Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Chapter 39

¹But 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. ²He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also. ³He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables. ⁴He 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. ⁵He 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. ⁶When 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. ⁷He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate. ⁸He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

⁹Many 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. ¹⁰Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise. ¹¹If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it. ¹²Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full. ¹³Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field: ¹⁴And 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. ¹⁵Magnify 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: ¹⁶All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.

¹⁷And 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. ¹⁸At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save. ¹⁹The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes. ²⁰He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him. ²¹A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses. ²²His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood. ²³As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath. ²⁴As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.

²⁵For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners. ²⁶The 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. ²⁷All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil. ²⁸There 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. ²⁹Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance; ³⁰Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to destruction. ³¹They 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. ³²Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.

³³All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season. ³⁴So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved. ³⁵And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.