Sirach · Catholic Public Domain Version
Sirach 39 Catholic Public Domain Version
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 A wise man will seek the wisdom of all the ancients, and he will be occupied in the prophets.
1 Not so he who has applied his soul and meditates in the law of the Most High. He will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients and will be occupied with prophecies.
2 He will preserve the words of renowned men, and he will enter with them into the subtleties of parables.
2 He will keep the sayings of the men of renown and will enter in amidst the subtleties of parables.
3 He will search for the hidden meanings of proverbs, and he will become familiar with the mysteries of parables.
3 He will seek out the hidden meaning of proverbs and be conversant in the dark sayings of parables.
4 He will minister in the midst of great men, and he will appear in the sight of the foremost leader.
4 He will serve among great men and 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.
5 He will pass through the land of foreign nations. For he will test good and evil among men.
5 He 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.
6 At first light, he will offer his heart with watchfulness to the Lord who made him, and he will pray in the sight of the Most High.
6 If 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.
7 He will open his mouth in prayer, and he will make supplication for his offenses.
7 He will direct his counsel and knowledge, and he will meditate in his secrets.
8 For if the great Lord is willing, he will fill him with the Spirit of understanding.
8 He will show the instruction which he has been taught and will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
9 And he will send forth the eloquence of his wisdom like rain showers, and in his prayer, he will confess to the Lord.
9 Many 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.
10 And he will direct his counsel and his discipline, and he will meditate on his mysteries.
10 Nations will declare his wisdom. The congregation will proclaim his praise.
11 He will make the discipline of his doctrine clear, and he will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
11 If he continues, he will leave a greater name than a thousand. If he finally rests, it is enough for him.
12 Many persons will together praise his wisdom, and it will never be abolished, for all ages.
12 Yet more I will utter, which I have thought about. I am filled like the full moon.
13 The memory of him will not fade away, and his name will be sought from generation to generation.
13 Listen to me, you holy children, and bud forth like a rose growing by a brook of water.
14 The peoples will declare his wisdom, and the Church will announce his praise.
14 Give 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!
15 While he remains, he leaves behind a name greater than a thousand, and when he will rest, it will be to his benefit.
15 Magnify his name and give utterance to his praise with the songs on your lips and with harps! Say this when you utter his praise:
16 I will meditate further, so that I may explain. For I have been filled with a passion.
16 All the works of the Lord are exceedingly good, and every command will be done in its time.
17 In a voice, he says: Listen to me, divine fruits. You shall bear fruit, like roses planted beside streams of waters.
17 No 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.
18 You shall have a sweet fragrance, like the cedars of Lebanon.
18 At his command all his good pleasure is fulfilled. There is no one who can hinder his salvation.
19 Blossom with flowers, like the lily, and diffuse a fragrance, and sprout leaves in grace, and give praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.
19 The works of all flesh are before him. It’s impossible to be hidden from his eyes.
20 Give magnificence to his name, and confess to him with the voice of your lips and with the canticles of your mouth and with stringed instruments. And in so praising him, you will confess:
20 He sees from everlasting to everlasting. There is nothing too wonderful for him.
21 All the works of the Lord are very good.
21 No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for all things are created for their own uses.
22 At his word, the waters stood still, as if piled together. And at the words of his mouth, the waters were contained, as if in basins of water.
22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river and saturated it as a flood.
23 For it is made pleasing by his precept, and there is no decrease in his salvation.
23 As he has made the waters salty, so the heathen will inherit his wrath.
24 The works of all flesh are in his sight, and there is nothing hidden from his eyes.
24 His ways are plain to the holy. They are stumbling blocks to the wicked.
25 His gaze is from eternity to eternity, and nothing is a wonder in his sight.
25 Good things are created from the beginning for the good. So are evil things for sinners.
26 Let it not be said: “What is this?” or, “What is that?” For all things will be sought in their time.
26 The main things necessary for the life of man are water, fire, iron, salt, wheat flour, and honey, milk, the blood of the grape, oil, and clothing.
27 His blessing has overflowed like a river.
27 All these things are for good to the godly, but for sinners, they will be turned into evils.
28 In the same way that a flood inundates the dry land, so also will his wrath inherit the peoples that have not sought him.
28 There 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.
29 In the same way that he turned the waters into dry land, and made the earth dry, and just as his ways have been directed for their journey, so also will sinners stumble before his wrath.
29 Fire, hail, famine, and death— all these are created for vengeance—
30 From the beginning, good things were created for those who are good, and similarly, good and evil things are for those who are wicked.
30 wild beasts’ teeth, scorpions, adders, and a sword punishing the ungodly to destruction.
31 The principal things necessary for the life of men are: water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and flour for bread, and honey, and the grape cluster, and oil, and clothing.
31 They will rejoice in his commandment, and will be made ready upon earth when needed. In their seasons, they won’t disobey his command.
32 All these things will be used for good by those who are holy, but they will be turned to evil use by the impious and by sinners.
32 Therefore from the beginning I was convinced, and I thought it through and left it in writing:
33 There are spirits that have been created for vengeance, and they strengthen their torments by their fury.
33 All the works of the Lord are good. He will supply every need in its time.
34 In the time of the consummation, they will pour forth their strength. And they will appease the fury of the One who made them.
34 No one can say, “This is worse than that,” for they will all be well approved in their time.
35 Fire, hail, famine, and death: all these were created for vengeance.
35 Now with all your hearts and voices, sing praises and bless the Lord’s name!
36 The teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the spear: all these take vengeance upon the impious, unto utter destruction.
36 Not in this translation
37 At his command, they will feast. And they will be prepared upon the earth until they are needed. And in their time, they will not ignore his word.
37 Not in this translation
38 For this reason, from the beginning, I was strengthened, and I have meditated, and I have considered, and I have put these things in writing.
38 Not in this translation
39 All the works of the Lord are good, and he will provide for each work in its own hour.
39 Not in this translation
40 Let it not be said: “This is worse than that.” For all things will be tested in their time.
40 Not in this translation
41 And now, with the whole heart and mouth, give praise to him, and bless the name of the Lord.
41 Not in this translation
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… and a new....But in many places of holy Scriptures we have already made known to you that confession is also put for praise: as in this passage it is, "These words ye shall say in confession, That the works of the Lord are very good.'" And especially that which the Saviour Himself saith, who had not any sin at all, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)