and your majesty was upon the diadem on his head.
25 The destroyer yielded to these, and they feared;
for it was enough only to test the wrath.
19
1 But indignation without mercy came upon the ungodly to the end;
for God also foreknew their future,
2 how, having changed their minds to let your people go,
and having sped them eagerly on their way,
they would change their minds and pursue them.
3 For while they were yet in the midst of their mourning,
and lamenting at the graves of the dead,
they made another foolish decision,
and pursued as fugitives those whom they had begged to leave and driven out.
4 For the doom which they deserved was drawing them to this end,
and it made them forget the things that had happened to them,
that they might fill up the punishment which was yet lacking from their torments,
5 and that your people might journey on by a marvellous road,
but they themselves might find a strange death.
6 For the whole creation, each part in its diverse kind, was made new again,
complying with your commandments,
that your servants might be kept unharmed.
7 Then the cloud that overshadowed the camp was seen,
and dry land rising up out of what had been water,
out of the Red sea an unhindered highway,
and a grassy plain out of the violent surge,
8 by which they passed over with all their army,
these who were covered with your hand,
having seen strange marvels.
9 For like horses they roamed at large,
and they skipped about like lambs,
praising you, O Lord, who was their deliverer.
10 For they still remembered the things that happened in the time of their sojourning,
how instead of bearing cattle, the land brought forth lice,
and instead of fish, the river spewed out a multitude of frogs.
11 But afterwards, they also saw a new kind of birds,
when, led on by desire, they asked for luxurious dainties;
12 for, to comfort them, quails came up for them from the sea.
13 Punishments came upon the sinners,
not without the signs that were given beforehand by the violence of the thunder,
for they justly suffered through their own wickednesses,
for the hatred which they practised towards guests was grievous indeed.
14 For while the others didn’t receive the strangers when they came to them,
the Egyptians made slaves of guests who were their benefactors.
15 And not only so, but while punishment of some sort will come upon the former,
since they received as enemies those who were aliens;
16 because these first welcomed with feastings,
and then afflicted with dreadful toils,
those who had already shared with them in the same rights.
17 And moreover they were stricken with loss of sight
(even as were those others at the righteous man’s doors),
when, being surrounded with yawning darkness,
they each looked for the passage through his own door.
18 For as the notes of a lute vary the character of the rhythm,
even so the elements, changing their order one with another,
continuing always in its sound,
as may clearly be conjectured from the sight of the things that have happened.
19 For creatures of the dry land were turned into creatures of the waters,
and creatures that swim moved upon the land.
20 Fire kept the mastery of its own power in water,
and water forgot its quenching nature.
21 On the contrary, flames didn’t consume flesh of perishable creatures that walked amongst them,
neither did they melt the crystalline grains of ambrosial food that were melted easily.
22 For in all things, O Lord, you magnified your people,
and you glorified them and didn’t lightly regard them,
standing by their side in every time and place.
† 1:1: Gr. in goodness.
‡ 1:6: Some authorities read the spirit of wisdom is loving to man.
§ 1:6: Or, reviler
† 1:7: Gr. the inhabited earth.
‡ 1:14: Or, a royal house
§ 1:16: Or, were consumed with love of him
† 2:1: Or, amongst
‡ 2:1: Or, returned out of Hades
§ 2:4: Gr. weighed down.
† 2:5: Or, comes again
† 5:7: See Proverbs 14:14.
‡ 5:14: Gr. like foam chased to thinness: or, as thin foam chased.
§ 5:14: Most Greek authorities read hoar frost: some authorities, perhaps rightly, a spider’s web.
† 6:2: Or, in the multitudes of your nations
† 7:1: Many authorities read a mortal man.
‡ 7:20: Or, spirits
† 8:6: Gr. she.
‡ 8:7: Gr. her labours
† 9:4: Or, children
‡ 9:8: Or, a place of sacrifice
§ 9:12: Gr. thrones.
† 10:1: Gr. She.
‡ 10:5: Gr. she
§ 10:6: Gr. she
† 10:10: Gr. she.
‡ 10:13: Gr. she.
§ 10:15: Gr. she.
† 11:4: See Deuteronomy 8:15; Psalms 114:8.
