✠ The Douay-Rheims Bible
✠ Sirach 43
Chapters
SIR 43:1 The firmament on high is his beauty, the beauty of heaven with its glorious shew.
SIR 43:2 The sun when he appeareth shewing forth at his rising, an admirable instrument, the work of the most High.
SIR 43:3 At noon he burneth the earth, and who can abide his burning heat? As one keeping a furnace in the works of heat:
SIR 43:4 The sun three times as much, burneth the mountains, breathing out fiery vapours, and shining with his beams, he blindeth the eyes.
SIR 43:5 Great is the Lord that made him, and at his words he hath hastened his course.
SIR 43:6 And the moon in all in her season, is for a declaration of times and a sign of the world.
SIR 43:7 From the moon is the sign of the festival day, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.
SIR 43:8 The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her perfection
SIR 43:9 Being an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in the Armament of heaven.
SIR 43:10 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord enlighteneth the world on high.
SIR 43:11 By the words of the holy one they shall stand in judgment, and shall never fail in their watches.
SIR 43:12 Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is very beautiful in its brightness.
SIR 43:13 It encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its glory, the hands of the most High have displayed it.
SIR 43:14 By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth forth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.
SIR 43:15 Through this are the treasures opened, and the clouds fly out like birds.
SIR 43:16 By his greatness he hath fixed the clouds, and the hailstones are broken.
SIR 43:17 At his sight shall the mountains be shaken, and at his will the south wind shall blow.
SIR 43:18 The noise of his thunder shall strike the earth, so doth the northern storm, and the whirlwind:
SIR 43:19 And as the birds lighting upon the earth, he scattereth snow, and the falling thereof, is as the coming down of locusts.
SIR 43:20 The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the shower thereof.
SIR 43:21 He shall pour frost as salt upon the earth: and when it freezeth, it shall become like the tops of thistles.
SIR 43:22 The cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into crystal; upon every gathering together of waters it shall rest, and shall clothe the waters as a breastplate.
SIR 43:23 And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and consume all that is green as with fire.
SIR 43:24 A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud, and a dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall overpower it.
SIR 43:25 At his word the wind is still, and with his thought he appeaseth the deep, and the Lord hath planted islands therein.
SIR 43:26 Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and when we hear with our ears, we shall admire.
SIR 43:27 There are great and wonderful works: a variety of beasts, and of all living things, and the monstrous creatures of whales.
SIR 43:28 Through him is established the end of their journey, and by his word all things are regulated.
SIR 43:29 We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our words is, He is all.
SIR 43:30 What shall we be able to do to glorify him? for the Almighty himself is above all his works.
SIR 43:31 The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and his power is admirable.
SIR 43:32 Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for he will yet far exceed, and his magnificence is wonderful.
SIR 43:33 Blessing the Lord, exalt him as much as you can: for he is above all praise.
SIR 43:34 When you exalt him put forth all your strength, and be not weary: for you can never go far enough.
SIR 43:35 Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall magnify him as he is from the beginning?
SIR 43:36 There are many things hidden from us that are greater than these: for we have seen but a few of his works.