Sirach · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Sirach 39 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
1 But 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.
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 keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.
2 He will keep the sayings of the men of renown and will enter in amidst the subtleties of parables.
3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.
3 He will seek out the hidden meaning of proverbs and be conversant in the dark sayings of parables.
4 He 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.
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 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.
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 When 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.
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 shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.
7 He will direct his counsel and knowledge, and he will meditate in his secrets.
8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
8 He will show the instruction which he has been taught and will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
9 Many 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.
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 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.
10 Nations will declare his wisdom. The congregation will proclaim his praise.
11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.
11 If he continues, he will leave a greater name than a thousand. If he finally rests, it is enough for him.
12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.
12 Yet more I will utter, which I have thought about. I am filled like the full moon.
13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:
13 Listen to me, you holy children, and bud forth like a rose growing by a brook of water.
14 And 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.
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 Magnify 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:
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 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.
16 All the works of the Lord are exceedingly good, and every command will be done in its time.
17 And 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.
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 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.
18 At his command all his good pleasure is fulfilled. There is no one who can hinder his salvation.
19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.
19 The works of all flesh are before him. It’s impossible to be hidden from his eyes.
20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.
20 He sees from everlasting to everlasting. There is nothing too wonderful for him.
21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.
21 No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for all things are created for their own uses.
22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.
22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river and saturated it as a flood.
23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.
23 As he has made the waters salty, so the heathen will inherit his wrath.
24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.
24 His ways are plain to the holy. They are stumbling blocks to the wicked.
25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.
25 Good things are created from the beginning for the good. So are evil things for sinners.
26 The 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.
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 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.
27 All these things are for good to the godly, but for sinners, they will be turned into evils.
28 There 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.
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 Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance;
29 Fire, hail, famine, and death— all these are created for vengeance—
30 Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to destruction.
30 wild beasts’ teeth, scorpions, adders, and a sword punishing the ungodly to destruction.
31 They 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.
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 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.
32 Therefore from the beginning I was convinced, and I thought it through and left it in writing:
33 All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.
33 All the works of the Lord are good. He will supply every need in its time.
34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.
34 No one can say, “This is worse than that,” for they will all be well approved in their time.
35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.
35 Now with all your hearts and voices, sing praises and bless the Lord’s name!
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)