Sirach 39 Clementine Vulgate
1 [Sapientiam omnium antiquorum exquiret sapiens, et in prophetis vacabit.
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 Narrationem virorum nominatorum conservabit, et in versutias parabolarum simul introibit.
2 He will keep the sayings of the men of renown and will enter in amidst the subtleties of parables.
3 Occulta proverbiorum exquiret, et in absconditis parabolarum conversabitur.
3 He will seek out the hidden meaning of proverbs and be conversant in the dark sayings of parables.
4 In medio magnatorum ministrabit, et in conspectu præsidis apparebit.
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 In terram alienigenarum gentium pertransiet: bona enim et mala in hominibus tentabit.
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 Cor suum tradet ad vigilandum diluculo ad Dominum, qui fecit illum, et in conspectu Altissimi deprecabitur.
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 Aperiet os suum in oratione, et pro delictis suis deprecabitur.
7 He will direct his counsel and knowledge, and he will meditate in his secrets.
8 Si enim Dominus magnus voluerit, spiritu intelligentiæ replebit illum:
8 He will show the instruction which he has been taught and will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
9 et ipse tamquam imbres mittet eloquia sapientiæ suæ, et in oratione confitebitur Domino:
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 et ipse diriget consilium ejus, et disciplinam, et in absconditis suis consiliabitur.
10 Nations will declare his wisdom. The congregation will proclaim his praise.
11 Ipse palam faciet disciplinam doctrinæ suæ, et in lege testamenti Domini gloriabitur.
11 If he continues, he will leave a greater name than a thousand. If he finally rests, it is enough for him.
12 Collaudabunt multi sapientiam ejus, et usque in sæculum non delebitur.
12 Yet more I will utter, which I have thought about. I am filled like the full moon.
13 Non recedet memoria ejus, et nomen ejus requiretur a generatione in generationem.
13 Listen to me, you holy children, and bud forth like a rose growing by a brook of water.
14 Sapientiam ejus enarrabunt gentes, et laudem ejus enuntiabit ecclesia.
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 Si permanserit, nomen derelinquet plus quam mille: et si requieverit, proderit illi.]
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 [Adhuc consiliabor ut enarrem: ut furore enim repletus sum.
16 All the works of the Lord are exceedingly good, and every command will be done in its time.
17 In voce dicit: Obaudite me, divini fructus, et quasi rosa plantata super rivos aquarum fructificate.
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 Quasi Libanus odorem suavitatis habete.
18 At his command all his good pleasure is fulfilled. There is no one who can hinder his salvation.
19 Florete flores quasi lilium: et date odorem, et frondete in gratiam: et collaudate canticum, et benedicite Dominum in operibus suis.
19 The works of all flesh are before him. It’s impossible to be hidden from his eyes.
20 Date nomini ejus magnificentiam, et confitemini illi in voce labiorum vestrorum, et in canticis labiorum, et citharis: et sic dicetis in confessione:
20 He sees from everlasting to everlasting. There is nothing too wonderful for him.
21 Opera Domini universa bona valde.
21 No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for all things are created for their own uses.
22 In verbo ejus stetit aqua sicut congeries: et in sermone oris illius sicut exceptoria aquarum:
22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river and saturated it as a flood.
23 quoniam in præcepto ipsius placor fit, et non est minoratio in salute ipsius.
23 As he has made the waters salty, so the heathen will inherit his wrath.
24 Opera omnis carnis coram illo, et non est quidquam absconditum ab oculis ejus.
24 His ways are plain to the holy. They are stumbling blocks to the wicked.
25 A sæculo usque in sæculum respicit, et nihil est mirabile in conspectu ejus.
25 Good things are created from the beginning for the good. So are evil things for sinners.
26 Non est dicere: Quid est hoc, aut quid est istud? omnia enim in tempore suo quærentur.
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 Benedictio illius quasi fluvius inundavit.
27 All these things are for good to the godly, but for sinners, they will be turned into evils.
28 Quomodo cataclysmus aridam inebriavit, sic ira ipsius gentes quæ non exquisierunt eum hæreditabit.
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 Quomodo convertit aquas in siccitatem, et siccata est terra, et viæ illius viis illorum directæ sunt, sic peccatoribus offensiones in ira ejus.
29 Fire, hail, famine, and death— all these are created for vengeance—
30 Bona bonis creata sunt ab initio: sic nequissimis bona et mala.
30 wild beasts’ teeth, scorpions, adders, and a sword punishing the ungodly to destruction.
31 Initium necessariæ rei vitæ hominum, aqua, ignis, et ferrum, sal, lac, et panis similagineus, et mel, et botrus uvæ, et oleum, et vestimentum.
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 Hæc omnia sanctis in bona, sic et impiis et peccatoribus in mala convertentur.
32 Therefore from the beginning I was convinced, and I thought it through and left it in writing:
33 Sunt spiritus qui ad vindictam creati sunt, et in furore suo confirmaverunt tormenta sua.
33 All the works of the Lord are good. He will supply every need in its time.
34 In tempore consummationis effundent virtutem, et furorem ejus qui fecit illos placabunt.
34 No one can say, “This is worse than that,” for they will all be well approved in their time.
35 Ignis, grando, fames, et mors, omnia hæc ad vindictam creata sunt:
35 Now with all your hearts and voices, sing praises and bless the Lord’s name!
36 bestiarum dentes, et scorpii, et serpentes, et rhomphæa vindicans in exterminium impios.
36 Not in this translation
37 In mandatis ejus epulabuntur: et super terram in necessitatem præparabuntur, et in temporibus suis non præterient verbum.
37 Not in this translation
38 Propterea ab initio confirmatus sum, et consiliatus sum, et cogitavi, et scripta dimisi.
38 Not in this translation
39 Omnia opera Domini bona, et omne opus hora sua subministrabit.
39 Not in this translation
40 Non est dicere: Hoc illo nequius est: omnia enim in tempore suo comprobabuntur.
40 Not in this translation
41 Et nunc in omni corde et ore collaudate, et benedicite nomen Domini.]
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)