Students of God's Word
Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 1. How different is the man who devotes himself To the study of the law of the Most High. He will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients And be occupied with their prophecies. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 2. He will preserve the discourse of notable men And penetrate the subtleties of parables. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 3. He will seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs And be engaged in the riddles of parables. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 4. He will serve in the midst of great men And will appear before rulers. He will travel through the land of foreign nations And test the good and evil among men. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 5. He will give his heart to rising early Before the Lord who created him, And will make supplication to the Most High; And he will open his mouth in prayer And make supplication for his sins. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 6. If the great Lord wills, He will be filled with the Spirit of understanding. He will pour forth words of His wisdom, And in prayer he will give thanks to the Lord. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 7. He will direct his counsel and knowledge aright, And he will reflect on His hidden things. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 8. He will reveal instruction in his teaching And boast in the law of the Lord's covenant. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 9. Many will praise his understanding, And it will never be blotted out. His memory will not disappear, And his name will live through all generations. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 10. Nations will proclaim his wisdom, And the assembly will proclaim his praise. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 11. If he lives long, he will leave a name greater than a thousand, And if he goes to his rest, his work is completed.
Praise for God's Works
Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 12. I have yet more to tell, and I will describe it in detail; For I am filled like a full moon. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 13. So hear me, O holy sons, And bud forth like a rose Springing up by a running stream. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 14. Like frankincense, emit a sweet fragrance, And blossom forth like a lily. Send forth a fragrance And sing a hymn of praise. Bless the Lord in all His works; Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 15. Ascribe majesty to His name And give thanks to Him in praise, With songs on your lips and with lyres; And thus you shall say in thanksgiving: Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 16. “All things are the works of the Lord, For they are exceedingly good. And every command shall be in His appointed time.” No one cay say, “What is this? Why is that?” For every question will be answered in His appointed time. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 17. By His word the waters stood as a heap And the reservoirs of the waters by the word of His mouth. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 18. By His command all His good pleasure is done, And no one will diminish His salvation. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 19. The works of all flesh are before Him, And nothing can be hidden from His eyes. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 20. From age to age He looks upon them, And nothing is marvelous to Him. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 21. No one can say, “What is this? Why is that?” For all things were created for their uses. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 22. His blessing covers the dry land like a river And drenches it like a flood. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 23. As He turns fresh waters into salt, So the heathen will inherit His wrath. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 24. As His ways are straight to the holy, So they are an occasion of stumbling to the lawless. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 25. As from the beginning good things were created for the good, So evil things for sinners.. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 26. The basic needs of a man's life Are water, fire, iron, salt, and wheat flour, And milk, honey, the blood of the grape, olive oil, and clothing. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 27. As all these things are good for the godly, So they turn into evil for sinners. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 28. There are spirits created for vengeance, And in His anger they strengthen their scourges. In the time of consummation they will pour out their might And appease the wrath of Him who made them. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 29. Fire, hail, famine, and death: All these things are created for vengeance. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 30. The teeth of wild animals, scorpions and snakes, And the avenging sword that drives the ungodly to destruction— Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 31. They shall be glad at His commandment And be prepared for His service on earth; And when their times come, they will not transgress His word. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 32. Therefore from the beginning I was determined and resolved, And left this in writing: Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 33. All the works of the Lord are good, And He will supply every need in its hour. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 34. No one can say, “This is worse than that,” For all things will be well pleasing in their time. Wisdom of Sirach 39, verse 35. So now sing praise with all your heart and voice, And bless the name of the Lord.