Sirach

Chapter-24

Sirach 24:1 Wisdom will praise her own mind, and she will be honored by God, and she will be glorified in the midst of her people.

 

Sirach 24:2 And she will open her mouth in the churches of the Most High, and she will be glorified in the sight of his virtue.

 

Sirach 24:3 And in the midst of her own people, she will be exalted. And she will be admired by the holy assembly.

 

Sirach 24:4 And she will have praise within the multitude of the elect. And she will be blessed among the blessed. And she will say:

 

Sirach 24:5 “I went forth from the mouth of the Most High, as the first-born before all creatures.

 

Sirach 24:6 I caused an unfailing light to arise in the heavens. And I covered all the earth like a cloud.

 

Sirach 24:7 I lived in the highest places, and my throne is in the pillar of a cloud.

 

Sirach 24:8 I alone have encompassed the circuit of heaven, and have penetrated to the depths of the abyss, and have walked upon the waves of the sea,

 

Sirach 24:9 and have stood upon the whole earth. And among every people,

 

Sirach 24:10 and in every nation, I have held primacy.

 

Sirach 24:11 And by virtue, I have tread upon the hearts of all, the great and the lowly. And I have sought my rest in all of them. And I will continue, as the inheritance of the Lord.

 

Sirach 24:12 Then the Creator of all things instructed and spoke with me. And the One who created me rested in my tabernacle.

 

Sirach 24:13 And he said to me: ‘Let your dwelling place be with Jacob, and let your inheritance be in Israel, for you shall take root among my elect.’

 

Sirach 24:14 From the beginning, and before the world, I was created. And even unto the future world, I will not cease to exist. For I have ministered before him in the holy habitation.

 

Sirach 24:15 And in this way, I was established in Zion. And likewise, in the holy city, I found rest. And my authority was in Jerusalem.

 

Sirach 24:16 And I took root among an honorable people, within the portion of my God, within his inheritance. And so my abode is in the full assembly of the saints.

 

Sirach 24:17 I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon and like a cypress on Mount Zion.

 

Sirach 24:18 I was exalted like a palm tree in Kadesh and like a rose bush in Jericho.

 

Sirach 24:19 I was exalted like a beautiful olive tree in the plains, and like a sycamore tree beside the waters along a wide road.

 

Sirach 24:20 I gave off an aromatic fragrance like cinnamon or balsam. I produced a sweet odor like the best myrrh.

 

Sirach 24:21 And I perfumed my dwelling place with sweet gum, and aromatic resin, and flower petals, and aloe, as well as the finest cedar from Lebanon. And my fragrance is like undiluted balsam.

 

Sirach 24:22 I have extended my branches like a terebinth tree, and my branches are of honor and grace.

 

Sirach 24:23 Like the vine, I have born the fruit of a sweet fragrance. And my flowers are the fruit of honor and integrity.

 

Sirach 24:24 I am the mother of the beauty of love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.

 

Sirach 24:25 All grace of the way and of the truth is in me. All hope of life and of virtue is in me.

 

Sirach 24:26 Journey toward me, all you who desire me, and be filled by my harvest.

 

Sirach 24:27 For my spirit is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance is better than honey and the honeycomb.

 

Sirach 24:28 My memory is for the generations of all ages.

 

Sirach 24:29 Whoever consumes me will hunger still. And whoever drinks me will thirst still.

 

Sirach 24:30 Whoever listens to me will not be confounded. And whoever acts in me will not sin.

 

Sirach 24:31 Whoever elucidates me will have eternal life.”

 

Sirach 24:32 All this is a book of life, and a covenant of the Most High, and an acknowledgement of truth.

 

Sirach 24:33 Moses commanded the law by the precepts of justice, and an inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel.

 

Sirach 24:34 God appointed David as his servant, in order to raise up from him a most mighty King, who would sit upon the throne of honor forever.

 

Sirach 24:35 It is he who fulfills wisdom, like the Phison river and the Tigris river in the first days.

 

Sirach 24:36 It is he who fulfills understanding, like the river Euphrates. It is he who multiplies understanding, like the river Jordan in the time of the harvest.

 

Sirach 24:37 He sends forth discipline like the light, and he stands forth like the river Gehon in the time of the vintage.

 

Sirach 24:38 He first had perfect knowledge of her, for a weaker one would not search for her.

 

Sirach 24:39 For her thoughts abound like the sea, and her counsels abound like the great abyss.

 

Sirach 24:40 “I, wisdom, have poured forth rivers.

 

Sirach 24:41 I am like a brook leading to a river of immense waters. I am like a channel flowing from a river. And I went forth from Paradise like an aqueduct.

 

Sirach 24:42 I said: I will irrigate my garden of plantings, and I will thoroughly water the fruits of my field.

 

Sirach 24:43 And behold, my brook became overflowing, and my river drew near to the sea.

 

Sirach 24:44 For I illuminate doctrine to all, like the first light. And I will announce doctrine, even to those who are far away.

 

Sirach 24:45 I will reach to all the lower parts of the earth, and I will gaze upon all who sleep, and I will illuminate all who hope in the Lord.

 

Sirach 24:46 Even now, I pour forth doctrine like prophecy. And even now, I bequeath doctrine to those who seek wisdom. And I will not cease from their progeny, even unto the holy time.

 

Sirach 24:47 See how I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who are seeking truth!”