Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)

39:1 But hee that giueth his minde to the Law of the most high, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, wil seeke out the wisdome of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.

39:1 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.

39:2 Hee will keepe the sayings of the renowmed men: and where subtile parables are, he will be there also.

39:2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.

39:3 Hee will seeke out the secrets of graue sentences, and be conuersant in darke parables.

39:3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.

39:4 He shall serue among great men, and appeare before princes: he will trauaile through strange countreys, for hee hath tried the good, and the euill among men.

39:4 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.

39:5 Hee will giue 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 sinnes.

39:5 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.

39:6 When the great Lord will, he shall bee filled with the spirit of vnderstanding: he shal powre out wise sentences, and giue thankes vnto the Lord in his prayer.

39:6 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.

39:7 Hee shall direct his counsell and knowledge, and in his secrets shall hee meditate.

39:7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.

39:8 Hee shall shew foorth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the Law of the couenant of the Lord.

39:8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

39:9 Many shall commend his vnderstanding, and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out, his memoriall shall not depart away, and his name shall liue from generation to generation.

39:9 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.

39:10 Nations shall shewe foorth his wisedome, and the congregation shall declare his praise.

39:10 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.

39:11 If hee die, he shall leaue a greater name then a thousand: and if he liue, he shall increase it.

39:11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.

39:12 Yet I haue more to say which I haue thought vpon, for I am filled as the Moone at the full.

39:12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.

39:13 Hearken vnto me, ye holy children, and budde foorth as a rose growing by the brooke of the field:

39:13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:

39:14 And giue yee a sweete sauour as frankincense, and flourish as a lilly, send foorth a smell, and sing a song of praise, blesse the Lord in all his workes.

39:14 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.

39:15 Magnifie his Name, and shewe foorth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harpes, and in praising him you shall say after this maner:

39:15 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:

39:16 Al the works of the Lord are exceeding good, & whatsoeuer hee commandeth, shalbe [accomplished] in due season.

39:16 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.

39:17 And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time conuenient they shall all be sought out: at his commaundement the waters stood as an heape, & at the wordes of his mouth the receptacles of waters.

39:17 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.

39:18 At his commandement is done whatsoeuer pleaseth him, and none can hinder when he will saue.

39:18 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.

39:19 The workes of all flesh are before him, & nothing can be hid from his eyes.

39:19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.

39:20 He seeth from euerlasting to euerlasting, and there is nothing wonderfull before him.

39:20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.

39:21 A man neede not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for hee hath made all things for their vses.

39:21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.

39:22 His blessing couered the dry land as a riuer, and watered it as a flood.

39:22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.

39:23 As hee hath turned the waters into saltnesse: so shall the heathen inherite his wrath.

39:23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.

39:24 As his wayes are plaine vnto the holy, so are they stumbling blockes vnto the wicked.

39:24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.

39:25 For the good, are good things created from the beginning: so euill things for sinners.

39:25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.

39:26 The principall things for the whole vse of mans life, are water, fire, yron, and salt, floure of wheate, honie, milke, and the blood of the grape, and oyle, and clothing.

39:26 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.

39:27 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into euill.

39:27 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.

39:28 There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their furie lay on sore strokes, in the time of destruction they powre out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them.

39:28 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.

39:29 Fire, and haile, and famine, and death: all these were created for vengeance:

39:29 Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance;

39:30 Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, & the sword, punishing the wicked to destruction.

39:30 Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to destruction.

39:31 They shall reioice in his commandement, and they shall bee ready vpon earth when neede is, and when their time is come, they shall not transgresse his word.

39:31 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.

39:32 Therefore from the beginning I was resolued, and thought vpon these things, and haue left them in writing.

39:32 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.

39:33 All the workes of the Lord are good: and he will giue euery needefull thing in due season.

39:33 All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.

39:34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse then that: for in time they shall all be well approued.

39:34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.

39:35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and blesse the Name of the Lord.

39:35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.