Sirach 24

KING JAMES BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her people.	1 Wisdom will praise herself, and will glory in the midst of her people.
2 In the congregation of the most High shall she open her mouth, and triumph before his power.	2 In the assembly of the Most High she will open her mouth, and in the presence of his host she will glory:
3 I came out of the mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as a cloud.	3 "I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth like a mist.
4 I dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar.	4 I dwelt in high places, and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.
5 I alone compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep.	5 Alone I have made the circuit of the vault of heaven and have walked in the depths of the abyss.
6 In the waves of the sea and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I got a possession.	6 In the waves of the sea, in the whole earth, and in every people and nation I have gotten a possession.
7 With all these I sought rest: and in whose inheritance shall I abide?	7 Among all these I sought a resting place; I sought in whose territory I might lodge.
8 So the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and he that made me caused my tabernacle to rest, and said, Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel.	8 Then the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and the one who created me assigned a place for my tent. And he said, 'Make your dwelling in Jacob, and in Israel receive your inheritance.'
9 He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never fail.	9 From eternity, in the beginning, he created me, and for eternity I shall not cease to exist.
10 In the holy tabernacle I served before him; and so was I established in Sion.	10 In the holy tabernacle I ministered before him, and so I was established in Zion.
11 Likewise in the beloved city he gave me rest, and in Jerusalem was my power.	11 In the beloved city likewise he gave me a resting place, and in Jerusalem was my dominion.
12 And I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion of the Lord's inheritance.	12 So I took root in an honored people, in the portion of the Lord, who is their inheritance.
13 I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon.	13 I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon, and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.
14 I was exalted like a palm tree in En-gaddi, and as a rose plant in Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a pleasant field, and grew up as a plane tree by the water.	14 I grew tall like a palm tree in En-ge'di, and like rose plants in Jericho; like a beautiful olive tree in the field, and like a plane tree I grew tall.
15 I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and sweet storax, and as the fume of frankincense in the tabernacle.	15 Like cassia and camel's thorn I gave forth the aroma of spices, and like choice myrrh I spread a pleasant odor, like galbanum, onycha, and stacte, and like the fragrance of frankincense in the tabernacle.
16 As the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and grace.	16 Like a terebinth I spread out my branches, and my branches are glorious and graceful.
17 As the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.	17 Like a vine I caused loveliness to bud, and my blossoms became glorious and abundant fruit.
18 I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope: I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my children which are named of him.	18 .
19 Come unto me, all ye that be desirous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits.	19 "Come to me, you who desire me, and eat your fill of my produce.
20 For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the honeycomb.	20 For the remembrance of me is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance sweeter than the honeycomb.
21 They that eat me shall yet be hungry, and they that drink me shall yet be thirsty.	21 Those who eat me will hunger for more, and those who drink me will thirst for more.
22 He that obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that work by me shall not do amiss.	22 Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with my help will not sin."
23 All these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, even the law which Moses commanded for an heritage unto the congregations of Jacob.	23 All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.
24 Faint not to be strong in the Lord; that he may confirm you, cleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and beside him there is no other Saviour.	24 .
25 He filleth all things with his wisdom, as Phison and as Tigris in the time of the new fruits.	25 It fills men with wisdom, like the Pishon, and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits.
26 He maketh the understanding to abound like Euphrates, and as Jordan in the time of the harvest.	26 It makes them full of understanding, like the Euphrates, and like the Jordan at harvest time.
27 He maketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light, and as Geon in the time of vintage.	27 It makes instruction shine forth like light, like the Gihon at the time of vintage.
28 The first man knew her not perfectly: no more shall the last find her out.	28 Just as the first man did not know her perfectly, the last one has not fathomed her;
29 For her thoughts are more than the sea, and her counsels profounder than the great deep.	29 for her thought is more abundant than the sea, and her counsel deeper than the great abyss.
30 I also came out as a brook from a river, and as a conduit into a garden.	30 I went forth like a canal from a river and like a water channel into a garden.
31 I said, I will water my best garden, and will water abundantly my garden bed: and, lo, my brook became a river, and my river became a sea.	31 I said, "I will water my orchard and drench my garden plot"; and lo, my canal became a river, and my river became a sea.
32 I will yet make doctrine to shine as the morning, and will send forth her light afar off.	32 I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn, and I will make it shine afar;
33 I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to all ages for ever.	33 I will again pour out teaching like prophecy, and leave it to all future generations.
34 Behold that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that seek wisdom.	34 Observe that I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who seek instruction.