A Prayer for Israel
Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 1. Have mercy on us, O Lord, the God of all, and look upon us; And put Your fear on all the nations. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 2. Raise Your hand against foreign nations And let them see Your power. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 3. As in us You have been sanctified before them, So in them may You be made great before us. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 4. Let them know You as we also have known You, For there is no God but You, O Lord. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 5. Renew Your signs and work fresh wonders; Glorify Your hand and Your right arm. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 6. Stir up Your anger and pour out Your wrath; Drive away the adversary and destroy the enemy. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 7. Hasten the time and remember Your oath, And let people declare Your mighty works. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 8. Let him who survives be devoured in Your fiery wrath, And may those who harm Your people meet destruction. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 9. Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemies Who say, “There is no one but us.” Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 10. Gather together all the tribes of Jacob, And grant them their inheritance as from the beginning. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 11. Have mercy upon Your people called by Your Name, O Lord— Upon Israel, whom You have likened to Your firstborn son. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 12. Have pity on the city of Your sanctuary, Jerusalem, the place of Your rest. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 13. Fill Zion with the celebration of Your divine virtue And Your people with Your glory. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 14. Give testimony to what You created in the beginning And raise up the prophecies spoken in Your name. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 15. Reward those who wait for You And let Your prophets be found trustworthy. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 16. Hear, O Lord, the prayer of Your suppliants, According to the blessing of Aaron over Your people; Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 17. And all on earth will know That You are the Lord, the God of the ages.
Using Discernment
Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 18. The stomach eats any kind of food, But some food is better than others. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 19. As the palate tastes the flavor of game, So an understanding heart detects lying words. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 20. A crooked heart will cause grief, But a man with great experience will pay him back. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 21. A woman will accept any son, But one daughter is better than another. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 22. A beautiful woman gladdens a man's face And surpasses his every desire. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 23. If there is mercy and gentleness on her tongue, Her husband is not like other men. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 24. He who gains a wife gets his best possession, A helper like himself and a pillar of support. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 25. Where there is no wall, the property will be plundered, And where a man has no wife, he will wander around and groan. Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 26. Who will trust a well-equipped thief Who skips from city to city? Wisdom of Sirach 36, verse 27. Who will trust a man who has no home And lodges wherever night overtakes him?