† 12:7: Or, children
‡ 12:8: Or, wasps
§ 12:20: Or, children
† 12:24: Gr. living creatures: and so elsewhere in this book.
† 13:5: Gr. is the first maker of them seen.
‡ 13:11: Gr. carpenter who is a woodcutter.
† 14:6: The Greek text here may be corrupt.
- 14:27: Exodus 23:13; Psalms 16:4; Hosea 2:17; Wisdom 14:21
† 15:3: Gr. entire.
‡ 15:5: Some authorities read reproach.
§ 15:8: Or, life
† 15:9: Or, copper
‡ 15:11: Gr. a soul that moves to activity.
§ 15:11: Or, life
† 15:12: Some authorities read they accounted.
‡ 15:12: Or, way of life
Sirach
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiaticus
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, also called Ecclesiasticus, is recognised as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox Churches.
The Prologue of the Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach.
WHEREAS many and great things have been delivered to us by the law and the prophets, and by the others that have followed in their steps, for which we must give Israel the praise for instruction and wisdom; and since not only the readers need to become skilful themselves, but also those who love learning must be able to profit those who are outside, both by speaking and writing; my grandfather Jesus, having much given himself to the reading of the law, and the prophets, and the other books of our fathers, and having gained great familiarity with them, was also drawn on himself to write somewhat pertaining to instruction and wisdom, in order that those who love learning, and are devoted to these things, might make progress much more by living according to the law. You are entreated therefore to read with favour and attention, and to pardon us, if in any parts of what we have laboured to interpret, we may seem to fail in some of the phrases. For things originally spoken in Hebrew don’t have the same force in them when they are translated into another language. Not only these, but the law itself, and the prophecies, and the rest of the books, have no small difference, when they are spoken in their original language. For having come into Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of Energetes the king, and having continued there some time, I found a copy giving no small instruction. I thought it therefore most necessary for me to apply some diligence and travail to translate this book, applying indeed much watchfulness and skill in that space of time to bring the book to an end and publish for them also, who in the land of their travels are desiring to learn, preparing their character in advance, so as to live according to the law.
1
1 All wisdom comes from the Lord,
and is with him forever.
2 Who can count the sand of the seas,
the drops of rain,
and the days of eternity?
3 Who will search out the height of the sky,
the breadth of the earth, the deep,
and wisdom?
4 Wisdom has been created before all things,
and the understanding of prudence from everlasting. 5 †
6 To whom has the root of wisdom been revealed?
Who has known her shrewd counsels? 7 ‡
8 There is one wise, greatly to be feared,
sitting upon his throne: the Lord.
9 He created her.
He saw and measured her.
He poured her out upon all his works.
10 She is with all flesh according to his gift.
He gave her freely to those who love him.
11 The fear of the Lord is glory, exultation,
gladness, and a crown of rejoicing.
12 The fear of the Lord will delight the heart,
and will give gladness, joy, and length of days.
13 Whoever fears the Lord, it will go well with him at the last.
He will be blessed in the day of his death.
14 To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
It was created together with the faithful in the womb.
15 She§ laid an eternal foundation with men.
She will be trusted amongst their offspring.
16 To fear the Lord is the fullness of wisdom.
She inebriates men with her fruits.
17 She will fill all her house with desirable things,
and her storehouses with her produce.
18 The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom,
making peace and† perfect health to flourish.‡
19 He both saw and measured her.
He rained down skill and knowledge of understanding,
and exalted the honour of those who hold her fast.
20 To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom.
Her branches are length of days. 21 §
22 Unjust wrath can never be justified,
for his wrath tips the scale to his downfall.
23 A man that is patient will resist for a season,
and afterward gladness will spring up to him.
24 He will hide his words until the right moment,
and the lips of many will tell of his understanding.
25 A wise saying is in the treasures of wisdom;
but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
26 If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments
and the Lord will give her to you freely;
27 for the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction.
Faith and humility are his good pleasure.
28 Don’t disobey the fear of the Lord.
Don’t come to him with a double heart.
29 Don’t be a hypocrite in men’s sight.
Keep watch over your lips.
30 Don’t exalt yourself,
lest you fall and bring dishonour upon your soul.
The Lord will reveal your secrets
and will cast you down in the midst of the congregation,
because you didn’t
