✠ The Douay-Rheims Bible
✠ Sirach 39
Chapters
SIR 39:1 The wise men will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets.
SIR 39:2 He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal into the subtilties of parables.
SIR 39:3 He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be conversant in the secrets of parables.
SIR 39:4 He shall serve among great men, and: appear before the governor.
SIR 39:5 He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and evil among men.
SIR 39:6 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and he will pray in the sight of the most High.
SIR 39:7 He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for his sins.
SIR 39:8 For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the spirit of understanding:
SIR 39:9 And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in his prayer he will confess to the Lord.
SIR 39:10 And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.
SIR 39:11 He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
SIR 39:12 Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten.
SIR 39:13 The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in request from generation to generation.
SIR 39:14 Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth his praise.
SIR 39:15 If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if he rest, it shall be to his advantage.
SIR 39:16 I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with a holy transport.
SIR 39:17 By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth as the rose planted by the brooks of waters.
SIR 39:18 Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.
SIR 39:19 Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.
SIR 39:20 Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in praising him, you shall say in this manner:
SIR 39:21 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good.
SIR 39:22 At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters:
SIR 39:23 For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no diminishing of his salvation.
SIR 39:24 The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid from his eyes.
SIR 39:25 He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing wonderful before him.
SIR 39:26 There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all things shall be sought in their time.
SIR 39:27 His blessing hath overflowed like a river.
SIR 39:28 And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit the nations, that have not sought after him:
SIR 39:29 Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the earth was made dry: and his ways were made plain for their journey: so to sinners they are stumblingblocks in his wrath.
SIR 39:30 Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for the wicked, good and evil things.
SIR 39:31 The principal things necessary for the life of men, are water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and honey, and the cluster of the grape, and oil, and clothing.
SIR 39:32 All these things shall be for good to the holy, so to the sinners and the ungodly they shall be turned into evil.
SIR 39:33 There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on grievous torments.
SIR 39:34 In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and they shall appease the wrath of him that made them.
SIR 39:35 Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance.
SIR 39:36 The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction.
SIR 39:37 In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be ready upon earth when need is, and when their time is come they shall not transgress his word.
SIR 39:38 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I have meditated, and thought on these things and left them in writing.
SIR 39:39 All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish every work in due time.
SIR 39:40 It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be well approved in their time.