In Praise of Wisdom
Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 1. Wisdom will praise herself, And in the midst of her people she will boast. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 2. In the assembly of the Most High, she will open her mouth And boast in the presence of His host. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 3. “I came forth from the mouth of the Most High And covered the earth like a mist. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 4. I pitched my tent in the high places And my throne on the pillar of cloud. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 5. I alone encircle the ring of heaven, And I walk in the depth of the abyss. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 6. In the waves of the sea, in all the earth, And in every people and nation I have gained a possession. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 7. With all these, I have sought a place to rest; In what inheritance will I lodge? Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 8. “Then the Creator of all things commanded me, And He who created me gave me a place to live. He said, ‘Pitch your tent in Jacob And receive an inheritance in Israel.’ Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 9. Before the age, He created me from the beginning, And in the age to come I will not cease. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 10. I serve before Him in His holy tabernacle; Therefore, I am established in Zion. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 11. In the beloved city likewise He gives me rest, And my authority is in Jerusalem. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 12. I am firmly rooted among an honored people, Among the Lord's portion, His inheritance. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 13. “Like a cedar tree I was raised on high in Lebanon, Like a cypress tree in the mountains of Hermon. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 14. I was exalted like a palm tree in En-Gedi And like rose bushes in Jericho; I was exalted like a beautiful olive tree in the plain And grew tall like a plane-tree. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 15. I gave forth the fragrance of aromatic spices Like cinnamon and camel-thorn, And I spread a fragrance like choice myrrh, And like galbanum, onyx, and oil of myrrh, And like the fragrance of frankincense in the tabernacle. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 16. I spread forth my branches like a terebinth tree, And my branches were glory and grace. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 17. I yield grace like a vine, And my flowers produce the fruit of glory and riches. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 18. I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and knowledge, and holy hope: I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my children who are named by Him. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 19. “Come to me, you who desire me, And take your fill of my fruits. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 20. For the remembrance of me is sweeter than honey, And my inheritance is sweeter than the honeycomb. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 21. Those who eat me will hunger for more, And those who drink me will thirst for more. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 22. He who obeys me will not be put to shame, And those who work with me will not sin.” Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 23. All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God— The law Moses commanded us, The inheritance of the congregations of Jacob. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 24. 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 Savior. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 25. This law fills men with wisdom, Like the Pishon and the Tigris at the time of firstfruits; Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 26. And it fills them with understanding, Like the Euphrates and the Jordan at the time of harvest. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 27. This law shines forth instruction like light, Like the Gihon in the days of vintage. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 28. As the first man did not know wisdom perfectly, So the last man has not searched out her depths. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 29. For her thoughts are deeper than the sea And her counsel than the great abyss. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 30. I went forth like a canal from a river And like an aqueduct into a garden. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 31. I said, “I will water my garden And drench the garden beds.” And behold, my canal became a river, And my river became a sea. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 32. I will yet make instruction shine like the morning, And I will make it shine far away. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 33. I will yet pour forth teaching like prophecy, And I will leave it behind for future generations. Wisdom of Sirach 24, verse 34. As you can see, I have not labored for myself alone, But for all who seek wisdom.