Sirach 39 — BST
39Verse 1will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and be occupied in prophecies.Verse 2He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.Verse 3He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.Verse 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.Verse 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.Verse 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.Verse 7He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and on his secrets shall he meditate.Verse 8He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.Verse 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.Verse 10Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.Verse 11If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.Verse 12Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.Verse 13Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:Verse 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.Verse 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:Verse 16All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.Verse 17For 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.Verse 18At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.Verse 19The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.Verse 20He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.Verse 21A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.Verse 22His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.Verse 23As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.Verse 24As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumbling-blocks unto the wicked.Verse 25For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.Verse 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.Verse 27All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.Verse 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.Verse 29Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance;Verse 30teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword, punishing the wicked to destruction,Verse 31shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not go beyond his word.Verse 32Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.Verse 33All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.Verse 34So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.Verse 35And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.