1 [Altitudinis firmamentum pulchritudo ejus est, species cæli in visione gloriæ. 2 Sol in aspectu annuntians in exitu, vas admirabile, opus Excelsi. 3 In meridiano exurit terram, et in conspectu ardoris ejus quis poterit sustinere? fornacem custodiens in operibus ardoris: 4 tripliciter sol exurens montes, radios igneos exsufflans, et refulgens radiis suis obcæcat oculos. 5 Magnus Dominus qui fecit illum, et in sermonibus ejus festinavit iter.] 6 [Et luna in omnibus in tempore suo, ostensio temporis, et signum ævi. 7 A luna signum diei festi: luminare quod minuitur in consummatione. 8 Mensis secundum nomen ejus est, crescens mirabiliter in consummatione. 9 Vas castrorum in excelsis, in firmamento cæli resplendens gloriose. 10 Species cæli gloria stellarum: mundum illuminans in excelsis Dominus. 11 In verbis Sancti stabunt ad judicium, et non deficient in vigiliis suis.] 12 [Vide arcum, et benedic eum qui fecit illum: valde speciosus est in splendore suo. 13 Gyravit cælum in circuitu gloriæ suæ: manus Excelsi aperuerunt illum. 14 Imperio suo acceleravit nivem, et accelerat coruscationes emittere judicii sui. 15 Propterea aperti sunt thesauri, et evolaverunt nebulæ sicut aves. 16 In magnitudine sua posuit nubes, et confracti sunt lapides grandinis. 17 In conspectu ejus commovebuntur montes, et in voluntate ejus aspirabit notus. 18 Vox tonitrui ejus verberavit terram, tempestas aquilonis, et congregatio spiritus: 19 et sicut avis deponens ad sedendum, aspergit nivem, et sicut locusta demergens descensus ejus. 20 Pulchritudinem candoris ejus admirabitur oculus, et super imbrem ejus expavescet cor. 21 Gelu sicut salem effundet super terram: et dum gelaverit, fiet tamquam cacumina tribuli. 22 Frigidus ventus aquilo flavit, et gelavit crystallus ab aqua: super omnem congregationem aquarum requiescet, et sicut lorica induet se aquis: 23 et devorabit montes, et exuret desertum, et extinguet viride, sicut igne. 24 Medicina omnium in festinatione nebulæ: et ros obvians ab ardore venienti humilem efficiet eum. 25 In sermone ejus siluit ventus, et cogitatione sua placavit abyssum: et plantavit in illa Dominus insulas. 26 Qui navigant mare enarrent pericula ejus, et audientes auribus nostris admirabimur. 27 Illic præclara opera et mirabilia, varia bestiarum genera, et omnium pecorum, et creatura belluarum. 28 Propter ipsum confirmatus est itineris finis, et in sermone ejus composita sunt omnia.] 29 [Multa dicemus, et deficiemus in verbis: consummatio autem sermonum ipse est in omnibus. 30 Gloriantes ad quid valebimus? ipse enim omnipotens super omnia opera sua. 31 Terribilis Dominus, et magnus vehementer, et mirabilis potentia ipsius. 32 Glorificantes Dominum quantumcumque potueritis, supervalebit enim adhuc: et admirabilis magnificentia ejus. 33 Benedicentes Dominum, exaltate illum quantum potestis: major enim est omni laude. 34 Exaltantes eum, replemini virtute, ne laboretis, non enim comprehendetis. 35 Quis videbit eum et enarrabit? et quis magnificabit eum sicut est ab initio? 36 Multa abscondita sunt majora his: pauca enim vidimus operum ejus. 37 Omnia autem Dominus fecit, et pie agentibus dedit sapientiam.]
Sirach 43 Clementine Vulgate
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).
… powerless to express in words our gratitude for the benefits which we are actually receiving; for He "passes all understanding," and convicts speech of its natural inability even to approach His dignity in the least degree; as it is written in the Book of Wisdom, "Exalt Him as much as you can, for even yet will He far exceed; and …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)