works, animals of every kind and huge sea creatures.
26 Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and when we hear with our ears, we shall admire.	26 Thanks to God, his messenger reaches port, everything works out according to his word.
27 There are great and wonderful works: a variety of beasts, and of all living things, and the monstrous creatures of whales.	27 We could say much more and stil fal short; to put it concisely, 'He is al .'
28 Through him is established the end of their journey, and by his word all things are regulated.	28 Where shall we find sufficient power to glorify him, since he is the Great One, above al his works,
29 We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our words is, He is all.	29 the awe-inspiring Lord, stupendously great, and wonderful in his power?
30 What shall we be able to do to glorify him? for the Almighty himself is above all his works.	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 ,31The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and his power is admirable.	31 Who has ever seen him to describe him? Who can glorify him as he deserves?
32 Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for he will yet far exceed, and his magnificence is wonderful.	32 Many mysteries remain even greater than these, for we have seen only a few of his works,
33 Blessing the Lord, exalt him as much as you can: for he is above all praise.	33 the Lord himself having created al things and given wisdom to those who are devout.
34 When you exalt him put forth all your strength, and be not weary: for you can never go far enough.
35 Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall 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.
37 But the Lord hath made all things, and to the godly he hath given wisdom.