The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

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- Chapter 24 -

Wisdom praises herself: her origin, her dwelling, her dignity, and her fruits.

Wisdom will praise her own soul, and will proclaim her glory in the midst of her people.

She will open her mouth in the congregation of the Most High, and proclaim her glory in the presence of his power.

“I came out of the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth as a mist.

I lived in high places, and my throne is in the pillar of the cloud.

Alone I surrounded the circuit of heaven, and walked in the depth of the abyss.

In the waves of the sea, and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I obtained a possession.

With all these I sought rest. In whose inheritance shall I lodge?

Then the Creator of all things gave me a command. He who created me made my tent to rest, and said, ‘Let your dwelling be in Jacob, and your inheritance in Israel.’

He created me from the beginning, before the ages. For all ages, I will not cease to exist.

In the holy tabernacle, I ministered before him. So I was established in Zion.

In the beloved city, likewise he gave me rest. In Jerusalem was my domain.

I took root in a people that was honored, even in the portion of the Lord’s own inheritance.

I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon, And like a cypress tree on the mountains of Hermon.

I was exalted like a palm tree on the sea shore, like rose bushes in Jericho, and like a fair olive tree in the plain. I was exalted like a plane tree.

Like cinnamon and aspalathus, I have given a scent to perfumes. Like choice myrrh, I spread abroad a pleasant fragrance, like(a) galbanum, onycha, stacte, and as the smell of frankincense in the tabernacle.

Like the terebinth, I stretched out my branches. My branches are glorious and graceful.

Like the vine, I put forth grace. My flowers are the fruit of glory and riches.

(b)

“Come to me, all you who desire me, and be filled with my fruits.

For my memory is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance than the honeycomb.

Those who eat me will be hungry for more. Those who drink me will be thirsty for more.

He who obeys me will not be ashamed. Those who work with me will not sin.”

All these things are the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us for an inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob.

(c)

It is he who makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon, and as Tigris in the days of first fruits.

He makes understanding full as the Euphrates, and as the Jordan in the days of harvest,

who makes instruction shine forth as the light, as Gihon in the days of vintage.

The first man didn’t know her perfectly. In like manner, the last has not explored her.

For her thoughts are filled from the sea, and her counsels from the great deep.

I came out as a canal stream from a river, and as an irrigation ditch into a garden.

I said, “I will water my garden, and will drench my garden bed.” Behold, my stream became a river, and my river became a sea.

I will yet bring instruction to light as the morning, and will make these things clear from far away.

I will continue to pour out teaching like prophecy, and leave it to all generations.

See that I have not labored for myself only, but for all those who diligently seek wisdom.

Footnotes

(a)24:15 See Exodus 30:34 .

(b)24:18 Verse 18 is omitted by the best authorities.

Wisdom praises herself: her origin, her dwelling, her dignity, and her fruits.

Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her people.

In the congregation of the most High shall she open her mouth, and triumph before his power.

I came out of the mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as a cloud.

I dwelt in high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar.

I alone compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep.

In the waves of the sea and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I got a possession.

With all these I sought rest: and in whose inheritance shall I abide?

So the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and he that made me caused my tabernacle to rest, and said, Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel.

He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never fail.

In the holy tabernacle I served before him; and so was I established in Sion.

Likewise in the beloved city he gave me rest, and in Jerusalem was my power.

And I took root in an honourable people, even in the portion of the Lord’s inheritance.

I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon.

I was exalted like a palm tree in En-gaddi, and as a rose plant in Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a pleasant field, and grew up as a plane tree by the water.

I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and sweet storax, and as the fume of frankincense in the tabernacle.

As the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and grace.

As the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.

I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope: I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my children which are named of him.

Come unto me, all ye that be desirous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits.

For my memorial is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the honeycomb.

They that eat me shall yet be hungry, and they that drink me shall yet be thirsty.

He that obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that work by me shall not do amiss.

All these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, even the law which Moses commanded for an heritage unto the congregations of Jacob.

Faint not to be strong in the Lord; that he may confirm you, cleave unto him: for the Lord Almighty is God alone, and beside him there is no other Saviour.

He filleth all things with his wisdom, as Phison and as Tigris in the time of the new fruits.

He maketh the understanding to abound like Euphrates, and as Jordan in the time of the harvest.

He maketh the doctrine of knowledge appear as the light, and as Geon in the time of vintage.

The first man knew her not perfectly: no more shall the last find her out.

For her thoughts are more than the sea, and her counsels profounder than the great deep.

I also came out as a brook from a river, and as a conduit into a garden.

I said, I will water my best garden, and will water abundantly my garden bed: and, lo, my brook became a river, and my river became a sea.

I will yet make doctrine to shine as the morning, and will send forth her light afar off.

I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and leave it to all ages for ever.

Behold that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that seek wisdom.