Sirach 39 — WEBU
39Verse 1Not so he who has applied his souland meditates in the law of the Most High.He will seek out the wisdom of all the ancientsand will be occupied with prophecies.Verse 2He will keep the sayings of the men of renownand will enter in amidst the subtleties of parables.Verse 3He will seek out the hidden meaning of proverbsand be conversant in the dark sayings of parables.Verse 4He will serve among great menand appear before him who rules.He will travel through the land of foreign nations,for he has learned what is good and evil among men.Verse 5He will apply his heart to return early to the Lord who made him,and will make supplication before the Most High,
and will open his mouth in prayer,
and will ask for pardon for his sins.Verse 6If the great Lord wills,he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;
he will pour forth the words of his wisdom
and in prayer give thanks to the Lord.Verse 7He will direct his counsel and knowledge,and he will meditate in his secrets.Verse 8He will show the instruction which he has been taughtand will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.Verse 9Many will commend his understanding.So long as the world endures, it won’t be blotted out.His memory won’t depart.His name will live from generation to generation.Verse 10Nations will declare his wisdom.The congregation will proclaim his praise.Verse 11If he continues, he will leave a greater name than a thousand.If he finally rests, it is enough for him.Verse 12Yet more I will utter, which I have thought about.I am filled like the full moon.Verse 13Listen to me, you holy children,and bud forth like a rose growing by a brook of water.Verse 14Give a sweet fragrance like frankincense.Put forth flowers like a lily.
Scatter a sweet smell and sing a song of praise.
Bless the Lord for all his works!Verse 15Magnify his nameand give utterance to his praise
with the songs on your lips and with harps!Say this when you utter his praise:Verse 16All the works of the Lord are exceedingly good,and every command will be done in its time.Verse 17No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?”for at the proper time they will all be sought out.At his word, the waters stood as a heap,as did the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth.Verse 18At his command all his good pleasure is fulfilled.There is no one who can hinder his salvation.Verse 19The works of all flesh are before him.It’s impossible to be hidden from his eyes.Verse 20He sees from everlasting to everlasting.There is nothing too wonderful for him.Verse 21No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?”for all things are created for their own uses.Verse 22His blessing covered the dry land as a riverand saturated it as a flood.Verse 23As he has made the waters salty,so the heathen will inherit his wrath.Verse 24His ways are plain to the holy.They are stumbling blocks to the wicked.Verse 25Good things are created from the beginning for the good.So are evil things for sinners.Verse 26The main things necessary for the life of manare water, fire, iron, salt,
wheat flour, and honey, milk,
the blood of the grape, oil, and clothing.Verse 27All these things are for good to the godly,but for sinners, they will be turned into evils.Verse 28There are winds that are created for vengeance,and in their fury they lay on their scourges heavily.In the time of reckoning, they pour out their strength,and will appease the wrath of him who made them.Verse 29Fire, hail, famine, and death—all these are created for vengeance—
Verse 30wild beasts’ teeth, scorpions, adders,
and a sword punishing the ungodly to destruction.Verse 31They will rejoice in his commandment,and will be made ready upon earth when needed.
In their seasons, they won’t disobey his command.Verse 32Therefore from the beginning I was convinced,and I thought it through and left it in writing:Verse 33All the works of the Lord are good.He will supply every need in its time.Verse 34No one can say, “This is worse than that,”for they will all be well approved in their time.Verse 35Now with all your hearts and voices, sing praisesand bless the Lord’s name!
and will open his mouth in prayer,
and will ask for pardon for his sins.Verse 6If the great Lord wills,he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;
he will pour forth the words of his wisdom
and in prayer give thanks to the Lord.Verse 7He will direct his counsel and knowledge,and he will meditate in his secrets.Verse 8He will show the instruction which he has been taughtand will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.Verse 9Many will commend his understanding.So long as the world endures, it won’t be blotted out.His memory won’t depart.His name will live from generation to generation.Verse 10Nations will declare his wisdom.The congregation will proclaim his praise.Verse 11If he continues, he will leave a greater name than a thousand.If he finally rests, it is enough for him.Verse 12Yet more I will utter, which I have thought about.I am filled like the full moon.Verse 13Listen to me, you holy children,and bud forth like a rose growing by a brook of water.Verse 14Give a sweet fragrance like frankincense.Put forth flowers like a lily.
Scatter a sweet smell and sing a song of praise.
Bless the Lord for all his works!Verse 15Magnify his nameand give utterance to his praise
with the songs on your lips and with harps!Say this when you utter his praise:Verse 16All the works of the Lord are exceedingly good,and every command will be done in its time.Verse 17No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?”for at the proper time they will all be sought out.At his word, the waters stood as a heap,as did the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth.Verse 18At his command all his good pleasure is fulfilled.There is no one who can hinder his salvation.Verse 19The works of all flesh are before him.It’s impossible to be hidden from his eyes.Verse 20He sees from everlasting to everlasting.There is nothing too wonderful for him.Verse 21No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?”for all things are created for their own uses.Verse 22His blessing covered the dry land as a riverand saturated it as a flood.Verse 23As he has made the waters salty,so the heathen will inherit his wrath.Verse 24His ways are plain to the holy.They are stumbling blocks to the wicked.Verse 25Good things are created from the beginning for the good.So are evil things for sinners.Verse 26The main things necessary for the life of manare water, fire, iron, salt,
wheat flour, and honey, milk,
the blood of the grape, oil, and clothing.Verse 27All these things are for good to the godly,but for sinners, they will be turned into evils.Verse 28There are winds that are created for vengeance,and in their fury they lay on their scourges heavily.In the time of reckoning, they pour out their strength,and will appease the wrath of him who made them.Verse 29Fire, hail, famine, and death—all these are created for vengeance—
Verse 30wild beasts’ teeth, scorpions, adders,
and a sword punishing the ungodly to destruction.Verse 31They will rejoice in his commandment,and will be made ready upon earth when needed.
In their seasons, they won’t disobey his command.Verse 32Therefore from the beginning I was convinced,and I thought it through and left it in writing:Verse 33All the works of the Lord are good.He will supply every need in its time.Verse 34No one can say, “This is worse than that,”for they will all be well approved in their time.Verse 35Now with all your hearts and voices, sing praisesand bless the Lord’s name!